Case Problem: Janine Schemes to Avoid being Laid Off

1. To what extent do you think Janine is exploiting the companys interest in having a culturally diverse workforce?
2. What do you think of the ethics of Janine coming to work using a walker although she can walk without the help of a walker or with one or two canes?
3. If you were an executive at the company in which Janine works, how would her status as a walker- user influence you to retain her as an employee?

CASE PROBLEM: Janine Schemes to Avoid Being Laid Off Janine, a middle-aged woman, works for a commercial printer manufacturer as a quality assurance engineer. physically challenged workers on the payroll. Janine pur- fort to be more culturally diverse, including having more She has received average performance ratings on her chases a walker that she finds helpful when her spinal last few performance evaluations. Six months ago, she stenosis is the most painful. She now begins to use the was diagnosed as having the early stages of spinal ste- walker two days a week on the job. As Janine explained nosis. The condition is a narrowing of the space around to her husband and a few close friends. The company the spinal cord that puts pressure on the spinal canal and will never lav off an engineer who uses a Walker, nerve roots. The condition is painful, but most days Ja - One day Janine receives an e-mail from her manager nine can walk well, although she sometimes uses one or of human resources, asking her if she would be able to two canes to be more mobile. provide medical documentation of her need for the use Although printed material is still a major part of the of a walker at work. Janine thought to herself, "No prob- economy, including books, newspapers, magazines, and lem here. I can find a physician to document the severity the packaging of goods, the industry is in decline. Many of my spinal stenosis." commercial printing companies have folded or consoli- dated. One factor is that the electronic delivery of docu- Case Questions ments has drastically shrunk the need for printed station 1. To what extent do you think Janine is exploiting the ary and envelopes. Janine is becoming fearful that she company's interest in having a culturally diverse workforce? could become part of a company downsizing. With her 2. What do you think of the ethics of Janine coming to present physical condition, she would find it particularly work using a walker although she can walk without painful for her and her family to go through the process the help of a walker, or with one or two canes? of relocating geographically for a new position. 3. If you were an executive at the company in which Janine then develops a plan for minimizing the chances Janine works, how would her status as a walker-user that she might be part of a company downsizing. She has influence you to retain her as an employee? heard and observed that the company is making an ef