Chapter $4$: Role Play

There are two scenarios for this chapter.

Divide students into groups of two:

$$ Student A $=$ human resources professional $($HRP$)$

$$ Student B $=$ maintenance worker $($MW$)$

The goal of this role play is to offer the opportunity to practise understanding how a competency$-$based model would impact the job of maintenance worker in a public$-$sector, not$-$for$-$profit organization.

Students read their script and then have three minutes to prepare what they want to say in order to convince the other side of their perspective.

$1.$ Time the discussion between the two students, which should take no longer than five to seven minutes.

$2.$ After five to seven minutes, stop the discussion and ask for issues that are arising out of the discussion and list them on the board.

$3.$ Students should be identifying perceptions that need to be addressed before the process can continue.

$4.$ Then have students repeat the discussion for five minutes to see if both the HRP and the MW are able to come to a common understanding.

Setting

The organization is a public$-$sector, not$-$for$-$profit community centre. The centre provides a range of services to a broad community, including fitness classes, swimming lessons, cooking classes, seniors clubs, and child care. Most employees of the centre are usually dealing with or involved with providing services to the public directly. Employees working in positions such as the maintenance worker do not usually have much direct public contact as their work involves ensuring that facilities are clean, equipment is running properly and safely, and the public can access the building in winter. They are responsible for minor equipment or property repairs.

The community centre has just changed the focus of its job descriptions to include competency$-$based requirements such as effective teamwork, valuing diversity and inclusion, and good customer relations.

ROLE: Human Resources Professional $($HRP$)$

A maintenance worker has asked to meet with you. The maintenance worker has put in a formal complaint that the new job descriptions, which include competency$-$based requirements, will have a negative impact on his$/$her job.

Scenario $1.$

You must explain to the maintenance worker how the new competency$-$based language will impact the job of maintenance worker in a positive way.

Scenario $2.$

You know that the maintenance worker chooses not to interact with people and is perceived as being a loner and is definitely not a team player. This is your opportunity to show the maintenance worker how his$/$her behaviour at work needs to change in accordance with the new competency$-$based requirements.

ROLE: Maintenance Worker $($MW$)$

You have been given a new job description that, in addition to all of your other duties, now requires you be an effective team member and provide good customer service. You work alone on the night shift and you have no contact with customers. You have filed a formal complaint with HR as a result of these additional requirements for your position.

Scenario $1.$

You do not understand how these new requirements will improve your job in any way. You want the HRP to explain why any of these requirements will help you in performing your already overloaded daily tasks. If you get a good explanation, you will withdraw your complaint.

Scenario $2.$

You filed your complaint to human resources because you think these new requirements are just a way to eliminate your job and you will be laid off. You want to know if this is true and what you need to do to keep your job.