Management Assignment
In our class, we conducted mini-simulations of internal consulting topics. One of them dealt with implementation of an exempt overtime policy for engineers at one of the company's locations. After much discussion, the company decided to implement this policy for Engineers only and it implemented it six months ago.
Alas, now there is a new issue in the Nashville office. The professional Specialists group, including staff from Customer Service, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance and Accounting are extremely unhappy. They work side by side the engineering group---long, late hours and are not compensated any "extra." The General Manager of Administration has contacted you for help. How would you address this problem? What data would you want to find out? How would you move forward. To be successful in this assignment, I want to see that you have thoughtfully considered an approach for this special internal consulting situation.
Internal Consulting Scenarios
An engineering manager from your Texas location has approached you about changing the company's policy for exempt over time for professional engineers who are not managers. Currently, the engineers do not receive overtime compensation. She feels that the amount of overtime the engineers are working deserves to be recognized in a tangible way.
Here is the information that you have:
• Your organization currently has three North American hubs: Dallas, TX, Detroit, MI, and Nashville, TN
• Turnover in engineering is less than 1% in all locations, with an average tenure of the following: Dallas, TX (8.5 years), Detroit, MI (6.5 years), and Nashville, TN (15.5 years).
• The engineering manager joined the company last year and moved from Los Angeles to Dallas, TX.
• Your pay is competitive, not leading, and your benefits are at market.
• Median pay for all engineering groups is 70,000.
• Average overtime for the group is 17 hours per week.
• There are several peer employee groups (Sales, HR, Supervision) that are similarly positioned that would not be included in this policy.
Make the case to support the Engineering Manager in the Change.