Author Archives: Jessica Vazquez

RETENTION – Segment G Assignment

It’s without a doubt that employee retention is crucial to run a successful business. Reading this week’s unit materials reminded me of my first job at a grocery store and my years of experience working there. I was fifteen years old and started a position as a cashier. I didn’t care for the job during my first years there, but as time passed, I was promoted to a supervisor role, and my responsibilities and duties doubled.

My boss told me they trusted me because of how “reliable I was and how much I was able to resolve store issues well.” I believe it was just my work ethic, competence, and character. Sure I think that when you work hard, it will be recognized; in my case, sometimes it was, and sometimes it wasn’t. While being a supervisor, I had to train the new hires, and I remember the excellent feedback I received from them once they got the hang of the job. It felt good to hear that because I never gave myself enough credit for the work I put into the business.

In my last year working there, it was then that I felt like I was perceived inaccurately in ways where my managers were pressuring me to finish specific tasks on such short notice. I then felt like a giver, reporting to the takers. There were times when I was very overwhelmed, and then I snapped back at my managers. During this time, it is where I felt like I had broken some trust with management, but I felt the same way toward them.

After reading about Harper’s experience at Marketable Inc, I think the most demotivating part of her job was the departure of her previous boss Jose. It’s clear that she was able to communicate well with him under his management, and he greatly appreciated her work. Unfortunately, she feels the complete opposite with her new boss, David. Due to the additional workload and David’s inability to advise Harper properly, she is contemplating leaving Marketable Inc, even though she loves her job.

If I were an HR manager meeting with David, I would advise him to create an open communication culture and make his employees feel valued as a priority. Especially his higher role of being a “boss,” his job as a leader is crucial. According to the article “8 Effective Employee Retention Strategies,” Managers/bosses must be open to listening and respecting when team members speak their minds and address conflicts in the workplace. In this case, David must be available to listen to Harper’s feelings and what she has to say about the company taking too long to fill Jose’s job role. The article also mentions that employees contribute a huge percentage of their daily lives to their jobs, so I agree that it is essential for employees to feel valued. David should apply this to Harper since she feels she hasn’t been recognized for her contributions at work.

There are downsides to losing an employee like Harper because losing valuable employees can disrupt organizational performance. There are possibilities for Marketable Inc to invest in Harper’s career development since she has been in the same role for a couple of years now. Hiring new employees can also be even more expensive and time-consuming due to finding and training new hires, and why not keep employees who love their work like Harper? From my personal experience, I didn’t leave the job on bad terms with the company. During my resignation, I told them how much I appreciated the opportunities given to me and wished them the best in succeeding.

The Founder – Segment E Assignment.

Ray Kroc and the brother had a great relationship up until the end. Kroc felt the original McDonald’s stores franchised by the brothers were poorly run. He saw an opportunity to spread the business, and the brothers declined. He also saw the company’s future; unfortunately, the brothers were too short-sighted. Kroc also used different advertising methods at various levels to create a famous brand name and used his many years of experience in sales to his advantage.

When Ray Kroc arrived at Mcdonald’s in San Bernardino, he was truly impressed from the beginning. Kroc fueded the brothers for control and bought the business and name rights for $2.7 million, which was a lot of money at the time. I think it was a good deal because I also believe that business is business and that you need to see the long-term value in your business, and Kroc thought of all of that. 

The local franchises’ primary focus was making money, so they focused on marketing their ideas to increase customer volume, which worked.

Harry Sonneborn advised Ray to get into the real estate business. Kroc takes the advice of Harry Sonneborn and pivots into buying the real estate he leases back to the franchise to make money. He had to make that shift to grow the business and his investment to reach his goals.

As a kid, I loved McDonald’s even though I rarely had it because my parents didn’t allow us to since they knew how unhealthy it was. As I grew older, I eventually stopped eating it because I focused more on healthy eating choices. However, the film did inspire me to think like an entrepreneur like Ray Kroc. He took risks as a true entrepreneur, applied his skills, experience, and gifts of salesmanship, and made McDonald’s the world’s largest restaurant chain it is today.

BUS 104-Ethics Writing Assignment 

I don’t usually eat at many fast food restaurants, but whenever I am out at the mall or in the city and want to grab a bite, my favorite go-to is Chick-fil-a. After this week’s unit, I automatically wanted to research Chick-fil-a because not only do I think they serve the best chicken sandwiches in the fast food chain industry, but because I heard many of the company’s values are influenced by Christian religious beliefs, thus the reason the business is closed on Sundays. The more I looked into the company, the more interesting facts I learned about what goes on behind just a fast food restaurant. 

When you go to the company’s website under their “about us” section, the first thing they cover is the reason they are closed on Sundays. The founder of Chick-fil-a believed that “he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose.” Most of the company’s core values included being a family-owned business, diversity, equality, and serving back to the community.

While looking more in-depth into their website, they provide their annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report. In 2021, the company donated millions of meals to local organizations and communities through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program. The company volunteers to serve in their hometown of Atlanta in a variety of ways by helping nonprofits maximize their impact and support education and leadership development.

Like any other company, Chick-fil-A is devoted to creating a positive and supportive workplace for its employees. In 2021, they launched funds available to members for times in need. A wide range of community groups is also available to staff, such as Women in Business (WIB), Black Employee Resource Group (BERG), Young Professionals, and the Chick-fil-A Green Team.

The Chick-fil-A Green Team launched in 2021 to help encourage sustainable practices across the business and commits to decreasing environmental impact by reducing food waste. Of course, the quality of the food is what’s very important as well. Since chicken is the center of their menu, they only serve chicken raised with no antibiotics. Most of their food is raised and grown on farms, and their suppliers are verified by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In conclusion, now in the post-pandemic era, social responsibility has become significantly more important. I believe Chick-fil-A is doing a good job supporting local and global communities so far. I recommend they be more eco-conscious in the upcoming years since food waste is a big issue in this industry. For now, the only con is that I hope I don’t crave them on Sundays!

https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/who-we-are

https://www.chick-fil-a.com/about/giving-back

Jessica Vazquez

Hello everyone! My name is Jessica Vazquez. Since the pandemic, I took a break from school and decided to return to BMCC this semester and pursue majoring in Business administration. In my free time, I enjoy dancing and going to the gym. I also want to start traveling more and reading more books. I hope to start my own business one day, but first, I would like to gain knowledge and build foundations. My BMCC email is: jessica.vazquez1@stu.bmcc.cuny.edu