Reference no: EM132702178

Battle of the Theories

Your first job out of college is as a supervisor for Lyle's Catering Services. One of Lyle's main businesses is managing the food service operations at colleges and hospitals. You've been given responsibility for the cafeteria at St. Paul College. You have a staff of approximately 12 full-time and 15 part-time workers. The average part-timer makes $11.50 an hour versus the full-timers' $15.00. The cafeteria is open 7 days a week, from 6:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

You've been in the job eight months and have become frustrated by the high employee turnover. Just since you've been on the job, three full-time and six part-time people have quit. You went back and looked at the personnel records for the past five years and this pattern has been a constant. You're frustrated by the cost and time involved in continually hiring and training new people. You've decided you need to do something.

You've begun informally talking to employees. None seem particularly enthusiastic about their jobs. Even some of the "old timers"-who've worked in the cafeteria for six years or more-have little enthusiasm for their work.

Using your assigned theory, develop at least two strategies to improve the staff's motivation and reduce the turnover rate.