In many complaints, the investigator finds inexcusable violations, especially in the area of merit promotion. During employment interviews, managers ask questions which are not job related. For example, some women are still being asked about marital status and family planning. Managers frequently overlook opportunities to attract minorities and women through broad advertisement of vacancies. Supervisors frequently commit vacancies to candidates before all eligibles have been considered, or they categorically exclude employees from consideration by warning them ahead of time that they will not be selected, even if they apply.
Supervisor uses formal discipline without previous attempts at discussion or informal admonitions.
The suddenness of the negative treatment by the superior causes the employee to perceive it as unfair and prejudiced. Employees perceive such statements as threats. If, after tolerating a problem for some time, the supervisor issues a disciplinary letter and chastises the employee for behavior previously condoned, the employee is confused by the manager's sudden change of tactics. The most common example is the supervisor who constantly approves leave and then decides to discipline the subordinate for having taken the leave. As the need to reduce numbers and average grade becomes greater, managers pressure older employees to retire.