Reference no: EM132879443

Dealing with People Who Make Your Life Difficult

Chance Fisher was hired a little over a year ago for an accounting analyst position at Wedgewood Credit Union. Wedgewood has more than 30 branches located throughout northern Indiana. When Chance was hired, the Credit Union required three years of experience in finance/accounting and a college degree in accounting.

Chance was a storyteller and could always one-up others. When a friend (Carrie) returned from her grandparents' 50th anniversary to Disney, Chance had to take charge of the group and talk about his trip to the Great Wall of China. One evening, at a social function Dave (Carrie's husband) asked Chance's wife about their trip to China. Her response was "What trip to China? We have never been out of the country!" When Davis and others confronted Chance about the China trip, he admitted that he had made up the story, but then added that "everyone embellishes a little bit."

Chance's performance at the Credit Union has been good, and his most recent performance appraisal showed him to be a "good or better" performer in relevant categories, except for "teamwork." Chance's supervisor had spent time discussing with Chance his storytelling and the need for open and honest communications.

On Tuesday night, Michele Kay (also an accountant at Wedgewood) was with a friend at the local library. As she looked across the room, she saw Chance and he appeared to be studying. When Michele's friend asked who she was staring at, she responded "One of the guys I work with." The friend inquired, "Do you mean Chance? He is in two of my undergraduate accounting classes."

Michele and a couple of the accountants at Wedgewood were talking the next day about what, if anything, Michele should do with the information. It appears that Chance might not have the degree that he needed to get the job.

Questions:

1. How pervasive do you feel is the embellishment issue on resumes?

2. It appeared that someone failed to check Chance's resume! Who should have the responsibility for verifying that the information applicants submit is honest?

3. If you were Michele or one of the other coworkers who believe Chance got the job under false pretenses, what would you do? Why?

4. What would you want the Credit Union management to do? Why?

5. You are Chance's immediate supervisor. After an HR investigation, it is confirmed that Chance cited a college degree in accounting on his resume, and again, when he filled out the company personal record sheets. What will you recommend as a course of action? Why?