Symptoms of Problems at Texaco
Identification of Root Problems and Unresolved Issues
Highly qualified African-American employees filed a class action suit against Texaco in 1994, stating that the company failed to promote African-American employees to a higher position and it failed to compensate them in relation to Caucasian employees in similar positions. Throughout the investigation of Texaco if was found that documents would potentially damage Texaco were being withheld. When secret tape recordings from Texaco executives revealed not only vilely insensitive racial attitudes but it also demonstrated the eagerness of the executives to withhold any and all sensitive internal documents pertaining to the discrimination court case.
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Many of the minority employees felt that issues were not being addressed. This made them feels insecure at their job and helpless. It had become apparent to many that going to management were not going to help alleviate the problem. The total number of people who were discriminated against may never be known, but through the bravery of the few, the prejudice of that behavior has been stopped and has been corrected. Texaco later implemented a solution for its problems but many thought it was not enough. Rev. Jesse Jackson, in 1996 "urged patrons to carry on with an economic boycott of the oil company" he suggested the boycott would add pressure to Texaco and that they would be pressed in implementing better employment policies for minorities and that these policies would be enforced. (CNN News, 1996).
Roles of Key Players
The employees of Texaco at the time obviously were the ones affected by this discrimination. Peter Bijur, the CEO of Texaco and the key person for the changes that took place in the company, was a key player in this case in the months leading up to the settlement. Other key players for the changes at Texaco were Bari-Ellen Roberts, a former senior financial analyst and Angela Vallot, the Director of the corporate diversity
In the same article by Forman, information shows that even African American with a high socioeconomic status don’t completely escape racial discrimination. In fact, the data collected showed the opposite. It was the African Americans who were well educated and incorporated to white society that still felt the most emotional distress in the workplace (Forman, 2003).
Next a case relating to employment difficulties during the Black Civil rights movement was Griggs v. Duke Power Company in the year 1971. The ruling on this case by the Supreme Court was that Duke Power Company was « discriminating against black employees, » because their qualification for employment did « not pertain to applicants ' ability to perform the job,» but rather was influenced by other factors such as race, and therefore they were not hiring people in certain racial
Minority administrators have an astronomically immense portion of Americans believing that minorities no longer face segregation in the work environment. The fact of the matter is that these examples of surmounting adversity are the exemption and not the tenet. They are more a consequence of the tirelessness, ability, desire, and resoluteness of these bellwethers than anything else. Numerous minorities have possessed the capacity to get access into the work environment, and conventionally move into lower and center level administration positions. Notwithstanding, by and sizably voluminous, the way to achievement deadlocks. In opposition to prominent feeling, minorities probing for achievement in the work environment consistently experience
This chapter go into how racism can have negative effect your job search workplace, career and even your earnings. It discuss how mental health influences things on the job, such as the turnover rate.
Through the years, America has made an overall improvement in eliminating discrimination, inequality and slavery and focusing more on inclusion, equal rights, and equal opportunity. Despite a considerable improvement, there are corporations and individuals that often revert to archaic means of treating employees, creating hostile environments. Consequently, different advocacy groups and laws still remain in effect and continue to evolve to protect the citizens and non-citizens of the USA.
There is a direct relationship with slavery in the past and discrimination today. In both cases there is an attempt to oppress a minority group. The oppressing group makes it difficult in many ways for the minority to rise above the harsh treatment towards equality. Just as slaves in the past were uneducated because of the threat to unite and revolt, employers today limit minorities for fear of their power within the company.
Minorities face twice as much racial profiling than white Americans. “The federal office of personnel management report that when education, performance rating and other factors are held the constant African americans are twice as likely as whites to be dismissed from government jobs” (Mullings 17). When it comes to companies dismissing
Wadors (2016) believes that once hired employees often don’t feel a since of belonging and that in order to feel a sense of belonging “people want to be able to bring their whole self to work” (para.4). Along those lines organizations have begun to examine diversity and institute programs to help employees feel a sense of belonging. The idea behind these programs is based on the concept that “mitigating threats to a sense of belonging helps minorities significantly reduce stress levels, consequently improving physical health, emotional well-being, and performance” (para.10).
ill experience the public spheres and the workplace discrimination at the same level, because they have both conditions. Another example is the fact that African American women are often forgotten in history textbooks (Strickland & Weems, 2000, p. 72). In addition, even in todays’ news we talk more about the killing of African American men but not the ones of African American women (Ted Woman). From this perspective, other myths will derive such as the Strong Black Women myth (Black & Peacock, 2011). This myth is about a “gender-critical approach” in which African-American women are seen as stronger and responsible for their “health experiences” (Black & Peacock, 2011, 144). A research named Scott with his study sees the myth as forcing African American women to feel like they are self-reliant which will lead them to believe that they need to take care of their family, community, etc. Scott will refer to this idea as the management “warrior mode” (1991).
Before, going into this we need to look at the past discriminative policies adopted many companies, responsible for many acts of discrimination against minorities. Menial and low level jobs were offered to certain ethnic and minority groups. Even, woman was denied certain job categories on the ground of strength and their capabilities. This discriminatory policy adopted for so many decade has led to a situation where there cannot be a level playing field without taking certain affirmative action.
The Civil Rights act of 1964 along with Title VII gives employees the option to sue business owners based on color, race, sexual orientation, and religion. This act, rules on the fact, that individuals can take action if a discrimination or harassment issues happens at the employer’s workplace. It expands Civil Rights statues to provide more protection against people who are victimized due to discrimination. It sets the guidelines for job related issues due to disparate impact or treatment issues. However, this act does not assure that everyone who faces discrimination will be employed because frankly he is a minority. If it is felt that there is a possibility of
In 1994, six African-American employees sued Texaco, citing racial discrimination. Texaco executives had been secretly recorded, thus confirming the issue. Texaco's CEO responded by issuing a public apology and admitted shame and embarrassment. The executives involved were suspended, however with pay but no benefits, pending the result of the investigations. Texaco execs went on tour, visiting all branches and sites of the company in person to apologize to the employees. Texaco even hired Uniworld Group, which is an African-American owned advertising agency, to run an ad campaign, figuring this would settle the crisis. Texaco settled the suit by agreeing to pay $176 million and the CEO added discrimination checks for executives and managers,
Discrimination is nothing new to our society or is it something that should be taken lightly and for many decades our Nation has endured many conflicts that have tested the will of Americans over the decades and it is evident that as we have become more diverse so too has our workforce. Although, we are in the twenty first century the goal is to understand why prejudice and discrimination is still so prevalent and how we can do better while trying to bring together our different backgrounds, skills, and experiences still has proven to be an issue that minorities are constantly fighting as they struggle to find there place in society. Through an array of well-educated researchers showing how diversity is nothing new to our society, but if we are to continue to grow and move forward we must be able to understand that with diversification we can foster a strong and inclusive economy that is built to last and nurture a nation that will continue to lead the world as standard setter.
The immediate problem of concern is whether the claim has some truth. The complainant presented the HR manager with a group (black employees) that are protected by law, but are being disproportionately impacted. This constitutes the initial burden.
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