BCPSCM214 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
BCPSCM214 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
STUDIES
YEAR 2.1
1|Page
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT...........................................................................................................9
1.0. Human resources management.................................................................................9
1.1. Chapter Learning Outcomes.....................................................................................9
1.2. Objectives of human resources management or personnel management...............10
1.3. Functions of the human resources managers..........................................................10
1.4. Specific duties of the Human Resources Manager.................................................11
1.5. Key Differences between Personnel Management and Human Resource
Management..................................................................................................................12
1.5. Qualities of a Human Resources Manager.............................................................13
CHAPTER 2: HUMAN RESOURCES PLANNING, RECRUITMENT AND
SELECTION....................................................................................................................15
2.0. Human Resources Plan...........................................................................................15
2.1 Chapter learning outcomes......................................................................................15
2.2. Recruitment and selection of new employees....................................................20
2.6. Interviews...................................................................................................................31
Limitations of Interviews:..............................................................................................32
2.7.Tests.........................................................................................................................33
CHAPTER 3: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT....................................................35
3.0. Introduction.............................................................................................................35
3.1. Chapter learning outcomes.....................................................................................35
3.2. Performance Management Process.........................................................................36
3.3. Benefits of performance management....................................................................37
3.4. Performance Appraisal...........................................................................................38
3.4.1. Features of Performance Appraisal.................................................................40
3.4.2. Objectives of Performance Appraisal..............................................................40
3.4.3.Fundamental Requirements of an Effective Performance Appraisal System...40
3.5. Criteria for Assessing Performance........................................................................41
3.6. Techniques / Methods of performance appraisal....................................................42
360 degree Appraisal.....................................................................................................42
3.8. How to make appraisals more effective..................................................................51
3.9. Employee Promotion..............................................................................................51
2|Page
Elements of Promotion Policy.........................................................................................52
CHAPTER 4: TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT....................................................54
4.0. Introduction.............................................................................................................54
4.1. Chapter learning outcomes.....................................................................................54
4.2. Objectives of Training............................................................................................55
4.3. Importance of Training...........................................................................................55
4.4. Conditions for effective implementation of training Programme...........................56
4.5. Types of Training...................................................................................................57
4.7. Training methods....................................................................................................58
4.7.1.On- the –Job Training.......................................................................................59
4.7.2. On the job training methods............................................................................60
4.7.3. Off the job training methods............................................................................62
4.8 Evaluation of a Training Program...........................................................................64
4.8.1. Need for Evaluation.........................................................................................64
4.8.2. Principles of training evaluation......................................................................64
GROUP DISCUSSION.................................................................................................64
UNIT 5: EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND WELFARE....................................65
5.1. Chapter Learning Outcomes...................................................................................65
On successful completion of the chapter, learners are expected to be able to:..............65
5.4. Conducting Job evaluation.................................................................................67
5.5. Principles of Job Evaluation...............................................................................67
5.6. Steps in Job Evaluation.......................................................................................67
5.7 Job Evaluation Methods/Systems........................................................................68
5.7 Person-Job Fit Theory.............................................................................................72
5.8 Salaries and Wages Administration.........................................................................72
5.8.1. Difference between Wage and Salary..............................................................72
5.1.2 Components of Remuneration..........................................................................73
5.2 Objectives of Wage and Salary Administration......................................................73
5.9 Types of wages........................................................................................................74
5.5.1 Factors influencing wage and salary.................................................................74
5.5.2 Principles Of Wage Fixation............................................................................75
5.5.3 Elements of a good wage plan..........................................................................76
5.5.4 Wage fixation – methods/ systems...................................................................76
CHAPTER 6: INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS.........................79
3|Page
6.0. Introduction.............................................................................................................79
6.1 Chapter Objectives...................................................................................................79
6.2. Defining labour relations........................................................................................80
6.3 The origins of labour relations.................................................................................80
6.4.The major theories on labour relations....................................................................82
6.4.1 The unitarist approach......................................................................................82
6.4.2 The pluralist approach......................................................................................83
6.4.3 The Marxist approach.......................................................................................84
6.5 The parties to the employment relationship and their respective roles...................84
6.5.1. The Tripartite Relationship............................................................................84
6.5.2. Are the interests of employers and employees reconcilable............................86
6.6. Contract of Employment.........................................................................................87
6.6.2. Content of Employment Contract....................................................................89
6.7.Duties of Employers................................................................................................89
6.8 Duties of the Worker/ Employee.........................................................................97
6.9 Industrial Disputes...................................................................................................98
6.9.1 Causes of Industrial Dispute.............................................................................98
6.10 Types of industrial disputes...................................................................................99
6.11 Effects or Consequences of Industrial Disputes....................................................99
6.12 Methods for Prevention of Industrial Dispute.....................................................100
6.13 Collective Bargaining..........................................................................................101
6.13.1. Principles /Essentials of C.B........................................................................101
6.13. 2 Importance of Collective Bargaining...........................................................101
6.13.3 Items in Labour Agreement/ Collective Bargaining.........................................102
6.14 Grievance.............................................................................................................103
Grievance Redressal Machinery......................................................................................103
External Machinery.........................................................................................................104
4|Page
CHAPTER 1. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
5|Page
1.2. Objectives of human resources management or personnel management
Achieving maximum individual development
Maintaining healthy working relationship
Scientific selection of the right type and number of employee
Achieving proper placement of employees in various positions
Effective induction of new employees
Providing Suitable training development
Provide healthy work conditions
Ensure handsome wage & fringe benefits
Healthy industrial relations
To do constant personnel research
Activity 1.1.
6|Page
attitudes among workers. The second is management development which
concerns itself primarily with knowledge acquisition and the enhancement of an
executive’s conceptual ability. The third is career development which is the
continual effort to match long term individual and organisational needs.
Compensating Function: It is concerned with securing adequate and equitable
remuneration to personnel for their contribution to the attainment of
organisational objectives. Functions related to wage surveys, establishment of job
classification, job description, merit rating etc. fall under this category.
Integration Function: It is concerned with the attempt to effect a reasonable
reconciliation of individual, societal and organisation interests. It rests upon the
premise that significant overlapping of interests do exist in the organisation in
such programs as job enlargements, job evaluation, variable compensation plans.
On the other hand, there are certain things that the employees desire which the
organisation is reluctant to provide for e.g. individual wages, shorter hours of
work, time off with pay, etc. The personnel manager integrates the interests of the
individual employees with the policies and practices of the organisation.
Maintenance Function: It is concerned with providing those working conditions
that employees believe are necessary in order to maintain their commitment to the
organisation.
7|Page
Administration of disciplinary and grievance procedures
Co-ordination of relations with employee representatives (including trade unions)
Administration of redundancy and dismissal procedure
Lob evaluation (including job analysis ) in collaboration with the line units
Administration of welfare services
The part of management that deals with the workforce within the enterprise is
known as Personnel Management. The branch of management, which focuses on
the best possible use of the enterprise’s manpower is known as Human Resource
Management.
Personnel Management treats workers as tools or machines whereas Human
Resource Management treats it as an important asset of the organization.
Human Resource Management is the advanced version of Personnel Management.
Decision Making is slow in Personnel Management, but the same is
comparatively fast in Human Resource Management.
In Personnel Management there is a piecemeal distribution of initiatives.
However, integrated distribution of initiatives is there in Human Resource
Management.
In Personnel Management, the basis of job design is the division of work while, in
the case of Human Resource Management, employees are divided into groups or
teams for performing any task.
In PM, the negotiations are based on collective bargaining with the union leader.
Conversely, in HRM, there is no need for collective bargaining as individual
contracts exist with each employee.
In PM, the pay is based on job evaluation. Unlike HRM, where the basis of pay is
performance evaluation.
Personnel management primarily focuses on ordinary activities, such as employee
hiring, remunerating, training, and harmony. On the contrary, human resource
8|Page
management focuses on treating employees as valued assets, which are to be
valued, used and preserved.
9|Page
listen before offering advice. As mentioned earlier, he should have the
knowledge of various disciplines like technology, engineering, management,
sociology, psychology, human physiology, economics, commerce and law. He
must be able to combine social justice with a warm personal interest in people
which must be secured by an uncommon degree of common sense, compassion
and integrity
End of Chapter Exercise
What challenges are likely to be faced by an organisation which does not have a properly
functioning human resources departments?
10 | P a g e
CHAPTER 2: HUMAN RESOURCES PLANNING, RECRUITMENT AND
SELECTION
11 | P a g e
2.1. Purpose of Human Resources Planning
A typical human resources planning process would follow steps as depicted by the
diagram below.
12 | P a g e
Corporate objectives
Assess personnel
Market demand supply Labour market
Existing Potential
Personnel estimates
Periodic reviews
(i)Corporate objectives
The mission of the organization translated into operational plans and strategies is the
major determinant of the type of skills that the organization would be in need of.
(ii)Assessing the current and future demand for labour
13 | P a g e
Based on the organization's strategic plan, the first step in the strategic HR planning
process is to assess the current HR capacity of the organization in view of the future
requirements.
The demand for labour is determined by the market demand for the products that the
company produces. The HR manager will seek answers for the following questions in
order to assess the demand for labour in the organization
The assessment of labour supply is based on analysis of two broad sources, the internal
labour market and the external labour market.
The knowledge, skills and abilities of the current staff need to be identified and be
analysed as to whether such skills can drive the organization towards its stated goals.
This can be done by developing a skills inventory for each employee. The skills
inventory should go beyond the skills needed for the particular position it should also be
analysed in view of the planned activities.
Typical questions that managers need to ask when assessing the state of their internal
labour market are.
14 | P a g e
What categories of staff do we have?
How many people do we have in each category?
What skills are available amongst existing employees?
How easy is it to transfer employees between jobs?
How many of our employees are ready for promotion?
Do we have any age related problems due to imbalances between experienced and
inexperienced staff?
Are minority groups properly represented in the company?
The demographic changes e.g. the impact of HIV AIDS on the working
population
The influences of the trade unions
The legal environment.
The ability of the company itself to attract suitably qualified staff
The availability of the relevant skills on the labour market –To breed the right
calibre of staff the company really wants, it heavily utilises on- the- job training.
