Chapter 6 - Employee Relations

Question 1

What are objectives matched with employee relations

Answer 1

Profit and Profitability 
Improving produced quality 
Customer and staff satisfaction 
Acting ethically 
Social responsibility

Question 2

Define Trade Unions

Answer 2

Are organisations formed by employees in an industry, trade occupation to represent them in efforts to improve wages and the working conditions of thier members

Question 3

Define employer associations

Answer 3

Organisations that represent and assist employer groups

Question 4

Define log of claims

Answer 4

List of demands made by workers against their employers

Question 5

Government key roles in employee relations

Answer 5

Legislator - passes laws
Employer - employ one third of Australia
Economic Manager - governments are concerned to ensure wages cost do not lead to inflator pressure
Representatives of Australia in the international arena - Australia is a foundation member of the international labour organisation and has been represented

Question 6

Define Award

Answer 6

A legally binding agreement that sets out minimum wages and conditions for a group of employees

Question 7

Define collective bargaining

Answer 7

Collective bargaining involves determining the terms and conditions of employment through direct negotiation between unions and employees

Question 8

Define wage indexation

Answer 8

Is a process whereby wage increases are given by a tribunal in a national wage cases, in line with increases in the cost of living

Question 9

Define conciliation

Answer 9

Occurs when a third party participates in a resolution of a dispute and attempts to help resolve the differences through discussion

Question 10

Define Arbitration

Answer 10

When a judge or a panel of judges hears both arguments in a dispute in a more formal court-like setting and determines the outcome

Question 11

Define a centralised system

Answer 11

A centralised system is one where central tribunals decide wages and employment conditions of all employees

Question 12

Define a decentralised system

Answer 12

One which direct negotiations occur between an individual employer and either individual employees,groups of employees or the representatives of those employees

Question 13

Define a advantage and disadvantage of a centralised system

Answer 13

Centralised wage fixing provides a degree of comparative wage justice and equality for workers employed by different employers

The system is less flexible for example the same wages and conditions would be applied to a LSO in a capital city and a small business in a country town

Question 14

Define one advantage and disadvantage of a decentralised system

Answer 14

Greater communication between employers and employees can improve staff motivation through the development of a greater cooperative spirit

Government has less control over wages, making management of the economy more difficult

Question 15

Define conflict

Answer 15

Disputes disagreements or dissatisfaction between and/or groups

Question 16

What is unprotected industrial action

And protected industrial action

Answer 16

One is action approved by the fair work commission

One is not

Question 17

Define negotiation

Answer 17

Is a method of resolving disputes whereby discussions between the parties result in compromise and a formal or informal agreement about a dispute

Question 18

Define mediation

Answer 18

Is the confidential discussion of issues in a non-threatening environment, in the presence of a neutral, objective third party. Many organisations now specify mediation as a first step in their dispute resolution or grievance procedures

Question 19

Define grievance procedure

Answer 19

Provides an orderly system whereby the employee and employer can resolve matters relating to complaints about wages,hours,working conditions or disciplinary action

Question 20

Define picket lines

Answer 20

Are protests that take place outside the workplace, generally associated with a strike