Explain the role of human resources within an organization and how the department supports managers. Analyze the personnel situation within the scenario. Describe how you would address the personnel situation through consultation with human resources.

Scenario

You serve as the Director of Clinical Services within the People First San Diego organization. In team meetings, longtime employee Patrice, a woman in her later 50s, is often belittling and condescending toward Bo, another social worker. Patrice rolls her eyes at Bo's ideas and mutters under her breath. Further, Patrice often needs to be corrected for using the wrong pronoun to describe Bo (who uses "they" and "them"). You are not sure why this dynamic is occurring, but you suspect it has something to do with Bo being young and identifying as nonbinary.

Patrice may see herself as the "old guard" who needs to establish order and police the team. Bo has not voiced any concern about the situation; however, other members of the team have expressed discomfort to you. When you address the comments individually with Patrice, she explains that she doesn't realize she has been doing it and implies that you are being too "touchy." The comments and behavior continue, and you are not sure what to do. You decide to consult with the human resources department.