1.4.1 approaches to staffing

Question 1

staff as a cost: (4)

Answer 1

• treat employees as a source of the business
• minimum wage
• little empowerment
• minimal communication

Question 2

staff as an asset: (5)

Answer 2

• treat employees as the most important some of the business
• souce of competitive advantage
• treated as individuals
• employees are empowered
• competitive pay structure

Question 3

flexible working

Answer 3

there are a variety of options offered to employees in terms of working time/location

Question 4

positives of flexible working

Answer 4

• cuts costs
• gives more time for employees
• easy recruitment
• increase productivity

Question 5

negatives of flexible working

Answer 5

• managers find it harder to control
• harder to organise meetings
• things might not be relevant to an employee
• relationship building = hard

Question 6

multiskilling

Answer 6

staff are allowed to carry out a variety of tasks rather than specialise

Question 7

positives of multiskilling

Answer 7

enables greater use of job rotation

Question 8

negatives of multiskilling

Answer 8

puts greater requirement on training

Question 9

outsourcing

Answer 9

delegating one or more business processes to an external provider - who owns/mamages to an agreed standard

Question 10

off shoring

Answer 10

work is done overseas

Question 11

dismissal

Answer 11

employee dismissed due to break of contract or unacceptable performance

Question 12

redundancy

Answer 12

employee loses job as the job is no longer required by the business

Question 13

consultation

Answer 13

meeting with individuals from the business to discuss different options after being let go from the company

Question 14

work to rule

Answer 14

employees follow strict instructions of contract

Question 15

overtime ban

Answer 15

emplyees refuse to work overtime (significant effect on production)

Question 16

go slow

Answer 16

employees work at slowest/least productive pace

Question 17

strike

Answer 17

last resort action, fraught with danger for employee + employer

Question 18

arbitration

Answer 18

involves an impartial outsider making a decision on a dispute (private)

Question 19

employee representation

Answer 19

arises when employees are part of a formal structure for involving them in the decision making of the business

Question 20

positives of employee representation

Answer 20

• increase empowerment + motivation of workforce
• better decision making
• decrease risk of disputes

Question 21

negatives of employee representation

Answer 21

• time consuming, slow decision making
• managers may feel their authority is being undermined

Question 22

trade unions

Answer 22

• represent + protect interests of employees
• negotiate on behalf of employees with employer

Question 23

positives of trade unions

Answer 23

• increase employee motivation
• pressure emplyers to increase wages
• have power to go on strikes

Question 24

negtives of trade unions

Answer 24

• work place tension
• put pressure on employees
• fees

Question 25

work councils

Answer 25

EU makes these mandatory for firms that operate in 2+ countires and have 1000+ employers (look at performance, welfare, legislation etc)

Question 26

mediation

Answer 26

involves an independant, impartial person helping 2+ individuals or groups reach a solution that’s acceptable for everyone

Question 27

concilation

Answer 27

used when an employee is making a complaint against their employee to an employment triburial