TEST 1

Case Study 

Elena is a newly hired marketing assistant at a medium-sized tech company based in Montreal. David is a junior software developer who has been with the company for 6 months. Their supervisor Marianna, heads the department and oversees both marketing and software development teams. Elena and David both work under Marianne’s supervision. However, their experiences in the workplace have been vastly different. 

Background 

Elena applied for the marketing assistant role with the understanding that her responsibilities would include managing social media, content creation, and coordinating marketing campaigns. However, after a few weeks, she was tasked with duties outside of her expertise, such as data entry for software projects and handling client tech support—duties she wasn’t trained for.

David, on the other hand, applied for a junior developer position, but his job description was equally vague. He initially expected to assist the senior development team with coding projects, but Marianne often asked him to perform administrative tasks or act as a liaison between marketing and development, work he felt was unaligned with his skills.

The Issue 

Both Elena and David feel overworked, confused about their roles, and unsupported by Marianne, who dismisses their concerns by saying, “You should be versatile and adaptable. You knew what you were getting into when you accepted the job.”

Elena has been facing increased psychological harassment from Marianne, who repeatedly comments on her lack of technical skills, calling her "slow" and "incompetent" in front of the team. David has also felt the weight of unrealistic expectations, as Marianne often blames him for the lack of communication between marketing and development. 

Both employees are growing increasingly anxious, stressed, and demotivated. Elena, in particular, has started experiencing health issues due to the stress, but when she mentioned this to Marianne, her concerns were ignored.

Resources 

https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/en/node/1147646/interpretation-guide

Questions 

1. Why is this situation relevant in Human Resource Management today? refer to 2 sources (200 words)

   - Consider the importance of clear job descriptions and the role of HR in preventing psychological harassment. Reflect on how workplace harassment affects productivity, employee well-being, and retention.

2. How can you align the laws of Canada and Quebec to the situation and to each party? (200 words)

   - Investigate how laws such as the Canadian Human Rights Act and Quebec's Normes du Travail (Labour Standards) apply to cases of psychological harassment and the responsibility of employers to create a safe work environment.

3. What was wrong with the job posting when they hired the employees? What could be done better? (200 words)

   - Assess the confusion in the job descriptions and discuss how clear and specific job postings could have helped avoid role confusion and misalignment of expectations.

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Job Descriptions 

Original Job Description for Elena - Marketing Assistant 

Title: Marketing Assistant

Department: Marketing
Reports to: Marketing Department Head (Marianne)

Location: Montreal Office 

Responsibilities

•    - Assist in the creation of social media content and scheduling.
•    - Coordinate with the design team to create marketing materials.
•    - Support the marketing team with the development and execution of campaigns.
•    - Manage basic administrative tasks related to marketing data and reporting.
•    - Help organize promotional events or online webinars.

Skills Required

• - Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
•    - Basic understanding of social media platforms and content creation tools.
•    - Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
•    - Some experience in marketing preferred (1-2 years).

Desired Qualities 

•    - Creativity, attention to detail, and ability to work in a team.
•    - Interest in learning and growing within the marketing field.

Original Job Description for David - Junior Software Developer

   Title: Junior Software Developer  

   Department: Development  

   Reports To: Development Lead (Marianne)  

   Location: Montreal Office  

   Responsibilities:

•    - Assist senior developers in writing clean, scalable, and maintainable code.
•    - Collaborate with the development team on software updates and bug fixes.
•    - Participate in code reviews and testing phases.
•    - Maintain documentation for software systems and processes.
•    - Occasionally help support the technical team in internal communication.

   Skills Required:

•    - Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, JavaScript).
•    - Familiarity with software development tools (e.g., Git, Jira).
•    - Ability to work well with a team and collaborate on shared projects.
•    - Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Desired Qualities:

   - Eagerness to learn new technologies and contribute to team success.

   - 1-2 years of internship or entry-level experience in software development.