Case Study Analysis: Leadership, Legal and Ethical Considerations

This assignment analyzes five workplace case studies, each presenting unique challenges for managers. The first case involves an employee requesting early leave for religious observance, prompting consideration of productivity, legal requirements, and management responses. The second case examines a Muslim staff member's reluctance to shake hands with female clients, focusing on cultural diversity and sexual discrimination. The third case involves an employee refusing to serve a customer due to perceived racism, highlighting legal requirements and management actions. The fourth case explores sexual orientation discrimination, emphasizing legal and ethical considerations. The final case addresses an employee's depression and the support needed, considering legal requirements and managerial responses. The analysis covers legal requirements, ethical considerations, and appropriate management strategies for each scenario.

1. Review the case studies document.
Case study one
Valarie is employed as an Administration Officer. She also answers calls from customers. Valarie has
recently married and converted to Judaism. Her husband follows the Jewish faith and converting was
something she felt was really important to her new relationship. Valarie has mentioned that she would like to
leave work early on Friday afternoon to begin to observe the Sabbath.
Valarie has now written a formal letter to you requesting permission to leave work early on Friday
afternoons. She has stated that she will take responsibility to catch up on any missed work.
The company does not currently have flexible working arrangements.
Valarie has been employed with the company for 2 years and is a permanent employee.
Consider:
 What issues do you consider in your response?
The issues that are considered during the response includes lack of productivity due to early leave every
Friday
 What are the legal requirements?
The legal requirements include ethical consideration and equality of work for all members following Judaism,
as a religion needs to be maintained
 What would be your response as a Manager?
The response will be negative since other employees practising the same religion do not have to leave
early. Hence, equality needs to be maintained at the workplace
Case study two
You have observed that a Muslim staff member never shakes hands with female clients. You are concerned
that this will impact on his relationships. You are considering asking him to shake female clients’ hands.
Consider:
 What issues should you consider in your response?
Issues to be considered includes cultural diversity and the fact that sexual discrimination need not be
maintained at the workplace
 What are the legal requirements?
As per the sexual discrimination act, none of the workers can be discriminated in terms of gender. Hence,
for the Muslim worker this particular act needs to be followed as part of the organisational policy
 As a Manager, how should you deal with this issue?
Confidence among the worker need to be developed and a session regarding the reason for such behaviour
need to be conducted.
Case study three
A staff member, Delores, has approached you with a request not to have to deal with a particular customer
because they feel she is treating them in a racist manner.
Consider:
 Can she refuse to deal with a customer on these grounds?
No, she cannot refuse to deal on the grounds of racial behaviour. Racial discrimination on any ground need
to be abolished as a practise
 What are the legal requirements?
The legal requirement include abiding by the rules of Racial Discrimination Act in which none of the clients
or employees can be rejected based on personal vendetta or any cultural difference

 As a Manager, how should you deal with this issue?
I would suspend Dolores without pay and assign other employees to deal with the particular customer. This
can help in understanding the policy that can be implemented in the organisation
Case study four
In a meeting with you (Team Leader), a staff member, Jackie, expresses a concern to you. They have
recently disclosed their sexuality to a colleague, Jill, whom they have always got on well with. Jill was
surprised and stated that she has a strong moral objection to lesbians and gay men. Jill had said as she felt
it was not acceptable to be a lesbian but did want maintain a positive relationship with Jackie, she requested
Jackie should help in this matter by not referring greatly to their sexuality again.
Consider:
 Is this response acceptable?
No, this response is not acceptable
 What are the issues to consider?
The issues that need to be taken into consideration are the sexual discrimination in which the choices of
sexual orientation are violated and discrimination takes place between the concerned orientations among
the people.
 What are the legal requirements?
The legal requirements is to maintain dealing with the sexual orientation of the people in the hopes that
peaceful diversity between the two persons can be maintained in the workplace
 As a Manager, how should you deal with this issue?
This issue can be dealt with by forcing the two people to work together. It is also necessary that the two
people forget their differences and work as co-workers for the development of the organisations.
Case study five
A staff member employed with the company for five years ago was diagnosed with depression about a year
ago. She did not tell you until three months ago, when she confided in you about what she was experiencing
and the treatment she was getting from her doctor and therapist. A month ago the staff member was signed
off on sick leave.
She returned to work last week but is overwhelmed. You are prepared to help this staff member for another
month but after that, you are feeling it might be time to terminate the staff member’s employment.
Consider:
 What support could you offer the staff member?
Support can be offered in terms of psychological counselling. The staff member needs to be brought about
in normal life as soon as possible
 Are there any legal requirements?
Legal requirement related to Disability act and work health and safety act need to be implemented in this
case for the staff member
 As a Manager, how should you deal with this issue?
The issue need to be dealt with subtly so that the staff member can have enough time to heal herself and
join the workforce.