Activity 2.1.
What strategies would you utilise to deal with short- term excess labour in the
organisation
15 | P a g e
After establishing the gap between the existing skills and the required skills (in line with
the strategic plans).Strategies to bridge the gap should be formulated and implemented,
these include.
Working overtime
Outsourcing
Calling in ex -officers
Job sharing
Freezing overtime
Freezing recruitment
16 | P a g e
2.2. Recruitment and selection of new employees.
Recruitment is the process of attracting suitably qualified candidates to apply for existing
and potential vacancies in the organisation. The recruitment process is always coupled
with the selection process which entails the use of techniques such as interviews and
assessment tests to identify the suitable candidate for the vacancy.
Activity 2.2.
Suggest the reasons why your company might fail to attract suitably qualified personnel
17 | P a g e
stakeholders who have to be consulted whenever human resources decisions are
being passed.
Labour market conditions: If there is an undersupply of the needed skills within
the labour market, an intensive and prolonged recruitment programme will have
to be implemented
Internal factors
Organisational policy: Organisational policy with regard to internal versus
external recruitment, employment equity, diversity etc, will influence the nature
of the organisation’s recruitment.
The image of the organisation: An organisation with a reputation as a good
employer will not have problems in attracting suitably qualified candidates than
that which has a bad image.
The nature of the job: Jobs which are highly ranked by the organisation will
require a comprehensive recruitment program than those which are at the lower
level of the organisation hierarchy.
2.2.2. The recruitment and selection process
The stages in the recruitment and selection process are
6. Conducting Interviews
18 | P a g e
7. Job offer
19 | P a g e
4. What materials and equipment the worker uses: Metals, blades, drilling machines,
gadgets, micrometer, etc.
5. How the job is performed: The nature of operations such as handling feeding,
removing, drilling, etc.
6. Required personal attributes: Experience, training, physical strength, mental capacity,
aptitudes.
7. Job relationships: Opportunity for advancement, experience required, etc.
Sources of Information for job analysis: In order to make such an analysis, normally
four sources are looked upon.
Interviewing employees on these jobs.
Other employees, including Supervisory staff, who know these jobs,.
Independent observers watching employees perform their jobs
Giving a questionnaire to the job holder or a diary to record daily activities which
will be evaluated by the superior.
Uses of Job analysis
Recruitment, selection and placement.
Transfer, promotion and demotion
Training & development programmes
Wage and salary administration
Settlement of grievances
Work measurement and method study
Providing essential guidance in the establishment of production standards
Establishing responsibility, accountability and authority
Information from job analysis is used to come up with or to modify job descriptions and
job specifications
Job Description: It is a written record of the duties responsibilities& requirements of a
specific job. We describe the job title, location, duties working conditions, hazards etc.
A Job Description should cover the following:
Job Identification:
Job location, Job code, Department etc
Job Summary:
20 | P a g e
Job content, Authority, Responsibility, Hazards
Relation to other jobs:
Reporting relation with superiors, peers, subordinates etc
Machines, tolls & equipments used
Materials used
Conditions of work:
Location, working hours, Posture, Speed, Accuracy, Health Hazards, occupational
disease etc
Job specification: A standard set for personnel and designates qualities required for
acceptable performance. It is the summary of personnel characteristics required for the
person to take up a certain job
Job specification highlights the following in respect o a given job
Educational Qualification
Experience
Training
Judgment ability
Initiative
Physical effort
Communication skill
Emotional characteristic
Unusual sensory Demands like vision, smell, hearing, tasting etc
(iii).Sources of applicants (recruitment sources)
If the vacancy is additional to the present workforce, i.e. it has occurred because of some
new or increased activity, then, the need for the new employee has been established.
However, the majority of vacancies occur as replacements for people who have left the
company, or as the final event in a chain of transfers and promotions following a
reorganisation. In these cases consideration may be given to the following points:
It may be possible to fill the vacancy from within the company.
It may be filled by a different kind of employee, e.g. a part-timer.
The job and personnel specifications may need to be revised.
Internal Sources
21 | P a g e
The advantages of filling the vacancy internally are:
Better motivation of employees, because their capabilities are considered and
opportunities offered for promotion.
Better utilisation of employees, because the company can make better use of their
abilities in a different job.
It is more reliable than external recruitment, because a present employee is known
more thoroughly than an external candidate.
A present employee is more likely to stay with the company than an external
candidate.
Internal recruitment is quicker and cheaper than external.
Activity 2:3
External Sources
Many vacancies are filled from external sources; even when an internal candidate is
transferred or promoted, the final result is usually a vacancy elsewhere in the company.
External recruitment can be time-consuming, expensive and uncertain. External sources
may be divided into two classes; those which are comparatively inexpensive but offer a
limited choice (i.e. 1 to 5 below) and those which are comparatively expensive but give
the employer access to a wider range of candidates (i.e. 6 and 7 below).
Recommendation by present employees: This is sometimes encouraged by
rewards to employees who introduce successful candidates. It gives a limited
choice, but it costs very little.
Unsolicited: Applications are sometimes received from candidates who either call
personally at the place of work or, write letters of enquiry. This is another
22 | P a g e
inexpensive source, which provides a limited choice, but the candidates are of
variable quality.
Direct links with educational establishments: Many employers maintain
connections with universities, colleges and schools.
Trade unions: Some companies recruit employees through the appropriate trade
unions. The choice is limited, but there is some certainty that the candidate has the
skill or knowledge the job requires.
Professional bodies: Many professional bodies have an employment service with
which their members can register, supplying details of their experience and the
kind of job they are looking for. An employer who uses this service can be sure
that all the candidates submitted to him are professionally qualified. Professional
bodies include ACCA, CIMA, CIS, B I AC, IMM, CIM, LCM, and CIPS
Private agencies: Organisations, which are run as commercial enterprises for
supplying employers with candidates for jobs are of two main types;Office staff
employment agencies- which mainly deal with clerical, typing and office machine
operator vacancies.Senior selection agencies- which usually undertake the
complete recruitment process and the first stages of selection for managerial and
professional vacancies.
Advertising: The most popular method of recruitment is to advertise the vacancy
and invite candidates to apply to the company. Job advertisements should aim at
procuring a small number of well-qualified candidates quickly and cheaply. An
advertisement, which produces hundreds of replies, is bad; the employer must
now face the lengthy and expensive task of sorting out a few candidates for
interview
2.5. Selection
Selection may be defined as the process of choosing individuals who have the relevant
qualifications to fill existing and projected job vacancies. Selection is only done after a
considerable number of applications have been received or after the closing date of
receiving applications
23 | P a g e
Essentials of Selection Procedure:
There should be an authority to select.
Comprehensive Job Description Job specification should be available beforehand.
There must be sufficient number of applicants from whom the employees may be
selected.
The selection process contains the following steps
Preliminary Interviews
A preliminary interview is conducted for the candidates who have responded to the
source through which we have called candidates for recruitment. The preliminary
interview is generally a process of weeding out unsuitable applicants. This is a screening
process. Preliminary interview provides the first opportunity for the candidate to know
about the company and the job and whether he is suitable or not. Normally a junior
executive in the personnel department carries it out. Sometimes the preliminary
interview, if not properly conducted, may weed out good candidates who otherwise
would have been a potential employee.
Completing the Application Form: Whatever method of recruitment is used, the
candidate should be asked to fill in an application form, firstly to ensure that no important
details are omitted, and secondly to provide information about the candidate in a logical
and uniform order. The layout of application forms varies, but most of them contain the
following headings:
Job applied for;
Name, address, telephone number;
Date and place of birth, marital status, nationality;
Education; training and qualifications;
Medical history (e.g. any serious illnesses, whether disabled);
Employment history (names of previous employers, description of jobs held, dates
of employment, reason for leaving);
Any other information the candidate wishes to provide;
A signature under the words “This information is correct to the best of my
knowledge;”
Date on which the form is completed.
24 | P a g e
The application form is not only the basis of selection, but the fundamental document in
an employee’s personnel record and has legal importance in the contract of employment.
Selection Method
The manager’s next step is to compare the application form with the personnel
specification, looking for attributes which show the candidates to be apparently suitable
for the job, and shortcomings which may rule out the candidate from consideration. From
this comparison, he can make a list of candidates for interview and a list of those to be
rejected. He/she will then decide what type of interview to be given – individual,
successive, or panel, and what tests to be used.
Offer of the Job
Assuming that a suitable candidate has emerged from the selection process, he must now
receive an offer. The initial offer of a job needs special care, particularly as regards the
following points:
The wage or salary offered must not only be appropriate to the job and attractive
to the
Candidate, but consistent with the earnings of present employees.
The job must be named and any special conditions stated.
The candidate must know the essential conditions of employment (e.g. hours,
holidays, bonuses and fringe benefits).
Any provisions must be clearly stated (e.g. “subject to satisfactory references and
medical examination”).
The next stage must be clearly defined; if the candidate asks for time for
consideration, it must be agreed when he will get in touch
Reference checking
A clear, unbiased and comprehensive description of a candidate’s abilities and behaviour
by his previous employer would be of enormous value in selection. Most application
forms include a request for the names of people from whom references may be obtained.
Some selection procedures ask candidates to provide letters of recommendation.
Two types of recommendations may be distinguished:
1. Character references: a potential source of information with respect to general
character and reputation of the applicant.
25 | P a g e
2. Experience reference: It needs someone who is presumably willing and able to write
about the applicant’s area of work.
Two distinctive types of letters of recommendation may be needed:
1. Special letters directed to a specific employer with respect to the particular applicant;
and
2. General: “To whom it may concern”, usually provided by the applicant and offered as
evidence of his character and experience.
Most candidates are employed at the time of their application, and do not wish their
employers to known they are looking elsewhere. Because of this, a prospective employer
would be breaking a confidence if he asked for a reference before an offer of a job had
been made and accepted.
By the time an offer has been accepted, selection is over, and the reference is too late to
affect it. An offer may be made “subject to satisfactory references”, but, as most
references are received after the candidate has started work, they can only be used to
warn managers of possible faults in the candidate. Employers giving references are
usually extremely cautious; many references merely state the job title, the dates of
employment, and the reason for leaving. References are occasionally biased, giving a
good reference to hasten an employee’s departure or a poor one because of a grudge.
