Approaches to staffing - chapter 14 (key terms)

Collective bargaining

A method of determining conditions of work and terms of employment through negotiations between employers and employee representatives

Flexible workforce

A workforce that can respond, in quantity and type, to changes in market demand

Home workers

People who undertake their regular work from home

Industrial action

Disruptive measures taken by workers to apply pressure on employers when disagreements cannot be resolved

Outsourcing

Shifting jobs to other organisations

Multi-skilling

The process of increasing the skills of employees

Trade unions

Organisations of workers that exist to promote the interests of their members

Zero-hours contract

A contract that does not guarantee any particular number of hours' work

Staff as an asset

Employers will value their employees. Might provide… reasonable holidays, job security, training, etc

Staff as a cost

Employers will try to minimise it. Might include… zero-hours contracts, cheap recruitment methods, etc