Organizational Behavior: Human Behavior at Work 14th Edition by John Newstrom

Exercise 12

A Breakdown in Communications
Linda Barry, a single mother with three children, was hired as an order-entry clerk for a trucking firm. Her first two weeks on the job were spent in a special class from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., where she learned how to sort, code, and enter the orders on the computer.
An instructor worked with her constantly at first, and then less frequently as she gained skill and confidence. Linda was happy to have the job and enjoyed her work schedule. When the training was completed, she was told to report to the order-entry department the following Monday.
When she was first employed, either Linda failed to read and understand the printed information about her regular work schedule or perhaps the recruiter forgot to tell her she was to fill a spot in a special shift that worked from 4 A.M. until noon. In any case, Linda failed to report to work on the early schedule on the first day of regular work. When she did arrive at 8 A.M., her supervisor criticized her for lack of responsibility. Barry responded by saying she could not work the early shift because she had to prepare her children for school, and she threatened to resign if she could not work on the later shift. Because of a heavy workload and a difficult labor market, the supervisor needed Linda to do the job, yet had no room for her in the 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. shift.
Explain how you would handle the employment situation at the end of the case. What ideas from the chapter could be applied to help resolve this problem?