Medical Examinations
Every candidate should have a medical examination before the offer of a job is
confirmed. It will show whether he is physically suitable for the job and what risk there is
likely to be of sickness, absence or injury.
Medical examinations should always be given:
When the candidate is applying for a particularly arduous job, or when he will
work alone (e.g. a security officer).
When the job demands high standards of hygiene (e.g. catering and food
manufacture).
When the interview or other source reveals a doubtful medical history.
To young persons under the age of eighteen employed in a factory.
Follow Up
All selection should be validated by follow up.
26 | P a g e
The employee himself is asked how he feels about his own progress and his immediate
superior is asked for his comments. These findings are compared with the notes taken at
the selection interview. If a follow-up is unfavourable, it is probable that selection has
been at fault; the whole process from job specification to interview is then reviewed to
see if a better choice can be made next time.
2.6. Interviews
The employment interview is the primary tool for hiring new employees. “The functions
of the employment interview are to get information, to give information and to make
friends. The employment interview should provide adequate information upon which to
take a decision to hire or not to hire the applicant or to file the application for later
consideration in case there is not an opening at the present time. The interviewer must
plan for the interview and must mentally make up his line of action with care. In other
words, he should not start the interview in a haphazard manner. He must avoid
prejudices, bias, hasty inference, halo effect, likes and dislikes. Despite all the interview
techniques, the personal observations and the impressions of the interviewer are
important in appraising the candidate and this element of subjectivity cannot be
eliminated altogether. A set of rules has been identified for the guidance of interviewers.
The following rules could be observed in order to ensure successful interviews.
Be courteous to the candidate and let him feel at home.
Listen attentively and patiently.
Do not ask leading or tricky questions.
Never argue or interrupt or change the subject abruptly.
Ask questions in simple language which is understandable to the applicant.
Be tactful in asking direct and personal questions.
Keep the candidate talking and encourage him to talk.
Try to get the relevant information.
Respect the interests of the candidate.
Answer the candidate’s questions.
Do not overstate the job opportunity in the company.
Lead the interview to its conclusion.
Types of Job Interviews
27 | P a g e
There are many types of interview that are followed in various companies:
Informal Interview: This is generally an oral interview with not much planning.
The employer or the manager interviews the candidate and the employer may ask
a few inconsequential questions of the candidate, like name, place and date of
birth, whether he has a job, etc. There may not be any preparation for this
interview and generally this gives an impression that this interview is for the sake
of interview. Normally this is followed for an unskilled job.
Formal Interview: This interview is generally held on the basis of a written
request directing him to appear for the interview at an appointed time and place.
Certain structured questions are prepared and the interview takes place to elicit
the relevant information.
Stress Interview: This type of interview is designed to test the candidate and his
conduct and behaviour by putting him under conditions of stress and strain. This
type of interview is borrowed from the military and it is very useful to test the
behaviour of individuals when they are faced with disagreeable and trying
situations.
Group Interview: In this type of interview, all the candidates are called together in
the Employment office and a group discussion is begins. The interviewer observes
the candidates with regard to mannerisms, poise, leadership, and discussion
quality and makes his observations.
Panel Interview: sometimes more than one interviewer holds an interview. This is
called selection board or interview board or selection committee. In this either all
the members of the committee together make observations or individually they
make their own observations and the final tally is made by taking into account the
assessment of each and every one of the committee members.
Limitations of Interviews:
Although interviews are widely used as a tool for selecting suitable candidates to fill in
vacant posts in the organisation. The following problems are usually associated with the
use of interviews.
Halo effect: one of the most common types of interview errors is described as halo
effect. What happens is that the quality of the candidate in one aspect tends to
28 | P a g e
colour the entire appraisal or to make all qualities fit a sort of general impression.
For instance, a candidate who has a good appearance may be rated high on such
unrelated qualities as dependability or co-operation. On the other hand, the
outstanding weaknesses may occasion lower appraisals on several or all other
qualities.
Stereotyping. The interviewer’s experience may have created a close association
between some particular trait and the distinctive type of personality. Whenever
the interviewer discovers that the traits are present, he tends to ascribe to the
interviewee all the other characteristics of that type.
Subjective element attached to an interview. The prejudices, likes and dislikes,
first impression, and bias of the interviewer may cause human nature to distort the
total evaluation.
2.7.Tests
There are various types of tests that are used to find out accurate information about the
candidate and find out his suitability to the vacancy. These tests can only supplement
selection techniques and they cannot substitute for the other techniques.. These tests are
not infallible and they depend upon correct construction and interpretation. There are
different types of tests which are being practised.
Aptitude Tests: These aptitude tests measure the applicants’ capacity and his
potential for development. These aptitude tests focus on particular types of talent,
such as learning, reasoning and mechanical and musical aptitude.
Intelligence Tests: These tests apprise one or more of several types of mental
ability (the key factor) including verbal, quantitative, l and reasoning aptitudes.
These are the best known and most widely used aptitude tests.
Achievement Tests: These are probably the most familiar types of tests which are
used to determine class standing in the schoolroom as well as admission to many
colleges and universities. They measure what the applicant can do. Thus, a typing
test provides material to be typed and notes the time taken and errors made.
Similar tests are given for shorthand and in operating calculators and dictating
machines and simple mechanical equipment. The candidate is given an
29 | P a g e
opportunity to work on these apparatus and his ability and skill is measured.
Trade tests are also a type of achievement test.
Personality Tests: These tests are very difficult to evaluate. They propose to
probe deeply to discover clues to an individual’s value system, their emotional
reactions and maturity, and what is sometimes described as his characteristic
move. The individual is asked to interpret real or picture behaviour, thus
projecting his personality for examination and interpretation. Personality testing is
sometimes described as a clerical method, in part because it contrasts with
actuarial analysis, in terms of group distribution and norms.
Criticisms of tests are:
Tests are not reliable;
They can easily be faked;
They invade the privacy of the individual tested;
They are unfair to culturally handicapped group;
They are subterfuges used by the managers to obscure real reasons for rejections.
In spite of these criticisms, tests are widely used in many companies. The general theory
behind testing in selection is that human behaviour can be forecast by sampling attests create
a situation to which the applicant reacts; reactions are regarded as useful clues to his likely
behaviour in the work for which he is applying.
Design a job application form to be used by your organisation. Check whether your form
captures all the necessary information required from a job candidate.
30 | P a g e
CHAPTER 3: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
3.0. Introduction
31 | P a g e
3.2. Performance Management Process
Step 1: Planning
It occurs before the performance of the employee is the manager discusses the
expectations with the employee
The key result areas are highlighted
The key competencies necessary are highlighted
The manager identifies areas were employee may need support
An employee may need to be developed in certain aspects that will be relevant for
the carrying out of the tasks.
The manager explains the appraisal method that shall be used
Step 2.Managimg Performance
Managers plan how they will work with employees .,organise and establish
control measures that shall be used in the performance management system
There should be flexible and continuous discussion between managers and
employees
Employees should be kept informed on any changes in strategy
Step 3: Reviewing Performance
Performance appraisal is done
performance appraisal should not be isolated from performance management
32 | P a g e
match employee achievements and the organisation ‘s objectives
asses competencies ,skill and experience to see how were applied in the job
Review the day to day effectiveness of the employee.
Employee performance can be scaled as exceptional performance, high
performance, effective performance and underperformance
Step 4 .Give feedback performances feed back
Give the employee feedback on performance .The provision of performance feedback to
employees serves two main purposes
(i) Ensure employee work improvement
Performance feedback highlights any shortcomings on both the organisation and
the employees
Constructive feedback enables employees to establish areas where they need to
improve.
Performance feedback enables the employee and the manager to come up with
plans on persona development of the employee.
(ii) Motivation for continued excellence
Those performing well need something to motivate them
Acknowledge the goals that has been reached
The employee can be given more challenging work to maintain satisfaction
Excellent performance can be rewarded
Step 5: Rewarding performance
It is crucial to reward performance that is why it is important to distinguish
between high performers and low performers
The reward should tally with the employee’s performance
The reward should not be too low or too high.
33 | P a g e
of direct and indirect sales benefits, operational efficiency benefits and by unlocking the
latent potential in every employees work day i.e. the time they spend not actually doing
their job. Benefits may include:
Grow of sales
Reduced costs
Avoidance of project overruns
Aligns the organization directly behind the CEO's goals
Decreases the time it takes to create strategic or operational changes by
communicating the changes through a new set of goals
Motivated workforce
Optimizes incentive plans to specific goals for over achievement, not just business
as usual
Improves employee engagement because everyone understands how they are
directly contributing to the organizations high level goals
Create transparency in achievement of goals
High confidence in bonus payment process
Professional development programs are better aligned directly to achieving
business level goals
34 | P a g e
3.4. Performance Appraisal
35 | P a g e
Performance appraisal is but only one part of the bigger process of performance management.
So, the short answer is that performance appraisal (annual review, employee review) fits under
performance management.
What's critical to understand is that performance appraisal, on its own, doesn't result in great
gains in performance or productivity. In fact, it's probably the least important part of the larger
performance management enterprise.
It is used as a base for coaching & counselling the individuals by the superior.
It provides adequate feedback to each employee for his/her performance.
It attempts to identify the deficiency & efficiency of employees.
36 | P a g e
To determine whether employee performance is aligned to the goals of the
organisation
37 | P a g e
Legal compliance: The performance appraisal system should be tested for
compliance with the requirements of the relevant labour legislation for
example it should be checked for compliance with Employment Equity Act.
3.5. Criteria for Assessing Performance
Quality: Degree of perfection.
Quantity: Amount produced in terms of number of units, money, etc.
Timeliness: Punctuality in completing the work.
Cost Effectiveness: Optimization of resources
Need For Supervision: Degree to which a job performer can carry out a job
function without supervisory assistance.
Interpersonal Impact: The employee’s contribution for cultivating a positive
organizational climate.
Training: Need for training for improving his skills & knowledge.
