Symptoms of Problems at Texaco
Identification of Root Problems and Unresolved Issues
Highly qualified African-American employees filed a class action suit against Texaco in 1994, stating that the company failed to promote African-American employees to a higher position and it failed to compensate them in relation to Caucasian employees in similar positions. Throughout the investigation of Texaco if was found that documents would potentially damage Texaco were being withheld. When secret tape recordings from Texaco executives revealed not only vilely insensitive racial attitudes but it also demonstrated the eagerness of the executives to withhold any and all sensitive internal documents pertaining to the discrimination court case.
Discrimination throughout Texaco was a big problem. Texaco's problems were not just with the lower-level employees, but also with the other levels of management. Comments from Caucasian managers were "I never thought I'd see the day when a black woman had an office at Texaco" (Trevino, 2004). Being called uppity and a "smart-mouthed little colored girl" (Roberts, 1996) were only some of the comments made by the Caucasian employees.
The company's problems got worse when a former senior financial analyst wrote a book speaking about the humiliating experiences that minorities faced while at Texaco, this would also include him. These problems continued because the minorities at Texaco were scared to speak up for themselves at the time. When minority employees would file a grievance they would not be addressed and no one would follow through. Management and other employees were scared that their jobs would be given to the minorities and that minorities would have more control than they did. ...
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... start at upper levels of management and ethical values have to be re-examined for today's society. While Texaco has since merged with Chevron, the organizations committed to uphold the high standards and practices it set for itself. Only time will tell if the organization will maintain the changes for long-term and cultural change.
References
Chevron Corporation. (2006). 2005 Corporate Responsibilities Report. Retrieved
September 30, 2006 from
www.chevron.com/cr_report/2005/priorities_progress_plans/integration/business_ethics
CNN News 1996 Cable News Network, Inc. Jackson: Keep pressure on Texaco until
culture changes 1-4. Retrieved September 30, 2006 form www.cnn.com/US/9611/17/texaco
Texaco: Case Study of Corporate Racism. (1996). Revolutionary Worker #883. Retrieved
September 30, 2006 from www.rwor.org/a/firstvol/883/texaco.htm
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