Case Study 1 Study Fighting Fires dina/Sack/Getty Images In British Columbia, the competition for firefighting jobs is fierce, with more than 1,600 people applying for about 60 jobs. At one time, the provincial Ministry of Forests required all job applicants to pass this physical fitness test: • Lift a 23-kilogram bar in an upright rowing motion 18 times. ⚫ Carry pumps and hoses, weighing as much as 50 kilograms, over a timed distance. • Perform a shuttle run, which involves darting back and forth at an increasingly faster pace between cones situated 20 metres apart. The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union argued that the average man, with training, could easily pass the test, whereas the average woman, even with training, could not. Only 35 percent of women who applied for the firefighter's job passed the test; about 70 percent of the men did. The University of Victoria scientists who designed the tests argued that most women could reach the stan- dard, although they would have to work harder than most men to do so. Female firefighters said they had to train year-round to pass the test, but they took this as a personal responsibility and as the cost of qualifying for the job. Their safety, as well as that of their col- leagues and the public, depends on their strength and endurance. The B.C. Ministry of Forests spokeswoman suggested that lowering the standards would be a mis- take: "Already male firefighters are asking if blazes will be designated as 'guy' fires and 'girl' fires. We want the fittest people." Questions 1. Did the standards result in safer and more effective firefighting crews, or were they inadvertently keeping women out of a traditionally male job? 2. Was this a BFOQ? The ministry was challenged on the basis of sex discrimination. What did the Supreme Court rule, and what was its reasoning? 3. Female applicants had the chance to train and try the test at B.C. university campuses. Was this spe- cial preparation discriminatory? 4. Did the changes made fix the underlying problems? Explain.
Case Study 1 Study Fighting Fires dina/Sack/Getty Images In British Columbia, the competition for firefighting jobs is fierce, with more than 1,600 people applying for about 60 jobs. At one time, the provincial Ministry of Forests required all job applicants to pass this physical fitness test: • Lift a 23-kilogram bar in an upright rowing motion 18 times. ⚫ Carry pumps and hoses, weighing as much as 50 kilograms, over a timed distance. • Perform a shuttle run, which involves darting back and forth at an increasingly faster pace between cones situated 20 metres apart. The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union argued that the average man, with training, could easily pass the test, whereas the average woman, even with training, could not. Only 35 percent of women who applied for the firefighter's job passed the test; about 70 percent of the men did. The University of Victoria scientists who designed the tests argued that most women could reach the stan- dard, although they would have to work harder than most men to do so. Female firefighters said they had to train year-round to pass the test, but they took this as a personal responsibility and as the cost of qualifying for the job. Their safety, as well as that of their col- leagues and the public, depends on their strength and endurance. The B.C. Ministry of Forests spokeswoman suggested that lowering the standards would be a mis- take: "Already male firefighters are asking if blazes will be designated as 'guy' fires and 'girl' fires. We want the fittest people." Questions 1. Did the standards result in safer and more effective firefighting crews, or were they inadvertently keeping women out of a traditionally male job? 2. Was this a BFOQ? The ministry was challenged on the basis of sex discrimination. What did the Supreme Court rule, and what was its reasoning? 3. Female applicants had the chance to train and try the test at B.C. university campuses. Was this spe- cial preparation discriminatory? 4. Did the changes made fix the underlying problems? Explain.
Practical Management Science
6th Edition
ISBN:9781337406659
Author:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:WINSTON, Wayne L.
Chapter2: Introduction To Spreadsheet Modeling
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 20P: Julie James is opening a lemonade stand. She believes the fixed cost per week of running the stand...
Related questions
Question
Transcribed Image Text:Case Study 1
Study Fighting Fires
dina/Sack/Getty Images
In British Columbia,
the competition for
firefighting jobs is
fierce, with more
than 1,600 people
applying for about 60
jobs. At one time, the
provincial Ministry of
Forests required all
job applicants to pass this physical fitness test:
• Lift a 23-kilogram bar in an upright rowing motion
18 times.
⚫ Carry pumps and hoses, weighing as much as 50
kilograms, over a timed distance.
• Perform a shuttle run, which involves darting back
and forth at an increasingly faster pace between
cones situated 20 metres apart.
The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union
argued that the average man, with training, could easily
pass the test, whereas the average woman, even with
training, could not. Only 35 percent of women who
applied for the firefighter's job passed the test; about 70
percent of the men did.
The University of Victoria scientists who designed
the tests argued that most women could reach the stan-
dard, although they would have to work harder than
most men to do so. Female firefighters said they had to
train year-round to pass the test, but they took this as
a personal responsibility and as the cost of qualifying
for the job. Their safety, as well as that of their col-
leagues and the public, depends on their strength and
endurance. The B.C. Ministry of Forests spokeswoman
suggested that lowering the standards would be a mis-
take: "Already male firefighters are asking if blazes will
be designated as 'guy' fires and 'girl' fires. We want the
fittest people."
Questions
1. Did the standards result in safer and more effective
firefighting crews, or were they inadvertently
keeping women out of a traditionally male job?
2. Was this a BFOQ? The ministry was challenged
on the basis of sex discrimination. What did the
Supreme Court rule, and what was its reasoning?
3. Female applicants had the chance to train and try
the test at B.C. university campuses. Was this spe-
cial preparation discriminatory?
4. Did the changes made fix the underlying problems?
Explain.
Expert Solution
This question has been solved!
Explore an expertly crafted, step-by-step solution for a thorough understanding of key concepts.
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
Recommended textbooks for you
Practical Management Science
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781337406659
Author:
WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:
Cengage,
Operations Management
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781259667473
Author:
William J Stevenson
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Operations and Supply Chain Management (Mcgraw-hi…
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781259666100
Author:
F. Robert Jacobs, Richard B Chase
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Practical Management Science
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781337406659
Author:
WINSTON, Wayne L.
Publisher:
Cengage,
Operations Management
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781259667473
Author:
William J Stevenson
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Operations and Supply Chain Management (Mcgraw-hi…
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781259666100
Author:
F. Robert Jacobs, Richard B Chase
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781285869681
Author:
Robert M. Monczka, Robert B. Handfield, Larry C. Giunipero, James L. Patterson
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Production and Operations Analysis, Seventh Editi…
Operations Management
ISBN:
9781478623069
Author:
Steven Nahmias, Tava Lennon Olsen
Publisher:
Waveland Press, Inc.