Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Jack and Jill

Mead, Jenny, Freem...

Case

Jack and Jill

Mead, Jenny; Freeman, R. Edward

E-0390 | Published January 2, 2013 | 5 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Eric Levin, founder and CEO of NewLine Pharmaceuticals, faces a difficult situation at his company. There is growing tension and possible domestic abuse between two NewLine employees, a married couple. The wife has been performing her work tasks in an exceptional way, but the husband has been falling behind in his duties and appears to be taking out his frustration on his wife. Exacerbating the situation is the fact that Levin is personally close to the couple and that the couple comes from a particularly conservative background.

To explore a manager's handling of and responsibility for a potentially dangerous domestic situation within his/her company. Does a manager have a responsibility to intervene when employees have difficulty in their personal lives? How should a manager approach a personal situation in the workplace that is potentially explosive? How does one define the boundaries of his/her responsibility when work and potential domestic issues collide? The case provides a good opportunity to practice perspective taking and seeing situations from several different viewpoints, as well as an opportunity to practice building strategies for effective intervention, as well as an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each potential strategy.