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Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Answers to In-Text Questions
Chapter 14: Employee and Labor Relations
The First B Corp Certified U.S. Grocery Store: The Case of New Seasons
Market
Case Discussion Questions
1. If you were a manager at New Seasons Market, how would you have reacted to B Lab
certification? Would your answer change if you were an employee?
Responses will vary by student, but overall, this is viewed as a very positive honor. The
2. What are your thoughts regarding the pros and cons of measuring social and
environmental impact of organizations? How would you know if a particular question
on the certification is effective or not?
Responses will vary. Students should review the certification questions before
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
3. Prior to reading this case, had you heard about B Corp certification? What new things
did you learn about this concept from the case?
Responses will vary by student. Some will have heard of this concept, but likely not all.
4. Do you agree or disagree with Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario that “The B Corp
movement is one of the most important of our lifetime . . .”? Please explain your
answer.
Responses will vary by student and will depend on their experience with social
5. Do you think that New Season Market’s B Corp certification has positive or negative
implications for employee relations? Please explain your answer.
Responses will vary by student. Those who believe there are positive implications
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Spotlight on Ethics: The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America Strike
Questions:
1. What do you see as the ethical aspects of going on strike? Examine this question from the
workers’ point of view and from the employer’s point of view.
Assumedly, the side with the most to lose will be more affected by the strike. In this case,
2. Some categories of workers in the United States are legally prohibited from striking. What
ethical grounds do you see for such laws?
Workers who are legally prohibited from striking are prohibited because going on strike
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Mini-Case Analysis Exercise: Growing Pains
1. What kind of actions are you legally able to take in this situation?
Legally, you can investigate complaints, talk to employees about negative aspects of
2. What would you tell your boss, Kelvin, if anything?
Students might consider telling Kelvin why employees unionize, including job dissatisfaction,
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
3. How common or unique do you think this situation is? In other words, how likely is it
that dealing with this type of situation might happen to someone taking an HRM course
at some point in their career? Please discuss your rationale.
Students will have a variety of opinions here. In general, students who take HRM courses
4. Are there any systemic changes you could think of that may help prevent more concerns
like these from happening in the future?
Whether or not the organization is unionized, there should be a grievance process in
HR Decision Analysis Exercise: Online Surveillance?
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Should your organization switch to a system like this? Consider this decision using the following
criteria.
Please provide the rationale for your answer to each of the questions below.
Is it legal, ethical, and fair?
This might not be ethical, legal, or fair. You need to look at privacy laws in each state where you
plan to use cameras. Employees should be made aware of the use of camera before the action
occurs. There should also be some consideration for where the cameras are placed, especially as
it relates to the employee restrooms.
Is it evidence based/evidence informed?
This does not seem to be evidence based. What we really know is that shrinkage increases during
the holiday shopping season. There is no evidence to support the idea that it is caused by
Does it foster healthy employee–employer relationships?
On the surface, it does not seem like it would foster healthy employee–employer relationships.
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
Is it timely and cost-effective?
This is timely and likely cost-effective. This should be put in place before the holiday shopping
Does it take a systematic stakeholder perspective?
Student responses will vary but this seems to take a systematic stakeholder perspective. The jobs
Considering your analysis above, overall, do you think this would be an effective decision? Why
or why not?
Student responses will vary but need to consider the safety and well-being of the employees while
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
What, if anything, do you think should be done differently or considered to help make this
decision more effective?
Students will have a variety of idea but may consider industry averages for shrinkage, general
shrinkage rates compared to shrinkage rates during the holidays, and the training of all
________________________________________________________________________
HR Decision-Making Exercise 14.3: A Tale of Two Training Programs
Please answer the following questions. Be sure that your answer includes specific details such as
what you think needs to be done and the goals you are trying to achieve.
• Given the current trends you have observed, what do you think your training team should
recommend to address this growing problem?
Training methods change over time. One reason the old training program is being given
less often is that it could simply be out of date. It is interesting to note that professional
Bauer, Human Resource Management
SAGE Publishing, 2020
begin training them before the current group gets burned out and leaves the
organization.
• What do you think they will recommend?
There appears to be a good amount of loyalty to the workforce here, and that should be
• How might you guide them?
While students will have a variety of ideas here, they should recognize that working with
the five individuals who are diedicated to the older program could potentially be most
