Chapter 13 changes in working practices

Question 1

What factors have contributed to the rapidly changing employment practices over the last 30 years

Answer 1

1 decline in trade union power
2 end of demarcation
3 loss of employment in heavy industry
4 increase number of women in the workforce

Question 2

What is demarcation

Answer 2

Process that separates different types of work and assigned them to members of different trade unions

Question 3

Over this 30 year period what have we been moving towards

Answer 3

a pattern of employment and contractual arrangements that has led to a greater degree of flexibility in employment practices

Question 4

What is a more flexible workforce

Answer 4

one that is designed to provide labour in the quantities required at the time the business needs it

Question 5

What are businesses change in demands for labour related to

Answer 5

Changes in
1 economy
2 seasons
3 demand

Question 6

What are the key features of the flexible workforce

Answer 6

1 flexible hours
2 home working
3 part time employment
4 temporary employment
5 job sharing
6 multi skill inn
7 zero hours contract
8 hot decking

Question 7

What is flexible working hours
How it is beneficial

Answer 7

agreed number of working hours - made up of core hours which have to be worked and the rest of the contracted hours worked on a flexible basis
Works well for partents doing school runs

Question 8

What is home working, where is this common
How is it beneficial

Answer 8

design, accountancy, IT programming. Can work part of week at home
Save time and stress on commute and business has reduced overheads

Question 9

What is part time and how is it beneficial

Answer 9

during busy period part time worker are employed
Cost saving for business, students and parents with young children find it suits requirements

Question 10

What is temporary employment
Who criticizes it and why

Answer 10

employment for a specific period of time eg 6 months maternity cover
Criticized by trade unions as it offers little security or career development

Question 11

What is job share where is it common

Answer 11

2 people share the Same Jon - splitting the hours
Often lets professional workers continue when they may have to have had a career break eg parents combine work with bringing up family

Question 12

What is multi skill inn and what are the advantages

Answer 12

businesses train workforce to work across a range of tasks
Offers greater flexibility, manufactures do not have to wait for a specific trades person to fix a fault.
Multi skilled workers are more likely to be better motivated and change is easier to impliment

Question 13

What is zero hours contract what are the advantages and disadvantages

Answer 13

Employee has to be available for work but it is not guaranteed
Employers have total flexibility
Workers have no income security sometimes working full time hours but in quieter periods having no income
Thought to exploit workers

Question 14

What is hot desking
What are the advantages and disadvantages

Answer 14

Employee has no fixed work space in the office
It cuts down the need for office space and allows new networks to establish
Workers can experience a breakdown in workplace relationships

Question 15

List 3 possible benefits of flexible working practice

Answer 15

1 businesses can expand and contract workers quickly in response to rise and fall of demand
2 temporary staff can be cheaper as they are unlikely to get the benefits of permanent staff eg training
3 flexible workforce is likely to make business more efficient and result in lower costs and make business more competitive

Question 16

List 2 possible disadvantages of flexible working practices

Answer 16

1 temporary workers are less likely to have same commitment to the business and may not carry work out to the same standard- could damage company reputation and lose customers
2 communicating with a workforce who work mainly from home can be an issue and benefits of teamwork maybe lost, workers can feel isolated and less motivated