employer/ employee relationships Flashcards
Minimum Wage
The minimum amount that an employer can pay their employee per hour.
Minimum Wage Employee A&D
🙂- More disposable income (due to increase), more labour supply, easier to get jobs (younger)
☹- Older workers at a disadvantage if younger workers are favourable, Loss of job security (if minimum wage increases), not a substantial increase.
Minimum Wage Employer A&D
🙂- More motivated workforce, more use of zero-hour contracts, reduces pay negotiations with trade unions
Equal Opportunities
Protects employees/ people from discrimination-(against the law to discriminate)
Direct Discrimination
Treating someone less favourably than someone else.
Indirect Discrimination
Applying rules which apply to everyone, but puts some people at a disadvantage
Harassment
Unwanted behaviour that violates or offends someones dignity
Victimisation
treating someone unfairly because they have complained about discrimination/ harassment
Trade Unions
Organisation that represents employees in a particular trade. The purpose is to protect and improve its members t&c’s
More People=More Power
Collective Bargaining
To obtain the best t&c’s of employment for employees
Protecting employees’ employment rights
Offer advice/ information/ legal assistance
Health & Safety
Investigate causes of accidents
Industrial Action
Concerted actions taken by employees, often organised by trade unions, to exert pressure on employers in a labour dispute.
Employee action: Strike/ Work-to-rule/ Go-slow/ Overtime ban
Employer action: Withdrawal of overtime/ Lock-out
Trade Union Employee A&D
🙂- Negotiation of pay, ensure H&S, help in unsafe/ unfair practices ☹- May call on members to take action, high wage demands, costs money to become a member
Trade Union Employer A&D
🙂- Communication link, avoids time consuming individual bargaining, takes employees needs seriously
☹- Employees more likely to take industrial action, higher wages, employees know their rights, high H&S requirements
Employment Tribunal
If an employee feels that they are being unfairly treated, they can ask the union representative to help to sort out the difficulty with the employer. If the problem cannot be solved amicably, the matter may
go to an employment tribunal (a ‘court’ that makes sure that employment laws are adhered to properly).
Dismissal
When your employer ends your employment.
*They must have a valid reason to dismiss you
*Have to act reasonably in the circumstance
ACAS
Advisory, Conciliation, Arbitration Service
Industrial Disputes
ACAS can intervene in industrial disputes at the request of either management or unions.-> encourage a settlement
Arbitration
ACAS recommends a solution to a dispute, which often both parties have previously agreed that they will abide by.
Mediation
ACAS recommends a possible solution to a dispute and leaves the two parties to find a settlement.
Advisory Work
ACAS will advise employers and trade unions on a number of issues, such as contracts of employment, industrial relations legislation and payment systems.
Codes of Practice
ACAS issues practical guidance on how to improve industrial relations between employers and employees.
