1. What is one aspect of Title VII that has been violated by the company?

According to section 703(1)(a), employers are prohibited from discriminating their employees from privileges of employment basing their reference on race, color, religion or sex. The law suggests that it is a criminal offence for a company to violate such orders. If Jackie’s complaints that she was passed over for promotion in reference of her sex and race is anything to go by, then the company has violated this section. It is also evident that it was Mary’s idea, to have the white members of staff in the company fired. She also swears that she will oppose any future hiring of white males regardless of their qualifications. Based on the foregoing, the Lemon tree has and is intending to violate the title even further.

2. Which actions by the two employees that call their credibility into question are you allowed as an employer, to consider?

The two managers during the meeting with the CEO blatantly leveled the corporate espionage blame on their employees. According to records, Paul has over the time showed interest in having Puff fired from work to no avail. Several cases filed against him have always stood the test of time making Paul appear like being on a witch-hunting mission. Therefore, he would do anything to have Puff out of the organization. Mary on the other hand was not pleased by Jackie’s sex exchange. Records show that she went to great lengths to talk Jackie out of the exercise. As if that was not enough, she lobbied the company not to pay for the procedure. According to her, the sex-exchange affair was against her belief as a Christian and would not want to be associated with Jackie. Based on the foregoing, it clearly shows hate as part of the reason Jackie was standing accused.

3. What types of actions are you not allowed to use and why?

Dismissing any of the four employees (Paul, Mary, Puff and Jackie) from work based on the background of the matter without intensive investigation should not be the best way of action. The reason is that, the same could have been just a misunderstanding based on personal differences. These differences might have clouded the employees’ judgment and created unnecessary animosity within the workplace.

Suspending Jackie and Puff before hearing their side of the story is not only unfair but illegal by law. They should have been given the opportunity to defend their case against the accusations leveled against them. An independent committee should have been given the task to determine whether the two suspects were guilty before their suspension.

4. Are there any you wish you could use?

Creating an open forum for discussion of the matters facing the company. This forum targeting all members of staff should give equal opportunity for them to air out their feelings without fear of reprimand. Communication is key, through this, other underlying factors that have not yet surfaced can be noted and actions taken earlier enough. Cohesion amongst the members of staff is essential. It does not only lead to the smooth running of the organization, but it also aids to the improved productivity of the company.

References

East Orlando Chamber of Commerce (EOCC) (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2014, from EOCC: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html

Nancy, K. K., Nancy, K., Bartley, A. B., & M Neil, B. (2011). The Legal Environment of Business (6th ed.). Pearson Education.