Laguna State Polytechnic University

Los Baños Campus

Malinta, Los Baños, Laguna

CASE STUDY FOR FINALS:

THE BONE OF CONTENTION

SUBMITTED BY:
BSBA II-B

MEMBERS

Burgos, Eunice T.
Reynante, Zandra Marie A.
Tarlet, Desah Mari A.
Villarino, John Oliver M.

SUBMITTED TO:

Mr. Romnick E. Pascual

Subject Teacher

May 14, 2019

 CASE STUDY:
The Bone of Contention
Bella has been with LLC Corp., a clothing industry, for the past three years
working as one of the finance staff. She joined the company right after graduation, and,
due to diligence, rose from the ranks. She is a Certified Public Accountant from a
reputable school in Metro Manila. Apparently at the onset, she was happy and content
with her work, regularly receiving her monthly remuneration on time. She received
added benefits accruing to ordinary employees like her, such as 13th moth pay, midyear
bonuses, and uniform allowances. She received average industry rates for her type of
job.
Patty was a classmate of Bella. She recently joined LLC Corp. also as a finance
staff, being herself an accounting graduate. Unlike Bella, she had been to different
companies, transferring from one job to the other. Because of her various experiences,
she was offered a premium over her last salary upon joining the company. She received
a salary higher than that of Bella.
Office idiosyncrasies were plenty in LLC Corp. Because of this, Bella was able
to get information on Patty’s salary. Having been with the company for so long time,
Bella felt depressed and demotivated upon learning of the big disparity in their salaries,
considering that Patty was a newcomer. Also, Patty was new in the field, although the
work was also related to her educational background and past work experiences. Despite
the benefits Bella was entitled to receive, she did not get a sufficient periodic salary
increases in return for her loyalty and dedication. In fact, her present salary including
past merit increases, is still lower than that being received by Patty.
Despite all these, Bella remained friendly with Patty, but maintained a distance
which could be felt by the latter. There seemed to be some silent hostility between the
two, the reason for which Patty could not understand. In fact, she was unaware of the
salary of Bella. Being only new in the company, she did not have any access to such
information.
After some time, friendliness was transformed into a mere civilized co-existence.
Behind the back of Patty, some things were heard. Competence was being questioned,
every move watched. Patty felt limited and unfree. She admitted she was new to the
company. But she was eager to learn. She tried to stay after office hours to learn the
ropes of the trade, in spite of her other activities such as school work.
Fortunately for the two, Bella was to be assigned to one of the company’s foreign
branches. She was recommended by her former boss who was assigned also to some
other foreign office. However, while waiting for the time of her departure, she remained
as a finance staff, receiving the same salary. During this time, relations between the two
somehow improved. Patty sensed that there was something bothering Bella and so she
tried to be as cordial and patient as possible. Also, she had a hint as to what was causing
the anxiety of Bella. The situation, however, affected the performance of Patty. She
could not concentrate on the things she had to do. In the office, she became conscious
of what people might say. She was afraid to commit mistakes, and hence afraid to try
to do things unless she knew them. Since she was new to the company, most of the
things that had to be done were unfamiliar to her. Thus, her performance suffered.
I. Point of View

Our group decided to use the point of view of Employees’ Relation.

II. Synopsis

Bella is a Certified Public Accountant from a reputable school in Manila

who works at the LLC Corp. for the past three (3) years. She was very
diligent, happy, and content with her work. Patty, who was her classmate in
college, an accounting graduate and also have many working experiences in
various companies. Patty received a salary higher than that of Bella. Bella got
depressed and demotivated with the big disparity in their salary. There
existed a silent hostility between Bella and Patty. Rumors were heard behind
Patty’s back and her competence was questioned. Patty had a hint as to what
was causing Bella’s anxiety which affected her performance.

III. Statement of the Problem

What could the HR Manager do to settle Patty’s concern as well as Bella’s

(demotivation/anxiety) and help them improve employee’s relationship to
each other?

