Discussion Topic #1 — FMLA

Joe has had a difficult life. His parents separated when he was an infant. His mother began drinking heavily to deal with her depression and became alcoholic. Social Services intervened to remove Joe from his mother’s care. Joe’s grandmother took Joe in and raised him from infancy.

Joe is now employed for your company which is situated in California.

His grandmother needs a serious operation on her eyes and will require constant monitoring and help 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Joe asks for 6 weeks unpaid leave from his important job to provide care for his grandmother.

Your boss comes to you – “Are we legally obligated to grant Joe unpaid leave and guarantee him his job?”

Draft a one-page memo to your boss:

1.What are the Federal FMLA eligibility requirements relative to Joe being able to take unpaid leave and have a guaranteed job, to take care of his grandmother?

2.What are the Calif FMLA eligibility requirements relative to Joe being able to take unpaid leave and have a guaranteed job, to take care of his grandmother? Only address differences between Calif FMLA and Fed FMLA, if any, as to the question of Joe being able to leave to take care of his grandmother?

Use a minimum of two HR/legal references to support your conclusions.

Here are two links for your reference.

1.http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/leave-policies-workplace-faq-29088.html

2.http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-family-and-medical-leave-laws.aspx

Discussion Topic #2 — Employee Termination

Situation – As the HR Director, you have been asked by a supervisor Tommy to provide guidance on an employee that they want to terminate.

Write a memo to the supervisor Tommy to address the following:

1.As the HR professional, discuss the concepts that employees serve “at will,” and can be fired at any time, for any reason that isn’t illegal.

2.The supervisor has indicated there is a situation of poor performance, some attendance problems, and that the employee is just “not working out.” However, the supervisor is concerned that the employee might retaliate by claiming discrimination, since the employee is part of a protected class.

3.What documentation should the supervisor have?

4.What else would you advise the supervisor to be aware of?

Use a minimum of two HR/legal references to support your conclusions. You must substantively respond to two colleagues.

Here are two references for you to consider:

1.http://gosmallbiz.com/progressive-discipline-steps-to-take-before-termination/

http://www.employmentlawfirms.com/termination-layoffs/when-termination-is-wrongful.htm

I’m working on a film discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Choose a film to be the subject of your essay. There are no constraints to your film choice other than it should be class appropriate (if you are unclear as to what this means, please contact me). Watch the entire film, preferably taking notes to aid in your analysis. You may need to watch the film more than once (or at least repeatedly study a few scenes) to complete this assignment. If you are having difficulty choosing a film or have any questions about the appropriateness of your choice, email me and I will help you make the best decision for the assignment.

Review the four film conventions covered in class (sound, camera, color, and narrative) and choose at least two to analyze in the film. Review your film notes and possibly re-watch some scenes to properly analyze the conventions. Your convention analysis should answer the following questions:

How is this convention used in the film?

How does the use of the convention help with the storytelling?

Is the use of the convention effective? (Example: How does the sound (music, etc.) impact your experience watching the film? Does it effectively add to the story or aid in communicating a theme, emotion, setting, etc.?)

Write your essay. DO NOT refer to any outside resources other than your textbook, class notes and PowerPoint, and your chosen film (you may also visit the Academic Success Center to meet with a tutor). Consulting outside sources can lead to plagiarism and/or confusion. If you quote the film or use texts outside of the class textbook, you will need to include citations. As you write, remember that this essay is NOT simply a summary. Though you may briefly summarize the film, particularly scenes on which you are focusing, the bulk of your paper should demonstrate critical thinking and analysis. Considering the following questions may assist you with approaching film analytically:

• What is the general message/moral/resolution/lesson of the movie, if any?
• Is the movie attempting to make any statements about other works, society, specific people, etc.?
• How does the sound/camera/color/narrative serve the movie? Does it move the plot along, give the audience information, or provide critique? How does it influence your experience as the viewer?

