Human Resources - Motivation

Question 1

What is the importance of motivation for employees?

Answer 1

1. Lower labour turnover
2. Employee will produce higher quality work
3. There would be fewer accidents

Question 2

Name 4 financial methods of motivation

Answer 2

1. Bonus
2. Commission - employees are paid a percentage of their sales revenue for the business
3. Fringe benefits - perks gifted to the employee that aren’t cash
4. Profit sharing - employees receive a share of the businesses annual profits on top of their annual salary

Question 3

Name 2 advantages of a bonus

Answer 3

1. Bonus payments encourages employees to work harder
2. The employer gets increased productivity, resulting in higher sales and profits

Question 4

Name 2 disadvantages of a bonus

Answer 4

1. In attempting to reach their targets, the employee may rush their work, which would affect its quality
2. The employee may feel demotivated if their targets are unrealistic

Question 5

Name 2 advantages of a commission

Answer 5

1. Encourages sales staff to increase the amount in their sales
2. Sales staff increase their income, which means that the business can sell more and makes profit

Question 6

Name a disadvantage of a commission

Answer 6

1. Because it’s linked to sales revenue, a car salesperson would focus on selling high priced vehicles, leaving the low priced ones unsold

Question 7

Name 2 advantages of fringe benefits

Answer 7

1. It can help retain staff at the business
2. It can give employees an extra incentive to work harder for the business

Question 8

Name a disadvantage of fringe benefits

Answer 8

Some staff prefer to have an increased salary instead of perks

Question 9

Name 2 advantages of profit sharing

Answer 9

1. Employees have a greater sense of belonging to the business and take a greater interest in its success
2. It acts as a motivator as it encourages employees to increase the businesses output and profit in which they can own a share

Question 10

Name 2 disadvantages of profit sharing

Answer 10

1. All employees get the same amount, including the ones who worked less and deserve less
2. Profit sharing differs each year - inconsistent

Question 11

Name the 4 non financial methods of motivation

Answer 11

1. Job rotation
2. Team working
3. Quality circles - groups of employees meet regularly to examine the quality of what they’re doing
4. Flexible working - gives the employee some choice on when they start and finish work

Question 12

Name 2 advantages of job rotation

Answer 12

1. Employees get the advantage of new skills
2. It reduces boredom, a major demotivator in the workplace

Question 13

Name 2 disadvantages of job rotation

Answer 13

1. Each employee will be initially trained for the job
2. There can be only so many jobs rotated and returning to the same job can be boring

Question 14

Name 2 advantages of team working

Answer 14

1. It makes employers feel more responsible to impart their skills to other team members
2. Employees feel committed to make their own team successful and will work hard to make it happen

Question 15

Name a disadvantage of team working

Answer 15

Some team member can be uncommitted and wont work hard, causing conflict

Question 16

Name 2 advantages of quality circles

Answer 16

1. The employees are directly involved in assessing quality in the production of goods
2. Sharing of best practice among the group

Question 17

Name a disadvantage of quality circles

Answer 17

It can be difficult to get all group members on board with quality practices

Question 18

Factors affecting job satisfaction ( 6 points )

Answer 18

1) Wages / Salaries
2) Responsibility
3) Success
4) Enjoyment
5) Working conditions
6) Praise

Question 19

Name 2 advantages of flexible working

Answer 19

1.it gives employees some flexibility with regards to their work
2. If benefits the staff and also the company, as they can attract and retain staff

Question 20

Name 2 disadvantages of flexible working

Answer 20

1. Increase in heating and lighting costs as offices have to open earlier or later
2. It can cause problems for management as managers need to ensure availability of staff to overtake risks

Question 21

Name 2 disadvantages of flexible working

Answer 21

1. Increase in heating and lighting costs as offices have to open earlier or later
2. It can cause problems for management as managers need to ensure availability of staff to overtake risks