Approaches to staffing

Question 1

Staff as an asset and a cost

Answer 1

Asset=staff can boost productivity and drive innovation, and improve customer service.
Cost=costly, as they need hiring, training, and wages.

Question 2

Impact of minimum wage

Answer 2

Businesses on wage bases face higher labor costs if the minimum wage increases.
Businesses with salaried employees are less affected

Question 3

Flexible workforce

Answer 3

A culture where employees can perform different roles, and work under various employment patterns

Question 4

Multiskilling

Answer 4

Training employees to perform multiple jobs within a company

+Increases efficiency
+Reduces costs
+Increases productivity
-Significant investment in training
-Not suitable for specialist jobs

Question 5

Part-time and Temporary Working

Answer 5

Part time=few times a week
temporary=brought in when demand increases
+Better work-life balance
+Flexibility
+Increase staff in busier periods
-Managing workers can be tricky
-Staff often want more hours

Question 6

Pros & cons of outsourcing

Answer 6

+Acess specialist skill
+cheaper labour
-Less control over quality
-Ethical concerns

Question 7

Flexible hours & homeworking

Answer 7

Allows employers to schedule working hours around individual needs.

Advancements in tech have enabled a larger proportion of workers to work from home.
+Reduce fixed costs
+Attract talent from a wider area
+reduced stress
-Fewer opportunities for collaboration with other employees
-Staff may feel isolated

Question 8

Dismissal vs Redundancy

Answer 8

-Dismissal is when an employer fires an employee due to misconduct or poor performance
-Redundancy when the job is no longer available and the company reduces its workforce

Question 9

Approaches to employer-employee relationship

Answer 9

Individual approach
-focuses on the relationship between the employer and one employee
-Each employee is unique and has their own goals
-Employer has the power to hire & fire

Collective Bargaining
-A group of employees negotiate with the employer for better wages, working conditions
-Employees have more bargaining power when they negotiate collectively
-Relationship is seen as a power struggle between employer & employees

Question 10

Circumstances for cutting staff

Answer 10

1. Factors suppressing demand- need to cut costs
2. Factors causing the fall in market share
3. Staff members lack competence or are disruptive