Human Resource ManagementHuman Resource Management
Human Resource ManagementHuman Resource Management
[AUTHOR REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ORIGINAL PUBLISHER]
U N I V E R S I T Y O F M I N N E S O T A L I B R A R I E S P U B L I S H I N G E D I T I O N , 2 0 1 6 . T H I S E D I T I O N A D A P T E D F R O M AW O R K O R I G I N A L L Y P R O D U C E D I N 2 0 1 1 B Y A P U B L I S H E R W H O H A S R E Q U E S T E D T H A T I T N O T R E C E I V E
A T T R I B U T I O N .M I N N E A P O L I S , M N
Human Resource Management by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Contents
Publisher Information viii
Chapter 1: The Role of Human Resources
1.1 What Is Human Resources? 21.2 Skills Needed for HRM 111.3 Today’s HRM Challenges 161.4 Cases and Problems 27
Chapter 2: Developing and Implementing Strategic HRM Plans
2.1 Strategic Planning 312.2 Writing the HRM Plan 412.3 Tips in HRM Planning 492.4 Cases and Problems 53
Chapter 3: Diversity and Multiculturalism
3.1 Diversity and Multiculturalism 563.2 Diversity Plans 623.3 Multiculturalism and the Law 703.4 Cases and Problems 79
Chapter 4: Recruitment
4.1 The Recruitment Process 824.2 The Law and Recruitment 914.3 Recruitment Strategies 974.4 Cases and Problems 109
Chapter 5: Selection
5.1 The Selection Process 1135.2 Criteria Development and Résumé Review 1185.3 Interviewing 1245.4 Testing and Selecting 1325.5 Making the Offer 1395.6 Cases and Problems 142
Chapter 6: Compensation and Benefits
6.1 Goals of a Compensation Plan 1476.2 Developing a Compensation Package 1516.3 Types of Pay Systems 1556.4 Other Types of Compensation 1706.5 Cases and Problems 182
Chapter 7: Retention and Motivation
7.1 The Costs of Turnover 1877.2 Retention Plans 1937.3 Implementing Retention Strategies 2077.4 Cases and Problems 218
Chapter 8: Training and Development
8.1 Steps to Take in Training an Employee 2248.2 Types of Training 2308.3 Training Delivery Methods 2378.4 Designing a Training Program 2448.5 Cases and Problems 261
Chapter 9: Successful Employee Communication
9.1 Communication Strategies 2679.2 Management Styles 2799.3 Cases and Problems 287
Chapter 10: Managing Employee Performance
10.1 Handling Performance 29110.2 Employee Rights 30810.3 Cases and Problems 319
Chapter 11: Employee Assessment
11.1 Performance Evaluation Systems 32511.2 Appraisal Methods 33211.3 Completing and Conducting the Appraisal 34511.4 Cases and Problems 354
Chapter 12: Working with Labor Unions
12.1 The Nature of Unions 36112.2 Collective Bargaining 37312.3 Administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement 38012.4 Cases and Problems 385
Chapter 13: Safety and Health at Work
13.1 Workplace Safety and Health Laws 39013.2 Health Hazards at Work 39913.3 Cases and Problems 419
Chapter 14: International HRM
14.1 Offshoring, Outsourcing 42414.2 Staffing Internationally 43714.3 International HRM Considerations 44214.4 Cases and Problems 459
Please share your supplementary material! 462
Publisher Information
Human Resource Management is adapted from a work produced and
distributed under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-SA) in 2011
by a publisher who has requested that they and the original author not
receive attribution. This adapted edition is produced by the University
of Minnesota Libraries Publishing through the eLearning Support Initiative.
This adaptation has reformatted the original text, and replaced some images and figures to make the resulting
whole more shareable. This adaptation has not significantly altered or updated the original 2011 text. This work
is made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.
viii
Chapter 1: The Role of Human Resources
Human Resource Management Day to DayHuman Resource Management Day to Day
You have just been hired to work in the human resource department of a small company. You heard about the job
through a conference you attended, put on by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Previously,
the owner of the company, Jennifer, had been doing everything related to human resource management (HRM).
You can tell she is a bit critical about paying a good salary for something she was able to juggle all on her own.
On your first day, you meet the ten employees and spend several hours with the company owner, hoping to get a
handle on which human resource processes are already set up.
Shortly after the meeting begins, you see she has a completely different perspective of what HRM is, and you
realize it will be your job to educate her on the value of a human resource manager. You look at it as a personal
challenge—both to educate her and also to show her the value of this role in the organization.
First, you tell her that HRM is a strategic process having to do with the staffing, compensation, retention, training,
and employment law and policies side of the business. In other words, your job as human resources (HR) manager
will be not only to write policy and procedures and to hire people (the administrative role) but also to use strategic
plans to ensure the right people are hired and trained for the right job at the right time. For example, you ask her
if she knows what the revenue will be in six months, and Jennifer answers, “Of course. We expect it to increase
by 20 percent.” You ask, “Have you thought about how many people you will need due to this increase?” Jennifer
looks a bit sheepish and says, “No, I guess I haven’t gotten that far.” Then you ask her about the training programs
the company offers, the software used to allow employees to access pay information online, and the compensation
policies. She responds, “It looks like we have some work to do. I didn’t know that human resources involved all
of that.” You smile at her and start discussing some of the specifics of the business, so you can get started right
away writing the strategic human resource management plan.
The Role of Human ResourcesThe Role of Human Resources
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter defining the role of human resource management.
1
1.1 What Is Human Resources?
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the role of HRM in organizations.
2. Define and discuss some of the major HRM activities.
Every organization, large or small, uses a variety of capital to make the business work. Capital includes cash,
valuables, or goods used to generate income for a business. For example, a retail store uses registers and inventory,
while a consulting firm may have proprietary software or buildings. No matter the industry, all companies have
one thing in common: they must have people to make their capital work for them. This will be our focus
throughout the text: generation of revenue through the use of people’s skills and abilities.
What Is HRM?What Is HRM?
Human resource management (HRM) is the process of employing people, training them, compensating them,
developing policies relating to them, and developing strategies to retain them. As a field, HRM has undergone
many changes over the last twenty years, giving it an even more important role in today’s organizations. In
the past, HRM meant processing payroll, sending birthday gifts to employees, arranging company outings, and
making sure forms were filled out correctly—in other words, more of an administrative role rather than a strategic
role crucial to the success of the organization. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric and management guru,
sums up the new role of HRM: “Get out of the parties and birthdays and enrollment forms.… Remember, HR is
important in good times, HR is defined in hard times” (Frasch, et. al., 2010).
It’s necessary to point out here, at the very beginning of this text, that every manager has some role relating
to human resource management. Just because we do not have the title of HR manager doesn’t mean we won’t
perform all or at least some of the HRM tasks. For example, most managers deal with compensation, motivation,
and retention of employees—making these aspects not only part of HRM but also part of management. As a result,
this book is equally important to someone who wants to be an HR manager and to someone who will manage a
business.
2
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Have you ever had to work with a human resource department at your job? What was the interaction like?What was the department’s role in that specific organization?
The Role of HRMThe Role of HRM
Keep in mind that many functions of HRM are also tasks other department managers perform, which is what
makes this information important, despite the career path taken. Most experts agree on seven main roles that HRM
plays in organizations. These are described in the following sections.
StaffingStaffing
You need people to perform tasks and get work done in the organization. Even with the most sophisticated
machines, humans are still needed. Because of this, one of the major tasks in HRM is staffing. Staffing involves
the entire hiring process from posting a job to negotiating a salary package. Within the staffing function, there are
four main steps:
1. Development of a staffing plan. This plan allows HRM to see how many people they should hire based
on revenue expectations.
2. Development of policies to encourage multiculturalism at work. Multiculturalism in the workplace is
becoming more and more important, as we have many more people from a variety of backgrounds in the
workforce.
3. Recruitment. This involves finding people to fill the open positions.
4. Selection. In this stage, people will be interviewed and selected, and a proper compensation package will
be negotiated. This step is followed by training, retention, and motivation.
Development of Workplace PoliciesDevelopment of Workplace Policies
Every organization has policies to ensure fairness and continuity within the organization. One of the jobs of HRM
is to develop the verbiage surrounding these policies. In the development of policies, HRM, management, and
executives are involved in the process. For example, the HRM professional will likely recognize the need for a
policy or a change of policy, seek opinions on the policy, write the policy, and then communicate that policy to
employees. It is key to note here that HR departments do not and cannot work alone. Everything they do needs to
involve all other departments in the organization. Some examples of workplace policies might be the following:
• Discipline process policy
• Vacation time policy
• Dress code
1 . 1 W H A T I S H U M A N R E S O U R C E S ? • 3
• Ethics policy
• Internet usage policy
These topics are addressed further in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, Chapter 7 “Retention and
Motivation”, Chapter 8 “Training and Development”, and Chapter 9 “Successful Employee Communication”.
Compensation and Benefits AdministrationCompensation and Benefits Administration
HRM professionals need to determine that compensation is fair, meets industry standards, and is high enough to
entice people to work for the organization. Compensation includes anything the employee receives for his or her
work. In addition, HRM professionals need to make sure the pay is comparable to what other people performing
similar jobs are being paid. This involves setting up pay systems that take into consideration the number of years
with the organization, years of experience, education, and similar aspects. Examples of employee compensation
include the following:
• Pay
• Health benefits
• 401(k) (retirement plans)
• Stock purchase plans
• Vacation time
• Sick leave
• Bonuses
• Tuition reimbursement
Since this is not an exhaustive list, compensation is discussed further in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”.
RetentionRetention
Retention involves keeping and motivating employees to stay with the organization. Compensation is a major
factor in employee retention, but there are other factors as well. Ninety percent of employees leave a company for
the following reasons:
1. Issues around the job they are performing
2. Challenges with their manager
3. Poor fit with organizational culture
4. Poor workplace environment
Despite this, 90 percent of managers think employees leave as a result of pay (Rivenbark, 2010). As a result,
managers often try to change their compensation packages to keep people from leaving, when compensation isn’t
4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
the reason they are leaving at all. Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation” and Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”
discuss some strategies to retain the best employees based on these four factors.
Training and DevelopmentTraining and Development
Once we have spent the time to hire new employees, we want to make sure they not only are trained to do the
job but also continue to grow and develop new skills in their job. This results in higher productivity for the
organization. Training is also a key component in employee motivation. Employees who feel they are developing
their skills tend to be happier in their jobs, which results in increased employee retention. Examples of training
programs might include the following:
• Job skills training, such as how to run a particular computer program
• Training on communication
• Team-building activities
• Policy and legal training, such as sexual harassment training and ethics training
We address each of these types of training and more in detail in Chapter 8 “Training and Development”.
