Legal Environment of Human Resource Management

Case Assignment

Guidelines:

The case assignment is a 3-5 page (excluding cover references pages) paper written in APA format. A minimum of five (5) sources must be used to support your comments, although more sources are highly encouraged. Sources must be a combination of sources used in the course and sources found in independent research. All sources must be referenced and cited in the body of your assignment and formatted to APA criteria. Ensure that your paper includes a formal introduction, conclusion, and all required topics are separated by at the very minimum, section (Level 1) headings. Do not include an abstract as many students confuse an abstract with an introduction; however, an introduction is required. In addition to content, the assignment will be graded for spelling and grammar.

References/ Links that have to be used (at least 2 of them) and supportive articles at least 2 of them

Guerin, L. (n.d.). Employment at will: What does it mean? Nolo. Retrieved from https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/employment-at-will-definition-30022.html

At-will employment – Overview. (2008). The National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/at-will-employment-overview.aspx

Cotterell, T. (2018, August 22). Understanding Title VII: What organizations need to know about employees in protected classes. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2018/08/22/understanding-title-vii-what-organizations-need-to-know-about-employees-in-protected-classes/#698dd1f73a32

More history of Affirmative Action policies from the 1960s. (n.d.). American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity. Retrieved from https://www.aaaed.org/aaaed/history_of_affirmative_action.asp

Affirmative Action fast facts. (2019, Nov 13). CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/12/us/affirmative-action-fast-facts/index.html

United States Department of Labor. (n.d.). Sample Affirmative Action programs. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/aaps/aaps.htm

Schooley, S. (2019). Workplace harassment: How to recognize and report it. Business News Daily. Retrieved from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9426-workplace-harassment.html

Yahnke, K. (n.d.). 11 types of workplace harassment (and how to stop them). I-sight. Retrieved from https://i-sight.com/resources/11-types-of-workplace-harassment-and-how-to-stop-them/

Overview:

You have just been hired as the Human Resources (HR) Manager at Aunt Ella’s Pie Company. Aunt Ella’s is a relatively new company founded five years ago when Ella Moore began baking and selling pies from her home. Due to demand, her business has expanded rapidly.
The company has never had a HR Department and as the HR Manager,you are responsible to develop and implement HR policies, practices, and procedures to ensure the company is legally compliant. This company will also be the focus of your Signature Assignment. Note: Aunt Ella’s Pie Company is based in the United States and subject toU.S. statutes.

Ella now operates two bakeries that bake and distribute pies to local grocery store chains as well as selling them in the bake shop that adjoins each bakery.
Between the two locations Ella employs 20 full time and 35 part time employees. Ella has found that hiring part time employees gives her better flexibility in scheduling and doesn’t require
her to provide them with benefits offered to full time employees.
However, during the last two Thanksgiving and holiday seasons to meet demand, many of the employees worked more than 40 hours a week receiving the same hourly rate for all hours worked. Employees include actual bakers, packaging and distributing staff, truckers and delivery people, bake shop clerks, and a small accounting staff. Ella is also considering hiring an Information Technology professional to help her automate her business.
The demographics in the towns in which Ella has her operations is roughly 65% Caucasian, 20% African-American, 10% Latino, 3% Asian, and 2% Native American. Roughly 70% of the employee population is comprised of minorities, but almost all supervisory positions are filled by Caucasians.
The population of the two towns is relatively older with more than 70% of the citizens over age 40. The employee demographic at Aunt Ella’s is 15% under the age of 40.
Although the town is roughly 50% male and 50% female, roughly 70% of the employees at Aunt Ella’s is male.
Although there have been no formal complaints, female employees have discussed feeling uncomfortable around some of the male employees who have made rude sexual remarksabout them and have discussed sexual topics in their presence. A few Caucasian employees have made derogatory statements about some minorities and used racial epithets that have offended others
Content Requirements:
How will you assess the company’s dynamics and identify existing and potential issues?

1. Discuss how you will determine if employees should be classified as at-will employees. How will you communicate with employees to help them to understand the nature of at-will employment in the organization?

2. Describe how the employment relationship will change if the bakers, sales staff, and warehouse workers choose to organize with a labor union. How will a collective bargaining agreement affect Aunt Ella’s Pie Company?

3. Discuss applicable federal anti-discrimination laws and the policies and strategies you will develop to ensure that all applicants and employees have equal employment opportunities under the law.

4. How might an Affirmative Action plan help you to develop and implement recruiting, employee development, and succession planning policies?

5. Describe the relationship between harassment and discrimination in the workplace. What policies and strategies will you implement to mitigate the legal risks of discrimination and harassment in relation to your anti-discrimination policies and practices?