3. Using concepts from organizational justice explain why Alex knocks his bosss lunch to the floor? How can the relationship between Alex and his boss improved?

Alex and Stephanie Alex and Stephanie have a few things in common. Both are university students, and both work full-time at a local super- market to make ends meet and help pay for school. Though the pay isn't great, it's a steady job that allows them some flexibility, which helps when scheduling classes. Both stu- dents joined the supermarket two years ago, and, given their similar situations, became friends quickly. Although Stephanie seems to enjoy her job, arriving and leaving work each day with a smile on her face, Alex often grumbles and complains about his work. Much of the time, Alex complains about his boss, Dan, who oversees the produce department. Stephanie works for Jonathan, a 10- year veteran who everyone generally admires for his friendly demeanour and relaxed management style Most employees want to work for Jonathan, as he often assigns his employees different duties each week so workers don't get bored. Stephanie, for instance, can be working at the checkout counter one week, stocking shelves the next, and the store's culinary centre the following week. The culinary centre is a new service that the store is test- marketing. Employees show customers how to create exciting recipes from start to finish. It is Stephanie's favourite place in the store to work. She is also responsible for taking customers around the store to locate ingredients for a culinary centre recipe, many of the ingredients being some of the store's finest. And she enjoys allowing customers to sample what she cooks. So far, the culinary centre is a success, and many of the store's more expensive ingredients are becoming difficult to keep in stock. To help with this issue Jonathan encourages his employees to notify him immediately when an item is running low and even empowers employees to reorder items from vendors. By doing this, Stephanie has quickly grasped how the supermarket operates produce replied Stephanie After a particularly boring morning of restocking apples going to be sick.. retorted "Well that's certainly more than I'll be making this week.' said Alex. "This job is okay, but I'd probably leave if I could. It's too risky right now to just quit. If i can't find something, then I'll be in trouble when that next tuition bill comes around." Look on the bright side. At least you make more than Jean. She's been here for 7 years, still working in the deli." "That's true sighed Alex as he returned to his lunch. He looked up at the clock. They had been at lunch for a half hour already. Dan was quite the stickler about keeping lunch to a minimum. Although store policy allowed employees 45 minutes for lunch, Dan often pushed his employees to keep it to 30 minutes. As Alex quickened his chewing Dan strolled into the break room and opened the refrigerator, his back to Alex and Stephanie. "Bad day again?" asked Stephanie as Alex stuffed the Wheeling around with a soda in hand, Dan commented. "Bit of a long lunch, hey Alex?" apple back into his lunchbox. Alex could feel the blood rising to his face. "It's been 1 stocked apples all morning-what do you think?" Alex exactly a half hour, and I'm almost finished," he said. "Well, we're running low on apples again. So quit lying Why don't you tell Dan you want to do something else?" around and get back to work." Dan walked toward the door, Stephanie inquired. "I see that he lets Denise work in other stopped, and turned around. "I thought that university areas." Stephanie leaned closer. "I've even heard that she students were supposed to be smarter than this. At the very gets paid more than you. Is that true?" she whispered. least I would hope that they could tell time. He added, "I Apparently, she gets paid $2.00 more an hour, but I do guess the university must have glossed over your application." the same things that she does. Oh, that's right. One thing! And with that Dan left. don't do is tell Dan what a cool shirt he has on or how "What a jerk," said Stephanie after Dan was out of earshot. awesome his car is. They're both pathetic if you ask me." What else is new," said Alex. *I'd guess I'd better get back frowned Alex to work." Alex got up and retumed what was left of his lunch Two dollars more an hour, but she's been here for only to the refrigerator. When he opened the door, he noticed a 3 months!" Stephanie exclaimed. "And I know that you sandwich labelled with a post-it note that read "Dan's." After work just as hard as she does. No wonder you're so irritated glancing quickly to the door, he casually swept the sandwich all the time" onto the floor. Stephanie turned around at the sound. "I don't even care any more. What's the point? If I stock "Oops," smirked Alex. He paused, staring down at the more apples, or something meaningless like that, what does sandwich. "Five-second rule!" he said as he picked up the sandwich, being sure to smear the underside of it on the it get me-another sticker that says "good job? Oooh, that's floor. After putting it neatly back on the shelf, Alex tumed to really great. Thanks a bunch Dan!" replied Alex punctuating Stephanie "Well Steph, have a good one. I think maybe I'll his last sentence with a sarcastic thumbs-up. Anyway, take my time on those apples." enough about my day. How's yours going?" "Pretty good, actually. Jonathan and I met earlier today, and we both set a goal for me to sell 10 bottles of trule oil next week." Wow. That stuff is pretty expensive, isn't it?" asked Alex. Thirty-five dollars for four ounces," replied Stephanie *I'll be tough, but I found a pretty good recipe that I'll be making for customers who stop by the culinary centre " She paused, then said, 'I think I'll be able to do it. I've made quite a few similar recipes before, and even though this one is more difficult, it shouldn't be too bad. Besides, if I sell be able to do this on my own, without someone breathing down my neck.' Alex's supervisor, in contrast, prefers most of his employees to work in the same area each day-Alex is one those employees. Dan believes that the best way to master 21 is to do it over and over again. This means that Alex has stock the same produce areas each day. As boxes of are delivered to the store's supply room, Alex unloads their contents onto the shelves. Alex also must constantly reorganize the produce already on the shelves to make it look as orderly as possible. Most of the time, though. he doesn't feel inclined to do either task. (the store had apples on sale that day). Alex met Stephanie for lunch in the break room. After sitting down, Alex teached into his lunchbox and pulled out an apple a look of disgust on his face. "Ugh... If I have to look at another apple, I'm the oil Jonathan said that he'll give me a $75 bonus. So I'm definitely going to give it a shot. The nice thing is that I'll