Introduction to the Problem: a construction company wants to hire quality assurance supervisors to monitor the projects going on in rural areas. Now the problem with company is whether to hire female staff for rural areas or not. Working conditions in rural areas are not hidden to any body. The biggest question in front of company is, if women will be able to manage with those conditions. If company do not hire female staff for the projects then what will be the consequences. When the whole world is talking about women discrimination at work and various companies are having special policies for female employees, is it possible not to hire any women employee for the project?
Scenario 1. If company do not hire a woman employee what will be the consequences: if company do not hire woman employee, it could face various challenges;
Impact on image of company – for any corporate a clean image is very much required. If company will not hire female employees it will lead to a negative impact on the image of company. In present scenario when companies are provide various type of facilities to promote female employees at work, this act will not be accepted and appreciate by society. In this competitive era company spend huge sum on brand building and image building exercise. A good part of company’s income allocated to such type of activities which enhance the brand image. Companies also have a separate Corporate Social Responsibility department which works for various social causes and to improve the image of company in society.
Impact on existing female employees – decision for not hiring female supervisor will de-motivate existing female employees. It will result in negative work place atmosphere and less productivity. Existing female employees may think that company does not value female staff and do not need them.
Legal issue – one fact we can not deny that women discrimination was there in the roots of our society. To overcome from this problem government made various laws. If company will not hire any women employee it may lead to a legal dispute. It will not only hamper the image of company but also require lot of energy and money to be putted in court case.
Scenario 2. If company hire female employee for the project, what all could be the potential problems for the company.
Women unwillingness – it might be possible that company do not find female employees interested in the job because of the rural areas. Usually Rural areas are not considered to be good places to reside there. Rural areas are a bit backward in several aspects like safety to men and women, poor transport and poor infrastructure facilities. Poor sanitation hygiene conditions etc. it might be possible that women’s do not get even a good place to stay and healthy food.
Higher responsibility – if company hires women employees, it will add another liability over company. Company will be responsible for safety and security of female staff. The company has to take care of a couple of things like in case; any incident takes place how company will protect itself. When company sends any of its employees on the job outstation, it becomes responsibility of the company to take care of employee.
Resignation from the post – it is also possible that at the beginning job profile sounds good to female candidate and she accepts the offer. But later on after reaching to rural area and spending few days there she will be able to understand difficulties existing in rural area. She may change her mind and quit the job. It will add on recruitment cost on the company. Company also incurs certain cost in providing initial training to the employee and also will bear the initial logistic cost of the employee on the other hand, leaving project in between could hamper the quality of work which is getting executed. So it may not prove to be a better idea.
Now the question remains same, what is need be done. Now we need to do a cost and benefit analysis here. If company do not hire female employee what cost it will end up paying and if company hire female employee and provide her certain logistic facilities with safety guaranty how much it will cost to the company?
The answer is for a company what cost will be greater than its image in the society. The huge amount company spends annually in advertisement and social works. This all will be waste if any of female file a suit in court or spread bad word of mouth about women discrimination done by the company. When one can not go to both the extreme ends it is always better to choose a middle way. So it is better to hire female employees for the project, bear the additional cost along with their salaries.
We may offer one of the following deals to female employees:
Package 1 – company may offer female employee a job at regional office. Job profile will not be limited to quality assurance supervisor; other tasks will also be added along with this profile. Employee is not required to stay in village and monitor the quality on daily basis. She will go to the field once in a month. She may take one of her family member along with her for security purpose. All the transportation, fooding and miscellaneous expenditure for both the persons will be sponsored by the company. Employee need to gather the records of the quality and progress of the work in still pictures and recording format. All the records will be used for future reporting and official purpose.
Package 2 – employee may offer a deal to go to the project site once in a week to monitor the quality of project. She will be provided a security person from company and other expenditure also will be beard by company. The data gathering methodology will remain same. If employee feels that any other information could be useful she may collect it.
Package 3 – if employee herself is willing to stay in rural area company will provide her transport facility from home to project site daily. Lodging cost and other expenses like telephone bill and medical bill will be reimbursed by the company. Company will not allow a single employee to stay there. She is allowed only in case of family is also ready to relocate.
Recommendations to Mr. Joan are:
After discussing all the above aspects, my recommendations to Mr. Joan is go with the thing which involves minimum risk to the organization. My recommendation is for package one as it involves minimum risk to the organization. In this scenario company will not be responsible to a large extent if any critical accident took place since on of the family member will be with employee.
Reference
Nayab, N. (2010, September 21). Bright Hub. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from www.brighthub.com: http://www.brighthub.com/office/human-resources/articles/87966.aspx
