Is a single pregnant woman entitled to maternity leave?
When a supervisor bases human relations decisions on his own personal philosophies and beliefs instead of accepted policy and practice, personnel problems and court cases are almost sure to erupt.
By Raymond Dreyfack
When a supervisor bases human relations decisions on his own personal philosophies and beliefs instead of accepted policy and practice, personnel problems and court cases are almost sure to erupt.
Maintenance Foreman Lawton Helmsley was an old-line supervisor whose belief in morality, the flag, and the family was unshakable. These beliefs were all well and good. Helmsley was as conscientious and hard working as anyone in the plant. But even purity of mind and purpose can be carried to unrealistic extremes.
The company's maternity leave policy stated that "a leave of absence be granted to pregnant employees." When Carol Janus, an unmarried clerical worker, put in for leave under this clause, Helmsley denied her request. When she persisted, he fired her.
Janus wasted no time in protesting her dismissal to Helmsley's boss, Plant Engineer Fred Penney.
Question : In Penney's shoes, what action would you take?
Penney's response: Penney summoned Helmsley to his office. "I have two questions for you, Lawton: What year is this?"
The supervisor frowned anxiously. "Uh, I don't understand."
"That's apparent. I'm wondering if you think you're living in 1928 instead of 1998. My other question is: Have you ever heard of the Civil Rights Act or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?"
Helmsley squirmed in his seat.
"Let me make this clear, Lawton. Your personal beliefs and opinions are your own business entirely. But when they conflict with the way you treat people and run the department, they become management's business. Not only is your denial of maternity leave to Carol Janus and your mindless dismissal outrageous in this day and age, they are also against the law, which you should know as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, if you're doing your job. Carol deserves an apology, and I'd suggest that you grant her that leave as soon as possible before she hauls this company to court."
Case Study Database
Get more exposure for your case study by uploading it to the Plant Engineering case study database, where end-users can identify relevant solutions and explore what the experts are doing to effectively implement a variety of technology and productivity related projects.
These case studies provide examples of how knowledgeable solution providers have used technology, processes and people to create effective and successful implementations in real-world situations. Case studies can be completed by filling out a simple online form where you can outline the project title, abstract, and full story in 1500 words or less; upload photos, videos and a logo.
Click here to visit the Case Study Database and upload your case study.
2012 Salary Survey
In a year when manufacturing continued to lead the economic rebound, it makes sense that plant manager bonuses rebounded. Plant Engineering’s annual Salary Survey shows both wages and bonuses rose in 2012 after a retreat the year before.
Average salary across all job titles for plant floor management rose 3.5% to $95,446, and bonus compensation jumped to $15,162, a 4.2% increase from the 2010 level and double the 2011 total, which showed a sharp drop in bonus.