Podcast
Questions and Answers
A contract of employment is a legal agreement between a business and an ______.
A contract of employment is a legal agreement between a business and an ______.
employee
Part-time employees usually work under ______ hours per week.
Part-time employees usually work under ______ hours per week.
30
A full-time contract provides certainty for businesses as the employee works a minimum number of ______ each week.
A full-time contract provides certainty for businesses as the employee works a minimum number of ______ each week.
hours
A job share is when two people ______ a full-time job.
A job share is when two people ______ a full-time job.
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Zero-hour contracts are beneficial for businesses because they provide maximum flexibility and reduce ______ costs.
Zero-hour contracts are beneficial for businesses because they provide maximum flexibility and reduce ______ costs.
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Employees on zero-hour contracts may feel a low level of commitment to the ______.
Employees on zero-hour contracts may feel a low level of commitment to the ______.
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Outsourcing is when a business uses another business to make part of its ______ or provide part of its service.
Outsourcing is when a business uses another business to make part of its ______ or provide part of its service.
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Full-time contracts typically offer certain benefits that are not usually provided by ______ contracts.
Full-time contracts typically offer certain benefits that are not usually provided by ______ contracts.
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In small businesses, leaders and managers are often the same _____.
In small businesses, leaders and managers are often the same _____.
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As businesses grow, the role of leaders and managers can become ____ from one another.
As businesses grow, the role of leaders and managers can become ____ from one another.
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A manager must set objectives so that success criteria are available to later establish whether a task has been completed _____.
A manager must set objectives so that success criteria are available to later establish whether a task has been completed _____.
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The external ____ can affect the type of management or leadership style which is appropriate for a business.
The external ____ can affect the type of management or leadership style which is appropriate for a business.
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In businesses with a well-defined culture, a change of leadership style may be difficult to introduce without resistance from the majority of _____.
In businesses with a well-defined culture, a change of leadership style may be difficult to introduce without resistance from the majority of _____.
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Autocratic leadership refers to an approach by leaders or managers to keep control of decision making and ensure that employees are closely _____.
Autocratic leadership refers to an approach by leaders or managers to keep control of decision making and ensure that employees are closely _____.
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Democratic leadership refers to an approach by leaders or managers to discuss and consult with employees, delegate decision making authority and empower employees through their _____.
Democratic leadership refers to an approach by leaders or managers to discuss and consult with employees, delegate decision making authority and empower employees through their _____.
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A manager must review and analyze data so that adaptations to current processes can be made if _____.
A manager must review and analyze data so that adaptations to current processes can be made if _____.
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The skill level of the workforce can influence the type of management or leadership style used as managers may want to involve employees in the decision making _____.
The skill level of the workforce can influence the type of management or leadership style used as managers may want to involve employees in the decision making _____.
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In businesses which employ highly skilled and highly qualified employees, a democratic approach may be suitable so that employees can contribute their ____ to the decision making process.
In businesses which employ highly skilled and highly qualified employees, a democratic approach may be suitable so that employees can contribute their ____ to the decision making process.
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Outsourcing can provide cost savings because a third-party business may be able to create or produce a product or service at a lower cost than the original ______.
Outsourcing can provide cost savings because a third-party business may be able to create or produce a product or service at a lower cost than the original ______.
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Quality problems may arise if the business which is outsourced to does not uphold the same quality ______.
Quality problems may arise if the business which is outsourced to does not uphold the same quality ______.
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Human resources are responsible for the ______ and training of employees.
Human resources are responsible for the ______ and training of employees.
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Redeployment can support business objectives by moving staff around the business according to its needs and ______.
Redeployment can support business objectives by moving staff around the business according to its needs and ______.
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Redundancy is used when the skills of current employees are no longer ______ by the business.
Redundancy is used when the skills of current employees are no longer ______ by the business.
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Dismissal requires valid ______ for the termination of an employee.
Dismissal requires valid ______ for the termination of an employee.
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The expertise and skill set of employees will influence their ______ in decision-making.
The expertise and skill set of employees will influence their ______ in decision-making.
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A trade union will represent a group of employees and negotiate with the ______ on their behalf.
A trade union will represent a group of employees and negotiate with the ______ on their behalf.
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Successful employee representation can improve relationships and minimize issues like ______.
Successful employee representation can improve relationships and minimize issues like ______.
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To manage the employer representation process, open ______ is essential for success.
To manage the employer representation process, open ______ is essential for success.
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Internal recruitment can be beneficial as employees already know a lot about the ______.
Internal recruitment can be beneficial as employees already know a lot about the ______.
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External recruitment is usually more ______ because jobs are advertised and hires require more training.
External recruitment is usually more ______ because jobs are advertised and hires require more training.
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An effective recruitment process can lead to higher ______ with skilled employees.
An effective recruitment process can lead to higher ______ with skilled employees.
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Good customer service is often a result of hiring people who are well ______ to their roles.
Good customer service is often a result of hiring people who are well ______ to their roles.
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Training a workforce means employees are likely to become more ______ at what they do.
Training a workforce means employees are likely to become more ______ at what they do.
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Training is needed for employees to know how to use new ______.
Training is needed for employees to know how to use new ______.
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If staff feel that they are learning and progressing in a firm, then they are likely to be more ______.
If staff feel that they are learning and progressing in a firm, then they are likely to be more ______.
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Training staff usually makes them more skilled at the job, leading to higher quality ______.
Training staff usually makes them more skilled at the job, leading to higher quality ______.
