In 2019, Company X, manufactured a highly desired snack food in their factory. The production of this item occurred, five days a week, 24 hours a day. Production needs quickly escalated. Company X officials soon realized that in order to meet consumer demand, additional work shifts must be implemented. The decision was made to create two new shifts that would take place over the course of every weekend, until further notice. Now that the company added weekend hours, they needed people to work them.
Each additional shift required the combined work effort of six employees, four operators and two servicers. The operators were in charge of running the manufacturing equipment. They were paid ~$25/hr to keep the machines running. The servicers were responsible for stocking consumable materials in the equipment, in order to continue production. Servicers were paid ~$15/hr. 

Instead of equally distributing additional shifts to both positions, Company X decided to ask for volunteers. They proposed the opportunity to work additional operator shifts to some of the top servicers. The servicers were quick to accept this offer not only because it meant extra money in their pockets, but because there was an opportunity for them to display their higher skill set in hopes of a future promotion. The operators considered this new offer unfair. They came to the conclusion that Company X was not presenting operators with the equal opportunity for over-time because of the pay difference in positions. More than likely, the operators perceived officials formed this decision because it was much cheaper for the company to pay the servicers.
The Operators had a sudden shift in behavior. The operators perceived that the servicers were getting rewards that they were not entitled to. After all, they had not gone to operator school or worked on the production line as long. In addition, they also felt cheated for not being granted the same volunteer opportunities for extra shifts, especially since they were operators and the servicers were clearly not. Those once dedicated to Company X began calling in sick during their regular shifts. At times they even reduced their own level of effort in order to increase the amount of time needed to reach company goals. Raising the level of required time resulted in an inflated number of positions that needed to be filled.
For six long months, the servicers continued to sacrifice their weekends in hope of getting a raise to operator level pay. They believed they were deserving of this raise because of their steady contributions to the company. When servicers asked for a raise, they were told that Company X was unable to afford this type of promotion at the moment. Officials explained to the servicers that funds were insufficient due to the excessive amount of overtime they were paying to cover the production requirements.
Because the company was unable to provide proper rewards to these people, the servicers stopped volunteering for additional shifts. For months they have put countless hours into this company, hoping for recognition of their efforts. They perceived that Company X strung them along, offering them overtime in the position of an operator, to make them believe that if they helped the company out, they would receive something beneficial in return. Servicers came to the conclusion that working at an operator position for no raise in pay was certainly an example of Company X taking advantage of their situation.


I. What are some elements that contributed to feelings of unfairness, lack of motivation, or suggest that something has gone wrong?

 
II. What caused these symptoms?

EQUITY THEORY

A. Identify the effort and rewards for the staff of Company X:

Operators Inputs Servicers Inputs

Operators Outcomes Servicers Outcomes

B. Choose the appropriate Ratio Comparison to the Referent Other for the following employees
Operators Servicers

Over reward inequity Over reward inequity
Under reward Inequity Under reward Inequity
Equity Equity

C. What is the behavioral choice for each of the following employees based on their ration comparison? Give an example from the case study of this behavior.
Operators Servicers

Change in inputs Change in inputs
Change in outcomes Change in outcomes
Distort perceptions of self Distort perceptions of self
Distort perceptions of others Distort perceptions of others
Choose a different referent other Choose a different referent other
Leave field Leave field

 
D. Offer a solution for Company X using Organizational Justice:

• Distributive Justice
• Procedural Justice
• Informational Justice
• Interpersonal Justice

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

The following are some of the key statements from the case 1 While staffing the weekend shifts instead of giving the first right of refusal to the existing Operators the firm decided to ask Servicers ... View the full answer