Negotiation Role Play & Reflection

MGT5ERN: ASSIGNMENT 3
NEGOTIATION ROLE PLAY & REFLECTION
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Reflection of Member 2: Role- Employee
The dispute resolution and negotiation simulation exercise were used to provide a situation
for my team members to interact with each other. The role that was assigned to me was that
of the bus driver or the employee for Bundoora Bus Company, Casey Connor. According to
the role play simulation, I have been working in the bus company for the last 8 years and has
been since then working hard as they have been a great employer as well. I have a great track
record in the company as I am very hard working, honest and loyal. However, I am also a
blue-collar Australian employee and a member of the labour union since the beginning.
During the role play, as I was about to return home after work, I was asked to take the
monthly drug test by our company's HR manager Sam Smiley. As an employee of Bundoora
Bus Company, all members had to sign the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) that
included the drug test in its latest provision. As I support that driving while intoxicated is
wrong, I agreed to the provision and signed the agreement. As I knew I had nothing to hide, I
willingly took the test. However, the test was humiliating as I had to provide a urine sample
in a washroom in the presence of a manager. I felt it as a violation of rights to privacy, but as
I signed the EBA, I did it nonetheless. Then I was asked to wait with the other selected
drivers until the test was conducted. After some time, all the other drivers were asked to
leave, and when I asked Sam if anything was wrong, he was dismissive towards me and just
asked to wait a little longer.
After waiting for about 90 minutes, Sam introduced me with Jamie Joiner and EAP
consultant who has just arrived. I was informed that my initial drug test has resulted positive,
and it is being sent for a confirmation test. As of now, I have been suspended with pay from
the job, and if the confirmation test also turns out positive, I will be terminated from the
company. However, Jamie was here to help and support me by negotiating on my behalf
about the consequences. It was Jamie who pointed out that making me wait for 90 minutes
without briefing about the details was unreasonable and was a violation of my rights. Jamie
also came with an alternative solution to dismissal, and I had to seek a residential treatment
which Sam said I had to pay on my own. As I had recently purchased a house and a huge
mortgage is due for payment, termination from the job was not an option and also paying the
$10,000 for residential treatment was also not possible. Moreover, I knew I was innocent, and
hence, I defended myself vehemently. However, it was soon clear to me that both Sam and
Jaime had made up their mind that I am guilty and would not listen to my defence. This was
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