It$$s all about the desk chair at Volcano Software Inc.

John is an IT programmer working at Volcano Software, Inc., which was founded in

$2010$ in Manchester, UK$.$ The software programming industry has been booming in

the United Kingdom in recent years, and Jonh$$s workplace is no exception; Volcano

has grown from just ten programmers in $2010$ to $124$ in $2018.$ The company rewards

its employees with the highest salaries in the country; they earn twice as much as

other employees in similar UK$-$based companies. The company follows an open$-$space

office design, and each employee has their own computer station.

Work at the company is described by employees as $$very demanding$.$ Work begins

early in the morning and does not finish before $20$:$00$ for most programmers in the

company. Employees often do not have any free time, as each employee is assigned

to a software project with pressing deadlines demanding continuous coding work.

After two years of employment, John started suffering from backaches. John told his

supervisor about his health problems, which sometimes prevented him from having a

good night$$s sleep. The supervisor's response was not very helpful; he only suggested

that John consult a physiotherapist.

John$$s new physiotherapist informed him that the treatment might require routine visits

over a one$-$month period. The physiotherapist also noted that he had seen similar

cases before and that the problem might be due to the chairs used at the office. He

recommended that the chairs be replaced. When John told his supervisor, the latterpointed out that the company had taken a decision not to increase its budget for the

next two years.

John thought of quitting, but he knew that it would be difficult to find another company

that would pay him as well. John talked to his colleague, David, about this issue. David

told him that Volcano has a history of ignoring health issues and that a colleague at

the company quit her job after suffering from severe eye problems. Moreover, Davis

had experienced similar pain in his wrist and had to buy his own mouse pad to prevent

further problems. David advised John not to make a fuss as this could upset the

supervisor and lead to further difficulties.

Frustrated, John found that his work life was becoming miserable. His backache

continued to increase, and so did the frequency of his visits to the doctor. David started

Group $34,53$ & $36$: Answer questions $1,2,$ & $3$

Group $37$ & $38$: Answer questions $4,5,$ & $6$

Presentation time $=15$

minutes per group!!

noticing John$$s deteriorating health and his irritability. A few days later, John handed

in his resignation papers to his supervisor.

Questions

$1.$ Critically discuss how HRM practices, such as selective hiring, can be used to

promote health and safety in the workplace.

$2.$ Critically analyse workplace stressors, and identify the key workplace stressors

which affected employees at Volcano Software, Inc.

$3.$ Discuss the relevance of individual differences in response to stress. Include at

least three individual differences in your response.

$4.$ The consequences of stressors can have detrimental effects on employees' health

and wellbeing. Discuss three main categories of strain and analyse how John was

affected by the consequences of stressors at Volcano Software, Inc.

$5.$ Discuss three types of interventions applicable in reducing and managing stress in

the workplace, and advise the management at Volcano Software, Inc.

$6.$ To what extent is stress at work an individual or organisational phenomenon?