A Crisis Is Developing

A Crisis is Developing

The supervisors of ABC Company are apprehensive abut a new program that the management is set to launch. It is a discipline program that basically imposes a new set of rules and regulations and imposing penalties over a broad range of possible offenses at work.

The problem the supervisors have with the program rests on the fact that the major responsibility of enforcing it rests basically with them: from reporting to documenting and from servicing to having to deal directly with the workers when a labor case arises.

The following is a summary of their concerns:

1. they feel that doing the punishing will antagonize the workers and thus, make these workers less effective or willing to work efficiently;
2. they are concerned that if the efficiency or productivity goes down, the management will take it against them or consider it as their problem;
3. they are thinking it is best to treat workers less strictly rather than implement a code of conduct that will restrict their individual initiative;
4. they think that since the company has operated without any major discipline incident, there is no immediate or compelling need to come up with the new regulations;
5. Many of them actually fear for their safety if they start getting strict or begin suspending or terminating employees in accordance with the new program.
6. Almost everyone has developed a close relationship with subordinates and no one wants to change this situation.

The company however thinks that it is best to plan for all contingencies and in addition, a code of conduct is considered necessary to ensure that workers would act in a manner consistent with the company objectives.

The supervisors want to have the issue settled according to their wishes, that is, keep the status quo.

Management thinks the supervisors are wrong, if not actually pushing their weight. It  considers the matter non-negotiable.

A crisis is developing in the management ranks.