Final Exam Case Study
Name
Institution
Course
Instructor
Date
Final Exam Case Study
Question 1
Commercial interests, prison difficulties, and equality are considered when personnel are
delayed. Long-term profitability and the retention of top talent can be achieved through
performance-based redundancies (Timsina, 2024). The advantage is that the company retains its
peak performers who contribute to its success. However, this appears biased, and individuals
must remember long-serving employees' hard work and accomplishments. While work duration
reflects loyalty and seniority, it also perpetuates employees who need to be more capable of
adapting to new challenges or could be more productive. Salary-based redundancies result in
immediate cost savings but also result in the loss of highly skilled and experienced individuals
entitled to a higher salary. Retained employees are guaranteed to satisfy future business
objectives by possessing the requisite competencies (Ngozi & Edwinah, 2022).
Nevertheless, this approach is difficult to assess and subjective. Although eliminating
positions based on challenging criteria simplifies operations, it also results in the loss of
competent workers. Lastly, while it appears to be a fast fix, reducing transient personnel often
results in losing critical knowledge and project delays. Other variables encompass innovative
contributions or employee adaptability. To retain the most talented employees and achieve long-
term strategic goals, I would prioritize performance and prospective skill set requirements if I
were Jenna.
Question 2
If overall performance is a firing criterion, Jenna must acquire complete and objective
performance data for each employee. Annual performance reviews should include an employee's
successes, progress, and development. Productivity measures like money-completed projects and
customer pride quantify an employee's contributions. Jenna should also remember milestones
and contributions to significant projects or company goals from individual performance
appraisals (Dank & Hellström, 2020). Other essential factors include peer and supervisor
feedback, which gives a more complete picture of an employee's cooperation, management, and
influence. Disciplinary actions, commendations, and reward data must be examined to provide a
fair review. Information will be accessible via the agency's Human Resources Information
System (HRIS), where it is stored.
Performance management tools and traditional evaluation structures will also provide
valuable information (Murphy, 2020). Jenna should ensure that all performance assessments are
uniform and unbiased throughout the company to avoid biases. Department managers provide
context and insights into the papers. These varied data factors let Jenna make impartial, well-
informed judgments on which employees to fire. This reduces the potential of criminal charges
and assures fairness.
Question 3
Jenna should provide a fair, transparent, and lawful termination procedure to reduce the
danger of unjust terminations. She should first identify realistic layoff criteria, including
performance indicators, project skillsets, and tenure. Use these criteria consistently for all
impacted workers to prevent discrimination or favoritism allegations. Jenna must follow labor
rules, including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which
mandates 60-day notice for factory closings and significant layoffs (Jaller et al., 2022). Due to
the number of impacted workers, VTI is not legally compelled to comply with WARN, but
following its recommendations shows good faith and reduces legal risks. She should also check
the layoff list legally to ensure it does not unfairly harm protected classifications, including age,
ethnicity, gender, and disability. This evaluation helps discover unequal impacts, enabling
revisions before completing the list. The whole decision-making process must be documented.
Jenna should document the criteria, decision rationales, and staff discussions. Defense against
legal issues benefits from this material. Supporting layoff victims with severance payments,
career counseling, and job placement reduces the damage and shows the company's commitment
to fairness. By following these procedures, Jenna avoids unjust termination accusations and
secures a lawful layoff.
Question 4
The draft notice letter to impacted workers and email to all employees are straightforward
and empathic but might be enhanced to serve their audiences better. The notification letter clearly
explains the painful decision, details the working notice term, post-working notice period, and
severance payout, and thanks workers for their efforts. However, incorporating HR
representatives' contact information for instant queries and giving emotional assistance like
therapy might improve the message. This additional information would assist impacted workers
in managing this difficult transition with a more thorough support system. While educational, the
notice to all workers should be more compassionate and focused on the company's future.
Currently, it emphasizes layoffs and productivity. To enhance, the memo could address the
emotional effect on surviving workers and reassure them about the company's objectives to
stabilize and expand. Including a message about impending team cohesiveness and morale
support helps reduce worry and create togetherness. Encouraging workers to submit comments
or attend a leadership Q&A session might boost openness and confidence during this difficult
time. Improvements would show the company's dedication to its personnel and boost morale and
engagement.
Question 5
Jenna must understand the emotional effect of the layoffs and openly communicate to the
top brass to improve branch morale. Restoring trust requires open communication (Kähkönen et
al., 2021). Jenna must have regular meetings so workers can voice issues, ask questions, and
learn about the company's future. Employees must be reassured about process security and the
company's recovery and development objectives. Also, acknowledging little successes and
efforts boosts morale. Employee participation in decision-making and project planning helps
them manipulate and reason, creating a positive work atmosphere (Lartey, 2021). Jenna provides
professional development programs and training sessions that connect with the company's new
strategic plan and motivate and engage employees. This empowers workers with essential skills
and shows the company's engagement in their growth. Mentorship software builds team
connections and promotes knowledge exchange. Incentivizing employees with performance
bonuses or extra time off boosts motivation. Live interviews are vital to understanding what
inspires workers to stay with the company and address any possible difficulties. Flexibility and a
healthy work-life balance help retain top talent and make the last workforce feel appreciated and
supported throughout this transition.
Question 6
Jenna must set clear performance expectations and targets associated with the employer's
changed strategic path to ensure that certain final team members work well. Discussing these
aspirations helps employees understand their jobs and how they affect the company's
performance. A sound performance management system with regular check-ins, comments, and
performance opinions is essential (Aguinis & Burgi-Tian, 2021). This lets managers identify
successes, address difficulties, and aid. Supplying staff with the tools they need to do their duties
is also crucial. Access to new generation, education, and professional progress are included.
Jenna must foster a healthy and collaborative workplace to prevent performance issues.
Teamwork and open communication help spot issues early. Mentorship or buddy machines help
workers avoid performance issues. Offering flexible work arrangements like remote painting or
variable hours helps employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, improving performance.
Jenna should also perform frequent employee engagement surveys to assess job satisfaction and
identify growth opportunities. Jenna can establish an excellent work atmosphere that drives
people to perform well and remain dedicated to the agency's success by addressing concerns
immediately and acting on comments.
References
Aguinis, H., & Burgi-Tian, J. (2021). Measuring performance during crises and beyond: The
Performance Promoter Score.ABusiness Horizons,A64(1), 149-160.
Dank, N., & Hellström, R. (2020).AAgile HR: Deliver value in a changing world of work. Kogan
Page Publishers.
Jaller, M., Otero-Palencia, C., & D’Agostino, M. (2022). Jobs and automated freight
transportation: How automation affects the freight industry and what to do about it.
Kähkönen, T., Blomqvist, K., Gillespie, N., & Vanhala, M. (2021). Employee trust repair: A
systematic review of 20 years of empirical research and future research
directions.AJournal of Business Research,A130, 98-109.
Lartey, F. M. (2021). Impact of career Planning, employee autonomy, and manager recognition
on employee engagement.AJournal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies,A9(02),
135.
Murphy, K. R. (2020). Performance evaluation will not die, but it should.AHuman Resource
Management Journal,A30(1), 13–31.
Ngozi, D., & Edwinah, A. (2022). Employee engagement and talent retention: a review.ASouth
Asian Research Journal of Biology and Applied Biosciences,A4(5), 188-197.
Timsina, S. (2024). Employee Turnover and Engagement Programs for Retention.