Business revision, 1.4

?
What is meant by staff as an asset?
This is when businesses see employees as the most valuable asset within the company. Businesses often use soft HR processes to develop their staff in order to boost their value to the business.
1 of 31
What is meant by staff as a cost?
This is when firms see their staff as a cost focus based on the amount of money they spend rather than how much they might develop and become a greater asset to the firm. Some costs may include: Training, Recruitment, Payment, Welfare, Severance.
2 of 31
What is a flexible workforce?
It describes any working pattern adapted to suit your needs.
3 of 31
What are the main examples of flexible working? (9)
Part time, Flexitime, Temporary, Annualised hours, Multi-skilling, Compressed hours, Staggered hours, Job sharing, Teleworking.
4 of 31
What is meant by Annualised hours?
This is when hours are worked out over a year and setting a number of hours an employee must work.
5 of 31
What is meant by multi-skilling?
This is when employees train to become experts in more than one task / business function, this allows them to adapt more quickly to changes in environments.
6 of 31
What is meant by compressed hours?
This is when employees work contracted hours over a few days.
7 of 31
What is meant by staggered hours?
This is when staff have different starting, break and finishing times in the same workplace.
8 of 31
Why are flexible workforces good for a company?
Businesses can avoid costs of having to pay for full time employment, Benefit from access to skilled individuals without having to train them first, Cover shifts can be filled when demand spikes.
9 of 31
Why can flexible workforces be bad for a company?
Staff may have low job security which leads to low morale, Communication can be difficult, Poor productivity if low morale/motivation.
10 of 31
What is outsourcing?
This is another example of flexible working, where a business will find a person/firm to take on particular business processes.
11 of 31
Why may businesses choose outsourcing?
Firms don't have to pay for holidays or national insurance, Can be a cheap method of working if the outsource company is in a poorer nation, Works well if firms need highly skilled staff but don't want to pay for training or full time employment.
12 of 31
Why may businesses choose not to outsource?
They are less in control of how goods are produced, Due to this, the quality may not match the business requirements, Can be difficult to have good communication,.
13 of 31
Whats the difference between dismissal and redundancy?
Dismissal is the act of terminating an employees contract whereas if a member of staff is made redundant then their job is no longer needed by the company.
14 of 31
Why may a business dismiss an employee?
Employee is unable to perform key tasks due to lack of skills or qualifications, Gross misconduct (e.g violence), Long-term illness that is not related to disability, Exceptional cases such as a prison sentence.
15 of 31
Why may a business make an employee redundant?
The company has to close down, Technology replaces tasks normally performed by human workers, A firm moves it production line overseas.
16 of 31
Why are relations with employees and employers important?
They aim to prevent and resolve problems involving individuals which arise out of work situations.
17 of 31
What is done to improve employee/employer communications?
Information is provided to employees to promote a better understanding of management goals and policies, to advise employees about applicable legislations and regs.
18 of 31
What are the benefits of good employee/employer communications?
Good exchange of ideas between workforce and management, Better morale as workers have a voice, Better decisions made by management is more likely to be adopted by staff if they were involved, Improved relations mean reduction of industrial action.
19 of 31
What can good relations prevent within a large business?
Industrial action such as strikes, sit-ins, work-to-rules and picket lines.
20 of 31
What is the difference between individual approaches and collective bargaining?
Individual approaches is when single, individual workers negotiate with their employers on their own working conditions whereas collective bargaining is when a trade union or employee representative negotiates on behalf of many workers.
21 of 31
Name some examples of trade unions.
Fire Brigades Union, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), Prison Officers Association, National Union of Teachers.
22 of 31
In what businesses is collective bargaining commonly used?
Large businesses where there are large quantities of staff.
23 of 31
At what point do unions take action?
When either communication has broken down or the channels of communication have closed.
24 of 31
What are the advantages of trade unions?
Lobby for satisfactory rates of pay, Secure appropriate working conditions, Negotiate on target bonuses, Negotiate grievance procedures, Collective bargaining.
25 of 31
What are the disadvantages of a trade union?
The smaller number of staff/workers they represent the less influence they have, High wages can lead to redundancies, Can be disruptive in preventing changes to work practises, Can cause drop in productivity.
26 of 31
What are the advantages of professional associations?
Perform similar tasks as a union, Responsible for setting and maintaining standards in their industry.
27 of 31
What are the disadvantages of professional associations?
May insist on certain qualifications before members are allowed to join.
28 of 31
Where do work councils appear?
If the business is part of a multinational company that operates in at least two European countries with at least 1000 employees.
29 of 31
What are employee groups?
Forums made up of employee representatives from selected areas of the business and representatives of the employers. Joint committees made up of management, HR etc. Bridges the gap between management and workers-meet up to discuss affects employees
30 of 31
What are the disadvantages of employee groups?
May lack the power of a union, Management may resent empowered employees and block decisions made by the groups, Can lead to slower/longer decision making, Employees may priorities their own issues, Possibility of breach of confidentiality.
31 of 31

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What is meant by staff as a cost?

Back

This is when firms see their staff as a cost focus based on the amount of money they spend rather than how much they might develop and become a greater asset to the firm. Some costs may include: Training, Recruitment, Payment, Welfare, Severance.

Card 3

Front

What is a flexible workforce?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the main examples of flexible working? (9)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is meant by Annualised hours?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Business Studies resources:

See all Business Studies resources »See all Business case studies resources »