Informal Report 05002400

Introduction The Roanoke branch of Phoenix Advertising has been one of the company’s most successful branches in previous years, handling the company’s largest accounts and maintaining a strong human resource pool. However, recent observable difficulties have brought the branches’ current human resource practices into question, as reports of key personnel leaving or threatening to leave their jobs, sharp declines in productivity, and loss of employee morale reach the company’s headquarters. Under my capacity as Vice President of Human Resources Management for Phoenix Adverting, I have conducted an investigation into the causes of difficulties in the Roanoke branch and have identified one critical problem as employees’ loss of morale regarding overtime work. In response to this, I have developed a proposal that will reorient employees’ perspectives regarding the company’s interests in their wellbeing, and bring back and strengthen their support for rendering overtime service to the company for the purpose of taking part in the company’s mission of promptly delivering quality output to its clients.

Background My investigation of the Roanoke branch consisted of a 3-day observation of the branch’s operations, interviews with branch employees, and surveys administered to the branch’s clients. It was very alarming for me to find that only 5% of all employees in the branch are enthusiastic about working during overtime to meet client demands. Overtime work is essential in this industry, since the industry operates on a seasonal environment wherein it has to take full advantage of peak season boosts in orders available. This lack of employee morale particularly towards working overtime is therefore a serious problem that the executive team has to address. The repercussions of this situation enduring in the Roanoke branch are grave, and are not limited as an issue about the branch’s productivity alone. Rather, there is the risk of whatever is causing the problem at the