CLASS IN EXERCISE: REWARDS FOR WORKFORCE DIVERSITY
Purpose:
To learn about the different needs of a diverse workforce.
Time:
Approximately 40 minutes.
Directions: Divide the class into groups of approximately size 6. Each group is assigned 1 of
the following people and is to determine the best benefits package for that person.
Lise is 28 years old. She is a divorced mother of 3 children, aged 3, 5, and 7. She is the
department head. She earns $37,000 a year on her job and receives another $3600 a year
in child support from her ex-husband.
Ethel is a 72-year-old widow. She works 25 hours a week to supplement her $8000
annual pension. Including her hourly wage of $7.50, she earns $17,750 a year.
John is a 34-year-old Black male born in Trinidad who is now a Canadian resident. He is
married and the father of two small children. John attends college at night and is within a
year of earning his bachelors degree. His salary is $24,000 a year. His wife is an attorney
and earns approximately $54,000 a year.
Sanjay is a 26-year-old physically impaired Indo-Canadian male. He is single and has a
masters degree in education. Sanjay is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair as a result
of an auto accident. He earns $29,000 a year.
Wei Mei is a single 22-year-old immigrant. Born and raised in China, she came to
Canada only three months ago. Wei Meis English needs considerable improvement. She
earns $18,000 a year.
Mike is a 16-year-old white male in his 2nd year of high school. He works 15 hours a
week after school and during vacations. He earns $6.25 an hour, or approximately $4875 a
year.
Background Our 6 participants work for a company that has recently installed a flexible
benefits program. Instead of the traditional one benefit package fits all, the company is
allocating an additional 25 percent of each employees annual pay to be used for discretionary
benefits. Those benefits and their annual cost listed are below.
Benefit
Extended medical care (for services such as private hospital
room, eye glasses, and dental care that are not provided by the
Medical Services Plan) for employee:
Plan A (No deductible and pays 90%)
Plan B ($200 deductible and pays 80%)
Plan C ($1000 deductible and pays 70%)
Yearly Cost
$3000
$2000
$500
Extended medical care for dependants (same deductibles and
percentages as above):
Plan A
Plan B
Plan C
$2000
$1500
$500
Supplementary dental plan
$500
Life insurance:
Plan A ($25 000 coverage)
Plan B ($50 000 coverage)
Plan C ($100 000 coverage)
Plan D ($250 000 coverage)
$500
$1000
$2000
$3000
Mental health plan
$500
Prepaid legal assistance
$300
Vacation
2% of annual pay for
each week, up to 6
weeks a year
Pension at retirement equal to approximately 50% of final annual
earnings
$1500
Four-day workweek during the three summer months (available
only to full-time employees)
4% of annual pay
Daycare services (after company contribution)
$2000 for all of an
employees children,
regardless of number
Company-provided transportation to and from work
$750
University tuition reimbursement
$1000
Language class tuition reimbursement
$500
The Task
1. Each group has 15 minutes to develop a flexible benefits package that consumes 25 percent
(and no more!) of its characters pay.
2. After completing Step 1, each group appoints a spokesperson who describes to the entire
class the benefits package the group has arrived at for its character.
3. The entire class then discusses the results. How did the needs, concerns, and problems of
each participant influence the groups decision? What do the results suggest for trying to
motivate a diverse workforce?
Source: Exercise developed by Steve Robbins, with special thanks to Professor Penny Wright
(San Diego State University) for her suggestions during the development of this exercise.
Exercise modified by Nancy Langton.