Dealing with Laws Affecting EmploymentDealing with Laws Affecting Employment
Human resource people must be aware of all the laws that affect the workplace. An HRM professional might work
with some of these laws:
• Discrimination laws
• Health-care requirements
• Compensation requirements such as the minimum wage
• Worker safety laws
• Labor laws
The legal environment of HRM is always changing, so HRM must always be aware of changes taking place and
then communicate those changes to the entire management organization. Rather than presenting a chapter focused
on HRM laws, we will address these laws in each relevant chapter.
Worker ProtectionWorker Protection
Safety is a major consideration in all organizations. Oftentimes new laws are created with the goal of setting
federal or state standards to ensure worker safety. Unions and union contracts can also impact the requirements
for worker safety in a workplace. It is up to the human resource manager to be aware of worker protection
requirements and ensure the workplace is meeting both federal and union standards. Worker protection issues
might include the following:
• Chemical hazards
1 . 1 W H A T I S H U M A N R E S O U R C E S ? • 5
• Heating and ventilation requirements
• Use of “no fragrance” zones
• Protection of private employee information
We take a closer look at these issues in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions” and Chapter 13 “Safety and
Health at Work”.
Figure 1.1
Caption: Knowing the law regarding worker protection is generally the job of human resources. In some
industries it is extremely important; in fact, it can mean life or death.
ReSurge International – Tom Davenport Operating On A Patient – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
CommunicationCommunication
Besides these major roles, good communication skills and excellent management skills are key to successful
human resource management as well as general management. We discuss these issues in Chapter 9 “Successful
Employee Communication”.
Awareness of External FactorsAwareness of External Factors
In addition to managing internal factors, the HR manager needs to consider the outside forces at play that may
affect the organization. Outside forces, or external factors, are those things the company has no direct control
6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
over; however, they may be things that could positively or negatively impact human resources. External factors
might include the following:
1. Globalization and offshoring
2. Changes to employment law
3. Health-care costs
4. Employee expectations
5. Diversity of the workforce
6. Changing demographics of the workforce
7. A more highly educated workforce
8. Layoffs and downsizing
9. Technology used, such as HR databases
10. Increased use of social networking to distribute information to employees
For example, the recent trend in flexible work schedules (allowing employees to set their own schedules) and
telecommuting (allowing employees to work from home or a remote location for a specified period of time, such
as one day per week) are external factors that have affected HR. HRM has to be aware of these outside issues,
so they can develop policies that meet not only the needs of the company but also the needs of the individuals.
Another example is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010. Compliance with
this bill has huge implications for HR. For example, a company with more than fifty employees must provide
health-care coverage or pay a penalty. Currently, it is estimated that 60 percent of employers offer health-care
insurance to their employees (Cappelli, 2010). Because health-care insurance will be mandatory, cost concerns
as well as using health benefits as a recruitment strategy are big external challenges. Any manager operating
without considering outside forces will likely alienate employees, resulting in unmotivated, unhappy workers. Not
understanding the external factors can also mean breaking the law, which has a concerning set of implications as
well.
Figure 1.2
1 . 1 W H A T I S H U M A N R E S O U R C E S ? • 7
An understanding of key external factors is important to the successful HR professional. This allows him
or her to be able to make strategic decisions based on changes in the external environment. To develop this
understanding, reading various publications is necessary.
One way managers can be aware of the outside forces is to attend conferences and read various articles on the
web. For example, the website of the Society for Human Resource Management, SHRM Online1, not only has job
postings in the field but discusses many contemporary human resource issues that may help the manager make
better decisions when it comes to people management. In Section 1.3 “Today’s HRM Challenges”, we go into
more depth about some recent external issues that are affecting human resource management roles. In Section
1.1.2 “The Role of HRM”, we discuss some of the skills needed to be successful in HRM.
Figure 1.3
8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Most professionals agree that there are seven main tasks HRM professionals perform. All these need to be
considered in relation to external and outside forces.
Key Takeaways
• Capital includes all resources a company uses to generate revenue. Human resources or the peopleworking in the organization are the most important resource.
• Human resource management is the process of employing people, training them, compensatingthem, developing policies relating to the workplace, and developing strategies to retain employees.
• There are seven main responsibilities of HRM managers: staffing, setting policies, compensation andbenefits, retention, training, employment laws, and worker protection. In this book, each of thesemajor areas will be included in a chapter or two.
• In addition to being concerned with the seven internal aspects, HRM managers must keep up to datewith changes in the external environment that may impact their employees. The trends towardflexible schedules and telecommuting are examples of external aspects.
• To effectively understand how the external forces might affect human resources, it is important for
1 . 1 W H A T I S H U M A N R E S O U R C E S ? • 9
the HR manager to read the HR literature, attend conferences, and utilize other ways to stay up todate with new laws, trends, and policies.
Exercises
1. State arguments for and against the following statement: there are other things more valuable in anorganization besides the people who work there.
2. Of the seven tasks an HR manager does, which do you think is the most challenging? Why?
1Society for Human Resource Management, accessed August 18, 2011, http://www.shrm.org/Pages/default.aspx.
ReferencesReferences
Cappelli, P., “HR Implications of Healthcare Reform,” Human Resource Executive Online, March 29, 2010,
accessed August 18, 2011, http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=379096509.
Frasch, K. B., David Shadovitz, and Jared Shelly, “There’s No Whining in HR,” Human Resource Executive
Online, June 30, 2009, accessed September 24, 2010, http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/
story.jsp?storyId=227738167.
Rivenbark, L., “The 7 Hidden Reasons Why Employees Leave,” HR Magazine, May 2005, accessed October 10,
2010, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_5_50/ai_n13721406.
1 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
1.2 Skills Needed for HRM
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the professional and personal skills needed to be successful in HRM.
1. Be able to define human resource management and the certifications that can be achieved in thisprofession.
One of the major factors of a successful manager or human resource (HR) manager is an array of skills to deal
with a variety of situations. It simply isn’t enough to have knowledge of HR, such as knowing which forms need
to be filled out. It takes multiple skills to create and manage people, as well as a cutting-edge human resource
department.
The first skill needed is organization. The need for this skill makes sense, given that you are managing people’s
pay, benefits, and careers. Having organized files on your computer and good time-management skills are crucial
for success in any job, but especially if you take on a role in human resources.
Like most jobs, being able to multitask—that is, work on more than one task at a time—is important in managing
human resources. A typical person managing human resources may have to deal with an employee issue one
minute, then switch and deal with recruiting. Unlike many management positions, which only focus on one task
or one part of the business, human resources focuses on all areas of the business, where multitasking is a must.
As trite as it may sound, people skills are necessary in any type of management and perhaps might be the most
important skills for achieving success at any job. Being able to manage a variety of personalities, deal with
conflict, and coach others are all in the realm of people management. The ability to communicate goes along with
people skills. The ability to communicate good news (hiring a new employee), bad news (layoffs), and everything
in between, such as changes to policy, makes for an excellent manager and human resource management (HRM)
professional.
Keys to a successful career in HRM or management include understanding specific job areas, such as managing
the employee database, understanding employment laws, and knowing how to write and develop a strategic plan
that aligns with the business. All these skills will be discussed in this book.
11
A strategic mind-set as an HR professional is a key skill as well. A person with a strategic mind-set can plan far
in advance and look at trends that could affect the environment in which the business is operating. Too often,
managers focus on their own area and not enough on the business as a whole. The strategic HR professional is
able to not only work within his or her area but also understand how HR fits into the bigger picture of the business.
Ethics and a sense of fairness are also necessary in human resources. Ethics is a concept that examines the
moral rights and wrongs of a certain situation. Consider the fact that many HR managers negotiate salary and
union contracts and manage conflict. In addition, HR managers have the task of ensuring compliance with ethics
standards within the organization. Many HR managers are required to work with highly confidential information,
such as salary information, so a sense of ethics when managing this information is essential. We discuss ethics
from the organizational perspective in Section 1.1.2 “The Role of HRM”.
Dilbert and the Evil HR DirectorDilbert and the Evil HR Director
(click to see video)
Ethics is perhaps one of the most important aspects to being a great HR professional. This humorous video shows
how unethical behavior can undermine motivation at work.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Think of your current skills. Are there personal or professional skills you would like to work on?
Finally, while we can list a few skills that are important, understanding the particular business, knowing the
business strategy, and being able to think critically about how HR can align itself with the strategy are ways
to ensure HR departments are critical parts of the business. HR is a specialized area, much like accounting or
finance. However, many individuals are placed in HR roles without having the specific knowledge to do the
job. Oftentimes people with excellent skills are promoted to management and then expected (if the company is
small) to perform recruiting, hiring, and compensation tasks. This is the reason we will refer to management
and HR management interchangeably throughout the chapters. In addition, these skills are important for HRM
professionals and managers alike.
Having said that, for those of you wanting a career in HRM, there are three exams you can take to show your
mastery of HRM material:
1. Professional in Human Resources (PHR). To take this exam, an HR professional must have at least two
years’ experience. The exam is four hours long and consists of 225 multiple-choice questions in a variety of
areas. Twelve percent of the test focuses on strategic management, 26 percent on workforce planning, 17
percent on human resource development, 16 percent on rewards, 22 percent on employee and labor
relations, and 7 percent on risk management. The application process for taking the exam is given on the
Human Resource Certification Institute website at http://www.hrci.org.
2. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). This exam is designed for HR professionals who
focus on designing and planning, rather than actual implementation. It is recommended that the person
1 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
taking this exam has six to eight years of experience and oversees and manages an HR department. In this
test, the greater focus is on the strategic aspect of HRM.
3. Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). This exam is for HR professionals who perform
many of their tasks on a global level and whose companies often work across borders. This exam is three
hours long, with 165 multiple-choice questions. A person with two years of professional experience can
take the certification test. However, because the test has the international aspect, someone who designs HR-
related programs and processes to achieve business goals would be best suited to earn this certification.
The benefits of achieving certifications are great. In addition to demonstrating the abilities of the HR professional,
certification allows the professional to be more marketable in a very competitive field.
Figure 1.4
Caption: Perhaps one of the most important skills in any kind of management is the ability to
communicate.
Baltic Development Forum – Kristovskis-meeting-41.jpg – CC BY 2.0.
Most companies need a human resource department or a manager with HR skills. The industries and job titles are
so varied that it is possible only to list general job titles in human resources:
1. Recruiter
2. Compensation analyst
3. Human resources assistant
1 . 2 S K I L L S N E E D E D F O R H R M • 1 3
4. Employee relations manager
5. Benefits manager
6. Work-life coordinator
7. Training and development manager
8. Human resources manager
9. Vice president for human resources
This is not an exhaustive list, but it can be a starting point for research on this career path.
