U4 Ch.13 HR Management

Question 1

Functions of a HR manager

Answer 1

1. HR Planning
2. Recruitment + Selection
3. Training + Development
4. Rewarding
5. Performance Appraisal
6. Managing Industrial Relations

Question 2

1. HR Planning

Answer 2

Having right people with right skills at right time throughout the business. Involves human resource audit of present staff, forecasting future HR needs(expansion+turnover) and then making a plan to either increase/decrease staff levels

Question 3

2. Recruitment and Selection

Answer 3

finding and attracting best potential candidates with appropriate skills and then picking most suitable for employment. Must draw up job description + person specification and then advertise the position. Applicants must be screened and then selected usually by interview process.

Question 4

Recruitment and Selection Process

Answer 4

A. Job Description (duties + responsibilities)
B. Person Specification (ideal candidate)
C. Job Advertisement
D. Screening Candidates (shortlist made of suitables)
E. Selection Tests (intelligence/peronsality. not in all businesses)
F. Interview (One-to-one / panel)
G. Reference Check
H. Job Offer

Question 5

Probationary Period

Answer 5

Trial period during which employer and employee can decide whether they are a suitable fit for each other.

Question 6

Interview

Answer 6

Formal Meeting between applicant and representative(s) of a company

Question 7

Equal Opportunities Employer

Answer 7

Employer that respects the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 when recruiting, selecting, promoting and training employees.

Question 8

Recruitment vs selection

Answer 8

1. Recruitment involves attracting suitable candidates with relevant skills and qualifications to apply for a job. Includes job description, person specification and advertising
2. Selection is the process of deciding which applicant is most suitable. Involves screening, selection tests, interviews, making job offers and formulating contracts.

Question 9

3. Training and Development

Answer 9

Training aims to improve employees’ ability to perform their job in an effective manner. Leads to better knowledge and skills among employees. Leads to better customer service and experience. Induction training helps employees fit into workplace and learn about their job. Other types include internal/external training. Development prepares employees for new responsibilities and greater challenges in the workplace and aids self actualisation.

Question 10

Internal Training

Answer 10

On-the-job training. In workplace.
1. Work-shadowing (observing experienced staff)
2. Demonstration (showing how to carry out role)
3. Job Rotation (doing different jobs around firm)

Question 11

External Training

Answer 11

Off-the-job training. Outside Workplace
1. Workshops
2. Lectures
3. Demonstrations
4. Courses

Question 12

4. Rewarding

Answer 12

Offering monetary and non-monetary rewards for work well done. Leads to motivated workforce. Can include wages, salaries, bonuses, benefits-in-kind, share options, pensions plans, promotions, extra holidays, etc. HR manager negotiates each employee’s remuneration and keeps it under review. Non-/monetary rewards satisfy wide-rainging needs in workforce

Question 13

Employee Profit-sharing

Answer 13

Percentage of firm’s annual profits are shared among employees

Question 14

ESPP

Answer 14

Employee Share Purchase Plan. Employees can buy shares in business often at a discounted price

Question 15

Time Rate vs. Piece Rate

Answer 15

Time Rate is when employees recieved a fixed amount per hour of work
Piece Rate is when employees are paid per item produced or job completed

Question 16

BIK

Answer 16

Benefit-In-Kind. Products, services or discounts instead of money as part of income. eg. company car

Question 17

Job Enlargement vs. Enrichment

Answer 17

Job Enlargement is when additional duties are given on top of normal duties
Job Enrichment is when additional responsibilities are given and power to make decisions on behalf of business is given

Question 18

Flexitime

Answer 18

Employees choose own working hours within an agreed time frame. E.g. must be in workplace between 10am and 4pm

Question 19

Financial Rewards

Answer 19

1. Wages (time + piece rate)
2. Salary
3. Commission (percentage of sales achieved)
4. Bonus
5. Employee Profit-Sharing
6. ESPP

Question 20

Non-Financial Rewards

Answer 20

1. BIK
2. Job Enlargement
3. Job Enrichment
4. Job Sharing
5. Extra Holidays
6. Flexitime

Question 21

5. Performance Appraisal

Answer 21

process of evaluating performances, progress, contribution and effectiveness of employee. Ensures high standards in business leading to organisational success. Provides for two-way communication and clarification of objectives with feedback to enable improvements. Meetings are held to review progress and set targets. Regular reviews are vital for performance appraisal.

Question 22

6. Managing Industrial Relations

Answer 22

Promote and maintain positive IR in organisation. HR departments take a proactive approach by attempting to maintain open communication with staff and develop grievance procedures. Ensures issues are resolved quickly.

Question 23

Flexible Working Conditions

Answer 23

Arrangement between employer and employees that allow employees to input into when they complete their duties, their workplace, etc. Can enable employees to work from home for a number of days per week or flexitime.

Question 24

Benefits of Performance Appraisal

Answer 24

1. IR Relations (employees can highlight problems. Allows issues to be dealt with quicker)
2. Identify Training Needs
3. Promotion Candidates
4. Motivation
5. Decide Rewards

Question 25

Grievance Procedure

Answer 25

Formal Method of resolving workplace problems and complaints

Question 26

Manual Handling

Answer 26

Physical Lifting of items in workplace. Staff should be trained on how to handle bulky + heavy items to reduce risk of injury

Question 27

Benefits of Rewarding

Answer 27

1. Motivation
2. Recruitment and Retention
3. Job Satisfaction

Question 28

Benefits of Rewarding

Answer 28

1. Productivity
2. IR (employees understand standards)
3. Future Managers preparation

Question 29

Benefits of Recruitment and Selection

Answer 29

1. Productivity (best candidates)
2. New ideas (new staff)
3. Retention (suitable are less likely to leave)

Question 30

Internal vs External Recruitment

Answer 30

Internal is with existing employees in firm. Achieved by promotion or redeployment(moving)
External uses labour market to find new employees for vacancies. Achieved by advertisements, recruitment agencies or headhunting(approach people employed in other firms)

Question 31

Benefits of HR Planning

Answer 31

1. Identify Training Needs
2. Ensure Enough staff
3. Reduce labour turnover