Key Influences on Human Resources Management – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering stakeholder roles, legal frameworks, contract types, safety, equity, economic and ethical influences in Human Resource Management.

Stakeholders

Any individual or group with a shared interest in, or affected by, an organisation’s actions.

Employers

Individuals or organisations that hire labour, provide wages and working conditions, and aim to achieve business goals.

Employees

People who supply their skills and labour to an organisation in return for income and workplace entitlements.

Employer Associations

Bodies that promote employers’ interests, lobby government, and advise on industrial matters.

Trade Unions

Organisations formed by workers to represent them in improving wages, conditions, and safety.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

The peak union body representing trade unions at a national level.

Fair Work Australia (Fair Work Commission)

The national workplace relations tribunal established under the Fair Work Act 2009.

Federal Court of Australia

Court that handles industrial law breaches, industrial action cases, and imposes penalties.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)

Agency enforcing federal anti-discrimination legislation in workplaces.

Employment Contract

Legally binding agreement outlining rights and obligations between employer and employee.

Contract of Indefinite Duration

An ongoing employment contract that continues until either party gives notice to terminate.

Fixed-Term Contract

Employment agreement that ends on a specified date or at completion of a particular task or project.

Common Law

Law developed by courts; sets basic rights and obligations in employment relationships.

National Employment Standards (NES)

Ten minimum employment entitlements applying to all Australian employees under the Fair Work Act 2009.

Minimum Wage

Legally set base pay rate for ordinary hours; cannot be undercut by agreement.

Award

Legally enforceable document stating minimum terms and conditions for a particular industry or occupation.

Modern Award

Simplified, industry-based award introduced to replace numerous older awards; sits above NES.

Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA)

Variation to a modern award term agreed between employer and employee to meet individual needs.

Ombudsman

Independent official who investigates and resolves complaints between parties impartially.

Enterprise Agreement

Collective workplace agreement about employment conditions, negotiated between employer and employees.

Single-Enterprise Agreement

Enterprise agreement made between one employer and its employees.

Multi-Enterprise Agreement

Agreement covering two or more employers that share common operations or funding.

Greenfields Agreement

Enterprise agreement for a new business or project negotiated with unions before employees are hired.

Better Off Overall Test (BOOT)

Fair Work Commission test ensuring employees are better off under an enterprise agreement than the relevant award.

Independent Contractor

Self-employed person providing services to clients; not an employee and holds different legal status.

Casual Employment

Short-term, irregular work paid hourly with loading in lieu of entitlements like leave.

Part-Time Employment

Ongoing contract with fewer than 38 hours per week and pro-rata access to entitlements.

Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)

Legislation outlining duties to ensure health and safety of workers and others at the workplace.

WHS Committee

Group that addresses safety issues; mandatory in NSW workplaces with 20+ employees on request.

Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW)

Law that provides financial compensation and rehabilitation for employees injured at work.

Anti-Discrimination

Legal prohibition of unfavourable treatment based on attributes like race, sex, age or disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Principle of fair policies in recruitment, selection, training and promotion to ensure merit-based decisions.

Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012

Federal law promoting equal gender outcomes and requiring large employers to report on progress.

Economic Cycle

Regular pattern of expansion and contraction in economic activity affecting labour demand.

Structural Change

Shift in the composition of economic activity, such as growth in services versus manufacturing.

Employee Self Service (ESS)

Technology allowing staff to access payroll, leave and personal data online.

Ethics (in HR)

Socially responsible, fair and moral practices in managing people at work.

Code of Conduct

Formal document outlining acceptable and unacceptable behaviours within an organisation.

Code of Ethics

Statement expressing a firm’s guiding values and ethical principles.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Commitment to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.

Working Conditions

Environment, hours, safety and other factors that define the day-to-day experience of employees.

Stakeholder Conflict

Situation where differing interests of stakeholder groups create tensions within an organisation.

Structural Unemployment

Job loss arising from mismatches between worker skills and changing industry requirements.

Digital Nomad

Employee or contractor who works remotely while travelling, enabled by technology and flexible arrangements.

Intrinsic Rewards

Non-financial motivators such as meaningful work, achievement and personal growth.