People Skills in HRPeople Skills in HR
(click to see video)
This chapter makes the point that communication and people skills, or “soft skills,” are necessary to be successful
in any job. This video addresses the importance of these skills.
Key Takeaways
• There are a number of skills crucial to human resource management. First, being able to organizeand multitask is necessary. In this job, files must be managed, and an HR manager is constantlyworking in different areas of the business.
• Communication skills are necessary in HRM as well. The ability to present good and bad news,work with a variety of personalities, and coach employees is important in HRM.
• Specific job skills, such as computer skills, knowledge of employment law, writing and developingstrategic plans, and general critical-thinking skills are important in any type of management, butespecially in human resource management.
• A sense of fairness and strong ethics will make for the best HR manager. Because HR works with avariety of departments to manage conflict and negotiate union contracts and salary, the HRprofessional needs ethics skills and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Since one of the major responsibilities of an HR department is to align the HR strategic plan with thebusiness strategic plan, critical and creative thinking, as well as writing, are skills that will benefitthe HR manager as well.
• Many people find themselves in the role of HR manager, so we will use the term HR managerthroughout this book. However, many other types of managers also perform the tasks of recruiting,selecting, and compensating, making this book and the skills listed in this section applicable to allmajors.
• Certification exams can be taken to make you more marketable in the field of HRM. Thesecertifications are offered by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).
1 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Exercise
1. What are your perceptions of what an HR manager does on a day-to-day basis? Research this jobtitle and describe your findings. Is this the type of job you expected?
1 . 2 S K I L L S N E E D E D F O R H R M • 1 5
1.3 Today’s HRM Challenges
If you were to ask most business owners what their biggest challenges are, they will likely tell you that cost
management is a major factor to the success or failure of their business. In most businesses today, the people part
of the business is the most likely place for cuts when the economy isn’t doing well.
Consider the expenses that involve the people part of any business:
1. Health-care benefits
2. Training costs
3. Hiring process costs
4. And many more…
These costs cut into the bottom line of any business. The trick is to figure out how much, how many, or how often
benefits should be offered, without sacrificing employee motivation. A company can cut costs by not offering
benefits or 401(k) plans, but if its goal is to hire the best people, a hiring package without these items will most
certainly not get the best people. Containment of costs, therefore, is a balancing act. An HR manager must offer
as much as he or she can to attract and retain employees, but not offer too much, as this can put pressure on the
company’s bottom line. We will discuss ways to alleviate this concern throughout this book.
For example, there are three ways to cut costs associated with health care:
1. Shift more of the cost of health care to employees
2. Reduce the benefits offered to cut costs
3. Change or better negotiate the plan to reduce health-care costs
Health care costs companies approximately $4,003 per year for a single employee and $9,764 for families. This
equals roughly 83 percent and 73 percent of total health-care costs for single employees and employees with
families1, respectively. One possible strategy for containment for health-care plans is to implement a cafeteria
plan. Cafeteria plans started becoming popular in the 1980s and have become standard in many organizations
(Allen, 2010). This type of plan gives all employees a minimum level of benefits and a set amount to spend
on flexible benefits, such as additional health care or vacation time. It creates more flexible benefits, allowing
the employee, based on his or her family situation, to choose which benefits are right for them. For example, a
mother of two may choose to spend her flexible benefits on health care for her children, while a single, childless
16
female may opt for more vacation days. In other words, these plans offer flexibility, while saving money, too. Cost
containment strategies around benefits will be discussed in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”.
Another way to contain costs is by offering training. While this may seem counterintuitive, as training does
cost money up front, it can actually save money in the long run. Consider how expensive a sexual harassment
lawsuit or wrongful termination lawsuit might be. For example, a Sonic Drive-In was investigated by the Equal
Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) on behalf of seventy women who worked there, and it was found
that a manager at one of the stores subjected the victims to inappropriate touching and comments. This lawsuit
cost the organization $2 million2. Some simple training up front (costing less than the lawsuit) likely would have
prevented this from happening. Training employees and management on how to work within the law, thereby
reducing legal exposure, is a great way for HR to cut costs for the organization as a whole. In Chapter 8 “Training
and Development”, we will further discuss how to organize, set up, and measure the success of a training program.
The hiring process and the cost of turnover in an organization can be very expensive. Turnover refers to the
number of employees who leave a company in a particular period of time. By creating a recruiting and selection
process with cost containment in mind, HR can contribute directly to cost-containment strategies company wide.
In fact, the cost of hiring an employee or replacing an old one (turnover) can be as high as $9,777 for a position
that pays $60,000 (Del Monte, 2010). By hiring smart the first time, HR managers can contain costs for their
organization. This will be discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” and Chapter 5 “Selection”. Reducing turnover
includes employee motivational strategies. This will be addressed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”.
In a survey reported on by the Sales and Marketing Management newsletter3, 85 percent of managers say that
ineffective communication is the cause of lost revenue. E-mail, instant messaging, text messages, and meetings
are all examples of communication in business. An understanding of communication styles, personality styles, and
channels of communication can help us be more effective in our communications, resulting in cost containment.
In HRM, we can help ensure our people have the tools to communicate better, and contain costs and save dollars
in doing so. Some of these tools for better communication will be addressed in Chapter 9 “Successful Employee
Communication”.
One cost-containment strategy for US businesses has been offshoring. Offshoring refers to the movement of jobs
overseas to contain costs. It is estimated that 3.3 million US jobs will be moved overseas by 2015 (Agrawal &
Farrell, 2003). According to the US Census Bureau, most of these jobs are Information Technology (IT) jobs
as well as manufacturing jobs. This issue is unique to HR, as the responsibility for developing training for new
workers and laying off domestic workers will often fall under the realm of HRM. Offshoring will be discussed
in Chapter 14 “International HRM”, and training for new workers will be discussed in Chapter 8 “Training and
Development”.
Figure 1.5
1 . 3 T O D A Y ’ S H R M C H A L L E N G E S • 1 7
Caption: One of the biggest contemporary challenges in HRM is figuring out the balance between what
benefits to offer versus the impact those benefits have on employee motivation.
winnifredxoxo – balance scale – CC BY 2.0.
Of course, cost containment isn’t only up to HRM and managers, but as organizations look at various ways to
contain costs, human resources can certainly provide solutions.
TechnologyTechnology
Technology has greatly impacted human resources and will continue to do so as new technology is developed.
Through use of technology, many companies have virtual workforces that perform tasks from nearly all corners
of the world. When employees are not located just down the hall, management of these human resources creates
some unique challenges. For example, technology creates an even greater need to have multicultural or diversity
understanding. Since many people will work with individuals from across the globe, cultural sensitivity and
understanding is the only way to ensure the use of technology results in increased productivity rather than
decreased productivity due to miscommunications. Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism” and Chapter 14
“International HRM” will discuss some specific diversity issues surrounding a global workforce.
Technology also creates a workforce that expects to be mobile. Because of the ability to work from home or
anywhere else, many employees may request and even demand a flexible schedule to meet their own family and
personal needs. Productivity can be a concern for all managers in the area of flextime, and another challenge is the
fairness to other workers when one person is offered a flexible schedule. Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”
and Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation” will discuss flextime as a way to reward employees. Many companies,
however, are going a step further and creating virtual organizations, which don’t have a physical location (cost
1 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
containment) and allow all employees to work from home or the location of their choice. As you can imagine, this
creates concerns over productivity and communication within the organization.
The use of smartphones and social networking has impacted human resources, as many companies now
disseminate information to employees via these methods. Of course, technology changes constantly, so the
methods used today will likely be different one year or even six months from now.
The large variety of databases available to perform HR tasks is mind boggling. For example, databases are used
to track employee data, compensation, and training. There are also databases available to track the recruiting and
hiring processes. We will discuss more about technology in HR in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” through Chapter 8
“Training and Development”.
Of course, the major challenge with technology is its constantly changing nature, which can impact all practices
in HRM.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Too Many Friends
You are the HR manager for a small company, consisting of twenty-three people plus the two owners, Steve
and Corey. Every time you go into Steve’s office, you see he is on Facebook. Because he is Facebook friends
with several people in the organization, you have also heard he constantly updates his status and uploads pictures
during work time. Then, at meetings, Steve will ask employees if they saw the pictures he recently uploaded from
his vacation, weekend, or backpacking trip. One employee, Sam, comes to you with a concern about this. “I am
just trying to do my job, but I feel if I don’t look at his photos, he may not think I am a good employee,” she says.
How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1371241/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1371241/embed.
Cyberloafing, a term used to describe lost productivity as a result of an employee using a work computer for
personal reasons, is another concern created by technology. One study performed by Nucleus Research found
that the average worker uses Facebook for fifteen minutes per day, which results in an average loss of 1.5
percent of productivity4. Some workers, in fact, use Facebook over two hours per day during working hours.
Restricting or blocking access to the Internet, however, can result in angry employees and impact motivation at
work. Motivational factors will be discussed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”.
Technology can create additional stress for workers. Increased job demands, constant change, constant e-mailing
and texting, and the physical aspects of sitting in front of a computer can be not only stressful but also physically
harmful to employees. Chapter 13 “Safety and Health at Work” will deal with some of these stress issues, as well
as safety issues such as carpal tunnel, which can occur as a result of technology in the workplace. More on health
and safety will be covered in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance”.
1 . 3 T O D A Y ’ S H R M C H A L L E N G E S • 1 9
The EconomyThe Economy
Tough economic times in a country usually results in tough times for business, too. High unemployment and
layoffs are clearly HRM and managerial issues. If a human resource manager works for a unionized company,
union contracts are the guiding source when having to downsize owing to a tough economy. We will discuss
union contracts in greater detail in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”. Besides union restrictions,
legal restrictions on who is let go and the process followed to let someone go should be on the forefront of
any manager’s mind when he or she is required to lay off people because of a poor economy. Dealing with
performance issues and measuring performance can be considerations when it is necessary to lay off employees.
These issues will be discussed in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance” and Chapter 11 “Employee
Assessment”.
Likewise, in a growth economy, the HR manager may experience a different kind of stress. Massive hiring to meet
demand might occur if the economy is doing well. For example, McDonald’s restaurants had to fill six hundred
positions throughout Las Vegas and held hiring day events in 20105. Imagine the process of hiring this many
people in a short period of time The same recruiting and selection processes used under normal circumstances will
be helpful in mass hiring situations. Recruiting and selection will be discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” and
Chapter 5 “Selection”.
