4.5 Teaching Notes
Brianna Doyle; Deirdre Maultsaid; and Simrenprit Parmar
Note to teachers
This scenario deals with sensitive and controversial issues. Discussions may be upsetting for some students. Please provide context and background information about invisible disability issues, especially background information that challenges common assumptions. This background information will help prepare students for a robust but respectful discussion. Please see the background information above and bibliography below or seek other sources from your own diversity and inclusion specialists, accessibility services or other educational supports.
What will students discuss?
As relevant to course learning outcomes, students will discuss any of the following:
- bias
- diversity, equity and inclusion, belonging, justice, dignity, human rights
- visible and invisible disabilities
- workplace accommodations
- bystander behaviours
- definitions of “professionalism”
- conflict resolution
- supervision
- customer service
- public relations
- banking practices
- organizational trends in the banking industry
- organizational development, leadership
- human resources
- hiring practices
- policy making and enforcement
- employer obligations
- internal communication, organizational culture
- approaches to decision making
- other relevant topics
Students may suggest various courses of action for the characters in the case.
- Students may argue that Patricia should take formal action to complain about her supervisor/workplace.
- Students may argue that Patricia should form an alliance with other marginalized employees to organize a group letter of complaint or other workplace actions.
- Students may argue that individual employee needs must be balanced with operational needs and business health.
- Students may argue that the organization has to change its culture and may recommend steps on how to implement change.
- Students may argue that Patricia should just let the incident go and continue working.
- Other ideas
