How Come They Make More Than Me? Fran Jefferson began her job as the supervisor of the Training Department of The Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company almost four (4) years ago. She was generally pleased with the four (4) trainers and one (1) secretary in her unit. Indeed, Fran took pride in her ability to create high morale and a high-performance unit. This was particularly pleasing to Fran because they were constantly busy and barely able to keep up with the volume of training expected from them. Then early on Wednesday morning, Fran’s secretary, Judy Martin, knocked on Fran’s door and asked to see her. Fran liked Judy and considered the secretary to be one of her “stars.” Indeed, in an effort to develop Judy’s talent and abilities, Fran had gone out of her way to give Judy special assignments, including her in all the major planning activities of the department and entrusting her with the administration of certain departmental programs, such as tuition assistance and evaluation followthrough. By now, Judy functioned more as an administrative aide than as a secretary. It was clear that Judy was upset about something as she seated herself in the chair next to Fran’s desk. Slowly, Judy placed a job-posting application form in front of Fran. She would not look at her supervisor in the eyes. Fran was surprised, to say the least. As far as Fran knew, Judy liked both her job and working in the Training Department. In turn, everyone else in the department liked and respected Judy. Fran looked over the form and said casually, “So you want to post for the executive secretary job in the Branch Management Division.” She paused. “Could I ask you for some additional information, Judy? I’m kind of surprised.” Judy looked at her clasped hands, thinking. Fran waited. Finally, Judy looked up and said: “I noticed in last week’s job posting that the executive secretary position is graded as a 14. Now that’s two grades higher than my job!” She caught her breath, “You know my friend Mary Johnson works over there. She told me that half the time, the secretary sits around doing nothing.” Judy continued, gathering some anger in her look and resentment in her voice. “Look, Fran, you know how hard I work, how hard we all work, around here. I mean, I’m always busy. I don’t see why I should work in a job graded at a 12 and work twice as hard and yet not be paid the same as that secretary. The job requirements for the job are just a little higher than mine, and the merit raises you gave me last month hardly helped at all.” Fran listened; then she replied: “It sounds to me, Judy, that you’re feeling angry because you think you should be paid more for the work you do and that you want to switch jobs rather than put up with things as they are. Am I right?” Judy nodded her head in agreement. Fran knew, though, that the Metro job evaluation system was up-to-date and that the executive secretary position to which Judy referred did require additional background experience, skills, and responsibilities beyond what was needed in Judy’s current job. Because her secretary was such a good employee and a nice person, Fran was quite concerned. She strongly felt that moving to the executive secretary job would not be what Judy really wanted, and she hated to lose Judy, especially if her decision was based on faulty reasoning and the move would not be good for her. Fran tried to figure out what to do. QUESTION 1. What is/are the problem/s presented in the case? 2. What HR responsibility/responsibilities of a line manager does Fran need to focus on to solve the problem/s in this case? 3. What HR activities/programs can you recommend to be implemented in the organization in order to prevent these problems from happening again?
How Come They Make More Than Me?
Fran Jefferson began her job as the supervisor of the Training Department of The Metropolitan Bank and
Trust Company almost four (4) years ago. She was generally pleased with the four (4) trainers and one (1)
secretary in her unit. Indeed, Fran took pride in her ability to create high morale and a high-performance
unit. This was particularly pleasing to Fran because they were constantly busy and barely able to keep up
with the volume of training expected from them.
Then early on Wednesday morning, Fran’s secretary, Judy Martin, knocked on Fran’s door and asked to
see her. Fran liked Judy and considered the secretary to be one of her “stars.” Indeed, in an effort to
develop Judy’s talent and abilities, Fran had gone out of her way to give Judy special assignments,
including her in all the major planning activities of the department and entrusting her with the
administration of certain departmental programs, such as tuition assistance and evaluation followthrough. By now, Judy functioned more as an administrative aide than as a secretary.
It was clear that Judy was upset about something as she seated herself in the chair next to Fran’s desk.
Slowly, Judy placed a job-posting application form in front of Fran. She would not look at her supervisor
in the eyes.
Fran was surprised, to say the least. As far as Fran knew, Judy liked both her job and working in the Training
Department. In turn, everyone else in the department liked and respected Judy.
Fran looked over the form and said casually, “So you want to post for the executive secretary job in the
Branch Management Division.” She paused. “Could I ask you for some additional information, Judy? I’m
kind of surprised.” Judy looked at her clasped hands, thinking. Fran waited.
Finally, Judy looked up and said: “I noticed in last week’s job posting that the executive secretary position
is graded as a 14. Now that’s two grades higher than my job!”
She caught her breath, “You know my friend Mary Johnson works over there. She told me that half the
time, the secretary sits around doing nothing.”
Judy continued, gathering some anger in her look and resentment in her voice. “Look, Fran, you know
how hard I work, how hard we all work, around here. I mean, I’m always busy. I don’t see why I should
work in a job graded at a 12 and work twice as hard and yet not be paid the same as that secretary. The
job requirements for the job are just a little higher than mine, and the merit raises you gave me last month
hardly helped at all.”
Fran listened; then she replied: “It sounds to me, Judy, that you’re feeling angry because you think you
should be paid more for the work you do and that you want to switch jobs rather than put up with things
as they are. Am I right?” Judy nodded her head in agreement.
Fran knew, though, that the Metro job evaluation system was up-to-date and that the executive secretary
position to which Judy referred did require additional background experience, skills, and responsibilities
beyond what was needed in Judy’s current job. Because her secretary was such a good employee and a
nice person, Fran was quite concerned. She strongly felt that moving to the executive secretary job would not be what Judy really wanted, and she hated to lose Judy, especially if her decision was based on faulty reasoning and the move would not be good for her. Fran tried to figure out what to do.
QUESTION
1. What is/are the problem/s presented in the case?
2. What HR responsibility/responsibilities of a line manager does Fran need to focus on to solve the
problem/s in this case?
3. What HR activities/programs can you recommend to be implemented in the organization in order to
prevent these problems from happening again?
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