The Changing and Diverse WorkforceThe Changing and Diverse Workforce
Human resources should be aware that the workforce is constantly changing. For example, in the 2010 census,
the national population was 308,745,538, with 99,531,000 in 2010 working full time, down from 2008 when
106,648,000 were working full time6. For full-time workers, the average weekly salary was higher the more
educated the worker. See Figure 1.6 for details.
Figure 1.6
The average weekly earnings for workers in the United States increase with more education.
Source: Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers,”
Table 5, Economic News Release, July 20, 2010, accessed August 19, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/
2010/ted_20100726_data.htm.
2 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
Multigenerational is here to stay, and Xerox is the leader in recruiting of Generation Y talent. This agegroup has been moving into the labor market over the last six years, and this major demographic change,along with the retirement of baby boomers, has many companies thinking. Fortune 500 companies knowthey must find out where their new stars are coming from. In recruiting this new talent, Xerox isn’tlooking to old methods, because they know each generation is different. For example, Xerox developed the“Express Yourself” recruiting campaign, which is geared around a core value of this generation, to developsolutions and change. Joe Hammill, the director of talent acquisition, says, “Gen Y is very important.Xerox and other companies view this emerging workforce as the future of our organization” (Armour,2005). Besides the new recruiting campaign, recruiters are working at what they term “core colleges”—thatis, those that produce the kind of talent they need. For example, they developed recruitment campaignswith specific institutions such as the Rochester Institute of Technology because of its strong engineeringand printing science programs. On their company website, they have a specific tab for the recent collegegraduate, emphasizing core values of this generation, including the ability to contribute, support, and buildskills. With its understanding of multicultural generations, Xerox has created a talent pool for years tocome.
It is expected that over the next ten years, over 40 percent of the workforce will retire, and there will not be enough
younger workers to take the jobs once held by the retiring workforce (Fernandez, 2007). In fact, the American
Society of Training and Development says that in the next twenty years, seventy-six million Americans will retire,
and only forty-six million will replace them. As you can imagine, this will create a unique staffing obstacle for
human resources and managers alike, as they try to find talented people in a pool that doesn’t have enough people
to perform necessary jobs. The reason for this increase in retirement is the aging baby boomers. Baby boomers
can be defined as those born between the years 1946 and 1964, according to the Census Bureau. They are called
the baby boomers because there was a large increase of babies born after soldiers came back from World War II.
Baby boomers account for seventy-six million people in the United States in 2011, the same year in which the
first of the baby boomers have started to retire.
The impact of the baby boomer generation on our country and on human resource management is huge. First, the
retirement of baby boomers results in a loss of a major part of the working population, and there are not enough
people to fill those jobs that are left vacant. Second, the baby boomers’ knowledge is lost upon their retirement.
Much of this knowledge isn’t formalized or written down, but it contributes to the success of business. Third,
elderly people are living longer, and this results in higher health-care costs for all currently in the workforce. It is
estimated that three out of five baby boomers do not have enough money saved for retirement (Weisenthal, 2010),
meaning that many of them will depend on Social Security payments to meet basic needs. However, since the
Social Security system is a pay-as-you-go system (i.e., those paying into the system now are paying for current
retirees), there may not be enough current workers to cover the current Social Security needs. In fact, in 1950 there
were 16 workers to support each Social Security beneficiary, but today there are only 3.3 workers supporting each
beneficiary (Wenning, 2010). The implications can mean that more will be paid by current workers to support
retirees.
As a result of the aging workforce, human resources should keep abreast of changes in Social Security legislation
and health-care costs, which will be discussed in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”. In addition, human
1 . 3 T O D A Y ’ S H R M C H A L L E N G E S • 2 1
resource managers should review current workers’ skill levels and monitor retirements and skills lost upon
those retirements, which is part of strategic planning. This will be discussed in Chapter 2 “Developing and
Implementing Strategic HRM Plans”. Having knowledge about current workers and skills, as well as predicting
future workforce needs, will be necessary to deal with the challenges of an aging workforce.
Figure 1.7
Developing an HR strategy around retirement of workers is a key factor in working with a
multigenerational workforce. In addition, HR must understand the various psychologies of varying ages of
workers and develop benefits and compensation that meet the needs of all generations.
Christopher Schwarzkopf – Wikimedia Diversity Conference 2013 – CC BY-SA 3.0.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Have you ever worked in a multigenerational organization? What were some of the challenges in workingwith people who may have grown up in a different era?
Another challenge, besides lack of workers, is the multigenerational workforce. Employees between the ages of
seventeen and sixty-eight have different values and different expectations of their jobs. Any manager who tries to
manage these workers from varying generations will likely have some challenges. Even compensation preferences
are different among generations. For example, the traditional baby boomer built a career during a time of pensions
and strongly held values of longevity and loyalty to a company. Compare the benefit needs of this person to
someone who is younger and expects to save through a 401(k) plan, and it is clear that the needs and expectations
are different(Capezza, 2010). Throughout this book, we will discuss compensation and motivational strategies for
the multigenerational workforce.
2 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Awareness of the diversity of the workforce will be discussed in Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”,
but laws regarding diversity will be discussed throughout the book. Diversity refers to age, disability, race, sex,
national origin, and religion. Each of these components makes up the productive workforce, and each employee
has different needs, wants, and goals. This is why it is imperative for the HRM professional to understand how
to motivate the workforce, while ensuring that no laws are broken. We will discuss laws regarding diversity
(and the components of diversity, such as disabilities) in Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”, Chapter 4
“Recruitment”, Chapter 5 “Selection”, Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, and Chapter 7 “Retention and
Motivation”.
Figure 1.8 Demographic Data for the United States by Race
Source: Map courtesy of the US Census Department.
EthicsEthics
A discussion of ethics is necessary when considering challenges of human resources. Much of the discussion
surrounding ethics happened after the early to mid-2000s, when several companies were found to have engaged
in gross unethical and illegal conduct, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars from shareholders. Consider the
statistics: only 25 percent of employees trusted their CEO to tell the truth, and 80 percent of people said that
employers have a moral responsibility to society7. Based on these numbers, an ethical workplace is important
not only for shareholder satisfaction but for employee satisfaction as well. Companies are seeing the value of
implementing ethics codes within the business.
Many human resource departments have the responsibility of designing codes of ethics and developing policies
for ethical decision making. Some organizations hire ethics officers to specifically focus on this area of the
business. Out of four hundred companies surveyed, 48 percent had an ethics officer, who reported to either
the CEO or the HR executive (McGraw, 2011). According to Steve Miranda, chief human resources officer for
the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), “[the presence of an ethics officer] provides a high-
1 . 3 T O D A Y ’ S H R M C H A L L E N G E S • 2 3
level individual with positional authority who can ensure that policies, practices, and guidelines are effectively
communicated across the organization” (McGraw, 2011).
For example, the insurance company Allstate recently hired a chief ethics and compliance officer (CECO) who
offers a series of workshops geared toward leaders in the organization, because they believe that maintaining high
ethical standards starts at the top of an organization. In addition, the CECO monitors reports of ethics complaints
within the organization and trains employees on the code of ethics or code of conduct (McGraw, 2011). A code of
ethics is an outline that explains the expected ethical behavior of employees. For example, General Electric (GE)
has a sixty-four-page code of conduct that outlines the expected ethics, defines them, and provides information on
penalties for not adhering to the code. The code of conduct is presented below. Of course, simply having a written
code of ethics does little to encourage positive behavior, so many organizations (such as GE) offer stiff penalties
for ethics violations. Developing policies, monitoring behavior, and informing people of ethics are necessary to
ensure a fair and legal business.
The following is an outline of GE’s code of conduct8:
• Obey the applicable laws and regulations governing our business conduct worldwide.
• Be honest, fair, and trustworthy in all your GE activities and relationships.
• Avoid all conflicts of interest between work and personal affairs.
• Foster an atmosphere in which fair employment practices extend to every member of the diverse GE
community.
• Strive to create a safe workplace and to protect the environment.
• Through leadership at all levels, sustain a culture where ethical conduct is recognized, valued, and
exemplified by all employees.
Key Takeaways
• One of the most important aspects to productive HRM is to ensure the department adds value to therest of the organization, based on the organization’s strategic plan.
• One of the major challenges of HRM is containment of costs. This can be done in several ways, forexample, in the way health care and benefits are offered. Many companies are developing cafeteriaplans that satisfy the employee and help contain costs.
• HRM can also contain costs by developing and managing training programs and ensuring employeesare well trained to be productive in the job.
• Hiring is a very expensive part of human resources, and therefore HRM should take steps to ensurethey are hiring the right people for the job the first time. Turnover is a term used to describe thedeparture of an employee.
• Poor communication results in wasting time and resources. We can communicate better byunderstanding communication channels, personalities, and styles.
• Technology is also a challenge to be met by human resources. For example, employees may request
2 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
alternative work schedules because they can use technology at home to get their work done.
• Because technology is part of our work life, cyberloafing, or employees spending too much time onthe Internet, creates new challenges for managers. Technology can also create challenges such asworkplace stress and lack of work-life balance.
• The economy is a major factor in human resource management. HR managers, no matter what thestate of the economy, must plan effectively to make sure they have the right number of workers atthe right time. When we deal with a down economy, the legal and union implications of layoffs mustbe considered, and in an up economy, hiring of workers to meet the internal demand is necessary.
• The retirement of baby boomers is creating a gap in the workplace, related to not only the number ofpeople available but also the skills people have. Multigenerational companies, or companies withworkers of a variety of ages, must find ways to motivate employees, even though those employeesmay have different needs. HR must be aware of this and continually plan for the challenge of achanging workforce. Diversity in the workplace is an important challenge in human resourcemanagement. Diversity will be discussed in Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”.
• Ethics and monitoring of ethical behavior are also challenges in HRM. Setting ethical standards andmonitoring ethical behavior, including developing a code of conduct, is a must for any successfulbusiness.
Exercises
1. Research the various generations: baby boomers, Generation X, and the Y Generation(millennials). Compare and contrast five differences between the generations. How might thesedifferences impact HRM?
2. Review news articles on the current state of the economy. Which aspects of these articles do youthink can relate to HRM?
1“Use Three Strategies to Cut Health Care Costs,” Business Management Daily, September 9, 2010, accessed
October 10, 2010, http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/articles/23381/1/Use-3-strategies-to-cut-health-
care-costs/Page1.html.
2“LL Sonic Settles EEOC Lawsuit for $2 Million,” Valencia County News Bulletin, June 23, 2011.
3“The Cost of Poor Communications,” Sales and Marketing, December 22, 2006, accessed October 1, 2010,
http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/4278862-1.html.
4“Facebook Use Cuts Productivity at Work,” Economic Times, July 25, 2009, accessed October 4, 2010,
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/Facebook-use-cuts-productivity-at-work-Study/articleshow/
4818848.cms.
