Business and Labor Policies

1
Business and Labor Policies
6 areas are discussed in this PowerPoint lecture
House Policies and Procedures/Contracts
Unions
Private Enterprise
Equal Rights
Employee Benefits
Employee Rights and Responsibilities
2
House Policy

• All companies have policy to run their business.
• Employees are guided by policy both general and
  specific

• For example, suppose you worked in a hotel and a
  guest asked you for a handful of shampoo bottles
  to take home. What do you say? Will you get in
  trouble if you say no? This is why companies
  have policies. You can refer to the company
  policy to answer most specific questions. Most
  companies have policy to guide general questions
  (the customer is right. You are authorized to
  refund up to 50 etc.) Policies help in the
  running of a business. Everyone knows what they
  are to do in various situations.

3
Unions

• Generally unions are non-existent in Tourism
  Industry because of the seasonal nature of the
  business and small businesses (small numbers
  bargaining power). Most tourism businesses dont
  have enough employees to form a union and many of
  the jobs are seasonal too which makes it hard to
  form a union.
• Unions would significantly increase the cost of
  small operators because often union contracts
  include provisions small business owners cant
  afford.such as
• Guaranteed jobs, higher wages, better working
  conditions, leave with pay.

4
Private Enterprise

• Most tourism businesses are run privately.
• Many are mom and pop businesses
• Many need help from the government in terms of
  tax relief and policies to help them be
  profitable
• Small businesses have extra costs such as
• They have to collect GST and PST for the
  government (have to hire an accountant because of
  the book work involved)
• They have various licenses and fees they have to
  pay (town licenses, Chamber of Commerce Fees,
  printing costs, etc)
• The minimum wage legislation raises their costs
  because they have to pay more to their employees
• They have to follow work and overtime rules that
  generally end up costing them more money

5
Equal Rights

• Equal pay for equal work means all people should
  be treated equally in terms of pay. History tells
  us that women generally get paid less than men
  for the same work.
• Women have most of the jobs in many of the
  sectors, especially in hotels and restaurants.
• Many jobs are suited for young people and college
  students because they are seasonal and are lower
  paying.
• There are few careers that are high paying in the
  Tourism industry.

6
Employee Benefits

• Benefits typically are in the following areas and
  few tourism related business provide them.
• Sick Leavewhere you get paid even though you are
  at home and sick.
• Maternity Leave provides an opportunity to stay
  at home with your new-born or newly adopted
  infant. The government provides help in this area
  through Employment Benefits if you qualify
• Severance pay is pay given to you when you are
  fired (or severed) Since most tourism jobs are
  paid by the hour, severance pay is 1 hour.
• Paid training is often available in many careers,
  but in the tourism sector, much of the training
  is on-the-job as you are working. You seldom are
  sent away to learn skills.

7
Employee Rights and Responsibilities

• The main factor that determines how well you are
  treated as an employee is the amount of
  commitment the employer has to the employee? Are
  you hard to replace? If so, you will probably be
  treated better.
• Employees that are treated well generally have
  more commitment to their employer.
• Low commitment would see the worker leave for
  another job for .50 per hr more.
• High commitment would see the worker market the
  business and the town
• High commitment would see the worker give
  conscientious work
• All people have the right to be treated with
  respect, fairly, and honestly however not all are
  treated in that manner. If you are not treated
  fairly you have remedies under the law for
  unfair treatment as provided in the Code of Human
  Rights, WCB, Labor Standards etc.