managing people Flashcards
what’s cost
businesses treat employees as a resource
they have strong links with corporate business
what’s asset
businesses treat employees as the most important resource and a source of competitive advantage
employees are treated as individuals and needs are planned accordingly
key features of asset
-strategic focus on longer term planning of workforce needs
-strong and regular communication with staff
-competitive pay structure
-employees are empowered
-flatter organisational structures
-suits democratic leadership style
key features of cost businesses
-short term changes in employee numbers
-minimal communication
-little empowerment or delegation
-taller organisational structure
-suits autocratic leadership style
why is cost good/bad
quicker decision making but staff suffer more so there’s less successful recruitment but it’s more cost effective
why is asset good/bad
rewards employee performance and motivates staff more effectively
being too “soft” when all benefits add up may leave businesses at a competitive disadvantage as they don’t have money to spend else where
why r workers so important?
-most businesses objectives will be linked to productivity
-firms want as much as possible from the workers (some companies want to reduce staff costs by moving people from permanent full time contracts to zero hour part time temporary contracts)
examples of flexible workforce?
-part time working
-flexitime
-working from home
-shift swapping
benefits of flexible workforce?
-saves on costs (no office space)
-helps with recruitment
-ageing population+increased women in labour market(more staff with caring responsibility)
-simple and cost effective to use technology
-open hours can be extended
-meets employees legal rights to request flexible working
drawbacks of flexible working?
-additional administrative work for setup
-potential loss of customer if working hours r reduced
-lower employee productivity
-inability to substitute for certain skill if certain employees r absent
-difficult to manage flexibility
what’s multiskilling?
where staff are allowed to carry out a variety of tasks rather than just specialise in one
benefits if multiskilling?
enables greater use of job rotation
-with subsequent benefits for motivation
negative of multiskilling?
puts greater pressure on requirement of training
what’s outsourcing ?
delegating one or more business processes to an external provider
(someone does the work for you)
what’s offshoring?
transferring activities or ownership of a complete business process to a different country
who uses zero hour contracts?
-seasonal work
-retail
-tourism
how does the zero hour contract worker benefit?
-flexibility
-free time
-quit without notice
-good for students
how does a zero hour contract employee benefit?
-saves on wages
-lots of workers on call
-saves cash
how r zero hour contract workers disadvantaged?
-no consistency
-no regular income
-lacks security
how can a zero hour contract business be negatively affected?
-lacks morale and motivation
-decreased reputation of workforce
-increased staff turnover
what is flexible working?
working arrangements where there are a variety of options offered to employees in terms of working time, location and pattern of working
what are zero hour contracts?
they allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work
why are ZHC controversial?
they don’t offer enough financial stability or security
what is dismissal?
when an employee breaks contract, performs badly or behaves badly they r dismissed
-this may be considered unfair and subject to legal claim
what is redundancy?
when an employee loses their job because job is no longer required by business
-redundancy payments available
reasons for dismissal?
-misconduct
-lack of ability
-harassment
-non disclosure of relevant criminal records
what’s unfair dismissal?
where employee has their contract ended in such a way as to have breached employment law
who decides if dismissal has been unfair?
industrial tribunals
5 reasons for unfair dismissal
-they r pregnant
-religious beliefs or race
-they r members of a trade union
-they have a criminal record unrelated to their job
-company have not allowed a fair process
3 reasons for redundancy
-when an employer ceases trading
-when an employer changes location
-when there is insufficient work for employee
what does the amount of redundancy payment depend on?
-current wages
-how long they have worked at the company
what’s natural wastage and why’s it used?
when a short term contract ends and notice is given by either party that they wish to end the contract
-used because redundancy is expensive so companies reduce workers through natural wastage
where will the amount of notice required for redundancy be found?
in the contract of employment
-will be quotes in weeks or months
-employers need to give longer notice then employees
-financial penalties is no notice is given
how can labour turnover be positive?
-more enthusiastic workers
-workers with specific skill can be employed
-new workers may bring new ideas and methods
why may a company regret labour turnover ?
-if employee is a high performer
-a trusted professional
-a potential gem
why might a company not regret labour turnover?
