Recently, Chick-Fil-A has been in the news because of its personal values. Many corporations (brands) embrace personal causes in which they believe in.
Whether it is a sustainability belief or the preservation of the environment, brands embrace beliefs which represent them ethically. Chick-Fil-A is not like many companies. Their business and marketing model is built on religious beliefs, and has been more than successful. CEOs should be wary of making controversial personal statements when they are representing the business they run.
Freedom of speech is not the issue because those that disagree with the controversial statements also have the same right. If they feel it is important to make controversial personal statements, they should step outside their role as CEOs and make it clear that their statements are personal and do not represent the company. Mr. Cathy the CEO of Chick Fil-A, did not do that so how should his employees working for Chick Fil A feel? PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to learn how Chick Fil A can embrace and encourage diversity in the work place when the company’s CEO has publicly spoken against same sex marriages.In today’s society many people see this as open discrimination which is giving this once highly ideal fast food company in a very negative position. Chick fil a is now seen as a company that proactively is against the lesbian and gay community.
Treating every employee with honor, respect, and dignity regardless of their sexual orientation is now a public turn around the company must due in order to stop receiving the negative and bad press. The leader has a responsibility to all those with whom the company does business including employees, franchisees, vendors, and customers.If the leader says something controversial, the others who may or may not share those beliefs often suffer. This is why it is not a good idea for leaders to take a stand on controversial issues that are unrelated to the businessINTRODUCTIONFounded in 1946, Chick-fil-A is a fast food chain restaurant located in America. The headquarters are in Atlanta, College Park, Georgia.
1This restaurant specializes in making extraordinary chicken sandwiches. Southern United States has given its association to Chick-fil-A and it has become the culture there to have these sandwiches on all occasions.Chick-fil-A owns many restaurants, 1,614 in thirty-nine states of the U. S.
and also in the District of Columbia. System-wide sales in 2012 reached $4. 6 billion. These figures reflect a 14 percent increase over the chain's 2011 performance and a same-store sales increase of 8 percent.
They are also planning to grow their business in the Midwest of American and the Southern California. The founder of this restaurant is a Christian, and their corporate culture depends heavily on these religious beliefs.Many fast food businesses are open on Sundays, but Chick-fil-A remains closed. Chick-fil-A uses a model significantly different from other restaurant franchises, notably in retaining ownership of each restaurant. Chick-fil-A selects the restaurant location, builds it and retains ownership. Whereas franchisees from competing chains pay almost $2 million up front to open a franchise, Chick-fil-A franchisees need only a $5,000 initial investment to become an operator.
The company gets 10,000–25,000 applications from potential franchise operators for 60–70 slots they open each year.Chick-fil-A gets a larger share of revenue from its franchises than other chains, but the formula works well for operators – franchisees make an average of $190,000 per year. In 2010 Chick-fil-A took the industry lead in average sales per restaurant, making an average of $2. 7 million per restaurant in 2010.
PROBLEM BACKGROUNDThe strong belief of a company’s president has caused Chick- Fil-A to lose potential sites for their restaurant and a partnership. 2Chick-Fil-A’s president, Dan Cathy speaks for his company as a whole when he says, they are against gay marriage.Cities like Boston and Chicago have voiced that they were against the views of Chick-Fil-A on gay marriage. The letter from Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino and Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emaneul comment, "Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values", made it clear that there was no room for that type discrimination in their cities. Also the statement made by Mr. Cathy has caused the Jim Henson Co.
, to pull its partnership with the restaurant; they had provided the Muppet toys for the kids’ meals. The religious beliefs of this company’s owners have always played a part in the operation of this restaurant.3 All 1,600 restaurants are closed on Sunday’s, due to the Christian Sabbath. The company even contributed large amounts of money to groups against gay marriage in 2010. I believe that the company has a right to speak on their beliefs.
Those against their beliefs also have that right to prevent the company from having sites in their cities, because those beliefs offend the people of their town. The mayors of those cities decided to stand behind their people. I understand the Jim Henson Co. , position in deciding that they didn’t want any ties to the statement made by Chick-Fil-A’s president.
Though the Jim Henson Co. , should have did their homework before agreeing to a partnership with Chick-Fil-A. The Cathy’s, the company’s owners have contributed thousands of dollars to Republicans, that held anti-gay marriage views. Therefore the standing point of the company on gay marriage is told through their actions. The statement made by the president should have come as no bombshell. Gay marriage continues to be an ongoing controversial issue.
The statement made offends those who are gay, in turn causes the company to lose.Just as other businesses focus their corporate responsibility efforts on such things as the environment, labor standards, or public health, Chick-fil-A draws on its strong Christian heritage to support family, community, and youth. These causes are not so trendy these days; advocating for the traditional family, in particular, has made the chicken chain a target for criticism. Yet it’s hard to dispute that the company is adhering to the principle that business should strive for social impact, even if views differ as to what that impact should be.Most CEOs try to limit their public views to items related to business.
Cathy’s discussion of leadership extends beyond corporate strategy to more intimate matters such as spending time with your kids and confronting fear. He seems to aspire to take his message far beyond Chick-fil-A’s bottom line, framing his views on managing business so that they apply to life. The blog paints a picture of a faithful Christian preoccupied with questions about “vision,” “mission,” “ambition,” and “character”.ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSISChick-fil-A is affected by numerous forces which challenge upper management’s ability to make Chick-fil-A "America’s best quick-service restaurant". Through intense strategic planning, based upon the vision, mission and corporate values, Chick-fil-A has been able to establish a unique position in a very competitive industry.
