ISSUE #1
Jimmy-Joe Thudpucker, an hourly 2nd shift worker with 11 years on the job, went to his female shift supervisor, Judy Tenuti, in her office. He stood in the doorway and said quietly and slowly to Judy that she “will recognize pay-back for going over my head to the plant manager” (regarding Jimmy-Joe’s lack of productivity at work). Jimmy-Joe then scowled at Judy for fifteen more seconds without saying anything else. Then he walked out of Judy‘s office and slammed the door behind him. Judy is scared and upset. She reports this to her supervisor, who immediately reported the incident to you
ISSUE #2
Charlene Best works in the customer fulfillment office. Charlene is a transgender female. She verbally complained to the Assistant HR Director yesterday that two of her female co-workers were speaking about her (with lowered voices but load enough for her to overhear). They referred to Charlene as “a thing”. Then, one of them said, “it needs to quit wearing skirts above it’s knees because those knees still look like man knees.” They both then laughed quietly but didn’t make any eye contact with Charlene.
ISSUE #3
Brandi Thudpucker is an hourly employee in the Bookkeeping Department. Brandi has been an employee for 14 years. One day, Brandi creates a fake Facebook persona on her office computer (during lunch break) of a man she calls “Larry London.” Brandi wants to “get even” with her former friend and co-worker Tina Sabbatini. Tina works in Billing. Brandi has a huge grudge against Tina because Tina made Brandi “look bad” six months ago by reporting some late accounts Brandi has not properly posted. Brandi then received an informal “reprimand” email from her boss telling her to “be more careful” and make sure all “30 days past due” accounts are updated before Brandi leaves work each day. This was very embarrassing to Brandi who felt that Tina as a “friend” had “back-stabbed” her.
Brandi knows Tina just got divorced from an abusive husband. Tina is emotionally fragile and very lonely. Over the course of several weeks, mostly during lunch breaks and other breaks, Brandi creates an online persona (i.e. fake person) named “Larry London.” Brandi uses her extensive online skills to manipulate Tina into a serious (online) relationship with Larry. “Larry” tells Tina he is in a “terrible abusive marriage,” and is getting a divorce. Brandi posts pictures of “Larry” as a very handsome middle-aged man.
Sure enough, Tina “falls in love” via Facebook, texting, and emails with “Larry.” Brandi then sets up a bogus Venmo account. She has “Larry” persuade Tina to “loan him” some money for his attorney’s fees. These will help (Larry) “finish up his divorce” so he can “move up to Virginia, get a job there, and move in with Tina.” Tina happily sends “Larry” $1500.00 dollars (which Brandi keeps and uses to make a down-payment on a new car).
Unfortunately for Brandi, Brandi shares her “secret practical joke” with a co-worker, Judy Tenuti. Judy (who doesn’t particularly like Tina either) doesn’t do or say anything about this “fake love affair” for 3 weeks. But, when Judi finds out that Brandy actually got the $1500.00 dollars from Tina, Judy panics and decides things have “gone a bit too far.” She then reports what she knows to you (the HR Director).
Instructions : one page or less –
1. What is/are the (potential) basic legal and/or management-leadership issues in each situation described above?
2. Rate each situation (based only upon what you know) on an “urgency scale” of 1 to 10 (#1 describes a situation that is not worth worrying about. #10 is a crisis/emergency).
3. Best advice for the best course of action for management to take
, Chapter 17, the first portion under the heading "Responses of a Judiciary". Do you see where Lessig's idea here applies to this case? Support your answer.