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If employees are happier and more motivated, they are likely to stay at a firm for a longer period of ______.
If employees are happier and more motivated, they are likely to stay at a firm for a longer period of ______.
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Induction training happens when employees first arrive at a ______.
Induction training happens when employees first arrive at a ______.
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On-the-job training is the most common type of ______.
On-the-job training is the most common type of ______.
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Off-the-job training allows employees to learn a wider range of ______.
Off-the-job training allows employees to learn a wider range of ______.
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Authority is linked to ______, which involves passing authority to employees further down in the hierarchy.
Authority is linked to ______, which involves passing authority to employees further down in the hierarchy.
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Spans of control refer to the number of people who report directly to a ______.
Spans of control refer to the number of people who report directly to a ______.
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Tall hierarchies have many layers of ______.
Tall hierarchies have many layers of ______.
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Delegation can reduce the ______ of managers, allowing more focus on their tasks.
Delegation can reduce the ______ of managers, allowing more focus on their tasks.
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Decentralised businesses distribute decision making power throughout the business to staff with appropriate skills and ______.
Decentralised businesses distribute decision making power throughout the business to staff with appropriate skills and ______.
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A matrix organisational structure involves an employee reporting to more than one ______.
A matrix organisational structure involves an employee reporting to more than one ______.
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Managers are responsible for ensuring tasks are completed in the day-to-day ______.
Managers are responsible for ensuring tasks are completed in the day-to-day ______.
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Study Notes
Contracts of Employment
- A contract of employment is a legal agreement between a business and an employee.
- It specifies employee pay, roles, employment dates, hours, sick leave, holiday pay, and parental leave.
Types of Employment Contracts
- Part-time: Employees work fewer than full-time hours (typically under 30 hours weekly), often in shifts. Offers flexibility for both businesses and employees.
- Full-time: Employees work a defined minimum number of hours weekly, offering certainty and control for businesses.
- Job share: Two employees share a full-time role, offering flexibility and guaranteeing hours worked. Requires good communication.
- Zero-hour contract: Businesses are not obligated to provide work, and employees are not obligated to accept work offered. Maximum flexibility for businesses but potentially demotivating for employees.
Outsourcing
- Outsourcing: A business uses another business to create or provide a product/service.
- Advantages: Potential cost savings
- Disadvantages: Quality control issues, loss of influence.
Human Resource Flow
- Redeployment: Moving employees within the business to meet changing needs. Supports business objectives.
- Redundancy: Occurs when employee skills are no longer needed and the role is eliminated. Reduces costs.
- Dismissal: Firing an employee. Requires valid grounds and investigation.
Improving Employer-Employee Relations
- Employee involvement: Businesses consider the extent to which employees participate in decision-making.
- Influence factors: Employee expertise, business culture, business size impact involvement level.
- Trade unions/works councils: Represent employee views, negotiate with employers.
- Communication: Honest and open communication is essential to successful employee representation.
- Benefits: Improved relations, valued employees, better decisions.
- Risks: Strikes, reduced reputation, productivity issues.
Recruitment
- Internal recruitment: Advertising a job position to existing employees. Less training cost, but may create another vacancy.
- External recruitment: Seeking new employees outside the organization. Often more expensive, but broader reach and potential for new ideas.
Benefits of Effective Recruitment
- High productivity: Skilled employees increase output and reduce costs.
- High-quality output: Better-suited employees produce higher quality work.
- Good customer service: Better-suited employees care about the firm's image and reputation.
- Staff retention: High quality recruitment and training leads to decreased costs.
Workforce Training
- Importance: Increases productivity, adaptability to technological changes, motivation, and quality output. Also improves staff retention.
-
Methods:
- Induction training: Introduces new hires to the firm and their roles.
- On-the-job training: Learning by doing; low cost but potentially flawed if bad habits are learned.
- Off-the-job training: Learning away from the workplace, potentially higher quality but more expensive.
Organisational Design
- Authority: Delegation of authority empowers employees and increases productivity.
- Spans of Control: The number of people reporting to a manager. Narrower spans in tall hierarchies for closer monitoring. Wider spans in flat hierarchies.
- Hierarchies: Levels of management. Tall hierarchies have more layers, potentially hindering communication, but offer more promotional opportunities. Flat hierarchies have fewer levels, improving communication but reducing opportunities.
- Delegation: Managers passing authority to lower-level employees. Reduces manager workload, empowers employees, but may require training.
- Centralisation/Decentralisation: Centralization: decision-making concentrated in a few. Decentralization: decision-making distributed among staff.
-
Organisational Structures:
- Tall structures: Many layers, smaller spans of control.
- Flat structures: Few layers, large spans of control.
- Matrix structures: Employees report to multiple supervisors.
What Managers Do
- Small businesses: Leaders and managers often the same people.
- Large businesses: Distinct roles: Leaders focus on long-term vision; Managers ensure daily tasks are completed.
- Manager roles: Setting objectives, reviewing and analyzing data, implementing strategies, reviewing decisions.
Types of Leadership
- Influence factors: External environment, business culture, employee skill levels.
- Autocratic leadership: Managers retain decision-making control and closely supervise employees (often used in organizations with unskilled employees).
- Democratic leadership: Managers consult with employees, delegate, and empower them (often used with skilled, qualified employees).
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of employment contracts, including their definitions and distinct types such as part-time, full-time, job share, and zero-hour contracts. Additionally, it explores the concept of outsourcing and its implications for businesses and employees. Test your knowledge on these important workplace agreements!
