Investigating people at work Lesson 10

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Investigating people at work - Lesson 10

• External influences

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Lesson Objectives

• In this lesson we shall
• Look at the external influences affecting people
  at work including
• Environmental
• Social ethical issues
• Legal Self-regulatory issues
• Consumer protection
• Trade unions
• Employment protection
• Health Safety

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External influences

• The three main external issues that affect
  managers and employees are
• Environmental
• Social and ethical
• Legal constraints

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EnvironmentalInfluences

• Now a major issue because of climate change
• 2 treaties now govern attitudes actions
• Rio Treaty 1992 recognised responsibilities of
  governments and business
• Kyoto Treaty 1997 set limits to greenhouse
  gases and pledged to limit pollution

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Activity 1

• Read the notes about the Kyoto Treaty in the
  section headed Case Study on the top of page 48
• Britain and Sweden are the only EU countries on
  track to meet Kyoto targets
• Developing countries such as India China do not
  have to abide by the treaty but their
  industrialisation potential makes them big
  potential polluters
• The US did not sign Kyoto but is the worlds
  biggest polluter

• Write a short essay looking at these points and
  the case for and against controlling pollution.
• State your own views and put forward your ideas
  remember it will be your problem tomorrow!

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Business Environment

• Businesses should have systems in place that
• Audit all activities that affect the environment
• Create plans for environmental management
• Set up environmental management systems
• Train staff to manage these systems
• Set targets for environmental improvement
• Create reports that monitor meeting targets

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Social Ethical Issues

• Businesses need to be seen doing the right
  thing
• They need to behave in a moral way
• Many have Codes of Practice setting out standards
• Need to take account of views and needs of
  stakeholders in reaching business decisions

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Legal self-regulatory issues 1

• Competition law
• This ensures that firms compete fairly with each
  other
• Monitored by Office of Fair Trading (OFT)
• OFT makes sure markets work well for customers
  and are truly competitive
• It investigates suspected price-fixing and some
  mergers

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Consumer protection

• Many laws protect the consumer main ones are
• Trade Descriptions Acts 1968 1972
• The Sale of Goods Act 1979
• Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982
• Food Safety Act 1990
• Consumer Protection Act 1987
• Weights and Measures Act 1985

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The Work of Trade Unions

• Unions work with government, workers and
  employers to ensure a safe and secure workplace
• A unionised workplace typically ensures a better
  work environment for workers by ensuring

• Higher earnings
• More holidays
• HSAW awareness
• Compensation paid
• Better parenting help
• Job-related training
• Equal opportunities
• Fewer dismissals
• Ethnic minority care
• Mutual TU support

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Employment Protection 1

• The Employment Act 2002 stated that employees
  must receive a statement of the main terms of
  their contract listing
• Names of employer/employee
• Date employment began
• Pay, hours, overtime, holiday sick pay
• Pension terms
• Workplace mobility clauses
• Job title description of duties
• Disciplinary grievance procedures

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Employment Protection 2

• The Employment Act also states that contracts
  must state dismissal and disciplinary procedures
  and it sets out rules for handling grievances
• It also made significant improvements to rights
  concerning maternity/paternity leave, adoption
  leave and workers with disabled children

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Health and Safety

• Employers must provide
• A safe healthy work environment
• Appropriate Health Safety training
• A written Health Safety policy
• Care for visitors and customers
• A system to carry out risk assessment
• Employees are required to work in a safe and
  responsible manner

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Activity 2

• Turn to page 26 in your green folder Activity
  sheet 10 External influences
• Find a computer in either room 36 or the careers
  library and carry out tasks a, b, c
• Print out your answers and insert it in the green
  folder behind this activity sheet
• If you finish work through activity sheet 8
  

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Lesson Objectives

• In this lesson we looked at the external
  influences affecting people at work including
• Environmental
• Social ethical issues
• Legal Self-regulatory issues
• Consumer protection
• Trade unions
• Employment protection
• Health Safety