¶ … Groups Within My Workplace

In the Human Resources Department of Barney College, there are eleven employees. It would seem that these people can be grouped in a number of ways. The most obvious groupings: nine women and two men so one possible source of conflict could be along gender lines; three African-Americans and eight Caucasians and this reference group could pose problems along racial lines. Depending on the ethnicity of the Caucasian workers, there is a possibility of conflict there. There is the reference group based on position and level of authority. The possibility of conflict here goes in more than one direction because the conflict could be racially or gender-based. Age is another possible consideration which could be multi-stranded along race and gender lines mixed with the age consideration. Another reference group would be support staff in possible conflict with the various managers. It is also possible that the whole department could be considered a reference group that might have issues with Administration.

One possible source of conflict could come if the Caucasian workers felt/believed that the female, African-American director favored the other two African-American women in the office. This female director could also find herself suspected of favoring the other female employees. It is also entirely possible that the females might believe she favored the males.

I suggest the possibility of age-based problems because this is not uncommon where younger people are in authority over older people.

2. Identify the situations in the Human Resources Department at Barney University that most likely to involve confilce with other co-workers in the department.

Information for the paper that must be incorpated in the paper...thank you very much

1. Workplace-Barney University-Human Resources Department

2. position-Benefits Consultant (I am causian)

3. number of employees in the department-11

a. Director-African-American woman (barbara)

b. 2 caucasians males-mgr positions (mike and Joe

c. two African-American woman-managers (Flavia & Velda

d. 3 female caucasians mgr-Sue, Kathy, Joanne

3. 4 caucasians females support staff members Mary Jane, Donna, Sandy, and Joanne O