A Closed System, Rational Model

Case Study Review 1 Instructions-Week 3

Respond to the following case scenario by applying topics and theories learned from the current module week:

Scenario-A Closed System, Rational Model:

Jim Beam fighting citation for bathroom-break policy

The Jim Beam bourbon-making plant in Bullitt County isfighting a state citation criticizing its policy on bathroom breaks for employees.Since October, line workers at the plant have been permitted to use the restroom onlyduring lunch and two other times during the day – one before lunch and one after. Theyalso are allowed one unscheduled toilet break per day, and can be disciplined for takingmore, starting with a warning and escalating to dismissal after six incidents.

The old policy allowed workers to rotate off the line for short, unscheduled breaks

throughout the day, with no set number. The company changed the policy after itconcluded that workers were taking advantage of the liberal break policy.The Labor Cabinet, in a citation issued in November, said Jim Beam is violating a federallabor law requiring employers to provide restroom facilities to employees. Jim Beam isappealing the citation. The cabinet did not propose a fine.

A hearing on the citation is scheduled next week in Bardstown. The distiller has filed a

memo with the Labor Cabinet, saying it “observed, documented and analyzed breakhabits of the employees” and consulted with a urologist to make sure that the new policywould bereasonable.”The company said people with medical conditions get more leeway. But the United Foodand Commercial Workers union that represents the approximately 100 production-line

workers said the urologist determined the breaks were not motivated by need, but most

likely by “smoking habits.”

The union said 45 workers have been disciplined, some workers have begun wearing

protective undergarments and others have urinated on themselves because they wereafraid to leave the line. “It’s embarrassing to be a 36-year-old woman and have to justifyyour need to go to the bathroom,” said Krystal Ditto, who said she has been disciplinedfive times and is one unscheduled bathroom visit away from losing her job. “Once youget the feeling you have to go, you sit there looking at the clock and see you have an hourto go, and it intensifies. I’m not going to sit there and be miserable.”The company is holding its ground. “We feel our system provides reasonable breaks forall employees, and we’re looking forward to explaining our position in detail next week atthe hearing,” said Stephanie Moritz, director of publications for Jim Beam, based inDeerfield, Ill.

Jo Anne Kelley, the union local’s president, has worked at the Jim Beam plant for 34

years. She said the policy is degrading and that company officials have told someworkers that they should “practice” going to the bathroom every two hours at home onthe weekends to put themselves on a schedule. “Basically, we’re being asked to train ourbladders and other organs to meet their needs, not ours,” Kelley said. “Your bodilyfunctions don’t have a time clock.”In its appeal, Jim Beam said its break policy “effectively balances the medical needs of

employees with the company’s need to maintain a productive workforce.” (Adopted from Harvard Business Review, 2019).

Items to Address:

The following items should be evident in your case paper:

• Identify the key roles and organizational issues through a brief summary or introductory paragraph (this is not the abstract page).
• Integrate specific theories from the readings for the type of organization. You may use previous module readings when applying a specific structure/system.
• Provide your personal perspective on the case, applying theories, perspectives, and structures you along with alternatives that could be best integrated to address the participant’s concerns.

Paper Requirements:

• The paper must be written using current APA format andmust include a title page, an abstract, and a references list. These are not included in the word count.
• The paper must have a minimum of 800 words and a maximum of 1,200 words. The case paper is short as you will apply your scenario in the following Discussion Board Forum assignment.
• The paper must be submitted as a Word document (.doc) it will be checked in SafeAssign upon submission.
• Do not use bullets or listing anywhere in the paper. Do not copy/paste the scenario into the paper.
• References must be as follows:
  • A minimum of 4 different references, in addition to the Merida text and the Bible must be used. A variety of authors and sources is required.