english homework

Alice in CubicleLand

Adapted from Susan L. Luck, PhD Pfeiffer University

The Setting:

• Alice works for ABC company, which provides accounting and payroll support for a variety of clients.

• Alice’s work environment consists of a large room with six cubicles pushed together, where she and her five co- workers sit from 8-5.

The twist:

• Most of her colleagues are able to work solely via email; Alice has the only set of customers who require almost daily telephone contact.

• This set of customers has the most detailed and difficult requirements of all of the company’s customers.

The co-workers:

• Talk aloud among themselves about the emails they have received, about the amount of work they have, and also a great deal about their personal lives.

• Two troll social media daily and talk about it. This chatter goes on all day.

The boss:

• Hides behind his door and emerges only to go to lunch

• Believes that being professional means working 8-5

• Manages by email although his office is 20 feet away

• Gives no other guidance • Is afraid of women

The clients:

• Have a hard time hearing Alice • Can hear the others • Have commented on lack of

professionalism • Have commented that he didn’t give a

damn about Katy Perry; he wanted to know what his monthly revenue was

Short-term solution:

• Alice has been reserving the conference room three days a week to be able to hold private phone calls

• The others are complaining about her in front of her because she has done so.

Alice’s additional issues:

• Has frequent migraines • Commutes 90 minutes each way • Has an unemployed husband • Can’t leave the company for another year

due to contractual aspects

Goal of conversation with boss:

• Telecommute two days a week • Get a private office • Have him speak to the coworkers about

lack of professionalism

Goal of email to co-workers

• Gain understanding of why she has reserved conference room

• Be included • Have them be quieter • Have them stop the non-work-related

chatter