MEDIATOR MERLOT (Mediator) You have been asked by Rolling Hills Winery to mediate a matter with a former employee. This is in the pre-Iitigation stage, although you know the employee who was dismissed was over 50 years old. In addition, you are aware that there is some dispute about the amount the former employee received in the last paycheck. Pat, aged 51, is a wine chemist who was recruited by Robert Kendall several years ago to work for the Rolling Hills Winery in Paso Robles at a salary of $725.00 per week. While Pat was employed at Rolling Hills, an assistant, Leslie, aged 31, was hired to help Pat in the lab. Pat was very excited about the autumn crush of grapes that would be going into this year's Merlot and is excited that it very well could be an award winner for the region. Pat takes wine chemistry very seriously as any professional would. Work is work, however, and Pat does not socialize with other employees. Leslie, although interested in learning the profession, is more gregarious and can be seen lunching with other employees and generally seems to like the socializing that can be part of the workplace. Last month, Charlie Parsons, who is Rolling Hills CFO, along with Marta Terry, who is the Corporate Sales and HR. Manager walk into the lab to talk to Pat. After a heated discussion, Pat is terminated and walked off the property. Marta tells Pat that there will be severance pay. A week later Pat gets the final paycheck but it only reflects pay through the end of that last week and nothing else. Pat also hears that Leslie is now functioning as a wine chemist in the lab and knows that Leslie earns only $450.00 a week. Pat has emailed Kendall that these facts are despicable and Kendall offered for Rolling Hills Winery to mediate the dispute with Pat; Pat has accepted. Pat's perspective: I can't believe they could have chosen Leslie over me. I am outraged; Leslie has no background or training as a wine chemist other than what I have done in "teaching the ropes.\" lfl had known that l was competing for myjob I would have never been so open with Leslie. Leslie is unbelievable at currying favor to everyone. I suspected more was happening in those get-togethers than just socializing. Leslie was trying to plot a way in and was successful. lwouldn't want to work there anyway, but this is damaging to my reputation and I need to be compensated properly and helped in finding a new job. We were on the verge of a major breakthrough with the Merlot this fall and I can't believe Leslie is going to get the credit. This isn't right and it can't be made right...compensation is the only way to make them pay. Rolling Hills Winery perspective: Even if you don't turn on the television or read the paper, it is obvious that the economy has taken a severe hit and that no one is getting away unscathed. People who used to clamor for our latest releases now stock up on less expensive wine at Trader Joe's. Unfortunately Pat is the latest victim of this downturn. However, Pat is mistaken about Leslie. Leslie never replaced Pat or got Pat'sjob title, let alone pay. With things so bad, we might even have to let Leslie go! We know Pat received a final check as our accounting department can verify that. We feel bad for Pat; we know that the other wineries in the region are taking the same drastic measures that we have. I don't know how we can help Pat without giving a blank check