changes in working practises

Question 1

what are the 8 different methods of working practices you need to know?

Answer 1

-home-working
-hot-desking
-job sharing
-flexible working
-part-time
-seasonal employment
-zero-hours contracts
-multi-skilling

Question 2

whats flexible working?

Answer 2

Flexible working refers to a work arrangement where employees have more control over when, where, and how they work, rather than adhering to a fixed schedule or location.

Question 3

whats job sharing?

Answer 3

The splitting of an existing job to enable two people to share it.

Question 4

advantages to job sharing?

Answer 4

• Able to retain employees who otherwise may leave if unable to go part time
• Meets employee request, keeps them happy and well motivated
• Somebody in place for at least part of the time if that staff member is on leave or ill
• The business may gain from ideas of two people

Question 5

disadvantages to job-sharing?

Answer 5

• costs for training another employee.
• Communication between the two employees may be lost
• employee less motivated as promotions less common

Question 6

what is multi-skilling?

Answer 6

This involves businesses training their workforce to be able to work effectively across a wide range of tasks.

Question 7

advantages to multi-skilling

Answer 7

• flexibility
• Multi-skilled employees are likely to be better motivated
• less need to hire new staff
• motivated due to increased job security

Question 8

disadvantages to multi-skilling

Answer 8

-may be time consuming and expensive to train all the staff
- demotivated staff due to stress
- confusion due to increased responsibility

Question 9

what’s home-working?

Answer 9

When an employee completes tasks from their own home

Question 10

advantages of home working to employees

Answer 10

-better worklife balance, greater flexibility
-the stress of travelling is reduced

Question 11

disadvantages of home working to employees

Answer 11

-may miss out on social interactions/office-based community
-less communication with managers/supervisors

Question 12

advantages to home-working for employers

Answer 12

☑ Costs are reduced as less equipment and space is
needed.
☑ Staff may be more motivated if the benefits of
home-working suit their lifestyle.

Question 13

disadvantages of home-working for employers

Answer 13

☒ May be more difficult to monitor and control staff.
☒ Communication problems may occur especially if staff are working online

Question 14

whats a zero-hour contract?

Answer 14

This type of contract means that an employee has to be available for work but is not guaranteed any work.

Question 15

advantages of a zero-hour contract?

Answer 15

• total flexibility for employees as they can decide based on there availability
• cost efficient as employers only pay how for hours worked
• flexibility for employers as they can hire at any time

Question 16

disadvantages of a zero-hour contract?

Answer 16

• If demand for labour falls, employees may find
  they have no hours
• Employees on these contracts have virtually no
  income security at all.

Question 17

whats hot-desking?

Answer 17

Hot-desking means that an employee has no fixed workspace within an office environment.

Question 18

advantages of hot-desking?

Answer 18

• Hot-desking cuts down the need for office space
• It is supposed to allow greater innovation
• encourages workers to be on time

Question 19

disadvantages of hot-desking?

Answer 19

• Some employees may complain about the breakdown of workplace relationships
• lack of productivity due to time finding a desk

Question 20

what are working patterns

Answer 20

the ways employees are contracted to work

Question 21

overall advantages of changing working patterns on employees

Answer 21

• Some employees only want to work part-time
• Home working reduces transport costs/stress.
• allows employees to develop work patterns that suit their own lifestyles

Question 22

overall disadvantages of changing working patterns on employees

Answer 22

• Wages can decrease - lower pay but fewer hours if part-time/job sharing.
• May not feel the same sense of belonging
• Greater insecurity - temporary contracts provide less security.

Question 23

overall advantages of changing working patterns on employers

Answer 23

• Employees work more effectively
• If multi-skilled can be moved around the department in case of e.g. cover sickness and holidays.
• Reduce costs - part time working, e.g. accountant.

Question 24

overall disadvantages of changing working patterns on employers

Answer 24

• Extra cost of training if part-time/job sharing
• More difficult to administer/co-ordinate
• Staff turnover can be high if using temporary staff.
• Reduction in quality of work/less qualified employees.