Case 14-1
Summary
This case study provides an overview of Bill, a successful employee in the newspaper industry that has
begun experiencing a significant amount of stress in his position. Bill has managed to stay relevant even
though the industry has downsized, maintaining the newspaper blog and social network pages and still
remaining productive. As Bill’s work hours grew, so did his unhealthy behaviors. Bill became a chain
smoker, gained weight, and kept snacks by his desk instead of eating meals. Because of those choices,
Bill one day had a retinal stroke and lost vision in his right eye. He was instructed by doctors to lose
weight and take better care of himself.
Bill did not particularly care for this new policy. He believed that smoking made him write better,
believed that the vending machines were an effective way to get food, thought the nutrition courses were
a waste of time, and that the medical services and management visits about health were management’s
Analysis
This case study offers the debate of whether or not a company has the right to impose their healthy
lifestyle choices on employees and hold them accountable. From Diane’s perspective, imposing a
smoking policy, increasing medical services, adding healthy cooking classes, and removing junk food
will help with the health and well-being of her staff.
Questions
1. What are the causes of stress in Bill’s organization?
The chapter mentions many causes of stress and several are found in this newspaper:
2. Has Diane gone too far in imposing a smoking policy, removing junk food from the vending
machines, and offering free medical service and management visits?
Diane has a right to impose a smoking policy in her building. Smoking is an unsafe behavior and the
effects of secondhand smoking are very negative.
3. Diane has selected several ways to reduce the stress and improve the health of her employees. What
other ways did the chapter mention could she also use to reduce stress and improve employee health?
The chapter specifically mentioned the following:
Employee Assistance Programs—Especially useful for Bill with his high stress.
4. What do you think about the reporters’ sick leave proposal?
Greater sick leave benefits motivate the reporters to be away from the office more and continue their
Case 14-2
Summary
ActioNet was a company known for operating with core values including openness, communication,
honesty, transparency, and being fair and ethical. However, a civil case, Yowan Yang v. ActioNet, Inc.,
determined Yang was the victim of workplace violence and workplace violence.
Analysis
The ActioNet case study offers a chilling and very real case of workplace violence and illustrates what
could happen when a company fails to uphold their responsibilities to their employees. For Yowan Yang,
an employee who had received strong performance evaluations and had been successful in the
organization, interactions with Cy Tymony would ruin his trajectory and ultimately cost him his position.
Questions
1. The above case was a civil case, how might it have become a Federal case under OSHA’s charge?
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 provides for the physical protection of people from
injury or illness while on the job. The employer must furnish a place of employment that is free from
2. How might ActioNet have not upheld their OSHA responsibilities?
Employers are responsible to find and correct safety/health hazards, inform and train employees about
3. Although a federal investigation 2 days later indicated no wrong doing on Yang’s part (he was called
a “complete victim”), AN took no further action in the matter. If these were OSHA investigators,
under what category of violation might ActioNet be subject to?
OSHA violations include willful violations (employer knew of the hazard and took no action), serious
violations (hazard could cause injury or illness, significant harm), other than serious violations (less
4. Stress might have been the cause of Tymony’s intolerable conduct. Which cause(s) of stress might
have accounted for his inexcusable behavior?
Causes of stress include personality type, organizational culture and change, management behavior, type
5. What are the causes of workplace violence and how might it help us better understand this case?
Causes of workplace violence include anger (desk rage) brought on by either unresolved interpersonal
6. What are the signs of potential violence and were any exhibited in this case?
Signs of potential violence include verbal threats, nonverbal communication, stalking and harassment,
7. What trends or issues in workplace safety apply to this case?
Current trends in workplace safety include employee wellness in a Wall-E world, bullying and
