Analyzing Promotion Data: Applying the Four-Fifths Rule Assignment Sheet

Provide an executive summary to your paper that indicates your analysis of the major employment law issues presented in the case and the highlights of your improvement plan (see question #5). Develop a spreadsheet to analyze the promotion data provided in Exhibit 1.20 on page 44 of the case. What are the promotion rate ratios for black versus white employees for each of the rows of data provided? Do these ratios exceed 4/5? What is the “hurdle rate” (the minimum black promotion rate) that must be demonstrated for each of the categories of employee data provided to substantiate the absence of illegal discrimination on the part of Food Chain Supermarkets relative to its promotion decisions? Based on your quantitative analysis of these data, as well as the qualitative information provided by the aggrieved employees, is there evidence of disparate/adverse treatment and/or disparate/adverse impact at Food Chain Supermarkets? What is the difference between disparate/adverse treatment and disparate/adverse impact? What are the four means that an employer can employ to rebut a prima facie case of apparent illegal discrimination? Does Food Chain have a solid case on the basis of any of these means of defense? What is your assessment of Food Chain’s HR practices relative to performance evaluation, promotion, and internal recruitment? Do you have any concerns here relative to compliance with employment law and/or the overall strategic soundness of these practices? Assume that you are in Rutherford’s position. The CEO of Food Chain hired you only 2 years ago to serve as the organization’s senior HR professional primarily due to your “overall business acumen, eye for the bottom line, and ability to be a key player among the senior executive leadership team.” Of course, you are also recently aware of the troubling complaints filed by Walter Jackson and others, and you are concerned about these claims. What 2 to 4 actions will you take to improve the HR practices of Food Chain? Be specific in your response here. The length of your paper and accompanying spreadsheet output can be no more than 4 pages combined, single spaced.