Employment Rights and Responsibilities 2

Question 1

What does the phrase ‘minimum wage’ mean?

Answer 1

The minimum hourly rates that employers must pay their workers

Question 2

Why do you think a minimum wage was introduced into the UK?

Answer 2

• Correct underpayment by employers
• Avoid poverty
• Promote standard quality of life & gender equality

Question 3

What does the Working Time Directive do?

Answer 3

1) To protect the health and safety workers in member states
2) Limits the working week in EU states to a maximum of 48 hours, averaged over a 17 week period
3) Lays down regulations about the number of rest breaks that workers should have and the amount of holiday which they are entitled to.

Question 4

Name 2 pieces of legislation that govern working life

Answer 4

1) Employment Equality Regulations
2) Sex Discrimination Act
3) Race Relations Act

Question 5

Name 3 reasons why someone may pin a trade union

Answer 5

1) Provide opportunity for education and training
2) Campaign for equal pay for women and fair pay for all
3) Give information, support, legal and other advice

Question 6

Name two organisation that campaign for the rights of an employer

Answer 6

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Institute of Directors

Question 7

What do the letters ACAS stand for

Answer 7

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service

Question 8

What does ACAS do?

Answer 8

1) Provide independent advice and high quality training

2) Solve problems within employee and employer and improve performance

Question 9

What actions can an employer take against an employee who is not behaving as (s)he should, before they reach dismissal stage?

Answer 9

1) Verbal Warning
then 
2) Written Warning
then
3) Dismissal

Question 10

What is the difference between notice and redundancy?

Answer 10

Notice - Where an employee wishes to leave the organisation

Redundancy - When you job does not need doing anymore because of new technology

Question 11

If an employee thinks they have been unfairly treated name 2 coerces of action they can take

Answer 11

Trade Union Congress
Employment tribunal
Citizen Advice Bureau

Question 12

How long do you need to be employed for before you can take a case to an employment tribunal?

Answer 12

2 years

Question 13

State one way in which an employers association represents its members

Answer 13

• Lobbies government/ campaigns on their behalf
• Conducts research
• Publishes information
• Negotiates with unions
• Represents the employer at tribunals/ legal advice

Question 14

State one way in which the law protects the interests of employers

Answer 14

• Allows them to discipline staff
• Protects them against intellectual property theft/ safeguards patents/ protects copyright
• May limit their liability for financial loss

Question 15

State one way in which a trade union might support its members

Answer 15

1) Offer advice/ provide information
2) Provide a specific type of support or representation
3) Attend to health and safety matters
4) Press for improved pay or condition
5) Provide insurance/ health benefits/ welfare support

Question 16

List 4 unfair dismissals

Answer 16

1) Trade Union
2) Pregnancy - need to attend maternity classes or plan to take maternity leave
3) Health and safety - reasonable concern about healthy and safety at work
4) Family emergencies - deal with illness of their child or family member

Question 17

State one example of a trade union

Answer 17

1) UNISON

2) NUT

Question 18

State one way in which an employers association represents its members

Answer 18

Negotiates with unions
Conducts research
Represents the employer at tribunals/ legal advice