5“McDonald’s Readies for Massive Hiring Spree,” Fox 5 News, Las Vegas, May 2010, accessed October 5, 2010,
http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/23661640/detail.html (site discontinued).
1 . 3 T O D A Y ’ S H R M C H A L L E N G E S • 2 5
6Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey Report, accessed July 7, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/cps/
earnings.htm#education.
7Strategic Management Partners, “Unethical Statistics Announced At Business Leaders Event,” news release,
http://www.consult-smp.com/archives/2005/02/unethical_stati.html, accessed August 31, 2011.
8“The Spirit and the Letter,” General Electric Company, accessed August 10, 2011, http://files.gecompany.com/
gecom/citizenship/pdfs/TheSpirit&TheLetter.pdf.
ReferencesReferences
Agrawal, V. and Diana Farrell, “Who Wins in Offshoring?” in “Global Directions,” special issue, McKinsey
Quarterly, (2003): 36–41, https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Who_wins_in_offshoring_1363.
Allen, M., Benefits, Buffet Style—Flexible Plans,” Nation’s Business, January 1997, accessed October 1, 2010,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1154/is_v75/ai_4587731.
Armour, S., “Generation Y: They’ve Arrived at Work with a New Attitude,” USA Today, November 6, 2005.
Capezza, M., “Employee Benefits in a Multigenerational Workplace,” EpsteinBeckerGreen, August 12, 2010,
accessed October 6, 2010, http://www.ebglaw.com/showNewsletter.aspx?Show=13313.
Del Monte, J., “Cost of Hiring and Turnover,” JDA Professional Services, Inc., 2010, accessed October 1, 2010,
http://www.jdapsi.com/Client/articles/coh.
Fernandez, A., “Training the Aging Workforce,” SharpBrains, August 10, 2007, accessed October 6, 2010,
McGraw, M., “The HR-Ethics Alliance,” HR Executive Online, June 16, 2011, accessed July 7, 2011,
http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=533339153.
Weisenthal, J., “3 of 5 Baby Boomers Don’t Have Enough for Retirement,” Business Insider Magazine, August
16, 2010, http://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-cutting-back-2010-8.
Wenning, B., “Baby Boomer Retirement May Be a Bust,” Metrowest News Daily, March 21, 2010.
2 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
1.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Human resource management is the process of employing people, training them, compensatingthem, developing policies relating to the workplace, and developing strategies to retain employees.Three certification exams, which are offered by the Human Resource Certification Institute, can betaken to show HRM skills and become more marketable.
• Human resource management involves seven main areas: (1) staffing, (2) workplace policies, (3)benefits and compensation, (4) retention, (5) training, (6) employment laws, and (7) employeeprotection.
• Human resource managers need many different types of skills. Being able to organize, multitask, andcommunicate effectively, as well as having specific job skills, such as how to run a particularcomputer program, and a sense of fairness and ethics, is crucial to a successful career in HRM.
• There are many contemporary challenges associated with HRM. First, it is up to everyone in theorganization to contain costs. HR managers need to look at their individual departments anddemonstrate the necessity and value of their functions to the organization. HR managers can alsohelp contain costs in several ways, such as managing benefits plans and compensation and providingtraining.
• The fast-changing nature of technology is also a challenge in HRM. As new technologies aredeveloped, employees may be able to implement innovative ways of working such as flextime. HRmanagers are also responsible for developing policies dealing with cyberloafing and other workplacetime wasters revolving around technology. Employee stress and lack of work-life balance are alsogreatly influenced by technology.
• Awareness of the changes in the economy allows the human resource manager to adequately plan forreductions and additions to the workforce.
• The aging and changing workforce is our final factor. As baby boomers retire, there likely will notbe enough people to replace them, and many of the skills the baby boomers have may be lost. Inaddition, having to work with multiple generations at once can create challenges as differentexpectations and needs arise from multigenerational workforces.
Chapter Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
27
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Changes, Changes
Jennifer, the owner and manager of a company with ten employees, has hired you to take over the HRMfunction so she can focus on other areas of her business. During your first two weeks, you find out thatthe company has been greatly affected by the up economy and is expected to experience overall revenuegrowth by 10 percent over the next three years, with some quarters seeing growth as high as 30 percent.However, five of the ten workers are expected to retire within three years. These workers have been withthe organization since the beginning and provide a unique historical perspective of the company. The otherfive workers are of diverse ages.
In addition to these changes, Jennifer believes they may be able to save costs by allowing employees totelecommute one to two days per week. She has some concerns about productivity if she allows employeesto work from home. Despite these concerns, Jennifer has even considered closing down the physical officeand making her company a virtual organization, but she wonders how such a major change will affect theability to communicate and worker motivation.
Jennifer shares with you her thoughts about the costs of health care on the organization. She has consideredcutting benefits entirely and having her employees work for her on a contract basis, instead of being full-time employees. She isn’t sure if this would be a good choice.
Jennifer schedules a meeting with you to discuss some of her thoughts. To prepare for the meeting, youperform research so you can impress your new boss with recommendations on the challenges presented.
1. Point out which changes are occurring in the business that affect HRM.
2. What are some considerations the company and HR should be aware of when making changesrelated to this case study?
3. What would the initial steps be to start planning for these changes?
4. What would your role be in implementing these changes? What would Jennifer’s role be?
Team ActivitiesTeam Activities
1. In a group of two to three people, research possible career paths in HRM and prepare aPowerPoint presentation to discuss your findings.
2. Interview an HR manager and discuss his or her career path, skills, and daily tasks. Present yourfindings to your class.
2 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Chapter 2: Developing and ImplementingStrategic HRM Plans
The Value of PlanningThe Value of Planning
James stumbled into his position as the human resource manager. He had been working for Techno, Inc. for
three years, and when the company grew, James moved from a management position into a human resource
management position. Techno, Inc. is a technology and software consulting company for the music industry.
James didn’t have a good handle on how to effectively run a human resources (HR) department, so for much of the
time he tried to figure it out as he went. When Techno started seeing rapid growth, he hired thirty people within a
one-month period to meet the demand. Proud of his ability to accomplish his task of meeting the business’s current
needs, James was rather pleased with himself. He had spent numerous hours mulling over recruitment strategies,
putting together excellent compensation plans, and then eventually sifting through résumés as a small part of the
hiring process. Now the organization had the right number of people needed to carry out its projects.
Fast forward five months, however, and it turned out the rapid growth was only temporary. James met with the
executives of the business who told him the contracts they had acquired were finished, and there wasn’t enough
new work coming in to make payroll next month if they didn’t let some people go. James felt frustrated because
he had gone through so much effort to hire people, and now they would be laid off. Never mind the costs of hiring
and training his department had taken on to make this happen. As James sat with the executives to determine who
should be laid off, he felt sad for the people who had given up other jobs just five months before, only to be laid
off.
After the meeting, James reflected on this situation and realized that if he had spoken with the executives of
the company sooner, they would have shared information on the duration of the contracts, and he likely would
have hired people differently, perhaps on a contract basis rather than on a full-time basis. He also considered the
fact that the organization could have hired an outsourcing company to recruit workers for him. As Jason mulled
this over, he realized that he needed a strategic plan to make sure his department was meeting the needs of the
organization. He vowed to work with the company executives to find out more about the company’s strategic plan
and then develop a human resource management (HRM) strategic plan to make sure Techno, Inc. has the right
number of workers with the right skills, at the right time in the future.
29
HRM PlanningHRM Planning
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on HRM planning.
3 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2.1 Strategic Planning
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the differences been HRM and personnel management.
2. Be able to define the steps in HRM strategic planning.
In the past, human resource management (HRM) was called the personnel department. In the past, the personnel
department hired people and dealt with the hiring paperwork and processes. It is believed the first human
resource department was created in 1901 by the National Cash Register Company (NCR). The company faced
a major strike but eventually defeated the union after a lockout. (We address unions in Chapter 12 “Working
with Labor Unions”.) After this difficult battle, the company president decided to improve worker relations by
organizing a personnel department to handle grievances, discharges, safety concerns, and other employee issues.
The department also kept track of new legislation surrounding laws impacting the organization. Many other
companies were coming to the same realization that a department was necessary to create employee satisfaction,
which resulted in more productivity. In 1913, Henry Ford saw employee turnover at 380 percent and tried to ease
the turnover by increasing wages from $2.50 to $5.00, even though $2.50 was fair during this time period (Losey,
2011). Of course, this approach didn’t work for long, and these large companies began to understand they had to
do more than hire and fire if they were going to meet customer demand.
More recently, however, the personnel department has divided into human resource management and human
resource development, as these functions have evolved over the century. HRM is not only crucial to an
organization’s success, but it should be part of the overall company’s strategic plan, because so many businesses
today depend on people to earn profits. Strategic planning plays an important role in how productive the
organization is.
Table 2.1 Examples of Differences between Personnel Management and HRM
31
Personnel Management Focus HRM Focus
Administering of policies Helping to achieve strategic goals through people
Stand-alone programs, such as training HRM training programs that are integrated with company’s mission and values
Personnel department responsible for managingpeople
Line managers share joint responsibility in all areas of people hiring andmanagement
Creates a cost within an organization Contributes to the profit objectives of the organization
Most people agree that the following duties normally fall under HRM. Each of these aspects has its own part
within the overall strategic plan of the organization:
1. Staffing. Staffing includes the development of a strategic plan to determine how many people you might
need to hire. Based on the strategic plan, HRM then performs the hiring process to recruit and select the
right people for the right jobs. We discuss staffing in greater detail in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”, Chapter 5
“Selection”, and Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”.
2. Basic workplace policies. Development of policies to help reach the strategic plan’s goals is the job of
HRM. After the policies have been developed, communication of these policies on safety, security,
scheduling, vacation times, and flextime schedules should be developed by the HR department. Of course,
the HR managers work closely with supervisors in organizations to develop these policies. Workplace
policies will be addressed throughout the book.
3. Compensation and benefits. In addition to paychecks, 401(k) plans, health benefits, and other perks are
usually the responsibility of an HR manager. Compensation and benefits are discussed in Chapter 6
“Compensation and Benefits” and Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”.
4. Retention. Assessment of employees and strategizing on how to retain the best employees is a task that
HR managers oversee, but other managers in the organization will also provide input. Chapter 9
“Successful Employee Communication”, Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance”, and Chapter 11
“Employee Assessment” cover different types of retention strategies, from training to assessment.
5. Training and development. Helping new employees develop skills needed for their jobs and helping
current employees grow their skills are also tasks for which the HRM department is responsible.
