This case study is about job dissatisfaction and its high turnover rate. Many individuals were highly dissatisfied with how they were treated at a Treadway Tire Company. The system is definitely broken and we see that played out here from the very first sentence, “We have a serious problem.”
The line foreman lack the proper training needed to excel and they have a horrible relationship with their direct superior. There are two reasons why many line foreman ended up leaving the company: 1) they didn’t have the proper training to do their job right, 2) there was tension between the line foreman and their superiors. Instead of handing the foreman the tools and skills needed to perform the job the bosses just demanded results. The bosses often threatened the foreman in hopes of getting the job done. The lack of leadership and a high Mach approach ultimately caused the system to fail.
One positive aspect was how the foreman were compensated with a high level of pay. The men were being paid $30/hr and had the opportunity for overtime. This furthermore proves pay isn’t the factor that will make you stay at your job. The percentage of foreman who continued working at Treadway may have just need the money to survive and therefore were stuck in the job.
Earlier this semester we discussed the idea of having the ability to leave your job and not be imprisoned. It appears the percentage of individuals who left did so because they could and the individuals who continue to work the foreman position are doing so because they didn’t have an alternative solution. They may have a family, house, and kids and can’t just up and quit. I am glad I haven’t had to experience a job like this!
CRUX: Empower your employees, treat them with respect, and be someone your employees would follow.
