Problem: In Australia
Lincoln works at an aged care facility that has residents from a wide range of backgrounds. Many of the residents speak English as a second language. A new manager, James, arrives and let's staff know he is keen to improve all aspects of the resident's care and lifestyle at the facility. He is met with resistance from staff as they feel they are already performing to the best of their ability.
James observes the staff and finds they are all working hard and enthusiastic about their jobs. He has a number of information discussions with residents as to what would make the facility more pleasant and enjoyable. The most common responses were dissatisfaction with the food and difficulty in communicating exactly what they want in English.
When James inspects the kitchen, he finds the food to be of high standard, but due to cost cutting and an attempt to improve efficiencies, they only make five different types of meals and serve them on rotation. He asks the kitchen staff if it would be possible to triple the variety of the meals and still maintain the same level of quality without an increase to costs.
James wants to find out more about the staff, so he gets them to fill in a survey of their talents and backgrounds, and how this effects interactions with residents. He discovers no one is bilingual which supports the residents' complaints about communication breakdowns and friction between staff and residents.
1. What are the two methods of qualitative data collection James used to determine the areas where the business could be improved?
2. James hires some bilingual staff and puts a sign in reception so when new residents arrive, they can see what languages staff are fluent in. How might this improve the business?
3. The residents at the facility were able to communicate with a member of staff in their natural language, rather than English, how might that improve their lifestyle?
4. List some professional development programs that James should implement with his employees to foster diversity. Need Assignment Help?
5. How could James help existing staff to find common ground with clients?
Susan works in the office of a community health centre and has been on maternity leave twice. Her manager, Alex, sees maternity leave as an unfair burden on the employer in the workplace. After overhearing a conversation between Susan and a colleague about how she is considering having more children, Alex is afraid Susan will take maternity leave a third time.
Alex begins to promote less qualified and experienced males over Susan and deliberately targets her to work overtime, which he knows makes her life difficult. He hopes these actions will cause her to leave.
Susan decides she has had enough of Alex's behaviour. She consults a lawyer and is made aware of how her rights have been violated.
6. Which federal antidiscrimination legislation has been breached by Alex?
7. What are the grounds for unlawful discrimination in this scenario?
8. If you were Alex's manager, how would you help him to acknowledge his issues relating to workplace diversity and coach him to become a positive role model within the workplace?
9. List four (4) strategies Alex could use to settle tensions between himself and Susan as a result of his behaviour and attitude.