Who appraise an employee?
Supervisors
peers
Subordinates
Employees themselves
Users of services
f. Consultants.
39 | P a g e
Reinforces employees desired competencies- It results in a customer focused
organization, it reinforces the desired competencies of employees of the
organization by involving customers in the feedback process.
Valid perception of feedback- The perception of feedback becomes more valid
and objective leading to acceptance of results and adoption of recommendation
Draw backs of 360-degree feedback system
(1) Dishonest feedback can be received from respondents
(2) Pressure of giving feedback
Unstructured Appraisal
Appraiser writes his impression about employees performance in the form of Annual
Confidential Report [ACR].Employees may be appraised on
Sense of responsibility
Sense of involvement
Sense of co-operation
Sense of judgement
Sense of initiative
Sense of regularity
Punctuality.
This appraisal technique is highly subjective, simple in operation. Popular in public
sector.
Comparison methods
Sense of responsibility
Sense of initiative
40 | P a g e
Sense of dependability
Sense of judgement
Grading
Certain grades are defined and established in advance. Actual performance of each
employee is then compared and employee is allocated the grade, which is deserved by
him. Grades will range from outstanding , satisfactory , unsatisfactory or excellent ,good
,average ,bad
This method attempts to reduce/correct a rater’s tendency to give consistently high o low
rating to all employees. Calls for objective reporting. Here the rating elements are sets of
4 phrases,2 of which are positive and 2 negative, relating to job proficiency and personal
qualification. Rater is asked to indicate which of the 4 phrases is most and least
descriptive of the employee.
Minimizes raters bias. The rater is forced to fit the employees in pre determined range of
scale.5 point rating scale is used without any descriptive statements. Employees are
placed between extremes of ‘good’ and ‘bad’job performance.Example-
1.outstanding(10%) 2.above average(20%) 3. Average(40%) 4.fair (20%) 5.
Unsatisfactory (10%) .Employees are rated for promotability based on 3 point rating
scale.
universality of application
Reduced bias.
Critical Incident Method
Developed by armed force in U.S. during world war 2. It measures worker’s performance
in terms of ‘events’ that occur in the performance of appraises’ job. These event, either
good or bad are critical incidents. They are recorded under categories of Type of job,
employee learning ability, responsibility, initiative etc. Feedback is given about the
incidents during performance review session, The collected incidents are ranked in order
of frequency & importance. Advantage:
Disadvantages:
42 | P a g e
employees performance in the light of job requirement. If the common opinion goes in favour of
a particular employee, then he is recognized & considered for reward.
Advantages:
It’s a simple method.
Personal bias is reduced.
Advantages:
Useful for larger organizations.
Relieves the supervisor of the need of appraisal forms
Steps in M.B.O.
1.Job Review & Agreement: Employees and superior review the job description and key
activities (KRA’s): Key Result Areas) that comprises the employees job.
2. Development of performance standards: Mutually agreed upon standards of
performance are developed. Ex: - quota of selling 5 cars per month for a salesman.
3. Guided Objective Setting: Objectives /strategies for achieving the standards are
established by the employee in conjunction with his superior. Check points are
established for evaluation of progress and ways of measuring progress are selected.
43 | P a g e
4. Continuous Performance Discussion: Initially monthly reviews and later quarterly
reviews are conducted. The objectives can be mutually modified.
5. Frequent Feedback: Specific, relevant and timely feedback from superior motivates
employees to achieve the set targets.
6.Action Based On Evaluation:Those who achieved target- recognition, appreciation
regarded with promotion or special increments. Those who did not achieve target-
warning, stoppage of annual increments, promotion etc.
Advantages
MBO helps in increasing employee motivation.
Reduces role ambiguity.
MBO identifies problems in performance better and early.
Improves communication between employees and superiors
Disadvantages
Takes a great deal of time and energy.
Not suitable for blue collared workers, as they do not understand it.
Assessment Centre Method:
Used to measure interpersonal skills & other aspects such as organizing & planning,
coping with stress, communicating with others.
Many evaluators join together to judge the importance of their employees in several
situations with a variety of criteria. Assessment is done with the help of a written test,
interview & situational exercises. Efficiency of an employee is assessed theoretically &
practically. Employees are classified in different categories like more than acceptable,
less than acceptable & unacceptable.
Deals with cost and contribution of HR to organization.Based on the principle that human
resources like other resources are assets of an organization. When well-trained personnel
leave a firm, it reduces the worth of human resources & when such employees join a
firm, it increases human value. When there is distrust, ill will & conflict in an
44 | P a g e
organization, it is devalued. On the other hand, if there is complete teamwork, high
morale, industrial peace & harmony, the organization is highly valued.
Self Evaluation Method
The way in which an individual evaluates himself. Self analysis of knowing one’s efficiencies
and deficiencies.
1.Where am I ?
For an objective self evaluation , egoism, pride, self evaluation and inferiority complex should be
set aside It reveals one’s qualities and deficiencies..
45 | P a g e
5 Steps of Bars
Generate Critical Incidents: Persons with knowledge of the job [job Holder/supervisor]
are asked to describe specific illustrations/events, of effective performance behaviour.
Develop Performance Dimensions: Cluster incidents into smaller sets[5-10] of
performance dimension. Each cluster/dimension is then defined.
Reallocate Incidents: Another group of participants who are knowledgeable about the job
is instructed to retranslate or reclassify critical incidents generated. They are given a job
dimension and told to assign each critical incident to the dimension that it best describes.
At least 75% agreement among the members are required on each dimension.
Assigning Scale Value To The Incidents: Each incident is then rated on a one to nine scale
with respect to how well it represents performance in the correct dimension the 2nd group
generally gives scale values.
Producing Final Instrument: A subset of incidents (6-7 per cluster) are used as
behavioural anchors for performance direction. The final bars instrument consists of a
series of vertical scales. one for each dimension, anchored or measure by the particular
incident.
Advantages
1.This system differentiates among performance, Behaviour and results.
46 | P a g e
Having the evaluator rate all questions on each dimension before
going to next dimension.
Contrast error:Tendency of people to rate employees relative to others rather than
against performance standards. Ex. A mediocre performer among a group of poor
performance may be rated as excellent because of the contrast effect.
Leniency/ strictness/ contrast error:Too liberal a rating gives consistently a high
value to all the employees. (Positive leniency error). Too strict a rating gives
consistently low values. These errors arise due to varying standard of performance
used by different rators and due to different interpretation of performance.
Holding meeting for rators so that they may understand what is required of them
in rating can reduce bias.
Central tendency problem: Most common error. It assigns average rating to all the
employees with a view to avoiding commitment, when the rator is in doubt, has
inadequate information or lack of knowledge of the behaviour of employee. Rator
does not rate at extreme ends of scale. (Central tendency). Such a tendency
seriously distorts the evaluation, making them most useless for promotion, salary
or counselling.
Similarity error: This type of error occurs when the evaluator rates other people
in the same way he perceives himself. Ex. An aggressive evaluator may evaluate
others by looking for aggressiveness. Those who show this characteristic maybe
benefited while others may suffer.
Recency effect: The raters generally remember the recent actions of the employee
at the time of rating and rate them on the basis of these recent actions, rather than
on the whole activities.
Personal prejudice:If the rotor dislikes any employee or any group, he may rate
them at the lower end, which may distort the rating purpose and affect career of
the employee.
Sampling error:If the rater has seen only a small sample of a person work, there
will be sampling error. Ex. Assume 95% of an employee’s work has been
satisfactory, but the boss saw only 5% that had error. If he rates the employee as
poor, it is called sampling error
47 | P a g e
Different perception: Rater’s soft corner for the opposite sex, caste, religion etc.
Stereotyping: Generalized a person’s behaviour based on the group
characteristics.
48 | P a g e
Multiple chain Promotion: Systematic linking of one position with several others.
An officer is given charge of different assignments departments, sections and
branches. It is done according to one’s specialization, calibre and experience.
Out Promotion: Happens when a person does not find enough opportunities
within the organization and has to leave the organization to join at higher position
in some other enterprise. BRAIN DRAIN.
Upward/Vertical Promotion: given to employees to recognize seniority, merit,
loyalty, etc. jump to a higher and better position having better status, grade,
salary, authority, etc.
Elements of Promotion Policy
Promotion policy statement: choosing/deciding source of recruitment, deciding
whether to revise the pay, etc.
Decides the basis of promotion: performance appraisal, confidential report, etc.
Chalk out promotion channels: promotional charts, opportunity charts etc.
Prepare employees for advancement: by training, job rotation etc communicate
the policy: a manual, set of standing orders referring personnel and services
records of employees.
Bases or criteria for Promotion:
Seniority: Length of recognized service of an employee in an organization. There
is no due for consideration. For merit. Ex: Merit: Government departments and
public sector.
Merit: One’s own ability, knowledge, calibre and thorough understanding of the
job. Seniority is not considered. Encourages employees to improve efficiency.
Promotion by Job Performance and analysing the potential by oral and written
test.
Demotion:
Lowering down the status, salary and responsibilities of an employee.
Causes Of Demotion:
Merging of different departments.
Inadequate job performance, attitude and capability.
Change in technology.
49 | P a g e
As a disciplinary action.
Transfer:
Lateral shift causing movement of individuals from one position to another without
involving any marked change in duties, skills needed, responsibilities, or compensation.
Purpose of Transfer:
To meet the needs of the organization due to change in quantity of production,
organization structure, etc.
To meet an employee’s own request: dislike of fellow workers, shift to home
town etc.
To utilize properly the services of an employee in a better way.
To increase the versatility of the employee, Job Enrichment. Gives the
opportunity for developing varied skills.
Plant Transfer: To adjust work force of one plant with that of another, when one is
closed down.
Shift transfer: Ex: Morning Transfer to Night Transfer.
Punishment Transfer: As apart of disciplinary action, transfer to a remote area.
To avoid Job Politics, Eg: Senior Administrative services of the government.
Types of Transfer:
Production Transfer: Transfer caused due to changes in production.
Replacement Transfer: Due to replacement of a long standing employee in order
to avoid retrenchment.
Rotation Transfer: Transfer initiated to increase the versatility of employees.
