Theme 1- Approaches to Staffing

Question 1

Definition of staff as an asset

Answer 1

They are something a business has that is valuable

Question 2

How can staff add value to a product?

Answer 2

Through their skills and ability
- ensures high quality products are produced efficiently
- excellent customer service = customers willing to pay higher

Question 3

What is the benefit of businesses treating staff as a valued asset

Answer 3

Motivates staff and increases their productivity

Question 4

Why are employees a cost to a business

Answer 4

• remuneration ( payment for work they do)
• minimum wage increases each year
• cost involved in recruitment, training and staff welfare
• severance ( when they leave the firm)

Question 5

What is dismissal?

Answer 5

An employee could be dismissed if they breach their contract of employment. Choice of employer not employee.

Question 6

What is redundancy?

Answer 6

Occurs when an employees job is no longer required. This costs businesses money.

Question 7

Flexible workforce

Answer 7

The variety in ways in which employees work and the different contracts they can be offered.
Can also refer to employees being multi- skilled.

Question 8

Why is employing more part time workers beneficial for a business?

Answer 8

Means they have more staff who could come in to cover absent workers

Question 9

How many hours do full- time workers do?

Answer 9

At least 35 hours a week

Question 10

Pros and cons of zero hour contracts

Answer 10

Pros- employers don’t waste money paying for labour when it isn’t needed
- employees can work around commitments
Cons- staff under no obligation to accept work so it could be hard to find enough staff in busy times

Question 11

Difference between permanent and temporary contracts

Answer 11

A permanent has no end date but a temporary does

Question 12

Why are temporary contracts beneficial

Answer 12

can cover a particular job ( due to sickness or maternity leave )

Question 13

Why are permanent contracts beneficial?

Answer 13

More motivating due to financial security

Question 14

Home working

Answer 14

• Employees work from home some or all days of the week
• can save travel costs
• work around commitments
• distractions
• Businesses may gain from freeing up a desk or office space
• difficult to monitor performance

Question 15

Flexible hours

Answer 15

• Workers complete a set number of hours that suit them
• usually core hours in the day
• improves motivation
• Harder to set up meetings

Question 16

Outsourcing

Answer 16

• can outsource tasks to external businesses
• employers don’t have to invest money in training staff

Question 17

Multi- skilled workforce

Answer 17

• employers can employ fewer workers, lowers recruitment costs
• workers can be moved between jobs so absent staff can be easily covered (maintains output)
• increases motivation which increases productivity
• additional training costs
• cost of labour may increase

Question 18

Why is successful employer-employee relationship beneficial?

Answer 18

• Maximises cooperation and minimises conflict
• increases employee motivation and productivity and increases cost for businesses

Question 19

Individual bargaining

Answer 19

• When individual employees negotiate with their employer about their pay and working conditions
• Bargaining for pay provides a financial incentive to the employee to work productively
• used for flexible working arrangements

Question 20

Collective bargaining

Answer 20

• when a group of employees are represented by workforce representatives
• workforce representatives negotiate pay and working conditions with the employers
• E.g: trade unions
• Trade unions can take actions in the workplace to protect/ improve conditions
• Trade unions can also take action at a national level