• THE QUESTION: Put Repko, and Menken & Keestra, to work for you. Explain how you have applied interdisciplinary theory and process to your thinking in your Literature Review. Our readings are about the interdisciplinary research process, and since you are doing research in an interdisciplinary core course, we’d like to see you thinking about how your research is more than/different from traditional, disciplinary research. Since you have not yet completed the process, I would not expect you to have an answer that completely explains how you have implemented techniques of integration in your work. Nor would I expect you to discuss all of the interdisciplinary theory that is discussed in the readings by Repko, and by Menken & Keestra. However, in about three pages you should be able to make a convincing statement that explains how your work is interdisciplinary, drawing on the important details available in the assigned chapters from the books by Repko, and by Menken & Keestra. To do well, your essay must speak both to your paper topic and to the readings. Be specific. Refer specifically to the dimensions of your issue: the arguments (“disciplinary insights”), concepts, theories, and so on that you are thinking about as you research. Refer specifically to the content of the books. Do not quote from them, but do provide citations. For example, if you wanted to point out that your research relies on your understanding of the disciplinary perspectives evident in your topic, you might say: My thinking about nuclear nonproliferation depended upon my understanding of the perspectives (97-100) of the disciplines Communication and Political Science. The (97-100) refers to pages 97-100 of Repko’s book, which begins a discussion of disciplinary perspective. (Be sure to cite and reference the books, not the course pack.  There are readings from three different books here, so be clear about your sources!) This is just an example. It is possible to make more than one reference in a single sentence — compound/complex sentences are a good thing. There’s plenty to say in this essay (because Repko, and Menken & Keestra, have a lot to say, and because your paper should be packed with content), and being concise, clear, and well organized is very important.

? You will need to use peer reviewed articles to appropriately complete this assignment.
o Peer review articles are available through the Hunter Library website
? (http://www.wcu.edu/hunter-library/)
? You should be able to easily find articles through homepage search box.
? Use a variety of keywords in order to define and redefine your search
? This can be a time consuming process, take your time
? Many sociological issues are researched through the aspects of RCGS
? (Race/Class/Gender/Sexuality)
? Try refining your search by including these categories
o While you will likely get by with 5 peer reviewed sources, the best papers will have more
? You will be graded on the following components
o Correct style:
? 12 pt. New Times Roman font
? 1 inch margins (make sure you check)
? Double spaced
? Reference page with appropriate citation format (APA and ASA only)
? The data base will provide this for you but use Purdue Owl if needed

SOC 414Page 9

o (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/583/01/)
? In-text citations (reference the Owl if needed)
? I need to know where you are getting your information
o Usually takes (Author Year) format, such as (Mwaniki 2019)
? Limited use of quotes, I want your interpretation, not someone else’s
? Watch for long paragraphs, break up your ideas
o Introduction and Conclusion
? The introduction should tell me where your paper is going, what you will cover
? Also why you are covering your chosen topic
? The conclusion should briefly summarize your paper
? Also where you feel things should go into the future
o For example, what policies might alleviate global poverty?
o Body
? Use headers to break up thoughts and transitions
? Academic writing is not always about smooth transitions
? Reference the Owl to see how headings are formatted
? Cite, cite, cite
? Unless you have actually done research on your topic you are building on the
work of someone else
? Proofread
? Comma use, grammar, spelling, etc.
? Interpretation and making connections
? Perhaps most important. This class is not about issues that somehow stand in
isolation from each other. I want to see that you recognize how different
social problems are related and intersect. You should also try to synthesize
your sources into a coherent argument, meaning that I do not want a paper
of individual article summaries. The papers receiving the highest grades
will accomplish the above requirements

The purpose of writing a policy analysis is to 1) demonstrate a proficiency in basic writing skills, 2) demonstrate an understanding of a state or congressional policy, 3) correlate the policy (statute law) and procedures with wider societal social policy issues and lastly, 4) demonstrate the skill of advocacy in the written form. The paper must reflect theories, terms and concepts discussed in class and in the readings. Choose one of the Grand Challenges to explore in great detail.

Students may conduct research that yields policy information regarding the populations their practicum or affiliated agency serves.  For example, if the student has written briefs from agency policy manuals regarding social work with mental health clients, then this analysis should incorporate policies regarding mental illness.  If a student has focused on policy and juvenile justice court units; the policy analysis should illustrate wider social policy regarding the juvenile justice system.  Or, students may write a policy analysis about a topic area of interest.

           After properly introducing the topic area, the student must provide pertinent and recent policies regarding the social population served. The student must quote verbatim wider social policy and the source and then correlate such policy with agency policy and procedures. Next, the student must demonstrate whether agency policy fulfilled social policy or operated against social policy.  This should be done through highlighting several agency procedures. The next section should discuss the ideology of agency procedures. Are they fair or biased? Are they helpful or hinder? Do they speak to social need and/or social exclusion? Are they Afrocentric? Explain very specifically. Include itemized budgetary needs.

           This final section should address how you would advocate for fair and equitable policies that are conducive for poor people to advance (consider a Grand Challenge population) Therefore, you need to write some specific agency policy statements that would better serve those who are impacted by agency policy.  Your discussion must be persuasive.  This is your moment to exercise your advocacy skills. This is truly your moment to shine. Remember, as you advocate for applicable policies, you should include a funding/budgeted section, and you may include partnerships with other agencies, city units, etc., that will fulfill your goal. Outline your analysis as follows: