Chapter 2

Appraisal

the formal assessment of how efficiently and effectively an employee is performing their role in the business

arbitration

a means of dispute resolution involving an independent third party (such as a commissioner of the Fair Work Commission) hearing both arguments in a dispute and determining the outcome

Award

a legally binding document determined by the Fair Work Commission that sets out minimum wages and conditions for whole industries or occupations

career advancement

the assignment of more responsibilities/authority to employees or the promotion of employees to positions that bring rewards, such as increased salary, fringe benefits and increased responsibilities

collective bargaining

determining the terms and conditions of employment through direct negotiation between unions and employers

common law individual employment contract

covers those employees who are not under any Award or collective/enterprise agreements

conciliation

a process that occurs when a third party participates in the resolution of a dispute and attempts to resolve the differences through discussion

development

the process of preparing employees to take on more responsibilities in the future, acquiring better knowledge and skills, and gaining more experience

dismissal

occurs when the behaviour of an employee is unacceptable and a business terminates their employment

dispute

 a result of disagreements or dissatisfaction between individuals and/or groups

employee observation

a strategy where a variety of opinions on the performance of employees is sought with the aim of arriving at a more comprehensive picture of past and current performance

employer associations

organisations that represent and assist employer groups

enterprise agreement

an agreement on pay and conditions of work made at the workplace level and negotiated between groups of employees (or represented by their union) and employers

entitlement considerations

the rights to benefits that employees have when leaving the workplace, either on a voluntary or an involuntary basis

Fair Work Commission

Australia’s national workplace tribunal that has a number of responsibilities under the Fair Work Act 2009

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s sequence of human needs in the order of their importance

human resource management

the effective management of the formal relationship between the employer and employees

human resource manager

coordinates all the activities involved in acquiring, developing, maintaining and terminating employees from a business’s human resources

investment in training

the direction of finances, or resources such as time, into the teaching of skills to employees

lockout

occurs when employers close the workplace for a period of time as a means of applying pressure to employees during a period of industrial conflict

log of claims

a list of demands made by workers (often through their union) against their employers. These demands cover specific wages and conditions. Employers may also serve a counter-log of claims on the union.

management by objectives

a process by which management and employees agree on a set of goals for each employee, with these goals all contributing to the objectives of the business as a whole

mediation

the confidential discussion of issues in a non-threatening environment, in the presence of a neutral, objective third party, who helps the parties in dispute to work towards an agreement, but does not offer suggestions or solutions

motivation

the individual, internal process that directs, energises and sustains a person’s behaviour

need

a personal requirement

negotiation

a method of resolving disputes whereby discussions between the parties result in a compromise and a formal or informal agreement about a dispute

off-the-job training

occurs when employees learn skills in a location away from the workplace. It usually involves sending individuals or groups of employees to a particular specialised training institution (such as a university or TAFE college).

on-the-job training

occurs when employees learn a specific set of skills to perform particular tasks within the workplace. This training usually occurs in the working environment, and uses the equipment, machinery and documents that are present in that workplace.

penalty rates

additional wages paid to employees who work outside of normal working hours

performance management

a focus on improving both business and individual performance through relating business performance objectives to individual employee performance objectives

performance-related pay

the monetary compensation provided to employees relative to how their performance is assessed according to set standards

productivity

a measure of performance that indicates how many inputs (resources) it takes to produce an output (goods or services)

protected industrial action

action taken by either party to a dispute that has been approved by the Fair Work Commission

redundancy

occurs when a person’s job no longer exists, usually due to technological changes, a business restructure, or a merger or acquisition

remuneration

payments made to the employee for work or a service performed

resignation

the voluntary ending of employment by the employee ‘quitting’ their job

retirement

occurs when an employee decides to give up full-time or part-time work and no longer be part of the labour force

sanction

a form of penalty or discipline imposed on an employee for poor performance

self-evaluation

a process whereby employees carry out self-assessment, based on a set of agreed criteria

strike

occurs when employees withdraw their labour for a period of time in pursuit of improvements in their employment conditions

support

the assistance or services (such as counselling and mentoring) provided by the business to help employees cope with difficulties that may impede their work performance

termination

the ending of the employment of an employee

trade unions

organisations formed by employees in an industry, trade or occupation to represent them in efforts to improve wages and the working conditions of their members

training

the process of teaching staff how to do their job more efficiently and effectively by boosting their knowledge and skills

transition considerations

issues relating to the process of changing from one job to another or from one set of circumstances to another

unfair dismissal

when an employee is dismissed because the employer has discriminated against them in some way, such as firing someone because she is pregnant

workplace relations

the interactions between employers and employees, or their representatives, to achieve a set of working conditions that will meet the needs of employees, as well as allowing the business to achieve its objectives