Changes in working practices

Question 1

What are the functions of the human resources department

Answer 1

Workforce planning, recruitment, appraisals, organisational design, motivation, leadership and employee/employer relations

Question 2

What results in working practices changing over time

Answer 2

Social trends, technology, business objectives, increased competition, employees expectations and legislation

Question 3

What is a flexible workforce

Answer 3

Matching workforce skills, size and location to business needs.

Question 4

What are the types of flexible workers

Answer 4

Flexible hours, homeworking, part time, temporary employees, job sharing, multi skilling, zero hour contracts and hot desking

Question 5

What are the benefits of temporary and part time employees

Answer 5

Better able to match demand and not tied into paying workers when they are not being used to their full potential

Question 6

What are the drawbacks of temporary and part time employees

Answer 6

High recruitment and training costs, may lack commitment

Question 7

How has technology impacted working practices

Answer 7

Home working, flexible hours and hot desking

Question 8

What is job sharing

Answer 8

One position that would normally be filled by one person on a full time basis is shared between two people who work part time

Question 9

What is hot desking

Answer 9

Desks or workspaces are not allocated to individual employees on a permanent basis but just allocated as and when needed