Fred Smith Harvard case Synopsis case Nickles – First female manager in company
ID: 450023 • Letter: F
Question
Fred Smith Harvard case
Synopsis case
Nickles – First female manager in company
Fred dismayed when several of his co workers make sexually explicit and lewd comments about her
No comments made in front of Nickles
Smith ignores comments overhead in the bathroom
Comments are affecting how he works with her
He knows the comments are unprofessional and possibly damaging
Assignment question
1. What are Smith’s options and what are the consequences of each
Say nothing and live with both the talk and the behavior
Confront his co-workers and demand a change in their behavior
Tell Nickles about the remark and let her deal with the situation
Report the behavior to upper management
Transfer out of the unit or resign from the company with or without an explanation to his superiors
2. What are the rights or duties – if any – at Stake here?
What principles are involved
3. Can the behavior of Smith’s colleagues be considered sexual harassment?
Why or why not?
4. If you were Fred Smith, what course of action would you take
Explanation / Answer
What are Smith’s options and what are the consequences of each
Smith should confront his co-workers and demand a change in their behavior, if the situation doesn’t changes than he should report the behavior to upper management.
What are the rights or duties – if any – at Stake here
Being an employee of the organization Smith has full right to report anything which he is not comfortable with, while working with the organization.
As a colleague and employee of the organization if other colleagues are not comfortable with the current female manager, it is the duty of the employee to report the same to senior management also to ensure that no one makes a female manager uncomfortable as she is chosen as manager by senior management and hence she has to be respected equally.
Can the behavior of Smith’s colleagues be considered sexual harassment?
Why or why not
Since the colleagues are passing sexually explicit and lewd comments hence it has to be considered as an attempt for sexual harassment and severely dealt with.
If you were Fred Smith, what course of action would you take
If I would have been Fred, first I must have confronted my colleagues when they started passing comments and if that does not results in positive outcome, I would have surely reported the issue to senior management to ensure that every one is in syncronization with the organizations regulations and policies.
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