Shift Transfer: Transfer of an employee from one shift to another.
Remedial Transfer: Transfers initiated to correct the wrong placement.
4.0. Introduction
Training refers to a systematic setup where employees are instructed, and taught matters
of technical knowledge related to their jobs. It focuses on teaching employees how to use
50 | P a g e
machines or how to do specific tasks to increase efficiency. Whereas development refers
to the overall holistic and educational growth and maturity of people in managerial
positions .the process of development is in relation to insights, attitudes, and adaptability,
leadership and human relations. Thus, Training and development is any attempt to
improve current or future performance of employee by increasing an employee’s ability
to perform through learning, usually by changing the employee’s attitude or increasing
his or her skills and knowledge.
51 | P a g e
To bring about change in the attitudes of the workers towards fellow workers,
supervisor, and the organization.
To improve the overall performance of the organization.
To make the workers handle materials, machines and equipment efficiently
and thus to check wastage of time and resources.
To reduce the number of accidents by providing safety training to workers.
To prepare workers for the higher jobs
52 | P a g e
Higher morale: The morale of employees is increased if they are given proper
training. A good training programme will mold employee’s attitudes towards
organizational activities and generate better cooperation and greater loyalty.
Preparation of future managers: When totally new skills are required by an
organization, it must face great difficulties in the selection process .Training can
be used in spotting out promised men and preparing them for promotion.
53 | P a g e
Training programme should be designed taking in view the interests of both
employer and the employees. Their group interests should not be suffered.
It is not essential to follow a single method of training for all employees. The
purpose of training is to develop the men and not the methods, therefore, more
than one method maybe followed side by side for different groups.
The main purpose of the training programme should be to motivate the
workers to learn something to improve is job performance and therefore, a
reward must be to be expected at the concussions of the learning process such
as promotion or a better job. The above characteristics must be developed in
designing a sound training programme
Job training: Job training relates to specific job which the worker must handle
.It gives information about machines, process of production, instructions to be
followed, methods to be used and so on. It develops skills and confidence
among the workers and enables them to perform the job efficiently. Job
training is the most common of formal in plant training programmes. It is
necessary for the new employees to acquaint them with the jobs they are
expected to perform.
Refresher training or retraining: The refresher training is meant for the old
employees of the enterprises. The basic purpose of refresher training is to
acquaint the existing workforce with the latest methods of performing their
54 | P a g e
jobs and improve their efficiency further. Retraining programmes are designed
to avoid personnel obsolescence.
Internship training: Under this method, the educational or vocational institute
enters arrangement with an industrial enterprise for providing practical
knowledge, to its students. Internship training is usually meant for such
vocations where advanced theoretical knowledge is to be backed up by
practical experience on the job. For example. Engineering students are sent to
big industrial enterprise for gaining practical work experience and medical
students are sent to big hospitals to get practical knowledge
55 | P a g e
Learning is a self-directed, work-based process, leading to increased adaptive
potential - for fuller details see our Helping people learn web area.
57 | P a g e
4.7.2.1. Advantages of off the job training methods
Effectiveness: Off the job training is well organized and conducted by experts and
specialists which makes the training program more effective.
High Productivity: It is conducted outside the organization or workstation and
trainees are not involved in the production process. Only trained and skilled
workers are placed at the workplace. So, productivity will be higher.
Minimize Errors: Under this method, newly appointed employees are trained
outside the production area and skilled and trained manpower perform the job. So,
it lowers the production errors.
Economical: In this method, many employees can be participated, and orientation
can be provided at a time. It helps to reduce training costs. So, it is a cost-
effective method.
No Disturbance: Trainees are not allowed to work in the actual workplace. So,
production process will not be disturbed, and existing employees can do their jobs
smoothly.
4.7.2.2. Disadvantages of off the job training methods
More Expensive: This method of training may be very expensive due to extra
space, accommodation and transportation costs and experts' fees etc.
Less Effective: Off the job training is less effective than on the job training method
because it is conducted outside the working environment. Employees need extra
induction training to handle their job.
Dissatisfaction: Training is conducted artificially outside the workplace. So,
employees cannot learn properly in this training method. Dissatisfaction may arise
among the employees.
No Production: Trainees cannot take part in the production process. So, potential
output and time is lost in this method of training.
58 | P a g e
Manufacturing concern, Union etc., They impart training effectively by their
oratorical skill, knowledge and practical knowledge using audio visual tools.
Case Study Method: Trainees are described a situation which stimulate their
interest to find solution. They have to use their theoretical knowledge and
practical knowledge to find solution to the problem presented. There is no single
solution to the problem. It may vary depending upon viewpoints of trainees. In
short, the purpose of case study method is, to make trainee apply their knowledge.
Role Play Method; Under this method trainees are explained the situation and
assigned roles. They must act out the roles assigned to them without any
rehearsal. There are no pre-prepared dialogues. Thus, they must assume role and
play the role without any preparation. For example, the role of customer and
salesman, management and union leader, foreman and worker etc. may be played
in the training arrangements. The moderator after observing the role played gives
his views to the role players.
Seminar/Conference method: This method enables the trainees to listen to the
lectures / talk delivered on specific topics and provides opportunities to
participate, to interact with the speaker and get their doubts clarified or select
participants may be allowed to present papers with the audio-visual aids as
delegates. They share their rich experience at the seminar through their papers.
Thus participants can widen and deepen their knowledge by their active
participation at the conference. e.g., Doctors conference, Salesman Conference
etc. This is one of the oldest methods, but still a favorite training method.
Field Trip Method: A field trip or field work or training in the field is a journey
undertake by a group of employees/ trainees to a place away from their actual
work site. In other words, trainees are taken to actual workplace/ site/facility to
gain exposure and knowledge. They are explained the process of work by
supervisor/ manager of the facility visited by the partisans. They are free to clarity
their doubts from the organization experts. This method helps the trainees to
strengthen their theoretical knowledge obtained in a classroom environment by
practical exposure.
59 | P a g e
E-learning Method: E learning is the use of technological process to access of a
traditional classroom or office. E learning is also often referred to us online
learning or web-based training. E learning training courses can save lakhs and
lakhs of rupees to an organization as they no longer must pay for over time or
costly seminar to improve employees’ skills. Under this type of web-based
training is anywhere and anytime information can pass over the internet.
Demonstration Training Method: This method is a visual display of how
something works or how to do something. Demonstration involves showing by
reason or proof explaining or making clear by use of examples or experiments. As
an example, trainer shows the trainees how to perform or how to do the task of the
job.
Programmed Instruction method: Under this method, the subject matter to be
learnt is presented in a series of units. These units are arranged from simple to
complex level. It consists of three parts: Presenting facts, new knowledge and
Question and Answer. Trainee must read the unit understand the concept and take
part in self-evaluation exercise. The system provides feedback on the accuracy of
response given by trainee. On the successful completion of each unit, he/she will
go to subsequent level. If they forget, they should go back to original information.
If they do not forget the information they are allowed to go to the next step for
learning. Programmed instructions is made available in printed form i.e books,
table, interactive video and other formats. Besides there are number of other
advanced methods of training of the employees which will be taught to students in
their higher studies
60 | P a g e
To determine the cost effectiveness.
To explain training failures if any.
To assess overall benefits to the organization.
GROUP DISCUSSION
How much do companies invest in training? Divide the students in groups of five and
give them the task of choosing any company of their choice within Botswana and
research the companies training needs and methods of training and development. The
group will then present their findings to the whole class.
5.0 Introduction
61 | P a g e
Compensation and reward systems have a wide-ranging impact on organisations, and that
their impact is greatly affected by their design and by the organisational context in which
they operate. Thus, to understand pay systems in organisations, it is necessary to focus on
the characteristics of both the organisation and the pay system. Compensation may
directly influence key outcomes like job satisfaction, attraction, retention, performance,
skill acquisition, cooperation, and flexibility. This chapter discuss the determinates of an
organisation’s compensation and reward policy, the different methods of employee
compensation and reward.
62 | P a g e
Compensation can serve to attract qualified applicants to the organisation. Other
things being equal, an organisation offering a higher level of pay can attract a larger
number of qualified applicants than its competing units.
Compensation helps to retain competent employees in the organisation. Although
retaining competent workers is contingent on many factors, compensation policies
help by maintaining a fair internal pay structure and by providing attractive benefits.
Turnover is thus reduced, along with costs associated with recruiting, selecting, and
training replacements.
Compensation serves as an incentive to motivate employees to put forth their best
efforts. Manufacturing and sales organizations, for example, use monetary incentives
to attain higher levels of production or sales without hiring additional employees.
When employees put forth their best efforts, average productivity of labour increases.
With increased productivity, fewer employees are needed to achieve the same level of
output. Thus, labour costs are reduced and organisational profitability is increased.
Minimizing the costs of compensation can also contribute to organisational
effectiveness since compensation is a significant cost for most employers.
5.3 The compensation policy
The aim of compensation statement is to set down the company’s policy with regard to
salary. It is the responsibility of all concerned to implement the compensation policies
and to explain the same fully to their subordinates. The compensation policy should aim:
To recognize the value of all jobs in relation to each other within the
company.
To take account of wage rates paid by companies of similar size, product
and philosophy.
To ensure stable earnings.
To enable individuals to reach their full earning potential as far as is
reasonably practicable.
To ensure employees‟ share in the company‟s prosperity as a result of
increasing efficiency.
63 | P a g e
5.4. Conducting Job evaluation
Job evaluation is the systematic and orderly process of determining the worth of the job
in relation to the other jobs. It is the quantitative measurement of relative job worth. It
ranks all the jobs in an organization and places them in hierarchy that will reflect the
relative worth of each.
Purpose of Job Evaluation
To gather data relating to job description, job specification and employee
specification of various jobs in an organization.
To compare the duties, responsibilities and demands of a job with that of other jobs.
To determine the hierarchy and places of various jobs in an organization.
To determine ranks and grades of various jobs.
To ensure fair and equitable wages on the basis of relative worth or value of the jobs.
To minimize wage discrimination based on sex, age, caste, religion etc.
Employees concerned and the supervisors should be educated and convinced about
the program.
