Part one:

You are one of the members of the Management Team for an organization that provides travel and service opportunities for college students. While you are based in Saint Paul, MN – you have offices in six other cities around the county. The organization employs about 100 people, with approximately 15 employees in each location (some as small as 10, others as big as 20). While the main office controls overall messaging and pricing for travel / service trips, each office runs somewhat independently in deciding what colleges to visit, how to recruit participants, and how to manage their own budget.

Over the past few years there has been increasing complaints about the differences in pay, benefits and working conditions at the seven different locations (Saint Paul, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, Boston, Denver and Baltimore). You (and your team) have been tasked by the VP of People and Operations to investigate these issues and make recommendations. To start, please answer the following questions:

What data will you look to collect to help inform your initial deliberations? What data will you look for internal to the organization, and what data will you look for outside the organization?
How might you explain some of the differences in pay, benefits and working conditions? To what extent might this be normal and healthy, and where might these difference be problematic?

Part two:

Now that each of your Management Team members has compiled your initial data and responses, you will now share what you have put together. In doing so, your group should work to answer the following:

In your report to the VP, how will you differentiate “normal and healthy” differences in pay, benefits and working conditions versus not so healthy differences?
How might your team, and the organization, work to better ensure consistency in pay, benefits and working conditions across the organization? How, specifically, might you link this to the organization’s mission, strategy and goals (think in terms of strategic HR).

1) Answer any THREE of the nine questions listed below. You may pick three questions from the same chapter or three questions from two different chapters. It’s entirely up to you. These three posts must have a minimum of 100 words each. Anything less will result in a grade of ZERO without the possibility of a make-up post.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SUBMIT 3 SEPARATE POSTS: DO NOT ANSWER MORE THAN ONE QUESTION IN A SINGLE POST.

QUESTIONS:

Chapter 4: Epicurus

1. Although Epicurus is a hedonist, he is clearly opposed to vulgar hedonism. Can you find additional arguments for or against the theory of vulgar hedonism? Is it not terribly “ judgmental” for us to claim that some pleasures are “higher” or “ lower” than others? Shouldn’t we just tolerate and accept differences of opinion in this area? Or does it make more sense to argue that there is a natural hierarchy of pleasures and pains?

2. Epicurus believes that fear of divine retribution is the greatest source of fear and anxiety. Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?

3. Epicurus argues that the best and happiest way of life is one in which one seeks to satisfy on the most basic, natural and necessary desires. Do you agree that embracing such a life of simplicity (no honor, fame, luxury or wealth) is really more conducive to happiness and tranquility than trying to “keep up with the Joneses”? If you said “yes,” then are you already taking measures to live in the Epicurean manner?

Chapter 5: St. Thomas Aquinas

4. How would St. Thomas defend himself (if, indeed, such a defense is possible) against the charge of being “homophobic” (a word that did not exist in his time, but which is fairly common today)? Would you find his defense plausible? Why or why not?

5. If one is not at all religious, is it still possible to take St. Thomas’ natural law principle seriously? Could it still be relied upon as a guide to living well? Explain.

Chapter 6: Thomas Hobbes

6. Do you think that being self-interested is a bad thing? If so, why? If not, why not?

7. Compare Christ’s Golden Rule with Hobbes’ Golden Rule. Which do you think is more effective in getting people to obey the laws, and why?

8. Do you agree with Hobbes that our natural condition is one of lawlessness and violence? How do you think you would behave if you knew you could get away with whatever you wanted to? Do we only obey the laws out of fear of punishment?