staffing

Question 1

treating staff as an asset

Answer 1

• permanent contracts
• develop staff with training
• pay staff a salary
• builds loyalty with staff

Question 2

treating staff as a cost

Answer 2

• flexible contracts, zero-hours
• minimal training
• low pay often at a hourly rate
• often leads to high staff turnover

Question 3

what is multi-skilling?

Answer 3

employees are able to carry out a variety of tasks rather than specialising in one area

• encouraged through job rotation
• employees are able to sympathise with workers

Question 4

Benefits of multi-skilling

Answer 4

1) implies that the company has enough faith in the individual to invest money and time to train them for another job
2) human resources used more effectively
3) employees equipped with skills needed to cover staff absences ( minimising disruption or loss of production)
4) may respond positively to new challenges and improve motivation and productivity

Question 5

drawbacks of multi-skilling

Answer 5

• the potential loss of production as workers switch between tasks
• workers may be reluctant to acquire new skills as there is no increase in pay

Question 6

what is the part-time and temporary staff?

Answer 6

giving staff short term contracts makes it easy for the company to cut staff without criticism

Question 7

pros of part-time and temporary staff

Answer 7

• grater flexibility
• cost-effective (don’t have to pay like full time)
• seasonal support ( specialised expertise for a specific time)

Question 8

cons of part-time and temporary staff

Answer 8

• less invested in the business (may have another job, not feel as valued as full time)
• lack of interactions (full time not comfortable with part)
• workload difference may cause argument,ents

Question 9

managing cons part-time and temporary

Answer 9

• give exciting and engaging work
• benefits (health insurance)
• commitment and connection
• clearly communicate part-time and full expectations
• give the opportunity to interact

Question 10

what is outsourcing? and why do businesses use it?

Answer 10

involves a firm finding an external business to carry out part of the production process in order to cut costs or achieve better service
- respond to a sudden increase in demand

Question 11

drawbacks of outsourcing

Answer 11

• productivity may be harmed by lack of expertise and loyalty to the business

Question 12

drawbacks of zero-hour contracts

Answer 12

doesn’t provide staff security

Question 13

Benefits of flexible and home working

Answer 13

• improve recruitment, motivation
• reduce labour turnover
• reduce costs
• boost productivity

Question 14

Dismissal

Answer 14

• cant carry out the job or too disruptive
• lose market share in a way that forces management to cut staff
• economic or other factors depress demand throughout industry, forcing firms to cut costs and stay above the break even

Question 15

Redundancy

Answer 15

• the job is redundant no need for it
• give staff 3 months notice
• period for consulting with employees/ trade unions

Question 16

collective bargaining

Answer 16

• employer and employee selected by the union to negotiate for them
• saves time and adds power for employees

Question 17

individual approach

Answer 17

• employees are treated on an individual basis
• stars singled out for better treatment
• more time consuming