CHAPTER 25 Work and Employment

2 R. Delaney Work and Employment Work is any activity that requires effort Digging up my own back garden is work Employment is any work undertaken for payment Digging up a garden would be employment if my neighbour paid me to dig up his garden

3 R. Delaney Rights and Responsibilities of Employees To implement company policy at all times. To receive the statutory number of holidays. To respect the property of the business. To join a trade union. Not to reveal confidential information to people outside the business. To be provided with a healthy and safe workplace. To honour any company rules or regulations. Not to be discriminated against on the basis of gender, religion or race. To work to the best of their ability. To receive a fair wage for work done. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEES RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES

4 R. Delaney Organisation of The Workplace A company’s organisational chart outlines the division of the company into departments and shows the chain of command. A Board of Directors (policy makers) Who appoints A Managing Director / Chief Executive (to implement the policy) Who appoints Production manager Purchasing manager Marketing manager Finance manager HR manager Shareholders (Owners) elect

5 R. Delaney Advantages of Self Employment Self Employment You may have to use your home as collateral for any business loans. Self-satisfaction, if the business is a success. You may find it difficult to take holidays. Keeping all the profits is an incentive to work hard. You may have to work long hours on the administration of the business. You keep all the profits. You may lose all the money invested in your business. You can adapt your working hours to meet the needs of your customers. You cannot be an expert in all aspects of a business so are likely to make some bad business decisions. You make all the decisions concerning the running of the business. Disadvantages of Self Employment Self employment refers to people who seek out paid work for themselves rather than be employed by somebody else.

6 R. Delaney Unemployment and its Measurement People are regarded as being unemployed if they are out of work but available for work at the current wage rate. Measurements of Unemployment The official level of unemployment is measured by a national survey known as the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The Live Register is a list of all the people who sign a register each week to claim social welfare benefits.

7 R. Delaney Causes of Unemployment Structural unemployment arises when industries that were once major employers have gone into decline and they no longer employ people. Cyclical unemployment is a temporary form of unemployment associated with a general fall in demand during a recession. Relocation of multi-national companies: When these move out of a country they cause unemployment in that country. Seasonal unemployment: The demand for some goods and services is seasonal. Thus the people working in that industry will have no employment in the off-season. Technology-related unemployment: This occurs when people are replaced by machines and computers in the workplace.