Discrimination In The Workplace: Real Or Imagined?

Abstract

This two (2) part case study presents a chronological and a narrative record of Claudia Boyle, a 48 year old woman, who has accepted an information technology position at Food for Freedom Incorporated (FFF)—a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO).  Full of zeal and enthusiasm, Claudia keeps up with the possibilities of career succession under Gretta Lengling, a new manager in the human resources department.  By all accounts, Gretta was a “zealous achiever” and she and Claudia established a comfortable friendship at work.  However, the once warm relationship quickly cooled when Claudia got sick and despite her friendship with Gretta, was passed over for a promotion when on a short-term disability leave. Faced with Gretta’s justifications for hiring Derke Zykstra—a younger male—Claudia wonders if she has become a causality of both age and disability based discrimination.  Advised by Gretta that she had displayed disruptive behavior, Claudia wonders if a “bad job” trumps no job at all.