The corporate purpose of Chick-fil-A, "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact witch Chick-fil-A", their commitment to family and the community, and their sound business decisions, have made Chick-fil-A one of the most profitable and fastest growing quick-service restaurants in the nation but there are consequences for the CEO statements and beliefs that effects many people including employees and customers.Chick-fil-A is a large corporation that offers franchise options which is defined as the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market its products or services in a specific territory; a store, restaurant, or other business operating under such a license.Mayors and other politicians being pressured by their constituents are blocking new franchises from being opened in their cities. Many states like Chicago is denying Chick-Fil-A business permit to franchise or build in their area. ” There are consequences for one’s actions, statements and beliefs. Because of this man’s ignorance, I will deny Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant in my ward” is a statement that Chicago alderman released about why he denied chick fila a’s business permit.
Customers who are offended by the CEO's comments are not likely to forgive and forget.A lot of former fans of Chick-Fil-A have said that they will not be going back. Gay rights groups have called for a boycott, the Jim Henson Co. pulled its Muppet toys from Chick-Fil-A kids' meals. Employees working for chick- fil-A lie about their partner's gender or denying they even have a partner.
No mentioning of your personal life to co-workers. Disguising gender identity from employers and customers. For most countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender this describes the all-too-frequent reality of life in the workplace.In 30 states, LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people can be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity, and they have no legal recourse whatsoever.
Annually, thousands of LGBT youth are kicked out of their homes, LGBT teens are murdered by suicide and an epidemic of anti-LGBT bullying and violence grips U. S. schools. Many of the gay support groups believe all of these injustices are consequences of the political influence of organizations like Focus on the Family, with their corporate backers such as Chick-Fil-A.
ALTERNATIVESMy organizational behavior related recommendations for Chick Fil A to show that they are improving diversity within their organization is implementation of diversity in the workplace policies. Chick- Fil-A must implement a customized strategy to maximize the effects of diversity in the workplace. Promote diversity in leadership positions. This practice provides visibility and realizes the benefits of diversity in the workplace. Foster an attitude of openness in your organization by having cultural sensitivity training encourage employees to express their ideas and opinions and attribute a sense of equal value to all.
Provided cultural sensitivity training recognize demographic differences, stereotype’s biases plan a personal diversity action plan with each employee. Cultural comments refers to the ability to interact effectively with people of different culture and social economic background. A zero tolerance policy to for behavior that belittles people. Establishing a regular forum educational programs in which participants are trained to be sensitive appreciative towards cultural diversity.
Feedback is a necessary condition for effective goal setting of an organization.It serves as motivation for many people in the work place. It can be positive or negative; depending on the manager and the organization to decide which one to be applied in order to achieve effective feedback. Another possible solutions would be for Chick-Fil-A’s owner and the rest of their upper management to not enforce their opinions and accept those of the LGBT community as not trying to destroy their view of what marriage should be. Unfortunately, things are not always so easy and this solution is far too idealistic.One’s views will not change overnight and it is impossible for an entire company to change the morals it has always held with great importance.
They would have no real gain from the decision because making the LGBT community and their supporters happy. However, the best solution may be to stop funding these hate groups altogether. Chick-Fil-A has, more likely or not, employed at least one homosexual individual at one point, and those who have been employed by the company should feel secure and comfortable with their workplace.Working for a company that funds groups that wants to strip the aforementioned person of their rights does not accomplish the goal of security in the workplace. Chick-Fil-A should release a policy stating that they do not discriminate their workers based on their sexual orientation.
Also, if Chick-Fil-A stops funding hate groups, Mayor Metino and Joe Moreno are more likely to allow the chain to open restaurants in Boston and Chicago, the latter of which being more important considering Chick-Fil-A’s desired expansion into the Midwest.By ending the funding of hate groups and creating a policy that forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, those that work at Chick-Fil-A feel better about their job, they lose the majority of the bad publicity, and can possibly expand to new areas, increasing franchises.RECOMMENDATIONThe most important recommendation I feel Chick-Fil-A could use is to embrace their employees diversity by instituting a policy stating that the company does not allow or tolerate discrimination against its employees based on sexual orientation.Having an organizational policy that defines an outcome of procedures on direction to regulate the treatment of employees.
Policies can range from a broad philosophy to a specific rule. They are the direct connection between a company's vision and its daily operations and the underpinnings to a company's culture. Having this policy will help create a more equal and stable environment for employees. Then the public will be more accepting to Chick Fil-A and will patronize their business.
Sales will be increase and more franchises can be open.ACTION PLANDiversity must remain at the forefront within the Chick fil a company. The first step is to quantify the gap by determining the division that exists between the situation and the desired outcome which is embracing diversity by having gay employees fell secure and comfortable about their sexual orientation in the work place. The second step is to uncover the cause of the problem which is the CEO speaking out against gay marriage and saying he stands for the traditional idea of family between a man and women.
The third step is to create options by exploring possible solutions to decrease the gap. The fourth step is to use the information gathered during the previous steps in deciding on a solution which will be incorporating a policy that prevents discrimination against any chick fil a employee based on sexual orientation. Just as it is important to prepare the workforce it is equally essential to minimize the challenges that are certain to crop up. One methodof minimizing challenges is to strictly enforce diversity policies by adopting a zero tolerance stance.
Employees must know that violation of equal opportunities and treatment is not acceptable. To utilize a diverse workforce Chick fil a must prepare employees to embrace its diversity, training is one method. For supervisors and managers to be successful, they must receive proper education and training. Including diversity training during employee orientation is on way to help train workers.
