This case analysis is based on American University for the Compensation Management, Human Resource Management. The following answers are for The Burger Boy.
1. What appear to be the problems at this Burger Boy?
There have several problems at this Burger Boy. The major problems are:
There have several problems at this Burger Boy. The major problems are:
· the two managers not managing the workload during absentees of the employees
· not managed replacement during the absentees
· letting too much pressures on employees
· error in performance in busy period due to over demand
· not enough breaks
· manger pointing directly to the employees in mass
· manager assigned excessive of working hour which caused over burden
· Managers not compensating the work of the employees as stated Newman gets compliment for his efforts after two weeks of joining.
2. How many of these problems could be explained by compensation issues?
The happiness brought by money is more important to the employees rather than other compensation as can be driven. Each position should get proper compensation plan and incentives to work harder. Otis, Assistant Store Manager, is not satisfied with his long work hours without getting overtime pay. If his position was not exempted and paid overtime, he might have been encouraged for extra efforts. Rush hour pay can be made higher to encourage the staff for the extra effort.
3. How many other problems could be lessened with diligent use of rewards other than pay?
Personal compliments or recognition for the extra effort the employees made as can be found from the happiness of Newman after getting complements. Also letting Merge to work an early extra half an hour to compensate her time to pick her daughter from the school at 2:30 or managing the school bus let her daughter drop at her work place. We can see Leon complaining about stock not being maintained which shows that he is either not motivated to work.
4. Are hours of work a reward? What might explain why I was happy to be working 20 hours per week, but Chuck was unhappy with 30 hours per week? How might schedules be used as a reward?
An extra hour of work can never be a reward for the employees, though they get higher payment but lose the time they can spend for their own. Chuck was working at the Drive-thru window where he is the only one to face directly to the customers. The more his colleagues make delay in supply of order the more angry face he had to face being at front. Though Chuck was getting higher pay and higher time, he was unhappy of not getting break.
As a reward, schedule can be huge motivating factor. Happiness is when there is balance between works and live. Getting a flexible work hour can help employees plan their lives. In case of Merge, if time was reward for her she could easily pick her daughter during her work hour. A scheduled job rotation could have been another mode of compensation since all the employees get to know the job nature of other. The monotonousness could have been broking by changing the job in between. This could have increased the extra skill to the employees which could have helped the Burger house to serve more efficiently in the rush hours.
