You manage 20 employees, 17 professionals and 3 support staff, at a company that average market wage rates. Based on performance evaluations, you classify 8 as go-get- ters fully engaged in their work, 10 as fence-sitters who put in a good day's work for a good day's pay but rarely go beyond performance expectations, and 2 as adversarial with negative attitudes about management and work. Your department has performed better than expected this year, and the company pro- vides you with an unanticipated one-time $40,000 discretionary fund. The money can only be spent on bonuses or an extensive meaningful work intervention known to increase employee engagement and performance. The $40,000 is enough money to make a worthwhile impact in one of these areas but not both. You must decide how to allocate the money. Critical Thinking Questions 1. How would you allocate the money? a. $2,000 bonus for every employee b. Based on a merit calculation c. Extensive meaningful work intervention 2. Why is this the right option to choose? 3. What are the ethics underlying your decision?
