Employment, Work, Volunteering

Question 1

What is Work? Give an example.

Answer 1

Work is any activity that requires effort and involves doing a task.
E.g. chef Donal Skehan cooks a BBQ for family and friends.

Question 2

What is employment? Give an example.

Answer 2

Employment is work carried out in return for payment called a wage or salary.
E.g. Chef Donal Skehan cooks for a TV programme and receives payment.

Question 3

Why do people look for employment?

Answer 3

Most people look for work to earn income to pay for goods and services to satisfy their needs.

Question 4

Outline the difference between Wage and Salary.

Answer 4

A wage is usually paid weekly and is based on the number of hours worked.
A salary is usually paid monthly and is the same every month regardless of how many hours worked.

Question 5

What is an employee?

Answer 5

A person who is paid for the work they do.

Question 6

What is a Contract of Employment?

Answer 6

Employees are entitled to a contract of employment. This contract must be signed by the employee and employer at the start of the employment.

Question 7

What seven items does a contract of employment contain? Explain each.

Answer 7

Job Title and Description of Duties
Length of the Employment Contract (6 months/ 1 year)
Salary or wages that you will receive.
Holiday entitlements (employee’s are entitled to 20 days paid annual leave.)
Conditions of the job (e.g. Hours of work 9am-5pm or Location)
Dress Code and Rules of the Workplace
Minimum Notice required before ending employment. E.g. 1 months notice

Question 8

What is Fixed Term Employment?

Answer 8

Employee is hired on a temporary basis. Once the fixed term has expired they no longer work for the company. E.g. 6 month term fixed contract.

Question 9

What is Job Sharing?

Answer 9

When two employees ,are up one working week. They share the hours of one person.

Question 10

What is Flexitime?

Answer 10

Employee can start/finish work at a time that suits them so long as they complete the required number of hours in the week.

Question 11

What is teleworking?

Answer 11

Employee works from home but completes the duties as if they were in the organisation.

Question 12

What is Self Employment?

Answer 12

Employee works for themselves and earns income from the profits of the business e.g. Entrepreneur.

Question 13

What are the benefits of employment and explain them?

Answer 13

Financial Security-Earning a wage/salary gives you financial security as you have regular income. This allows you to buy necessities, the occasional luxury and to save for the future.
Knowledge and Skills-Employment increases your knowledge and skills by learning new things in the workplace. This helps you get more jobs/promotion in the future.
Buy a house-Employment May give you the opportunity to buy a house as a mortgage requires proof of income and job security.
Opportunities to Travel-Some jobs may require you to travel around the world to meet clients.

Question 14

What is Unemployment? What is the impact of unemployment on the individual?

Answer 14

Unemployment occurs when a person is willing and available for work, but are unable to find a suitable job. Unemployment leads to a loss of income for the individual but they may qualify for a payment from the government called Job Seekers Benefit (Dole)

Question 15

What is the impact of high unemployment on Ireland as a whole? How can unemployment levels be reduced?

Answer 15

Emigration-people leave Ireland to find work.
Job Seeker’s Benefit-Increase of Government Expenditure on Job Seeker’s Benefit.
Unemployment can be decreased by:
-Buying more Irish produced products to create Irish jobs.
-Irish people starting their own businesses
-Educate people and improve skills for the workplace.

Question 16

What is Volunteering? Give three examples of voluntary organisations.

Answer 16

Volunteering means doing something without payment that will benefit other people, society or environment. E.g. GAA, Oxfam Ireland, St. Vincent De Paul.

Question 17

What are the benefits of volunteering to an individual and explain them?

Answer 17

Sense of Achievement-Volunteering makes people feel good about helping others and making a difference to other people’s lives.

Positive impact on career-Volunteering work can give you excellent experience and skills to make your CV stand out when applying for a job as it shows you are hardworking. It could lead to paid employment.

Develop New Skills-Volunteering allows you to develop new skills such as communication and teamwork which can be helpful for other jobs.

Connect with Community-Volunteering helps you make connections with new friends and other like-minded people in the community.

Question 18

What are the benefits of volunteering to the organisation and explain them?

Answer 18

New Skills to Organisation: Volunteering can bring a wide range of new skills to the organisation.

Motivated Volunteers: As many volunteers are passionate about the cause, the organisation benefits from having dedicated and hardworking people.

Efficiency Use of Funds: As volunteers are not paid, any funds the voluntary organisation collects can go towards the cause not on wages.

Question 19

What are the benefits of volunteering to society and explain them?

Answer 19

Improved Community Spirit-The idea of helping and including others is a big part of being a volunteer. This leads to a closer community as members are working together.

Volunteering creates services and activities-Society benefits because volunteering creates services and activities in the community such as Scouts, GAA couching etc.

Question 20

Name the five responsibilities of a volunteer.

Answer 20

Be Respectful
Be Reliable
Be Professional
Be Confident
Be Ethical