Determination of training needs and development and implementation of training programs are important
tasks in any organization. Training is discussed in great detail in Chapter 9 “Successful Employee
Communication”, including succession planning. Succession planning includes handling the departure of
managers and making current employees ready to take on managerial roles when a manager does leave.
6. Regulatory issues and worker safety. Keeping up to date on new regulations relating to employment,
health care, and other issues is generally a responsibility that falls on the HRM department. While various
laws are discussed throughout the book, unions and safety and health laws in the workplace are covered in
Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions” and Chapter 13 “Safety and Health at Work”.
In smaller organizations, the manager or owner is likely performing the HRM functions (de Kok & Uhlaner,
2001). They hire people, train them, and determine how much they should be paid. Larger companies ultimately
perform the same tasks, but because they have more employees, they can afford to employ specialists, or human
resource managers, to handle these areas of the business. As a result, it is highly likely that you, as a manager or
entrepreneur, will be performing HRM tasks, hence the value in understanding the strategic components of HRM.
3 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
HRM vs. Personnel ManagementHRM vs. Personnel Management
Human resource strategy is an elaborate and systematic plan of action developed by a human resource department.
This definition tells us that an HR strategy includes detailed pathways to implement HRM strategic plans and
HR plans. Think of the HRM strategic plan as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, and the
HR plan as the specific activities carried out to achieve the strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan may
include long-term goals, while the HR plan may include short-term objectives that are tied to the overall strategic
plan. As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, human resource departments in the past were called personnel
departments. This term implies that the department provided “support” for the rest of the organization. Companies
now understand that the human side of the business is the most important asset in any business (especially in this
global economy), and therefore HR has much more importance than it did twenty years ago. While personnel
management mostly involved activities surrounding the hiring process and legal compliance, human resources
involves much more, including strategic planning, which is the focus of this chapter. The Ulrich HR model, a
common way to look at HRM strategic planning, provides an overall view of the role of HRM in the organization.
His model is said to have started the movement that changed the view of HR; no longer merely a functional area,
HR became more of a partnership within the organization. While his model has changed over the years, the current
model looks at alignment of HR activities with the overall global business strategy to form a strategic partnership
(Ulrich & Brockbank, 2005). His newly revised model looks at five main areas of HR:
1. Strategic partner. Partnership with the entire organization to ensure alignment of the HR function with
the needs of the organization.
2. Change agent. The skill to anticipate and respond to change within the HR function, but as a company as
a whole.
3. Administrative expert and functional expert. The ability to understand and implement policies,
procedures, and processes that relate to the HR strategic plan.
4. Human capital developer. Means to develop talent that is projected to be needed in the future.
5. Employee advocate. Works for employees currently within the organization.
According to Ulrich (Ulrich, 2011), implementation of this model must happen with an understanding of the
overall company objectives, problems, challenges, and opportunities. For example, the HR professional must
understand the dynamic nature of the HRM environment, such as changes in labor markets, company culture and
values, customers, shareholders, and the economy. Once this occurs, HR can determine how best to meet the needs
of the organization within these five main areas.
Figure 2.1
2 . 1 S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G • 3 3
To be successful in writing an HRM strategic plan, one must understand the dynamic external
environment.
HRM as a Strategic Component of the BusinessHRM as a Strategic Component of the Business
(click to see video)
David Ulrich discusses the importance of bringing HR to the table in strategic planning.
Keeping the Ulrich model in mind, consider these four aspects when creating a good HRM strategic plan:
1. Make it applicable. Often people spend an inordinate amount of time developing plans, but the plans sit
in a file somewhere and are never actually used. A good strategic plan should be the guiding principles for
the HRM function. It should be reviewed and changed as aspects of the business change. Involvement of all
members in the HR department (if it’s a larger department) and communication among everyone within the
department will make the plan better.
2. Be a strategic partner. Alignment of corporate values in the HRM strategic plan should be a major
3 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
objective of the plan. In addition, the HRM strategic plan should be aligned with the mission and objectives
of the organization as a whole. For example, if the mission of the organization is to promote social
responsibility, then the HRM strategic plan should address this in the hiring criteria.
3. Involve people. An HRM strategic plan cannot be written alone. The plan should involve everyone in the
organization. For example, as the plan develops, the HR manager should meet with various people in
departments and find out what skills the best employees have. Then the HR manager can make sure the
people recruited and interviewed have similar qualities as the best people already doing the job. In addition,
the HR manager will likely want to meet with the financial department and executives who do the
budgeting, so they can determine human resource needs and recruit the right number of people at the right
times. In addition, once the HR department determines what is needed, communicating a plan can gain
positive feedback that ensures the plan is aligned with the business objectives.
4. Understand how technology can be used. Organizations oftentimes do not have the money or the
inclination to research software and find budget-friendly options for implementation. People are sometimes
nervous about new technology. However, the best organizations are those that embrace technology and find
the right technology uses for their businesses. There are thousands of HRM software options that can make
the HRM processes faster, easier, and more effective. Good strategic plans address this aspect.
HR managers know the business and therefore know the needs of the business and can develop a plan to meet
those needs. They also stay on top of current events, so they know what is happening globally that could affect
their strategic plan. If they find out, for example, that an economic downturn is looming, they will adjust their
strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan needs to be a living document, one that changes as the business
and the world changes.
2 . 1 S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G • 3 5
Figure 2.2
A good HRM strategic plan acknowledges and addresses the use of software in HRM operations.
Howard Russell – Lefroy House – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Have you ever looked at your organization’s strategic plan? What areas does the plan address?
The Steps to Strategic Plan CreationThe Steps to Strategic Plan Creation
As we addressed in Section 2.1.2 “The Steps to Strategic Plan Creation”, HRM strategic plans must have several
elements to be successful. There should be a distinction made here: the HRM strategic plan is different from the
HR plan. Think of the HRM strategic plan as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, while the HR
plan consists of the detailed plans to ensure the strategic plan is achieved. Oftentimes the strategic plan is viewed
as just another report that must be written. Rather than jumping in and writing it without much thought, it is best
to give the plan careful consideration.
The goal of Section 2 “Conduct a Strategic Analysis” is to provide you with some basic elements to consider and
research before writing any HRM plans.
3 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Conduct a Strategic AnalysisConduct a Strategic Analysis
A strategic analysis looks at three aspects of the individual HRM department:
1.
Understanding of the company mission and values. It is impossible to plan for HRM if one does not know
the values and missions of the organization. As we have already addressed in this chapter, it is imperative for
the HR manager to align department objectives with organizational objectives. It is worthwhile to sit down
with company executives, management, and supervisors to make sure you have a good understanding of the
company mission and values.
Another important aspect is the understanding of the organizational life cycle. You may have learned about
the life cycle in marketing or other business classes, and this applies to HRM, too. An organizational life
cycle refers to the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline of the organization, which can vary over time.
For example, when the organization first begins, it is in the introduction phase, and a different staffing,
compensation, training, and labor/employee relations strategy may be necessary to align HRM with the
organization’s goals. This might be opposed to an organization that is struggling to stay in business and is
in the decline phase. That same organization, however, can create a new product, for example, which might
again put the organization in the growth phase. Table 2.2 “Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy” explains
some of the strategies that may be different depending on the organizational life cycle.
2.
Understanding of the HRM department mission and values. HRM departments must develop their own
departmental mission and values. These guiding principles for the department will change as the company’s
overall mission and values change. Often the mission statement is a list of what the department does, which
is less of a strategic approach. Brainstorming about HR goals, values, and priorities is a good way to start.
The mission statement should express how an organization’s human resources help that organization meet
the business goals. A poor mission statement might read as follows: “The human resource department at
Techno, Inc. provides resources to hiring managers and develops compensation plans and other services to
assist the employees of our company.”
A strategic statement that expresses how human resources help the organization might read as follows: “HR’s
responsibility is to ensure that our human resources are more talented and motivated than our competitors’,
giving us a competitive advantage. This will be achieved by monitoring our turnover rates, compensation,
and company sales data and comparing that data to our competitors” (Kaufman, 2011). When the mission
statement is written in this way, it is easier to take a strategic approach with the HR planning process.
3. Understanding of the challenges facing the department. HRM managers cannot deal with change
quickly if they are not able to predict changes. As a result, the HRM manager should know what upcoming
challenges may be faced to make plans to deal with those challenges better when they come along. This
makes the strategic plan and HRM plan much more usable.
Table 2.2 Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy
2 . 1 S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G • 3 7
Life CycleStage Staffing Compensation
Training andDevelopment Labor / Employee Relations
IntroductionAttract best technical andprofessional talent.
Meet or exceed labormarket rates to attractneeded talent.
Define future skillrequirements and beginestablishing careerladders.
Set basic employee-relationsphilosophy of organization.
Growth
Recruit adequate numbers and mixof qualifying workers. Planmanagement succession. Managerapid internal labor marketmovements.
Meet external market butconsider internal equityeffects. Establish formalcompensation structures.
Mold effectivemanagement teamthrough managementdevelopment andorganizationaldevelopment.
Maintain labor peace,employee motivation, andmorale.
Maturity
Encourage sufficient turnover tominimize layoffs and provide newopenings. Encourage mobility asreorganizations shift jobs around.
Control compensationcosts.
Maintain flexibility andskills of an agingworkforce.
Control labor costs andmaintain labor peace. Improveproductivity.
Decline
Plan and implement workforcereductions and reallocations;downsizing and outplacement mayoccur during this stage.
Implement tighter costcontrol.
Implement retraining andcareer consultingservices.
Improve productivity andachieve flexibility in workrules. Negotiate job securityand employment-adjustmentpolicies
Source: Seattle University Presentation, accessed July 11, 2011, http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/gprussia/web/
mgt383/HR%20Planning1.ppt.
Identify Strategic HR IssuesIdentify Strategic HR Issues
In this step, the HRM professionals will analyze the challenges addressed in the first step. For example, the
department may see that it is not strategically aligned with the company’s mission and values and opt to make
changes to its departmental mission and values as a result of this information.
Many organizations and departments will use a strategic planning tool that identifies strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) to determine some of the issues they are facing. Once this analysis
is performed for the business, HR can align itself with the needs of the business by understanding the business
strategy. See Table 2.3 “Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.” for an example of how a
company’s SWOT analysis can be used to develop a SWOT analysis for the HR department.
Once the alignment of the company SWOT is completed, HR can develop its own SWOT analysis to determine
the gaps between HR’s strategic plan and the company’s strategic plan. For example, if the HR manager finds
that a department’s strength is its numerous training programs, this is something the organization should continue
doing. If a weakness is the organization’s lack of consistent compensation throughout all job titles, then the
opportunity to review and revise the compensation policies presents itself. In other words, the company’s SWOT
analysis provides a basis to address some of the issues in the organization, but it can be whittled down to also
address issues within the department.
