1.4.1 Approaches To Staffing

Question 1

What does it mean if staff are an asset for the company

Answer 1

Employees are valued by their employers who have concerns for their wealth fare
- looks for the needs of employees

Question 2

What are the needs of the employees

Answer 2

Pay
Acceptable holidays, pension
Safe and comfortable workplace
Training
Promotion opportunities
Job security

Question 3

What are the advantages of staff as an asset

Answer 3

Helps recruitment, retention and motivation

Question 4

What does it mean if staff are a cost for the company

Answer 4

Firms will look to minimise their cost

Question 5

How do firms minimise their costs

Answer 5

Pay minimum wage
Zero hours contract
Minimise training
Only give staff legal minimum sick pay etc.

Question 6

What are the downsides of this staff as a cost

Answer 6

Low productivity due to low motivation
High staff turnover and absenteeism
Conflict between staff and managers

Question 7

What are the costs of not training an employee

Answer 7

Employees may not have any work experience, this means that the job will be done slowly and not to a good standard. Leads to bad quality as well as them running out of stock if made too slowly

Question 8

What is the difference between salary and wages

Answer 8

Salary is fixed, wages that are payed yearly which is split over 12 months,
Wages are payed hourly for work done in the day

Question 9

Why do workers leave a job

Answer 9

Moving to another
Better pay
Better opportunities
Retirement

Question 10

What is dismissal

Answer 10

Worker is asked to leave due to misconduct, ineffective at their work
The worker will be given a period of notice.

Question 11

What happens if dismissal is unlawful

Answer 11

The worker can take the employer to an employment tribunal and get their job back if successful

Question 12

What is redundancy

Answer 12

Occurs when there is insufficient work for the employee to do, workers receive a severance package depending on their years of service with the company

Question 13

What are the 6 types of flexible workforce

Answer 13

1. Multi-skilled workers
2. Outsourcing
3. Homeworking
4. Flexible hours
5. Part - time workers
6. Temporary workers

Question 14

What are multi skilled workers

Answer 14

Quickens response times but could increase workload without without extra pay

Question 15

What is outsourcing

Answer 15

Getting induviduals or firms outside the company to do tasks that were done in house.
Means they don’t have to employee a permanent member of staff

Question 16

What is homeoworking

Answer 16

Reduces business costs
Communication issues

Question 17

What is a flexible hours contract

Answer 17

Includes shift work and zero hours contracts
It means firms can stay open for longer

Question 18

What are part time workers

Answer 18

Often suits the lifestyle of workers
Allows companies to employ more workers at busy times

Question 19

What are temporary workers

Answer 19

Employed for a limited time only

Question 20

What are the advantages of flexible workers

Answer 20

Company can adapt to changes in demand

Avoids having to employ specialist workers on a permanent basis - good for costs

Increases company efficiency by only employing workers when they are needed

Company avoids training costs for temporary workers or outsourced work

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of flexible workers

Answer 21

Outsourced work may be poor quality, affecting customer loyalty

Communication problems - flexible workers may not be available when the firm needs them

Cost involves in organising flexible workers, especially when outsourcing work

Question 22

What are employee and employer relations

Answer 22

Things that can be disrupted and therefore lead to less motivation
For example:
Pay disputes
Working conditions
Pension dispute

Question 23

What is the induvidual approach

Answer 23

Workers negotiate personally with employers
A worker with good bargaining skills may get a better deal than a colleague
Usually the employers benifit because managers have better skills than the average worker

Question 24

What is collective bargaining

Answer 24

Negotiations occur between employers and employee representatives
Usually this is a trade union, have to pay a subscription

Question 25

What is a trade union

Answer 25

Worker organisation who exist to promote the intercede of their members

Question 26

What are strikes

Answer 26

When the members of the trade union agree not to turn up to work

Question 27

What is a go slow

Answer 27

Do the normal days work but very slowly

Question 28

What is work-to-rule

Answer 28

Follow your contract to the letter

Question 29

What are the advantages of collective bargaining

Answer 29

Agreements must be followed
May be cost effective as only on set of negotiations take place

Question 30

What are the disadvantages of collective bargaining

Answer 30

Failure to agree has serious consequences