64 | P a g e
Classify the job: This requires grouping or arranging jobs in a correct sequence in
terms of value to the firm, relating them to the money terms in order to ascertain their
relative value.
5. Implement l the program: This involves explaining the concept to the employees
and putting it into operation.
6. Maintain the program: Updating of new jobs according to changing conditions.
Compensable factors are basic factors of each job e.g. skills, efforts, responsibility,
working conditions, which determine the definition of job content. The job content
helps in determining the compensation paid for each job.(According to ‘equal pay for
equal work’ act USA)
Information collected for job analysis can be used for improvement of selection
transfer and promotion.
65 | P a g e
ii) Selection of raters. (Outsource – consultants)
iii) Selection of rates and key jobs. (10-20 bench mark jobs which include all the
departments) then other jobs are roughly compared with the key jobs to
establish rough rating.
iv) Ranking of all the jobs. Therefore, each job is compared with other similar
jobs to establish its rank.
v) Preparation of job classification from the rating. The total ranking is divided
into an appropriate number of groups or classes, (8-12). All the jobs in a
single class will have same wage.
Advantages
Simplest, quickest and least costly
2.Useful as first step of job evaluation
Selection of grades and key jobs, (10-20). Jobs which include major departments.
Grading the key jobs and identifying their relation to each other.
Classification of all jobs based on grade definition. All jobs in same grade receive
same wage or rates. Ex. Clerks in one grade, junior officers in higher grade.
Advantages
Simple to operate and understand.
66 | P a g e
Fully describe job classes makes it easier for people to understand ranking.
*Grade is a group of different jobs of similar skill requirement. Ex. Financial a/c, cost
a/c, works a/c.
A class is the subdivision of a given occupation. Ex. Assistant financial a/c, financial a/c,
senior financial a/c, chief financial a/c etc.
2.Quantative methods
a) Points rating method
Most widely used type of job evaluation. Introduced by Merrill. R. Lott. Analytical
method, where jobs are broken into compensable factors. Each component is assigned a
numerical value. Degree to which each of these compensable factors present in each job
is determined. Number point is assigned for each degree of each factor. The total point
values assigned to each factor gives the total point values for each job which can be
compared.
Steps
Jobs, which require similar activities and worker characteristics, are clustered
together.
Break down each factor into degrees or levels and assign point value to each
degree or level. The total value of all levels together is 100%
Determination of relative values to assign to each factor. For each job, some
factors are more important than others. e.g. For executive ‘mental requirements’
carry more weight than physical requirement.
Assign money value to points. Points are added to give total value of job. It is
then translated into money terms.
67 | P a g e
Advantages
Gives a numerical basis for wage differential.
Advantages
More reliable and valid
Assign money value fairly
Used for evaluating white collared professional.
68 | P a g e
Degree of specialization Degree of dependability
69 | P a g e
2.Dearness allowance: Remuneration paid by the company to compensate for increased
cost of living
3. Incentives/ payment by result: Remuneration paid in addition to wage and salary,
depending on productivity, sales,
Profit, cost reduction efforts etc.
a) Individual incentives
b) Group incentives.
4. Fringe benefits
Supplements the salary. Includes employee benefits like provident fund, gratuity,
Medical care, accident relief, health insurance, canteen, uniform, recreation etc.
5. Allowances
Allowance for executives. Includes company car, club membership, paid holidays,
Furnished house, stock option schemes etc.
6.Non-monetary benefits
Challenging job responsibilities, recognition of merit, growth prospects, job sharing,
Flexitime etc.
70 | P a g e
and wellbeing of the worker. Every company must pay minimum wage, irrespective
of its capacity to pay.
Living wage: It is the wage, which should enable the earner to provide for himself and
his family not only the bare essentials of food, clothing and shelter, but a measure of
frugal comfort, including education for his children, protection against ill health,
requirements of essential social needs and a measure of insurance against the more
important misfortune, including old age. It represents the highest level of wage and it
includes all amenities, which a citizen living in a modern civilized society is entitled
to get. It is determined, keeping in mind, the national income and capacity of the
industry to pay.
Fair wages: Wage that is above minimum wage and below living wage is fair wage.
The lower limit of fair wage is the minimum wage and the upper limit of fair wage is
set by the capacity of the industry to pay. These are wages received by workers
performing work of equal skill, difficulty or unpleasantness. Between the two limits
of fair wages, the actual wage depends upon consideration of factors such as
productivity of labour, prevailing rates of wages in same or neighbouring localities,
level of national income and its distribution, place of industry in the economy of the
country.
Real wages: It is the amount of money arrived at after discounting the nominal
wage/ money wage (wage paid in monetary terms) by the living cost. It represents the
purchasing power of money cost. Real wages reflect an adjustment to the changes in
price level/ price index. It increases when economy prospers.
71 | P a g e
Capacity of the organization to pay - Profitable companies pay more; marginal
firms and non-profit organizations pay relatively low wages.
Productivity - Theoretically, it is a good compensation criterion
Nature of the job - Risk involved in the job, dangerous and noisy environment in
which the worker is compelled to work deserve better compensation.
Length of service – Longer service, better is the pay
Skill requirements – Better skill, better pay
Wage level prevailing in the industry – Equal pay for equal work
Prevailing wages in that region – Price levels and living conditions in the same
region are the same for all the workers. So the workers will demand wages on par
with the wages prevailing in the region.
Psychological and sociological factors – Wage level for comparing the status and
success in life.
Job requirements – based on difficulty of the job, accountability, decision-
making, and problem solving etc. salary will vary.
72 | P a g e
Wage should be enough to ensure reasonable standards of living for workers and
family.
Wage and salary structure should be flexible for meeting contingency requirement.
Prompt and correct payment should be ensured
For revision of wages, a wages committee is preferred.
Advantages
Simplicity
Quality of work – as there is no time limit for execution of the job, workmen are not
in a hurry to finish the job, thereby improving quality.
Economy of cost – due to reduced defective production.
4. Favoured by organized labor, for it makes for solidarity among the workers of a
particular class.
73 | P a g e
5. Does not necessitate standardization as the payment is made according to time
taken by the workers.
6. As it provides regular and stable income for the workers, he can adjust is budget
accordingly.
Demerits
Dissatisfaction among laborers, as efficient and inefficient people gets equal wages.
Diminishing production, as workers do the job leisurely, as there is no time
constraint.
Need for more supervision.
As no record of an individual workers output is maintained, it becomes difficult for
the employer to determine his relative efficiency for the purpose of promotion.
ii. Piece rate system/ payment by result
Workers are paid according to the amount of work done or the number of units
completed, the rate of each unit bring settled in to do the task. A worker, working in
given conditions and with given proportion to his physical output, which can be
expressed in terms of units such as per meter, per piece, per k.g.
Earning = N*R
N = no of units produced
R = rate per unit
Merits
It stimulates increased production.
Satisfies an industrious and efficient worker, as there is reward for the effort.
Easy to compute cost per unit, they’re by making computation easy for tender.
Quantum of idle time is minimized, as they workers will not be paid for idle time.
Stimulates creativity among employees to find out improved methods.
Demerits
Increased wastage of resources.
74 | P a g e
Continued use of machinery could lead to break down of machinery.
Fixation of piece rate is not scientific, so not favored by employees.
Poor quality output due to hasty production.
Can generate rivalry among the workers, which can hamper the solidarity of trade
union.
GROUP DISCUSSION.
Why is it that organisations in the same industry pay their employees differently even if
they do similar jobs
75 | P a g e
CHAPTER 6: INTRODUCTION TO INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
6.0. Introduction
The relations between employers and employees has always been characterised by
conflicts and struggles. Class struggle is the conflict that exist between the employers and
employees regarding the sharing of resources and output from the production process
Not only do workers, through their trade unions play a key role in the redistribution of
wealth through collective bargaining over wages, but they are instrumental in the broader
socio-political struggle to transform society
76 | P a g e
6.2. Defining labour relations
Labour relations are a multifaceted, intricate and complex discipline that is characterised
by a number of salient futures (Venter, et al., 2009:4):
Labour relations are all about dynamic interactions and occur within a particular
social, economic and political framework.
77 | P a g e
work, and abusive supervisory practices led to high employee labour turnover, violent
strikes, and the threat of social instability.
The Industrial Revolution or the Factory System occurred from the 18th to the 19th
century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had a
profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions starting in the United
Kingdom, and then subsequently spreading throughout Europe, North America, and
eventually the world. The onset of the Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point
in human history; almost every aspect of daily life was eventually influenced in some
way.
The causes of the Industrial Revolution were complicated and remain a topic for debate,
with some historians believing the Revolution was an outgrowth of social and
institutional changes brought by the end of feudalism in Britain after the English Civil
War in the 17th century. According to Berlanstein (1992), some of these causes could be:
The percentage of children who lived past infancy rose significantly, leading to a
larger workforce.
The Enclosure movement and the British Agricultural Revolution made food
production more efficient and less labour-intensive, forcing the surplus population
who could no longer find employment in agriculture into cottage industry, for
example weaving, and in the longer term into the cities and the newly developed
factories...
The colonial expansion of the 17th century with the accompanying development
of international trade, creation of financial markets and accumulation of capital
are also cited as factors, as is the scientific of the 17th century.
Some consequences of this era are that workers have been exploited and did not benefit
in the output of their labour. Impact and consequences of the Factory System were the
feeling of dehumanisation of workers. Workers found a new identity within the newly
emerging working class and began to organise themselves in supportive groups to voice
78 | P a g e
their dissatisfaction of treatment from employers and management. This become the era
of collective bargaining.
Workers' groups have been around since the Middle Ages, in the form of professional
guilds for blacksmiths, carpenters, etc. These guilds established wage, product,
apprenticeship, and competition standards - many of which still exist today.
Workers began to agitate for more rights in their places of employment. Many skilled
trades started using their skills as bargaining tools to force their employers to meet their
workplace needs. Other workers relied on sheer numbers, creating general strikes to
protest poor working conditions. Several labour pioneers started to establish a collective
bargaining system so that labour negotiations could run more smoothly.
