7 - Workforce Flashcards
what is workforce planning?
deciding what type of workers and how many are required
name some flexible working practises?
- part time
- flexi time
- compressed hours
- remote/home working
- term time working
- time off in lieu
- job sharing
- zero hours contracts
- annualised hours
part time work
fewer hours per week than a full-time role
flexi time
a flexible hours schedule which allows employees to alter their start and finish times
compressed hours
work arrangement in which a standard work week is reduced to fewer days and employees make up the time by working longer hours
remote working
involves allowing the employee to work away from the premises
term time working
this is when the working hours mirror term time days, work during the term but not in the holidays
time off in lieu
when employees who have worked overtime get time off in future instead of getting paid for overtime
job sharing
two employees share the responsibilities of one job, either on a day to day basis or morning/afternoon
zero hours contract
working as and when the employee is needed and paid only for the hours they work
annualised hours
when an employee is contracted to work a set number of hours per year rather than per week
what is meant by recruitment?
step-by-step process from when a job vacancy arises until you start the job
reasons for recruitment/vacancies?
- people quitting
- maternity leave
- people getting fired
- retirement
- new work
- illness
job description
title pay contract reporting to duties
- ensures the person knows what they are expected to do
- used to clarify further disputes
person spec
education
experience
skills
attributes
- discourages unsuitable applicants
- used for interview questions
job advertisement
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external recruitment vs internal recruitment
internal recruitment is when you recruit people already employed within the business whereas external recruitment is people who are not already in the business
what is meant by selection?
choosing which candidates you would like to employ
application forms
these often ask for basic information on experience and qualifications
CV (curriculum vitae)
this gives a more detailed overview of the candidates experiences, job history and general interests e.g. personal summary
on the job training vs off the job training
on the job is training as you work at the place of work, off the job is training away from the workplace
advantages of off the job
- expert training
- qualification at the end
- motivating
- access to more updated materials
advantages of on the job
- hands on experience
- real life situations they may have to face on the job
- saves time and money
- can ask direct questions
disadvantages of off the job
- very expensive
- leaves a gap in the business
- some of what you are taught may be irrelevant
disadvantages of on the job
- bad habits may be passed on
- interruptions may lead to poorer training
- may not be adapted to all situations
what is meant by a TNA (training needs analysis)
the process of identifying the gap in employee training and related training needs
what is meant by appraisal?
what is the purpose of performance appraisals?
assessing someones performance over a period of time
- identifies areas of strength and areas of weakness where training is required
- identifies skills gaps
- motivates staff
managerial assessment
boss/manager makes judgement
peer assessment
colleagues judge each other
self assessment
judging yourself and your own performance
360 degree assessment
everyone judges each other
measures of workforce performance
lateness, absenteeism, labour turnover, productivity
all calculated over a period of time
calculating lateness
(total num of late arrivals/ total number of scheduled arrivals) x100
calculating absenteeism
(total absent days/total working days) x100
calculating labour turnover
(number of employees leaving/number employed) x 100
calculating productivity
(output/number of employees) x100
evaluation of the assessment measures..
positive: can see where issues lie and therefore resolve them by implementing strategies to help
negative: quantitative data does not explain the real situation - many factors may be involved & averages can be inaccurate and misleading
what is meant by redundancy?
no longer being in work as the work is no longer available
what is meant by dismissal?
when an employees contract is ended: ordering or allowing an employee to leave
reasons for fair dismissal?
- employee conduct
- employee capabilities
- redundancy
- legal restrictions (something legally that prevents them from doing their job)
what is meant by unfair dismissal?
When an employee is ordered to leave for an unfair or unreal reason or if the employer has not followed proper procedures/regulations
what is grievance?
a grievance is when an employee has a concern, complaint or problem
Advantages of compressed hours?
- less stressful
- people appreciate some time off while still benefiting from a full income
Disadvantages of compressed hours?
- longer days to make up the time can become physically and mentally draining
- childcare can be compromised in order to make up the hours
Advantages of Job sharing?
- two opinions; creativity higher
- employees can more comfortably balance life
Disadvantages of Job sharing?
- cost may rise if you have to provide two people with benefits
- responsible for two employees for one job
Advantages of time off in lieu?
- employees feel more valued
- can make more empowered decisions about personal needs
Disadvantages of time off in lieu?
- people need to cover when an employee isn’t in
- paid time off can be an expensive benefit
Advantages of flexi time?
- reduced employee stress
- improved morale
Disadvantages of flexi time?
- some people will take advantage
- no clear routine
Advantages of remote working?
- more flexibility
- people able to work at their own pace on their own relaxed environment
Disadvantages of remote working?
- may lead to lack of routine
- more distractions at home than in workplace
Advantages of term time working?
- can be more cost effective
- better recruitment for employees with children
Disadvantages of term time working?
- may need to hire temporary staff for holidays
- may put pressure on employees who are not on this contract to take leave in school time
Advantages of zero hour contracts?
- greater flexibility
- may suit some people well i.e. students
- creates jobs that may otherwise not be there
Disadvantages of zero hour contracts?
- lack of job security
- may go without work for a while; no set income
- not entitled to the same rights and benefits as full time staff
one benefit of conducting appraisals?
identifies employees development need; a judgement can be made as to whether they are still effective within their role and changes made accordingly
3 sections likely to be included on an appraisal form?
- employee duty/responsibilities
- a discussion of whats going well, what needs to be improved
- an outline of their goals and if these have been achieved
what is the purpose of setting targets during an appraisal?
so that everyone in the business is aware of what is expected of them which leads to less room for confusion or error and can be revisited and checked during the next appraisal
an advantage of conducting a self assessment before appraisal?
allows the employee to self reflect on their own performance before others do - they won’t be so shocked if the manager picks up on something negative
disadvantage of a peer appraisal?
can include bias; e.g. one employee may write negatively about another in an effort to make them look better
three reasons why an appraisal may be ineffective?
- failure to respond to employee concerns
- unrealistic targets being set
- inadequate time allowed for appraisal, it may be viewed as a waste of time by employees
three disadvantages of using quantitative data alone?
- averages can be misleading: not representative for the business as a whole
- numbers do not explain the situation like qualitative data does: doesn’t identify factors e.g. seasonal variation etc
- a single figure may be of limited use: productivity may be low one month but has been high the rest
benefits of an employee improving their performance?
- improvement in conditions at work
- pay rise/bonus
- job security
one disadvantage of 360 degree appraisals?
those responding may not fully be aware of the ‘wider picture’ i.e. a reason for a decision that a manager made which may have effected particular performance
what is meant by wrongful dismissal?
occurs when there has been a breach of an employees contract
what is meant by constructive dismissal?
occurs when the behaviour of a manager forces an employee to leave the job
eg as a result of bullying
what is an employment tribunal?
a special sort of court dealing with employment law only
redundancy may also be known as?..
termination of employment
once a grievance is identified what is the formal procedure a business must follow?
A written statement:
- whom to contact in the first instance
- a statement that if the matter cannot be solved then a formal meeting will follow
- how the employee can appeal
- the time limits for each stage
what is a work trial?
testing out a potential employee before giving them the job