-end of contract
-redundancy
-dismissal
-low/average worker
what are 4 things that legally need to be communicated with employees?
-proposed redundancy plans
-when employees are transferred from one employer to another
-on changes to pension arrangements
-proposed changes on working time arrangements
what are good reasons for a formal system of employee representation?
-makes employees views known to management
-helps strengthen employee and managements understanding of workplace issues and other matters
-helps create trust between employee and management so improves workplace relations
benefits of employee representation
-better motivation
-employees become more committed to business
-better decision making as employee experience and insights are taken into account
-lower risk of industrial disputes
drawbacks of employee representation
-time consuming(slows decision making down)
-conflicts between employer and employee interests may be a block to essential change
-manages may feel their authority is being undermined
why do we have trade unions?
-to act as a pressure group
-to protect the interests of its members (eg working conditions)
what’s a trade union?
organized association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.
benefits of trade unions?
-strength in numbers
-expert advice and support
-have money to pay for expensive court cases
-have trained negotiators who know how to deal with employers
what’s industrial action?
-action workers can take to achieve what they want in a dispute with the employer
-only happens if negotiations fail
-strike,overtime ban, work to rule
costs to workers of trade unions
-loss of wages and any bonus / commissions
-if firm loses sales, jobs may be lost through redundancy due to loss of customers
costs to firm of trade unions
-lose income / may make less profit
-customers may take business to competitors
costs to customers of trade unions
-can’t buy goods they need
-if these goods are raw materials they can’t produce goods either
costs to economy of trade unions
-people and firms have less money to spend
-businesses will lose sale revenue
-government will lose tax revenue as people have less income to spend
-imports may rise as people switch to buying from abroad
-unemployment may rise which increases cost benefits
what are the reasons for recruitment?
1.business expansion due to:
-increasing sales of existing products
-developing new products
-entering new markets
2.existing employees leave:
-to work with competitors
-due to factors such as retirement, sick leave and maternity leave
3.business needs employees with new skills
4.business is relocating
what are the changes to employment patterns?
-increase in part time working
-increasing numbers of single parent families
-more women seeking work
-ageing population
-emphasis on flexible working hours
-technology allows us to communicate more
advantages of part time working?
-cheaper to employ as entitled to less benefits
-more flexible workforce so easier to reduce labour hours when sales fall or add hours when demand increases
-wide range of potential recruits
disadvantages of part time working?
-employees feel less loyal to business and so less motivated
-harder for managers to control and coordinate workforce
what’s internal employment ?
-jobs given to staff already employed by a business which involves promotion and reorganisation
advantages of internal recruitment?
-cheaper and quicker
-people already familiar with business
-provides opportunities for promotion within a business
disadvantages of internal recruitment ?
-business knows strengths and weaknesses of candidates
-limits numbers of applicants
-no new ideas from outside
-may cause resentment amongst candidates not selected
-creates another vacancy which needs to be filled
how can companies externally recruitment ?
-job centres
-job advertisements
-recruitment agencies
-headhunting
-personal recommendation
advantages of external recruitment?
-new ideas
-larger pool of candidates
-wider range of experiences
disadvantages of external recruitment ?
-longer process
-more expensive process due to advertisement and interviews required
-selection process may not be effective enough to reveal best candidate
-staff moral may decrease as there’s a change in dynamic
what are the benefits of training? (7)
-higher quality
-better productivity
-more flexible through better skills
-less supervision required so managers r more efficient
-improved motivation through greater empowerment
-better recruitment and employee retention
-easier to implement change
why do businesses need training? (7)
-support new employees
-improve productivity
-increase marketing effectiveness
-support high standards of customer service and production quality
-introduction of new technology
-address changes in legislation
-support employee progression and promotion
what are 5 issues training can’t solve?
-poor management
-poor job design
-ineffective equipment
-poor production organisation
-recruitment
why do businesses neglect training?
-fear employees will be poached by competitors
-a desire to minimise short term costs
-they can’t make a justifiable investment case
-training takes time to have the desired effect
-sometimes benefits are more intangible then tangible
what does induction training involve?
-introducing new employees to the job, colleagues, premises and to values and aims of the business