Question:
You have been asked to provide guidance to a local farm park. This is a
relatively small organisation, with just 25 permanent employees. However,
during the summer months the number of employees increases threefold due to the extra work that comes from local tourists visiting the park.
A number of issues have arisen, and you are required to advise on each. To
assist you in your deliberations, the issues have been grouped into three
sections.
You should provide a written response to the employer, with approximately
750 words for each of the three sections.
1. With the significantly increased workforce during the summer months, it is always difficult to predict what the actual workforce needs will be:
i. Describe at least two internal and two external factors that
impact on the employment relationship.
ii. The employer is not sure whether the individuals who work on
a temporary basis during the summer months are employees or
not. Explain the different types of employment status that exist
so that the employer is aware of them all.
iii. Using at least two examples, identify and analyse for the
employer why it is important to determine the employment
status of the individuals working at the park.
2. The work can be very demanding during the summer months.
There have been occasions in the past when some of the temporary employees are working very long hours, and complaining about this.
i. Explain the importance of work-life balance within the
employment relationship and how it can be influenced by
legislation. Refer to at least three employment rights from the
legislation.
ii. Focussing on two key areas, summarise the legal support that
may be given to employees as a family member.
iii. Using two examples, explain why employees should be treated
equally in terms of pay.
iv. Summarise the main points of UK discrimination legislation,
and how this might affect the approach to temporary
employees. Refer to at least two forms of discrimination in your
answer.
v. Explain how effective organisational policies can contribute to
and affect the psychological contract.
3. The last summer brought about some significant problems relating to the permanent employees.
The employer is concerned that the issues were not addressed correctly. Advise the employer about the following:
i. The differences between fair and unfair dismissals including
five potentially fair reasons for dismissal.
ii. During the summer five of the permanent employees resigned.
Explain the importance and benefits of holding exit interviews
with employees who are leaving the organisation.
iii. Finally, the employer has a question for the future. The farm
park has been struggling. If it were to make up to 10 employees
redundant what process should it follow?
Solution:
Part 1: Workforce Needs Protection
- External and Internal Factors Impacting Industrial Relations
In any contemporary organisation, it is essential to guarantee an excellent industrial relation specifically between the employees and employers. Notably, these factors imply the level to which the employees and management operate to attain the set organizational goals and objectives. Similarly, for the Farm Park, it is recommendable to adopt the best external and internal factor for success.
Internal factors
- Motivation: According to Zakaria et al. (2016), motivation is evident in an organisation when employees go for the desirable outcomes and practices good behavior in their relations with others. In an industrial relations set-up, motivation has a positive implication in improving the internal relationship between the management and their staff as it tends to make them productive. Some of the motivators that can be used in the Farm Park include performance appraisals and supportive working environment. However, demotivators include poor supervisory behavior and work overload which can be avoided altogether.
- Organisational Movement: In any organisation, the leadership and management are tasked with directing and guiding different industrial operations. This has a direct influence on the industrial relations evident from the strategies adopted by the managers. Ideally, the effective management could be linked to a prosperous industrial relation. To enhance a suitable organizational movement, the Farm Park can make priorities on communication, collaborative decision-making process and clear problem-solving practices (CIPD, 2017a). However, having excessive force and delayed salaries is an indicator of poor management which should be avoided.
External Factors
- Industrial Laws and Regulations: All industries are governed by policies and guidelines set by the administrative level of a nation. In this case, organizational relations are harnessed by the organizations observing the regulations which are equally an employee obligation. Some of the laws that need to be followed by Farm Park include workforce safety, employee rights and payment practices such as overtime work. Organizations with poor abidance to these policies tend to suffer from a weak relationship with their employees affecting their productivity.
Bargaining Power: this notes the ability of employees to negotiate on different issues which include an excellent working environment and proper payments (CIPD, 2017b). The bargaining power is improved by workers unions which are supposed to be acknowledged and negotiated with when there are appropriate industrial relationships. Any oppression of the unions and bargaining power of employees………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Please contact our team to receive this assessment in full based on your organisation, level of expectation and any other requirement
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