1.4.1 (Approaches To Staffing)

Question 1

Define staff

Answer 1

Staff are the employees in a business.

Question 2

Define staffing

Answer 2

Staffing is the process of hiring, training and supervising employees in a business.

Question 3

How can staff be viewed as an asset in terms of value?

Answer 3

-Staff which support the manufacturing process (1) or who give great customer service (2) can both contribute to the value of the output - add value to the product.

Question 4

What are the 6 ways that staff act as a cost?

Answer 4

1. )Cost of recruitment
2. )Cost of training
3. )Cost of paying minimum wages
4. )Cost of psying staff salaries and wages
5. )Cost of staff welfare
6. )Cost of redundancy

Question 5

What are the advantages of multi-skilling?

Answer 5

• Less staff needed and staff hired are useful.
• More interesting jobs for workers as tasks vary.
• Increasing efficiency, productivity and quality + reduce costs.

Question 6

How can staff be viewed as an asset in 3 ways?

Answer 6

• Add value
• Participation in decision making
• Developing staff

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of multiskilling?

Answer 7

-Staff cannot master one skill
-Businesses lost the benefit of having specialist staff

Question 8

What are the advantages of full time work?

Answer 8

• May be more highly payed per hour that part-time
• Employees may be more loyal and productive

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of full time work?

Answer 9

-Less flexible than part-timers (no-covers)
-Employees idle if business downturn

Question 10

What are some advantages of part time work?

Answer 10

• Good way to keep costs down during growth phase.
• Attract a wide pool of applicants.
• Flexible to changes in demand.

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of part time work?

Answer 11

-May not give full commitment and loyalty.

-Employee May leave if they find another job.

Question 12

What are the advantages of temporary work?

Answer 12

• Ideal for a business that needs extra workers for a special project.
• Useful to meet spikes in demand or staff shortages.

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of temporary work?

Answer 13

-Agency staff may be expensive but it may be cheaper than hiring perm staff.
-All staff will need some type of training to get the started (cost + time)

Question 14

What are the advantages of permanent work?

Answer 14

-Staff will be very focussed on the business (build their professional development profile)
-Higher staff morale due to having a secure job.
-Loyalty = reduce absence + ^ productivity.

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of perm work?

Answer 15

-Can develop negative attitudes to work + disinterested in the business.

Question 16

What are the advantages of flexible hours?

Answer 16

-Flexible working can keep valuable staff from leaving + can also cover busy periods.
-Can accommodate the work-life balance needs of employees.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of flexible hours?

Answer 17

-Could confuse suppliers or customers who want to speak to the same member of staff.
-May need extra staff to cover unmanned periods.

Question 18

What are the advantages of zero hour contracts?

Answer 18

-Great for business where work can be unpredictable.
-Ideal where staff are needed at short notice.
-Gives the employer great flexibility.

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of zero-hour contracts?

Answer 19

-Employees might not give the business the full commitment + loyalty that a full-time worker would.
-Employees May become unhappy and leave to find perm work.