In organised labour/industrial relations, collective bargaining involves workers
organising together (usually in unions) to meet, discuss, and negotiate upon the work
conditions with their employers. Such bargaining normally results in a written contract
setting forth the wages, hours, and other conditions which the parties agree on for a
stipulated period.
79 | P a g e
Working practices should be flexible. Individuals should be business process
improvement oriented, multi-skilled and ready to tackle with efficiency whatever
tasks are required.
Employees should feel that the skills and expertise of managers supports their
endeavours.
From employer point of view, unitary approach means that:
Staffing policies should try to unify effort, inspire and motivate employees.
80 | P a g e
and leaders. In particular, the two predominant sub-groups in the pluralistic perspective
are the management and trade unions. Consequently, the role of management would lean
less towards enforcing and controlling and more toward persuasion and co-ordination.
Trade unions are deemed as legitimate representatives of employees, conflict is dealt with
by collective bargaining and is viewed not necessarily as a bad thing and, if managed, it
could in fact be channeled towards evolution and positive change.
Productive capacity and the fruits thereof must be owned and shared among the
people.
6.5 The parties to the employment relationship and their respective roles
The three parties who play an active role in labour relations, as we read above are the:
• state
• employer
• employee
81 | P a g e
The tripartite relationship. Basically employees in managerial positions represent the
interests of the owners of business in the workplace. In the private sector this essentially
means safeguarding and improving the profitability of business. A trade union, on the other
hand, is a continuous, permanent organisation created by workers to protect their rights
themselves at work, to improve their working conditions through collective bargaining, to
better their quality of life, and to provide means of expressing their views on issues in society
These three parties are known as a tripartite system. Figure 1.1and Table 1.1
illustrates the power, conflict and trust between them. The employers’ and
employees’ interests are generally common in that both try to achieve their goals
through the workplace. These goals are always interdependent because they
depend on the prosperity and continued existence of the workplace.
The employers in other words want profit, while the employees are concerned
about wages and the government’s main objective is increased state revenue.
The main objective for the worker was his wage, but as an individual he found
himself powerless against the owner or industrialist when it came to the
improvement of his earnings. It was difficult and even impossible to obtain an
increase in wages. In due course, the individual worker realised that other workers
had the same types of needs, and these common needs provided the basis for
workers to unite. Their large numbers gave them a power base and they could
comfort the owner with demands for the improvement of their wages and
82 | P a g e
conditions of service. Refusal by the owner could result in all workers stopping
work and the owner would run the risk of substantial financial loss before being
able to appoint and train new workers for the various jobs. Trade unions therefore
operate from a premise that unity is strength.
Thus the first trade union came into being to regulate conditions of service.
Gradually, the owner also came to realise that he would have to protect his own
interests by associating with other owners and to decide collectively on
comparable conditions of service for workers. Failing this, some owners would
draw all the skilled workers while other industries would experience shortages of
such skilled workers. In this way employers’ organisations were created.
With the development of a united group of workers (a union) on the one hand, and
a united group of employers (employers’ organisations) on the other, the basis of
labour relations was established.
The way in which the two parties commenced their joint regulation of wages and
conditions of service, was through negotiation, a concept which ultimately
became known as collective bargaining due to the collectivize (group of people)
organised by both employees and employers.
In the meanwhile, a third party participant in this process began to make its
presence felt, initially in the background, but becoming increasingly involved.
This was the State. Eventually the role of the State changed to that of a neutral
arbitrator who merely laid down the broad rules for Labour Relations and saw to
it that the parties obeyed these rules.
83 | P a g e
The irreconcilable philosophy of Karl Marx stems mainly from the fact that there will
always be a conflict between owner and worker, since the owner appropriates all the
profits and exploits the worker, who is inadequately remunerated and ultimately revolts
against these circumstances to gain possession of the means of production.
Few ‘pure’ views exist in this regard and many systems are placed on a continuum
between reconcilable and irreconcilable. An example of reconcilable philosophy is when
workers realise, however, that they deserve a fair share of profits and that management
also has the workers’ interests at heart. The result is greater contentment in the labour
market. The following points should be borne in mind:
• The principles underlying the free organisation of workers and employers are pure
democratic principles.
• Recent history has shown the trade unions as independent organisations, can only
attain their objectives in a democratic political order. For example: It is
commonly accepted that a labour relations system is necessary in a democratic
country to reconcile the tension (or conflict) that exists between employer
(management) and employees.
It is acknowledged that this tension exists mainly in two areas. These threats relate to the
divergent aims of management and workers. The two theoretically distinguishable areas
are: Labour Relations
• The tension between labour and capital, alternatively between the profit motive
and higher wages, grouped together under the single concept of distribution of
income.
• The tension between management and the worker, which relates to the work
situation in which the hierarchy of command gives rise to tension – one individual
issues instructions while the other must execute these instructions productively in
accordance with predetermined rules or implied requirements.
84 | P a g e
When you start working for someone, be it an individual or a company, you
automatically enter into an employment contract. As an employee, it is essential you are
familiar with the terms and conditions you have agreed to, and what implications these
have. If you do then encounter a dispute with your employer, you can be confident of
your legal position.
You enter into a contract as soon as commence work. The very fact you have started your
job is enough to indicate that you agree with the terms of employment, even if you are
not certain what these are. You are then bound to your employment contract until it
comes to an end, either because you have been given notice, or because you and your
employer have agreed to change the terms.
The terms of an employment contract will differ in every case, and will be particularly
dependent on whether you are working under a fixed term contract, part-time contract, in
continuous employment or have flexible hours. However, if you do request a written
document of your contract - known as a 'principal statement' - then this should at the very
least contain:-
85 | P a g e
6.6.2. Content of Employment Contract
Content is agreed by the parties however there are certain mandatory requirements
which any contract of employment must comply. The employer is obliged to reduce
the agreement into writing specifically the following:-
6.7.Duties of Employers
86 | P a g e
Exceptions – where an employee is paid on commission it will be fair and reasonable to
provide such an employee with work otherwise the whole purpose for paying on
commission will be defeated. See; Turner v Goldsmith [1891] 1 QB 544.
-where the failure to provide the employee with work amounts to lowering
the employee in his professional status and esteem then the employer is obliged to
provide work.
In terms of Section 16(1) of the Act, an employer shall provide work for his employees
and subsection 2 states that the employee should be paid even if they is no work given.
(1) An infringement by the employer of this right constitutes an unfair labour practice
and an aggrieved employee may apply to the Ministry of Labour for an order directing
the employer to cease the infringement in question. An employee may also seek
damages resulting from the infringement. However remedies will be dealt with at length
when we do the next chapter of Remedies.
87 | P a g e
-An employer has a fundamental duty not to discriminate against employees or
prospective employee (here the Act protects job applicants) in regards to grounds
specified in in the Act i.e.Race , tribe place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed,
gender, pregnancy, HIV/AIDS status or any disability defined in Disabled Persons Act.
(a) discrimination on basis of sex was replaced with “gender and pregnancy” Gender
discrimination refers to the totality of discrimination which one suffers as a result of
biological and social factors.
(b) gender also- recognizes the different and legitimate needs of women arising out
of their biological and social differences and does not only restricts equality to equal
treatment with men.
(c ) college requirements forcing expulsion of pregnant students gvt colleges were
held as unlawful discrimination and contra bonos mores
(d) Dismissal of an employee on notice during maternity leave has been held to be
unlawful discrimination
1. discrimination against disabled persons in employment was prohibited
2. the new Act outlawed discrimination against an employee or prospective
employee on grounds of inter alia HIV/AIDS status
3. the Act also provides that no employer should neglect to pay equal
remuneration to male and female employees for work of equal value.
An infringement by the employer of these rights is an unfair labour practice and also a
criminal offence Section 5 (4) various remedies are provided for.
A discriminatory practice can thus be said to arise where there is:-
(a) More or less favourable treatment of one person versus another.
(b) That treatment is wholly or mainly attributable to race, tribe, place of origin, colour,
creed or gender of the person concerned. The Act in S 5 (7) allows certain defences to a
charge of discrimination and disqualifies others. There are situations when
discrimination is permissible
4) Duty to Adhere to Fundamental Fair Labour Standards
The Act provides protection of the employees right to fair labour standards and this
owes its origins to ILO conventions. One of the purposes of the Labour Act is to
88 | P a g e
promote these fair labour standards. S 6 provides the following fundamental fair labour
practices which eth employer must adhere to:-
89 | P a g e
Duty of Equal protection of the law: Derived from international labour standards
and the constitution.
Rest periods
(1) Every employee shall be granted by the employer in every period of seven
Consecutive days a rest period comprising at least 24 consecutive hours, which period
shall ordinarily be or include a Sunday:
Provided that, where the employee is engaged on shift work, he shall be granted a rest
period comprising any period of 30 consecutive hours.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Commissioner may, in writing or orally, exempt
any employer from the provisions of that subsection, for such period and subject to such
conditions as he may think fit and as are reasonable, having regard to the welfare of the
employees concerned, in the particular circumstances.
(3) Where the rest periods of an employee are or include days other than a Sunday, the
employer shall prepare or cause to be prepared a roster in respect of every month
specifying the employee's rest periods within that month and shall display the roster in a
90 | P a g e
conspicuous place readily accessible to the employee not less than seven days
immediately before the commencement of the month in question.
(4) Any employer who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to
the penalties prescribed by section 151(b).
Payment for work during rest period
Any employee who works during a rest period, either by agreement with the employer or
on being required to do so under section 95, shall be paid at least double the wages he
would have been paid had the period been an ordinary working period, or at his option be
granted a day or days off, as the case may be, in lieu thereof.
Hours of work
(1) Except as hereinafter provided, an employee shall not be required under his contract
of employment to work-
(a) More than five consecutive hours without a period of rest which shall not be less than
30 minutes; or
(b) more than an ordinary working period of eight hours in any one day or more than 48
hours in any one week
Leave days
Every employer shall grant to every employee employed by him leave with basic pay at
the rate of not less than 1, 25 days per month.
(3) Of the 15 working days' leave earned in respect of any period of 12 months not less
than eight working days shall be taken no later than six months immediately after the end
of the period in respect of which the leave was earned.
