Discipline Case $$ AQE Computers $($Individual Assignment, $10\%)$

HRMG $3200$ Labour Relations

Assignment Description:

$1.$ This case describes a workplace incident that may warrant discipline. As the Director of Labour Relations for AQE Computers Company, you are expected to decide what discipline $($if any$)$ is warranted based on the facts of this case. In providing a written account of your decision, you should state what events, circumstances, and facts you relied upon. You should also demonstrate how you applied the criteria that arbitrators use when determining whether or not appropriate discipline has been given to an employee.

$2.$ You should indicate $(1)$ what the discipline is for, and $(2)$ what type of discipline is to be given. If you recommend a suspension, you must indicate whether it is for $1$ day, $2$ days, $1$ week, or $2$ weeks $($or whatever period you decide$),$ and the reason why you chose that period. If you do not discipline an employee, you should explain the reason why.

$3.$ Regardless of what decisions you make regarding discipline, the reasoning supporting your recommendations is more important than the precise discipline $($if any$)$ that is handed out.

$4.$ In a memo addressed to a colleague of yours in management $($Della Street, Director of Operations for the Company$)$ indicate what disciplinary action $($if any$)$ you will recommend for the three employees involved in the incident. You should cite important case facts and how they have influenced your thinking, but you should not give a summary of the case facts. You should justify your recommendations and complete this assignment in four $(4)$ typewritten, double$-$spaced pages, or less. $($Your cover page is not included in this page count.$)$

$5.$ If you use any sources other than HRMG $3200$ course notes or PPT slides, you should provide a list of such sources at the end of this assignment $($this includes the use of any chatbot or other digital technology$).$

$($A$)$ Background:

$6.$ AQE Computers is a distributor of name brand computers and peripherals in Burnaby, BC$.$ It distributes monitors, printers, scanners, and other peripherals for a wide range of suppliers. AQE also manufactures no$-$name computers, which are custom made$-$to$-$order for small computer outlets.

$7.$ The Company employs $70$ people, of which $45$ work in the warehousing and computer assembly areas. The employees are represented by the Computer and Allied Workers Union, Local $56.$ The bargaining unit was certified in $2010.$ In general, labour$-$management relations between the Company and both its employees and the Union are good. Collective bargaining negotiations are, however, usually difficult because the Company is in a very competitive industry and the Union always presses for rates of pay and benefits such as those achieved in larger warehousing operations.

$8.$ There is always a certain amount of tension in the workplace. Due to the very competitive nature of the product market, the Company is in a business that operates on a $$just$-$in$-$time$$ basis, which frequently creates pressure to meet tight production and delivery targets.

$9.$ The Company also operates a small over$-$the$-$counter service that sells directly to local retail customers who pick up their own merchandise or do so by courier. Customers enter through a secured back entrance and enter a large room with a service counter. The main warehouse is on the other side of the counter, in the full view of customers. Customers are served by warehouse personnel who in turn pick up their orders from stock $($if not already pre$-$picked and held at the counter$)$ and complete the necessary payment transactions.

$10.$ Given the high value of inventory on hand and as a deterrent to theft, the Company employs three security guards who move about the entire workplace, including the office areas, on a random basis.

$($B$)$ The Incident:

$11.$ Earlier today, at approximately $3$:$00$ p$.$m$.,$ a customer entered the over$-$the$-$counter service area to pick up a new computer system. The order had been placed early in the day for pick up by $1$:$00$ p$.$m$.$ As on many other days, it was very busy at the counter. A number of customers were in the process of being served. A courier was waiting for a product, another customer was engaged in a discussion over payment, and this new customer was late and very much in a hurry.

$12.$ The customer was approached by Dan Bialecki, a counter rep, who located the paperwork and then proceeded to check three holding areas for the computer system. The order was not there. Dan turned around, saying he would be back in a minute, and headed down one of the aisles.

$13.$ Shortly thereafter, Dan reappeared, heading toward the customer service counter along with another employee, Henry Robertson. Henry is one of the warehouse employees responsible for picking and assembling orders. Dan, looking very irritated and waving the paperwork as he walked, was speaking with He