Table 2.3 Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.
3 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Hiring talented people
Company growth
Technology implementation for business processesStrengths
Excellent relationship between HRM and management/executives
No strategic plan for HRM
No planning for up/down cycles
No formal training processesWeaknesses
Lacking of software needed to manage business processes, including go-to-market staffing strategies
Development of HRM staffing plan to meet industry growth
HRM software purchase to manage training, staffing, assessment needs for an unpredictable business cycle
Continue development of HRM and executive relationship by attendance and participation in key meetings anddecision-making processes
Opportunities
Develop training programs and outside development opportunities to continue development of in-house marketingexpertise
EconomyThreats
Changing technology
Prioritize Issues and ActionsPrioritize Issues and Actions
Based on the data gathered in the last step, the HRM manager should prioritize the goals and then put action plans
together to deal with these challenges. For example, if an organization identifies that they lack a comprehensive
training program, plans should be developed that address this need. (Training needs are discussed in Chapter
8 “Training and Development”.) An important aspect of this step is the involvement of the management and
executives in the organization. Once you have a list of issues you will address, discuss them with the management
and executives, as they may see other issues or other priorities differently than you. Remember, to be effective,
HRM must work with the organization and assist the organization in meeting goals. This should be considered in
every aspect of HRM planning.
Draw Up an HRM PlanDraw Up an HRM Plan
Once the HRM manager has met with executives and management, and priorities have been agreed upon, the
plans are ready to be developed. Detailed development of these plans will be discussed in Section 2.2 “Writing
the HRM Plan”. Sometimes companies have great strategic plans, but when the development of the details occurs,
it can be difficult to align the strategic plan with the more detailed plans. An HRM manager should always refer
to the overall strategic plan before developing the HRM strategic plan and HR plans.
Even if a company does not have an HR department, HRM strategic plans and HR plans should still be developed
by management. By developing and monitoring these plans, the organization can ensure the right processes are
implemented to meet the ever-changing needs of the organization. The strategic plan looks at the organization as
a whole, the HRM strategic plan looks at the department as a whole, and the HR plan addresses specific issues in
the human resource department.
2 . 1 S T R A T E G I C P L A N N I N G • 3 9
Key Takeaways
• Personnel management and HRM are different ways of looking at the job duties of human resources.Twenty years ago, personnel management focused on administrative aspects. HRM today involves astrategic process, which requires working with other departments, managers, and executives to beeffective and meet the needs of the organization.
• In general, HRM focuses on several main areas, which include staffing, policy development,compensation and benefits, retention issues, training and development, and regulatory issues andworker protection.
• To be effective, the HR manager needs to utilize technology and involve others.
• As part of strategic planning, HRM should conduct a strategic analysis, identify HR issues,determine and prioritize actions, and then draw up the HRM plan.
Exercises
1. What is the difference between HR plans and HRM strategic plans? How are they the same? Howare they different?
2. Of the areas of focus in HRM, which one do you think is the most important? Rank them anddiscuss the reasons for your rankings.
ReferencesReferences
de Kok, J. and Lorraine M. Uhlaner, “Organization Context and Human Resource Management in the Small
Firm” (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-038/3, Tinbergen Institute, 2001), accessed August 13, 2011,
http://ideas.repec.org/s/dgr/uvatin.html.
Kaufman, G., “How to Fix HR,” Harvard Business Review, September 2006, accessed July 11, 2011,
http://hbr.org/2006/09/how-to-fix-hr/ar/1.
Losey, M., “HR Comes of Age,” HR Magazine, March 15, 1998, accessed July 11, 2011, http://findarticles.com/
p/articles/mi_m3495/is_n3_v43/ai_20514399.
Ulrich, D., “Evaluating the Ulrich Model,” Acerta, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011, http://www.goingforhr.be/extras/
web-specials/hr-according-to-dave-ulrich#ppt_2135261.
Ulrich, D. and Wayne Brockbank, The HR Value Proposition (Boston: Harvard Business Press, 2005), 9–14.
4 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2.2 Writing the HRM Plan
Learning Objective
1. Describe the steps in the development of an HRM plan.
As addressed in Section 2.1 “Strategic Planning”, the writing of an HRM strategic plan should be based on the
strategic plans of the organization and of the department. Once the strategic plan is written, the HR professional
can begin work on the HR plan. This is different from the strategic plan in that it is more detailed and more
focused on the short term. The six parts described here are addressed in more detail in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”,
Chapter 5 “Selection”, Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”, Chapter
8 “Training and Development”, Chapter 9 “Successful Employee Communication”, Chapter 10 “Managing
Employee Performance”, and Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Compensation Is a Touchy Subject
As the HR manager, you have access to sensitive data, such as pay information. As you are looking at pay for
each employee in the marketing department, you notice that two employees with the same job title and performing
the same job are earning different amounts of money. As you dig deeper, you notice the employee who has been
with the company for the least amount of time is actually getting paid more than the person with longer tenure. A
brief look at the performance evaluations shows they are both star performers. You determine that two different
managers hired the employees, and one manager is no longer with the organization. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1371287/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1371287/embed.
Figure 2.3
41
As you can see from this figure, the company strategic plan ties into the HRM strategic plan, and from the
HRM strategic plan, the HR plan can be developed.
The six parts of the HRM plan include the following:
1. Determine human resource needs. This part is heavily involved with the strategic plan. What growth or
decline is expected in the organization? How will this impact your workforce? What is the economic
situation? What are your forecasted sales for next year?
2. Determine recruiting strategy. Once you have a plan in place, it’s necessary to write down a strategy
addressing how you will recruit the right people at the right time.
3. Select employees. The selection process consists of the interviewing and hiring process.
4. Develop training. Based on the strategic plan, what training needs are arising? Is there new software that
everyone must learn? Are there problems in handling conflict? Whatever the training topics are, the HR
manager should address plans to offer training in the HRM plan.
5. Determine compensation. In this aspect of the HRM plan, the manager must determine pay scales and
other compensation such as health care, bonuses, and other perks.
6. Appraise performance. Sets of standards need to be developed so you know how to rate the
4 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
performance of your employees and continue with their development.
Each chapter of this text addresses one area of the HR plan, but the next sections provide some basic knowledge
of planning for each area.
Determine Human Resource NeedsDetermine Human Resource Needs
The first part of an HR plan will consist of determining how many people are needed. This step involves looking
at company operations over the last year and asking a lot of questions:
1. Were enough people hired?
2. Did you have to scramble to hire people at the last minute?
3. What are the skills your current employees possess?
4. What skills do your employees need to gain to keep up with technology?
5. Who is retiring soon? Do you have someone to replace them?
6. What are the sales forecasts? How might this affect your hiring?
These are the questions to answer in this first step of the HR plan process. As you can imagine, this cannot
be done alone. Involvement of other departments, managers, and executives should take place to obtain an
accurate estimate of staffing needs for now and in the future. We discuss staffing in greater detail in Chapter 4
“Recruitment”.
Many HR managers will prepare an inventory of all current employees, which includes their educational level and
abilities. This gives the HR manager the big picture on what current employees can do. It can serve as a tool to
develop employees’ skills and abilities, if you know where they are currently in their development. For example,
by taking an inventory, you may find out that Richard is going to retire next year, but no one in his department has
been identified or trained to take over his role. Keeping the inventory helps you know where gaps might exist and
allows you to plan for these gaps. This topic is addressed further in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”.
HR managers will also look closely at all job components and will analyze each job. By doing this analysis, they
can get a better picture of what kinds of skills are needed to perform a job successfully. Once the HR manager has
performed the needs assessment and knows exactly how many people, and in what positions and time frame they
need to be hired, he or she can get to work on recruiting, which is also called a staffing plan. This is addressed
further in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”.
RecruitRecruit
Recruitment is an important job of the HR manager. More detail is provided in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”. Knowing
how many people to hire, what skills they should possess, and hiring them when the time is right are major
challenges in the area of recruiting. Hiring individuals who have not only the skills to do the job but also the
attitude, personality, and fit can be the biggest challenge in recruiting. Depending on the type of job you are hiring
for, you might place traditional advertisements on the web or use social networking sites as an avenue. Some
companies offer bonuses to employees who refer friends. No matter where you decide to recruit, it is important
2 . 2 W R I T I N G T H E H R M P L A N • 4 3
to keep in mind that the recruiting process should be fair and equitable and diversity should be considered. We
discuss diversity in greater detail in Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”.
Depending on availability and time, some companies may choose to outsource their recruiting processes. For
some types of high-level positions, a head hunter will be used to recruit people nationally and internationally. A
head hunter is a person who specializes in matching jobs with people, and they usually work only with high-level
positions. Another option is to use an agency that specializes in hiring people for a variety of positions, including
temporary and permanent positions. Some companies decide to hire temporary employees because they anticipate
only a short-term need, and it can be less expensive to hire someone for only a specified period of time.
No matter how it is done, recruitment is the process of obtaining résumés of people interested in the job. In our
next step, we review those résumés, interview, and select the best person for the job.
SelectSelect
After you have reviewed résumés for a position, now is the time to work toward selecting the right person for
the job. Although we discuss selection in great detail in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, it is worth a
discussion here as well. Numerous studies have been done, and while they have various results, the majority
of studies say it costs an average of $45,000 to hire a new manager (Herman, 1993). While this may seem
exaggerated, consider the following items that contribute to the cost:
1. Time to review résumés
2. Time to interview candidates
3. Interview expenses for candidates
4. Possible travel expenses for new hire or recruiter
5. Possible relocation expenses for new hire
6. Additional bookkeeping, payroll, 401(k), and so forth
7. Additional record keeping for government agencies
8. Increased unemployment insurance costs
9. Costs related to lack of productivity while new employee gets up to speed
Because it is so expensive to hire, it is important to do it right. First, résumés are reviewed and people who closely
match the right skills are selected for interviews. Many organizations perform phone interviews first so they can
further narrow the field. The HR manager is generally responsible for setting up the interviews and determining
the interview schedule for a particular candidate. Usually, the more senior the position is, the longer the interview
process takes, even up to eight weeks (Crant, 2009). After the interviews are conducted, there may be reference
checks, background checks, or testing that will need to be performed before an offer is made to the new employee.
HR managers are generally responsible for this aspect. Once the applicant has met all criteria, the HR manager
will offer the selected person the position. At this point, salary, benefits, and vacation time may be negotiated.
Compensation is the next step in HR management.