(4) Any balance of leave not taken in accordance with subsection (3) may be
accumulated, year by year; but such leave shall not be accumulated for longer than three
years immediately after the end of the period in respect of which leave was first
accumulated, and at the end of that three years' period all the accumulated leave together
with all the leave earned in respect of the immediately preceding period of 12 months
shall be taken.
91 | P a g e
(5) The leave for which this section makes provision shall be in addition to any public
holiday or weekly rest period in respect of which, by agreement or custom, the employee
is not required to work under his contract of employment and any period during which
the employee is absent from work owing to illness.
(6) Where a contract of employment is terminated by either party to the contract, the
employer shall pay to the employee his basic pay-
(a) in respect of any period of leave accumulated under subsection (4) or which has
otherwise accrued to him but has not been granted before the termination of the contract
of employment; and
(b) At the rate of 1,25 days in respect of every month or part of a month of continuous
employment after he last became entitled to leave under subsection (2).
Public holidays
Each of the public holidays specified in the Second Schedule shall be a paid public
holiday for the purposes of this section:
Provided that, within the mining industry alone, paid public holidays for the purposes of
this section shall be those public holidays customarily recognized by the industry as paid
public holidays.
(2) Where a paid public holiday falls on a rest day the day next following the rest day
which is not itself a rest day shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to be a paid
public holiday.
(3) Any employee who works on a paid public holiday or on a day observed as a public
holiday by virtue of the provisions of subsection (2) shall-
(a) be paid at least double the wages he would have been paid had the day been an
ordinary working day; or
(b) be granted a paid day off in lieu of that day within 10 days immediately thereafter.
(4) Subject to subsection (3), the employer shall pay to the employee his basic pay in
respect of every paid public holiday.
92 | P a g e
(1) Any employee shall, after medical examination at the expense of the employer by a
medical officer nominated by the employer, or after medical examination at the expense
of the employee by a medical officer nominated by the employee, be entitled to such sick
leave as the medical officer concerned recommends, and shall be entitled to be paid his
basic pay for at least 14 days of such sick leave in any one year of continuous
employment.
(2) Any employee who absents himself from his place of employment on the grounds of
sickness shall-
(a) inform his employer of his absence as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so;
and
b) where he is absent from his place of employment for 24 hours or more, provide his
employer, upon his return to his place of employment, with a certificate signed by a
medical officer or with other evidence to the employer's satisfaction accounting for the
entire period of absence.
(3) The employer shall pay to the employee his current basic pay for every day of paid
sick leave granted under this section.
Maternity leave
(1) A female employee shall give notice to her employer of her confinement by
delivering to him a written certificate signed by a medical officer or a registered nurse
and midwife certifying his opinion that the employee's confinement will probably take
place within six weeks immediately after the date of the certificate.
(2) On receipt of the notice under subsection (1), the employer shall immediately permit
the female employee in question to absent herself from work until her confinement and
thereafter he shall not permit or require her to return to work until the expiry of six weeks
immediately after her confinement.
(3) Within 21 days immediately after her confinement, a female employee shall inform
her employer of the date of the confinement by delivering to him a written certificate
signed by a medical officer or a registered nurse and midwife certifying that date.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), where a female employee delivers to her employer a
written certificate signed by a medical officer or a registered nurse and midwife
93 | P a g e
certifying his opinion that the employee is suffering from an illness arising out of her
confinement and is consequently unfit to return to work, the employer shall not permit or
require her to return to work until the expiry of eight weeks immediately after her
confinement.
(5) The employer shall pay every female employee whilst she is absent from work in
pursuance of subsection (2) or (4) an allowance of not less than 25 percent of the basic
pay she would otherwise have been entitled to receive or 50t for each day of absence,
whichever is the greater, and this subsection shall apply notwithstanding the provision of
any law for the time being in force relating to the determination and payment of a
minimum wage:
(6) When giving notice in accordance with subsection (1) or delivering the certificate to
her employer in accordance with subsection (3), a female employee may in writing
nominate another person to whom her maternity allowance shall be paid on her behalf
and any subsequent payment of the maternity allowance to that person shall be deemed,
for the purposes of this Act, to have been made to the female employee entitled to the
allowance
94 | P a g e
7. Work with reasonable care and skill.
8. Look after the employer's property if using it.
9. Not to compete in business against the employer while still working for them as an
employee.
10. Not to take bribes.
11. Be prepared to change when the job changes, for example, if computers or other
machinery are introduced to help the employee do their job.
12. Give any inventions to employer if these are developed by the employee during their
employment.
95 | P a g e
c. Forced leave & discharge
d. Breach of collective bargaining settlement
e. Inefficient & defective leadership.
Political Causes:-
a. Influence by politicians
b. Strikes against Government
Miscellaneous:-
a. Sympathetic strikes.
96 | P a g e
Lock out: Action of an employer in temporarily closing down or shutting down his
undertaking or refusing to provide his employees with work, with an intention of
forcing them either to accept demands made by them on him.
97 | P a g e
Collective Bargaining: -Process of negotiating a labour agreement including the use
of economic pressure by both the parties.
Economic pressure from labour’s side: - Strikes, boycotts, gherao etc. from
Management
side: - Lock out, plant closure, replacement of strikers. Each side will have 4 – 6
representatives at the negotiating table. Chief negotiator for management side will be VP.
For trade union, it will be Local Union President.
98 | P a g e
Boosts the morale & self confidence
Brings in democracy
Legal binding on employer
Better emphasis on employee suggestions
For Management
Maximum Utilization of HR
Improved IR
Reduces Strikes
Enhances Goodwill
Maximum Efficiency
Government
Easy Implementation of Law
Peaceful Settlement of Dispute
99 | P a g e
Grievance procedures
No strike/ No lockout clause
Safety procedure
Severance of pay
Seniority
Pensions & benefits
Out sourcing
Limitations against Electronic monitoring
Arbitration clause
6.14 Grievance
A complaint of one or more workers in respect of wages, allowances conditions of work,
interpretation of service stipulations, covering areas of overtime, leave transfer,
promotion seniority, job assignment, & termination of service”. [ILO]
Types of Grievances
Employee’s Perspective
Concerning Wages
Demand for individual adjustments
Complaints of incentives
Mistakes in calculation of wages
Concerning supervision
Complaints about discipline
On individual advancement
General working conditions
Collective bargaining
Managements Perspective: -
Indiscipline
Go slow tactics
Breach of terms
4.Questionable methods of trade union.
A grievance procedure is essential because it brings uniformity in handling of grievances.
100 | P a g e
Grievance Redressal Machinery
Open Door Policy:- The management asserts that no employee is prevented from going
directly & meeting the head of the firm
Principles of grievance redressal:
Grievance should be settled at the lowest level
He may appeal to the next person in the echelon of Management, in case he does not
get satisfaction from his immediate superior. [ 72 Hrs Lead Time]
Grievance should be dealt quickly
If the grievance is against any instruction issued by the superior, the instruction could
be carried out before the grievance can be considered.
While the grievance is being investigated, both the parties should not do anything
which may prejudice the case.
External Machinery
Mediation; An outsider assists the parties in their negotiation. It takes place with the
consent of both the parties. The mediator performs the messenger’s job for both the
parties & he neither imposes his will nor his judgement upon them. The main aim of
mediation is the settlement of disputes by bringing out a voluntary agreement.
Mediation could be by
An eminent outsider
Non-Government Board
3.Semi Government Board
Conciliation: Process by which representative of both the workers & employers are
brought together before a third party, with a view to persuading them to arrive at
some settlement. It is an extension of collective bargaining with third party assistance.
The task of conciliator is to offer advice & make suggestions to the parties he is given
wide discretion for settlement. The conciliator tries to bridge the gulf between parties,
he advances possible lines of solution for consideration by the disputants. He
persuades both the parties to take a fresh look at the whole issue .When conciliator
fails to resolve the disputes, government can appoint a Board of Reconciliation. It is
an adhoc tripartite body with powers of civil court consists of a Chairman & 2 – 4
members nominated in equal numbers by parties of the dispute.
101 | P a g e
Court Enquiry; In case the conciliation proceedings fail to resolve a dispute, a court
of enquiry is conducted by the Government to investigate the dispute & submit the
report within six months. It is merely a fact finding body & it’s findings are not a
binding on the parties of dispute
There will be a Chairman and 1 or 2 members
Voluntary Arbitration; When conciliation proceedings fail to settle the dispute, the
conciliatory officer may persuade the conflicting parties to voluntarily refer the
dispute to a third party, known as an arbitrator, appointed by the parties themselves.
The arbitrator listens to both the parties & delivers a judgment on the dispute. He
does not enjoy judicial power. He submits his judgment on the dispute to the
government. Thereafter the Government publishes the award within 30 days of
submission. The award becomes enforceable after 30 days of its publication
Compulsory Arbitration / Adjudication ;Ultimate remedy for the settlement of
disputes in India, here the parties are required to arbitrate without willingness on their
part.It consists of settling of disputes through the intervention of a third party
appointed by the government. An industrial dispute can be referred to adjudication by
the mutual consent of the disputing parties. The government can also refer a dispute
for adjudication without the consent of the parties.
The Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, provides a three tier adjudication machinery-
Labour Courts
Industrial Tribunal
National Tribunal
Labour Courts
Consists of one independent person, who, is a judge of high court.
Labour courts deal with disputes relating to legality of an order, application &
interpretation of standing orders, discharge and dismissal of workers.
Industrial Tribunal
1. This is a one man adhoc body [Presiding officer], appointed by the Government. It has
a wider jurisdiction than a labour court. 2. Assessors are appointed to advise the presiding
officer.
Industrial Tribunal can adjudicate on the following matters:
102 | P a g e
Wages including period & mode of payment, compensatory and other allowances, hours
of work & rests periods etc.
National Tribunal
One man adjudicatory body to be appointed by the Central Government, to deal with
disputes of national importance in such a way that industrial establishment situated in
more than one State are likely to be interested in or affected by such disputes.
References
Sonia Bendix (2001) Industrial Relations in South Africa -Juta and Company Ltd,
103 | P a g e
104 | P a g e