1.4.1 Approaches to staffing In this topic you will learn about Staff as an asset; staff as a cost Flexible workforce: multi-skilling part-time and temporary flexible hours and home working outsourcing Distinction between dismissal and redundancy Employer/employee relationships individual approach collective bargaining

Part time vs temporary Find out: What they are What are the benefits to the firm What are the disadvantages to the employee AND the firm

Flexible workforce Flexible hours and homeworking Employees choose their own hours of work , normally within certain boundaries Homeworking is the ability to work from home rather than travelling into the workplace

Class discussion Should businesses be allowed to use zero hour contracts to increase flexibility? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23573442 Q&A: What are zero-hours contracts? http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/04/zero-hours-contracts-have-nothing-to-do-with-flexibility-and-everything-to-do-with-dodging-tax/ Zero-hours contracts have nothing to do with flexibility and everything to do with dodging tax http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2015/apr/26/zero-hours-contracts-tyranny-for-workers Zero-hours contracts are a tyranny that must end now

Flexible workforce Outsourcing However The practise of using the services of other organisations to complete all or parts of the manufacturing process The value of outsourcing includes: Provides flexibility in supply Can increase capacity without high capital expenditure Can buy in expertise However Quality must be maintained Sub-contractor will also want to be making a profit

Dismissal is when an employee’s contract is terminated due to a breach of the terms of that contract by the employee

Redundancy Redundancy is a form of dismissal when an employee’s contract of employment is terminated because the job no longer exists What are the rights of an employee facing redundancy? https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/overview https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-redundancy-pay Make up a scenario for a person being made redundant. How old are they? How long have they worked for the business? What is their rate of pay? How much redundancy payment would they be entitled to?

Employer/employee relations Recap. What is meant by hard and soft HRM? Employer/employee relations are the defining features of how employers and employees interact with each other on a day to day basis Trade unions Work councils

Advantages and disadvantages of employee representation Medium for effective 2 way communication Reduces feeling of “them and us” Employees kept informed Employers have some understanding of employee perceptions Improved motivation Less risk of industrial disputes Opportunity cost of time Can cause conflict due to different agendas Slows down decision making Employer may not be able to respond to employee wishes Non homogeneous employees