Hostile work environment

Research Paper
Students will research and prepare a minimum 5-page paper (1 cover page, at least 3 and no more than 4 full pages of content, and 1 reference/citations page) presenting their conclusions and demonstrating understanding of a selected topic. Topic options are provided below–please choose the one topic that is most interesting to you.

Remember that this is a research paper, not a discussion or opinion piece. Your paper should focus on your research findings, not on your personal opinions or work experiences related to your topic. Your topic should be thoroughly researched and very well written. That means you will not be able to throw this assignment together in a few days. Please plan accordingly. Heed this advice!

A minimum of four sources is required (your text may be one of the four), and all sources included on your reference page should be used/cited in your paper. Also, all sources should be no older than three years. You may use academic research sources, as well as credible business sources for your paper. Blogs, editorials, and other opinion-based sources are not allowed.

Basic APA format is required for your paper, and you are responsible for researching and understanding what APA format entails. (NOTE: When I say “basic” APA format, what I am looking for is overall APA formatting for margins, spacing, and fonts, as well as formatting of citations within the paper and on the reference page. You are not required to include an abstract.) As with all writing assignments, you are expected to use excellent punctuation, spelling, and grammar, and poor writing skills will adversely impact your grade.

The Final Paper will be submitted through Turnitin. Turnitin is a plagiarism detection tool that will review the paper for proper citation and original work.

Topic options (choose only ONE for your research paper):

There are more generations in the labor force today than ever before. Generational diversity impacts workers and teams, managers and leaders, and the Human Resource function. Different generations have differing communication preferences, learning styles, and work motivations. Research generational diversity and develop your paper around this multi-faceted topic.
Aggressive behavior, bullying, harassment, and other forms of unacceptable behavior among members of the workforce are a growing trend that adversely impacts the work environment or even creates a hostile work environment. This impacts employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity, and it can have legal implications for individuals and organizations. Research workplace aggressive behavior, bullying, harassment, or hostile work environment and develop your paper around this challenging topic.
Organizations are learning that perks, non-standard benefits, and a supportive work environment are as important, if not more important, than pay to many workers. Organizations are using non-salary strategies to recruit and retain top talent and improve productivity, morale, and engagement of their workforce. (NOTE: Be sure you understand what non-standard, non-salary benefits are. Ask me if you don’t understand.) Research and develop your paper around how organizations are using non-standard, non-salary strategies to impact their workforce, the pros and cons of these strategies, and/or the effectiveness of these strategies.
If there is another topic that is HR-related, related to our text or course material, and of interest to you either because of your degree plan or your professional career goals, you may submit (via email) a proposal to me for an alternative topic. In the proposal, please describe the topic, how it relates to our course materials, and why it is of special interest to you. I will review your proposal and approve or disapprove it. If you decide to propose an alternative topic, the due date for your proposal is 11:59 p.m. on 2/5/20. If your alternative topic is not submitted by the due date (or submitted but not approved), you must choose from Options 1-3 above.
(NOTE: If you choose from Options 1-3 above, you do not need to let me know your choice. Just research your selected topic, write and submit your paper.)

Grading criteria for final exam/research paper:

Format (10 points possible): Did the paper include the required cover page, content pages, and citations page? Was APA format followed for the paper, citations in paper, & citation page? Did the paper have an overall professional appearance?
Content Length (10 points possible): Did the paper meet the requirement of having “three full pages of content”? Was there a lot of repetition or “filler” used in the paper?
Grammar/Spelling/Word Use/Sentence Structure (10 points possible): Was the paper grammatically correct? Were words spelled correctly and word use appropriate? Was the language and format business appropriate or too informal?
Paper Organization (10 points possible): Was the paper well organized? Did it include an introduction, discussion of subject, and conclusion? Was the paper formatted with appropriate paragraph breaks? Were ideas expressed and points made in a logical, organized manner?
Sources (20 points possible): Was the requirement for “at least four sources, none older than 3 years” met? Were the sources appropriately cited in the document and on the citations page? Were the sources relevant to the assignment topic? Did the sources/citations add value to the paper and demonstrate understanding of the topic?
Quality of Content (40 points possible): Did the paper adequately address the topic? Was the topic well researched and thoroughly discussed? Were the ideas expressed meaningful and logical? Did the student demonstrate thorough understanding of the topic?
Overall grade (100 points possible) = the sum of points awarded for all criteria above.
You will note that I have spread the grading emphasis among technical and qualitative aspects of your paper, with technical aspects worth ~40% of your grade and qualitative aspects worth ~60% of your grade. This demonstrates my commitment to prepare you for success in the business world, where both what you say (being able to address an issue, make a point) and how you say it (being able to state things logically and concisely) are equally important to your professional success. What you say is the qualitative part; how you say it is the technical part.

From a technical standpoint, you need to be able to follow directions and communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally. Hence, points will be earned (or not) based on format, content length, grammar, spelling, use of professional writing style, and overall organization of paper.

From a qualitative standpoint, I am looking at sources and content, including how well you develop and communicate your ideas about the topic. Is your research thorough? Are your sources relevant to the topic, and do they add value to your paper? Another qualitative criterion I consider is whether you express your thoughts about the topic logically and whether your paper demonstrates an understanding of the topic.

Please contact me if you have questions about the Final Exam/Research Paper assignment.

To submit via Turnitin, follow the link below.

Links to some videos that may help you decide which topic is of the most interest to you are included in the attached file: Videos related to research paper topics.docxPreview the document

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