1.4.1 - approaches to staffing (unfinished)

Question 1

define a zero hours contract

Answer 1

when employees have a minimum of 0 hours a week

Question 2

define staff turnover

Answer 2

the proportion of staff who leave a business during a year

Question 3

list the features of treating staff as an asset

Answer 3

• permanent contracts
• develop staff skills with training
• pay staff a salary
• builds staff loyalty

Question 4

list the features of treating staff as a cost

Answer 4

• flexible contracts/may 0 hours
• minimal training
• low pay
• often has higher staff turnover rate

Question 5

define a flexible workforce

Answer 5

flexibility refers to the businesses ability to adapt its operations to changes in patterns of demand

Question 6

define multi-skilling

Answer 6

training employees to be able to fill multiple roles

Question 7

advantages and disadvantages of multi skilling

Answer 7

• advantages - increase in productivity, reduced disruption from staff absence, more motivated staff
• disadvantages - loss of production as employees switch between jobs, increased training costs, staff may feel more is being asked of them

Question 8

define a part time contract

Answer 8

working for less than 35 hours per week

Question 9

define a full time contract

Answer 9

working more than 35 hours per week, capped at 48 hours per week

Question 10

define outsourcing

Answer 10

contracting another business to perform certain business functions, allowing significant increases in capacity when needed

Question 11

advantages or disadvantages of outsourcing

Answer 11

• advantages - lowers ongoing fixed costs, sudden surges in demand can be met quickly, higher quality services
• disadvantages - the outsourced company need to make its own profit, may take time, the company may not meet the standards