IV. Areas for Consideration

SWOT ANALYSIS

BELLA PATTY

 Certified Public Accountant from a  Had many working experiences with

reputable school in Metro Manila various companies.
S  Works in the company for the  Had a lot of skills, self-reliant.
past 3 years
  Unprofessional.
W  Envious.
 Since she’s a CPA, there are more
opportunities for her.
O  She can be prone for promotions
 She can earn a lucrative salaries.
 Other companies may offer her a
job with a higher salaries.
 Due to her unprofessionalism, there
T can be a wider rationale for her to
affect her job but also the job of the
other person.
 Cannot focus on her job because of
her behavior as easily get affected
with the idiosyncrasies.
 Not a CPA but an accounting
graduate.
 A newcomer in the LLC Corp.
 Because of her previous jobs, she
can be an expert with different job
relating skills.
 Since she have a lot of experiences
at work, she’s very flexible and
don’t need to train a lot.
 Since she is just a newcomer and
not a board passer, her competence
will be questioned.
V. Problem Flow Diagram

Office Idiosyncrasies

Salary Disparities

Causes the anxiety of Bella

Competence of Patty is
and of her being hostile to
being questioned
Patty

Performance of Patty is
being affected
VI. Alternative Solution

Alternative Solution #1
Set a conference between the Heads of the Company and the Board of
Directors/President addressing the issues/problems contributing to the
overall problem of the company and come up with the best solution to each
of these problems.

Alternative Solution #2
JOB REDESIGN

Alternative Solution #3
Re-computing the salary equation of all employees

Alternative Solution #4
Provide an amended Corporate Code of Ethics and Conduct likewise as
to the Company’s Rules and Regulations including the Sanctions and
Penalties which will be implemented and to be complied by all employees
of the company.

VII. Evaluation of Alternative Solution

Alternative Solution #1
Set a conference between Bella and Patty with their immediate
supervisor or department head addressing the issues/problems contributing
to the overall problem of the company and come up with the best solution to
each of these problems.

PROS CONS
 Best course of wise decision-  Presence of biases which could
making affect decision-making

Alternative Solution #2
JOB REDESIGN

PROS CONS
 Multiple benefits are achieved  Overload in work load and
such as gaining new knowledge, mishandling of tasks
expansion of skills and particularly to new and
expertise, job satisfaction, unfamiliar ones.
 elimination of boredom,
acquiring many opportunities,
and developing a challenging
mindset.

Alternative Solution #3
Re-computing the salary equation of all employees

PROS CONS
 Equal salary distribution for all  Equal salary distribution for all
employees which should be employees which should be
discreet so as to avoid unwanted discreet so as to avoid unwanted
problems. problems.

Alternative #4
Provide an amended Corporate Code of Ethics and Conduct likewise as
to the Company’s Rules and Regulations including the Sanctions and
Penalties which will be implemented and to be complied by all employees
of the company.

PROS CONS
 Establish better and polished  Non-compliance of hard-headed
foundation for the company employees.
serving as basis to effectively
and efficiently manage the
entire company and creating a
harmonious working
environment.

VIII. Decision

In this case, we have concluded that the best thing to do is to set a

conference between Bella and Patty with their immediate supervisor or
department head addressing the issues/problems contributing to the overall
problem of the company and come up with the best solution to each of these
problems.
Assuming both of them had raised each of their concerns to the HR
Manager, he could explain first to Bella what had become the basis for the
salaries given to each employees and reprimand her about the wrongful act
she committed.
 And as for Patty, the best thing to do would be to motivate her and don’t
mind what her officemates talks behind her back.
They could also do or make activities to better improve the relationships
between colleagues and to avoid such situations.

IX. Implementation

Step 1: Set a meeting with Bella and Patty with their head
departments or supervisor.
Step 2: Along with the discussion, they must include in the conference the
following plan of action, goal-setting, amending the company’s rules,
regulation, policies, sanctions, and Code of Ethics, salary disparity, job
redesign and motivational methods.
Step 3: “Brainstorm” their ideas, suggestions and recommendations to
the problem.
Step 4: On the other hand, there should be the formation and approval of
specialized committee to study the situation of the employees’ salaries and
income, as well as suggesting new structure to reduce the current disparity and
contradictions.
Step 5: Implement the plan and close the controversies so it won’t affect their
performance.

X. Contingency Plan

In case the alternative solution #1 fails, they could have settle with the
alternative solution #2, which is to have a job redesign.

This alternative involves the implementation of Job Enlargement, Job

Rotation, and Job Enrichment as part of the process of motivating an
employee.

XI. Management Concepts Manifested in the Case

Communication – there should have an effective communication so other

employees won’t have guessing games.

Job Security – It’s important to understand that people want to feel safe and
secure.
Motivation –
(Intrinsic) Bella can’t motivate herself because of enviousness she felt for
Patty.
(Extrinsic) It’s important that there is someone who will help you grow by
giving you coaches or motivation

Confidentiality of Information – everyone works in an organization should

maintain the confidentiality of information of their co-workers.

Professional Competition – it’s very healthy to have a competition but take

them as challenge not as a threat.