Case Studies

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Case Study: Which Pay Scale is Which?
by Larry Holt
Graphics and Commercial Art

In the foundation class of Graphics and Commercial Art, there is imbedded a 200 minute segment of instruction in Ethics and Values targeted to experiences common in this major. These experiences may be of a personal nature, related to the college experience or related but not limited to experiences in a graphics work place. Near the end of the course, students are given the assignment of writing a one page "case study" preferably of a personal incident which might be helpful to their fellow classmates in recognizing, understanding and resolving a moral dilemma.

In response to such as assignment, the basic information in the following case study was received from Paul, a married student, carrying a full load and whose wife had just given birth to a new baby.

"During the end of Fall Semester, particularly during the time immediately preceding Christmas, part-time work which will fit in with school is difficult to find. Nevertheless, after talking with a previous supervisor, I was told that he could put me to work if I would work for $8.00 an hour cash, because there was a lot of unanticipated overload which needed to be cleaned up by the end of the year.

After working about two weeks, I asked my supervisor when I would be able to receive some pay. I was informed that the owner of the business was out of town and the supervisor had hired additional help to resolve the increased workload problem with his own initiative. Nevertheless, he was confident that the business owner would approve his decision and authorize payment for the hours I had worked. After another week, I was informed that the owner was back, and would be visiting the image assembly and production areas to express his appreciation for the fine work that had been done in his absence. The supervisor also said that if I were asked by the owner how much I was being paid that I was to say $12.00 an hour. It was clear that I was going to receive $8.00 an hour cash for my work."

Questions:

Should Paul mention to the owner of the business that he is only receiving $8.00 an hour?

Should he mention to some regulatory agency that he is being paid "under the table?"

On principle, should he refuse to take the $8.00 an hour, knowing that there will most likely be the sparsest of Christmases for his new family?