Conflict Management

Conflict Management Report

Katelyn Shelton

Argosy University

When I first transferred to the store that I am at, it was a really big diversity change. I had come from a small country store that is primarily made up of Caucasian people. This new store is in the city and 95% of the associates are African American. I was working on the sales floor as a Photo Lab Technician and shortly after my transfer I was promoted to working in the Accounting office. I was the only Caucasian female in the position and it was made clear that I only received the promotion because I am Caucasian, not because I am a dedicated worker and excel at everything I do. I brushed this off to simple prejudice and learned my new job with no problems at all, soon I was the most efficient associate in the office. I soon became bored of the position and wanted to get back out on the sales floor, but I wanted to move up with the company so I decided not to settle for anything less than a management position. I was qualified for several positions that had become available and was excited to interview. I felt like I had just given a strong interview and the assistant manager who interviewed was extremely impressed and had ensured me I had nothing to worry about. A week after I had interviewed for the department manager position, the assistant manager who interviewed me come to the office to tell me that I did not get the job and that maybe next time she would be able to promote me. This had made no sense to me seeing as how I had just worked a year in that department and I had already had some managerial skills. She had no explanation for me as to why she could not promote me. I later found out that I was the only Caucasian to apply and interview for the job, and because of that they would not promote me for fear that it would cause trouble with the other associates because it was a Caucasian female who interviewed me. This particular assistant manager interviewed me later for a different...