Rajan the Driver

Executive Summary
The personal manager of Sagarmatha Dairy Union, Mr. Suresh Mohan has to deal with a case
handed over by his General Manager. The case is involving the driver of the plant, Mr. Rajan
and the security officer, Mr. Somaraju in which it is stated that Rajan did not stop the vehicle, in
spite of signaling by the security officer and he also abused the officer. The incident took place
at 4 p.m. on 23rd January, 1993, near Sabjimandi where Rajan was supposed to take the employee
of first shift to Nathadwara and return to plant with empty bus. But the bus had some passengers
who were neither plant employee or connected in any way to plant. The security officer reported
the incident next day to General Manager where it was mentioned regarding the unauthorized
passengers, ignorance of signal to stop and abusing by driver at plant gate. He requested the
General Manager to take stern action against erring driver.

Problem Statement
The decision taken by the management to transfer Rajan to the production department didn't go
well, both the protagonist does not feel this is not a correct decision. This led to agitation among
employee union. The General Manager entrusted Mr. Suresh Mohan to formulate future course of action after
properly analyzing the case.

Analysis
Mr. Somaraju has good track record in the organization and is considered as an upright person.
But on few instances of theft in the plant, earlier he lost his cool and had beaten up one or two
casual labourers. He was an ex-service person in armed forces with an immaculate track record,
but had habit of drinking after office hours. Mr. Rajan has been working in organization for past
12 years, and developed close contact with recognized employee union. His track record has been
good except for some activities where he missed disciplinary action against him for not so serious
activities . After the allegation on him, Rajan explained that he gave group of school children lift
till near the plant only on humanitarian basis and one the way observed officer Somaraju was
drunk and wanted to avoid letting him in bus , hence didn’t stop the bus. According to organization
rule of employees Rajan should not carry any unauthorized person while Somaraju should not be
drunk while on duty. Rajan himself agreed on taking school student at the incident time and didn’t
stop on signaling by employee, hence ignored both the primary duties as employee and didn’t take
responsibility of reporting the drunk incident to management. Even after considering the
humanitarian act of ordinary passenger boarding the bus in presence of General Manager as well,
the poor transport system should not be organization responsibility. Even if he proves that
Somaraju was drunk, he has violated the organization policy of transportation of employee.

Action Plan

As a Personal Manager, Mr. Suresh Mohan should not compromise on the organization policies and take
proper action against driver but before passing the order he should ask the driver to prove that security officer
was drunk. In case if its proven then could be taken against the security officer. The management can explain
this solution to the employee union explaining that the case is not leaned toward one party, and decision will be
taken considering plant’s rules and regulation.
Prashant Kumar
P40193