XAT 2018 — Decision Making Question 18
Answer the following question based on the information given below.
Ramesh, the owner of an auto-component manufacturing company in Sanand, had just returned after attending the funeral of his employee, Pankaj Kumar, who had died of cancer at the age of 35. Pankaj was a hardworking and sincere employee with impeccable performance record. Pankaj was the sole bread earner for his family with negligible savings and was survived by his wife and two school going children. His wife will get around 8 lakh rupees accrued to Pankaj as social security benefit.
A large number of employees wanted the organization to employ Pankaj’s wife on compassionate grounds so that she could support her family. Though Ramesh was sympathetic to the demand, he realized that this could set a precedence, where the organization will have to provide jobs for everyone with similar conditions in the future. In fact, only recently, Ramesh had refused a request for a job to the daughter of an employee, who had died a few months before he was to retire.
Ramesh formed a committee to look into this matter and the committee came up with the following suggestions:
- Create a fund to take care of immediate family expenses.
- Finance the school and college education of his children.
- Sponsor the vocational education of his wife and subsequently help her find a job.
- Purchase insurance for all the family members.
- Request all employees of the organization to contribute towards the welfare of the family.
Which of the following options, from the above suggestions, will be the most sustainable for Pankaj's family?
Answer & solution
- A
1 and 2
2 and 3
- C
3 and 4
- D
4 and 5
- E
3 and 5
Option [1] is, at best, a short-term solution for the problem at hand. Moreover, it does not help Pankaj’s family to develo skills that can sustain them in the long term. Similarly, [5] does not resolve the situation. Also, it ends up burdening the employees. [4] is completely useless in helping Pankaj’s family as the life insurance policy cannot provide them with financial stability immediately. Only [2] and [3] can help Pankaj’s family find stability again.
Hence, the correct answer is option 2.