HR Flashcards
What are the functions of the HR Department?
Responsible for all aspects of managing people in a business, including pay and rewards, recruitment, selection, training, and dealing with disputes.
Flexible workforce
A workforce that does not follow the traditional 9-5 pattern, designed to meet changing demand patterns and provide labor when required. E.g part-time and zero hours
Flexible working
Some flexibility regarding when and where employees work, such as flexi-time, where workers can choose their hours as long as they meet their quota.
Flexible hours
Employees choose when to start and end work within agreed limits but must work certain ‘core hours’, for example, 10am to 4pm every day.
Part-time working
Working fewer hours than full-time, so under 35 hours per week.
Multi-skilling
Training the workforce to work effectively across a wide range of tasks, often through job rotation.
Hot-desking
A system where employees have no fixed workspace, reducing the need and cost of office spaces.
Zero hours contracts
Contracts where an employee must be available to work but is not guaranteed work, workers have a lack of income security.
Workforce planning
The process of determining the labour needs of a business now and in the future, then devising a strategy to achieve said needs.
Internal recruitment
Filling a vacancy by employing someone who already works for the business, which could be a promotion or sideways movement.
External recruitment
Filling a vacancy by employing someone from outside of the business.
Recruitment process
involves: job analysis, job description, person specification, job advert, shortlisting, interview.
Job analysis
Part of the recruitment process that occurs once a vacancy has been identified, involving determining in detail the duties and responsibilities and the skills and knowledge required to carry out the position.
Job description
Lists the specific duties the employee will be required to carry out as part of their job.
Person specification
Lists the qualifications, skills, experience and personal attributes needed by the person who will be selected for the job.
Sselection methods
Ways of deciding which of the applicants should be given the job. E.g interviews, work trials, testing
Induction training
The training that an employee receives when they first join a business or organisation. It enables a new recruit to become productive as quickly as possible and includes health and safety training.
On-the-job training
Training that occurs at the employee’s place of work while he/she is doing the job or learning by doing.
Off-the-job training
Where the employee attends college to study for qualifications or through the use of internal courses structured directly for the needs of the business. takes place outside the normal work environment.
Apprenticeships
A form of training for young people whilst undertaking paid employment. Often combines workplace training with attendance at college on day release or evenings. Qualifications are attained on completion.
Appraisal
The process whereby the performance of an employee is evaluated against targets set.
E.g peer and self
Superiors assessment
When a worker’s performance is assessed by his/her line manager who comes up with future targets and training needs.
Peer assessment
When a worker’s performance is assessed by other colleagues who work at the same level in the hierarchy and who do similar job roles.
Self assessment
When workers reflect on their own recent performance and set their own targets and consider their own training needs.
