Technological Environment, the Most Important

¶ … technological environment, the most important challenge is always security-related. Indeed, in the case of WellPoint, the main challenge involved in moving so many employees to a web-based HR system was the fact that this made the company's employee database vulnerable to outside hacking threats and possible attempts to download and use employee information. Even more so, the solution provided by PeopleSoft tied into budgeting and expense activities, even more important and valuable financial information.

Another difficulty that the company most likely encountered can be expressed in terms of efficiency. The idea of moving records for around 6000 employees (at least at the initial moment) and make them web-accessible is obviously something that involves a large amount of time and a large amount of resources (human and financial).

I don't think that the employee can have a viable claim for either the disability discrimination or the retaliatory discharge. First of all, the type of disability the employee has is one that is seriously affecting his work and, since he is an electrician, it is also jeopardising his own life. I am not sure that the physician's request is a viable one (indeed, it is rather funny): you cannot ask the employer to re-assign the employee to a "more relaxing work setting" because, in the end, it would mean that all employees could be assigned to relaxing positions and there wouldn't be anybody left to do any of the less relaxing jobs. If the employee wants to be re-assigned, he can quit the current job he has and find another position with another organization that is ready to grant him such a relaxing work setting. It is difficult to change the rules and regulations by which an organization operates solely for one of the employees.

As for the retaliatory discharge claim, this provides for the it is "unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, hire, terms, conditions or privileges of employment." In my opinion, in this case it is exactly the employee who aims to discriminate the other employees as related to compensation and, especially, to conditions. He is aiming to use his illness to receive a similar compensation as other employees in his position, but by working in a less stressing environment. I don't think he has a case to prove either of the claims against the employer.

1. The most important advantage is its efficiency. The fact that you can automatically interview people and that you can use the computer to eliminate some of the candidates spares the final interviewers a lot of time and increases the chances of completing the recruitment process as soon as possible. On the other hand, the computerized selection has practically given out excellent results, as we have seen a decrease in employee turnover etc.