Changes In Working Practices

Question 1

Multi-skilling

Answer 1

Training employees to do several different jobs

Question 2

Part time staff

Answer 2

Work shorter hours than full time staff

Question 3

Temporary staff

Answer 3

Employed by the business for a specific period of time to cover periods of high demand or absence

Question 4

Flexible hours

Answer 4

Allow staff to vary the hours they work to meet the needs of the business and to some extent their own personal needs

Question 5

Zero contract hours

Answer 5

The business does not guarantee any work to the employee until demand means that they are needed

Question 6

Homeworking

Answer 6

Employee does all or part of their job at home without the need to attend the businesses premises

Question 7

Job-sharing

Answer 7

Allows two employees to share the responsibilities and benefits of a full-time member staff

Question 8

Hot-desking

Answer 8

Desks in an office are not allocated to a specific member of staff but are allocated only when a member of staff needs to work at a desk

Question 9

Advantage of multi-skilling to the business

Answer 9

• employees are able to cover many different roles and respond to rises and falls in demand

Question 10

Disadvantages of multi-skilling

Answer 10

• good training is essential if staff are to be efficient in their different roles

Question 11

Advantage of part-time staff

Answer 11

• hours can be tailored to suit times of higher customer demand, such as in shops at weekends

Question 12

Disadvantage of part-time staff

Answer 12

-takes longer to train part time staff

Question 13

Advantage of temporary staff

Answer 13

• keeping costs low by only employing staff when they need

Question 14

Disadvantage of temporary staff

Answer 14

• it will take time for the new members of staff to become productive

Question 15

Advantage of flexible hours

Answer 15

The business can match the working hours of staff to periods of high demand from customers

Question 16

Disadvantage of flexible hours

Answer 16

-if staff are given too much flexibility in deciding their hours, the business may not have sufficient staff to cope with customer demand

Question 17

Advantage of zero-contract hours

Answer 17

• the business can match customer demand with employee’s hours to meet that demand very precisely - reducing costs

Question 18

Disadvantage of zero-contract hours

Answer 18

• employees may feel undervalued by the company’s refusal to guarantee them regular hours

Question 19

Advantage of home working

Answer 19

• allows the business to reduce the cost of providing workspace

Question 20

Disadvantage of homeworking

Answer 20

• staff may be less productive as work is not supervised

Question 21

Advantages of job sharing (3)

Answer 21

• retention of experienced workers who may not be able to commit to the full responsibility of a job - motivation
• reduced burnout
• sharing ideas

Question 22

Disadvantage of job sharing

Answer 22

• two employees need managing - increased costs

Question 23

Advantage of hot-desking

Answer 23

• less spaces being left empty due to staff absence- fewer costs

Question 24

Disadvantage of hot-desking

Answer 24

• poor management of staff schedules can mean too many staff and not enough workspace

Question 25

Positive impacts of new tech on working practices (3)

Answer 25

• improved quality
• more flexible working practices for employees (remote work)
• more emphasis on higher-level thinking skills

Question 26

Negative impact of new tech on working practices

Answer 26

• some businesses have seen technology simply as a way to cut costs rather than means of improving the worker experience