The position of business office manager at Central Hospital has been a "hot seat," frequently changing incumbents. When the position was vacated last June, the four most senior employees in the department were interviewed. All were told that since they were at the top of grade and the salary structure for new supervisors had "not yet caught up with that of other jobs," the position would involve only a miniscule increase in pay. All four declined to interview for the position, but in the process all four were given the impression that they were not considered qualified anyway. They might, however, be considered at a later date.

That same month a new manager was hired from outside, and the four senior employees were instructed to "show the new boss everything she needs to know." Over the next few months the finance director, to whom the business office reported, told all four employees that they had "come along very nicely" and that they would be considered for the manager's position should it come open again.

Barely eight months after being hired, the manager resigned. However, none of the four senior employees got the job; the process described previously was repeated, and a new manager was hired from the outside.

Questions:

1. How do you believe the four senior employees would feel, having gone through the foregoing process twice?

2. What do you believe would be the attitude of the business office staff toward the organization?

3. What do you believe would be the attitudes of the four senior employees toward the finance director?

4. Is the apparent inequity in the organization's wage and salary structure at all justifiable? Why, or why not?