4 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Determine CompensationDetermine Compensation
What you decide to pay people is much more difficult than it seems. This issue is covered in greater detail in
Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”. Pay systems must be developed that motivate employees and embody
fairness to everyone working at the organization. However, organizations cannot offer every benefit and perk
because budgets always have constraints. Even governmental agencies need to be concerned with compensation
as part of their HR plan. For example, in 2011, Illinois State University gave salary increases of 3 percent to all
faculty, despite state budget cuts in other areas. They reasoned that the pay increase was needed because of the
competitive nature of hiring and retaining faculty and staff. The university president said, “Our employees have
had a very good year and hopefully this is a good shot in the arm that will keep our morale high” (Pawlowski,
2011).
Figure 2.4
Determination of compensation systems is a balancing act. Compensation should be high enough to
motivate current employees and attract new ones but not so high that it breaks the budget.
Nathan Rupert – Venice Beach Tightrope Walker – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
The process in determining the right pay for the right job can have many variables, in addition to keeping morale
high. First, as we have already discussed, the organization life cycle can determine the pay strategy for the
organization. The supply and demand of those skills in the market, economy, region, or area in which the business
is located is a determining factor in compensation strategy. For example, a company operating in Seattle may pay
higher for the same job than their division in Missoula, Montana, because the cost of living is higher in Seattle.
2 . 2 W R I T I N G T H E H R M P L A N • 4 5
The HR manager is always researching to ensure the pay is fair and at market value. In Chapter 6 “Compensation
and Benefits”, we get into greater detail about the variety of pay systems, perks, and bonuses that can be offered.
For many organizations, training is a perk. Employees can develop their skills while getting paid for it. Training
is the next step in the HR planning process.
Develop TrainingDevelop Training
Once we have planned our staffing, recruited people, selected employees, and then compensated them, we want
to make sure our new employees are successful. Training is covered in more detail in Chapter 8. One way we can
ensure success is by training our employees in three main areas:
1. Company culture. A company culture is the organization’s way of doing things. Every company does
things a bit differently, and by understanding the corporate culture, the employee will be set up for success.
Usually this type of training is performed at an orientation, when an employee is first hired. Topics might
include how to request time off, dress codes, and processes.
2. Skills needed for the job. If you work for a retail store, your employees need to know how to use the
register. If you have sales staff, they need to have product knowledge to do the job. If your company uses
particular software, training is needed in this area.
3. Human relations skills. These are non-job-specific skills your employees need not only to do their jobs
but also to make them all-around successful employees. Skills needed include communication skills and
interviewing potential employees.
Perform a Performance AppraisalPerform a Performance Appraisal
The last thing an HR manager should plan is the performance appraisal. While we discuss performance appraisals
in greater detail in Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”, it is definitely worth a mention here, since it is part of
the strategic plan. A performance appraisal is a method by which job performance is measured. The performance
appraisal can be called many different things, such as the following:
1. Employee appraisal
2. Performance review
3. 360 review
4. Career development review
No matter what the name, these appraisals can be very beneficial in motivating and rewarding employees. The
performance evaluation includes metrics on which the employee is measured. These metrics should be based on
the job description, both of which the HR manager develops. Various types of rating systems can be used, and
it’s usually up to the HR manager to develop these as well as employee evaluation forms. The HR manager also
usually ensures that every manager in the organization is trained on how to fill out the evaluation forms, but more
importantly, how to discuss job performance with the employee. Then the HR manager tracks the due dates of
performance appraisals and sends out e-mails to those managers letting them know it is almost time to write an
evaluation.
4 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Have you ever been given a performance evaluation? What was the process and the outcome?
Communication Is Key in Performance EvaluationsCommunication Is Key in Performance Evaluations
(click to see video)
Communication is imperative in any workplace, but especially when giving and receiving a performance
evaluation.
Key Takeaways
• Human resource planning is a process that is part of the strategic plan. It involves addressing specificneeds within the organization, based on the company’s strategic direction.
• The first step in HR planning is determining current and future human resource needs. In this step,current employees, available employees in the market, and future needs are all analyzed anddeveloped.
• In the second step of the process, once we know how many people we will need to hire, we canbegin to determine the best methods for recruiting the people we need. Sometimes an organizationwill use head hunters to find the best person for the job.
• After the recruiting process is finished, the HR manager will begin the selection process. Thisinvolves setting up interviews and selecting the right person for the job. This can be an expensiveprocess, so we always want to hire the right person from the beginning.
• HR managers also need to work through compensation plans, including salary, bonus, and otherbenefits, such as health care. This aspect is important, since most organizations want to usecompensation to attract and retain the best employees.
• The HR manager also develops training programs to ensure the people hired have the tools to be ableto do their jobs successfully.
Exercises
1. Of the parts of HR planning, which do you think is most difficult, and why? Which would youenjoy the most, and why?
2. Why is it important to plan your staffing before you start to hire people?
3. What is the significance of training? Why do we need it in organizations?
2 . 2 W R I T I N G T H E H R M P L A N • 4 7
ReferencesReferences
Crant, J., “How Long Does an Interview Process Take?” Jobsinminneapolis.com, December 2, 2009, accessed
October 28, 2010, http://www.jobsinminneapolis.com/articles/title/How-Long-Does-an-Interview-Process-Take/
3500/422.
Herman, S., Hiring Right: A Practical Guide (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1993), xv.
Pawlowski, S., “Illinois State University to Get Salary Bump,” WJBC Radio, July 11, 2011, accessed July 11,
2011, http://wjbc.com/illinois-state-university-faculty-to-get-salary-bump.
4 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2.3 Tips in HRM Planning
Learning Objective
1. Explain the aspects needed to create a usable and successful HRM plan.
As you have learned from this chapter, human resource strategic planning involves understanding your company’s
strategic plan and HR’s role in the organization. The planning aspect meets the needs of the strategic plan by
knowing how many people should be hired, how many people are needed, and what kind of training they need to
meet the goals of the organization. This section gives some tips on successful HR strategic planning.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
Like many Fortune 500 companies throughout the world, IBM in India finds that picking the best prospectsfor job postings isn’t always easy. By using advanced analytics, however, it aims to connect the strategicplan, staffing needs, and the hiring process using a simple tool. The project was originally developed toassign people to projects internally at IBM, but IBM found this tool able to not only extract essentialdetails like the number of years of experience but also make qualitative judgments, such as how good theperson actually is for the job (Chari, 2011). This makes the software unique, as most résumé-scanningsoftware programs can only search for specific keywords and are not able to assess the job fit or tie thecriteria directly to the overall strategic plan. The project uses IBM India’s spoken web technology, in whichthe prospective employee answers a few questions, creating the equivalent of voice résumé. Then usingthese voice résumés, the hiring manager can easily search for those prospects who meet the needs of theorganization and the objectives of the strategic plan.
Some of the challenges noted with this software include the recognition of language and dialect issues.However, the IBM human resources solution is still one of the most sophisticated of such tools to bedeveloped. “Services is very people-intensive. Today, there is talk of a war for talent, but attracting the rightkind of people is a challenge, yet unemployment is very high. Our solution applies sophisticated analyticsto workforce management,” says Manish Gupta, director at IBM Research-India (Chari, 2011).
It is likely that this is only the beginning of the types of technology that allow HR professionals to tie theirHR plans directly to a strategic plan with the touch of a few buttons.
49
Link HRM Strategic Plan to Company PlanLink HRM Strategic Plan to Company Plan
Understanding the nature of the business is key to being successful in creating a strategic plan for HRM. Because
every business is different, the needs of the business may change, depending on the economy, the season, and
societal changes in our country. HR managers need to understand all these aspects of the business to better predict
how many people are needed, what types of training are needed, and how to compensate people, for example. The
strategic plan that the HR manager writes should address these issues. To address these issues, the HR manager
should develop the departmental goals and HR plans based on the overall goals of the organization. In other
words, HR should not operate alone but in tandem with the other parts of the organization. The HRM plan should
reflect this.
Figure 2.5
The HRM department should operate in tandem with other departments to meet the needs of the
organization.
Skydive Andes Chile – Tandem Javier Diaz – CC BY-ND 2.0.
Monitor the Plan ConstantlyMonitor the Plan Constantly
Oftentimes a great strategic plan is written, taking lots of time, but isn’t actually put into practice for a variety of
reasons, such as the following:
1. The plan wasn’t developed so that it could be useful.
2. The plan wasn’t communicated with management and others in the HRM department.
3. The plan did not meet the budget guidelines of the organization.
4. The plan did not match the strategic outcomes of the organization.
5 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
5. There was lack of knowledge on how to actually implement it.
There is no point in developing a plan that isn’t going to be used. Developing the plan and then making changes
as necessary are important to making it a valuable asset for the organization. A strategic plan should be a living
document, in that it changes as organizational or external factors change. People can get too attached to a specific
plan or way of doing things and then find it hard to change. The plan needs to change constantly or it won’t be of
value.
Measure ItMeasure It
A good strategic plan and HR plan should discuss the way “success” will be measured. For example, rather than
writing, “Meet the hiring needs of the organization,” be more specific: “Based on sales forecasts from our sales
department, hire ten people this quarter with the skills to meet our ten job openings.” This is a goal that is specific
enough to be measured. These types of quantitative data also make it easier to show the relationship between HR
and the organization, and better yet, to show how HR adds value to the bottom line. Likewise, if a company has
a strategic objective to be a safe workplace, you might include a goal to “develop training to meet the needs of
the organization.” While this is a great goal, how will this be measured? How will you know if you did what you
were supposed to do? It might be difficult to measure this with such a general statement. On the other hand, a goal
to “develop a safety training workshop and have all employees complete it by the end of the year” is specific and
can be measured at the end to determine success.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What are some of your personal goals? Are these goals measureable?
Sometimes Change Is NecessarySometimes Change Is Necessary
It can be difficult to base an entire plan on forecasted numbers. As a result, an HRM department that is willing to
change quickly to meet the needs of the organization proves its worthiness. Consider a sales forecast that called
for fifteen new hires, but you find out months later the organization is having a hard time making payroll. Upon
digging deeper, you find the sales forecasts were overexaggerated, and now you have fifteen people you don’t
really need. By monitoring the changes constantly (usually done by asking lots of questions to other departments),
you can be sure you are able to change your strategic plan as they come.
Be Aware of Legislative ChangesBe Aware of Legislative Changes
One of the major challenges in HRM, as we discuss in Chapter 1 “The Role of Human Resources”, is having an
awareness of what is happening from a legal perspective. Because most budgets are based on certain current laws,
knowing when the law changes and how it will affect department budgets and planning (such as compensation
planning) will create a more solid strategic plan. For example, if the minimum wage goes up in your state and you
2 . 3 T I P S I N H R M P L A N N I N G • 5 1
have minimum wage workers, reworking the budget and communicating this change to your accounting team is
imperative in providing value to the organization. We will discuss various legislation throughout this book.
Key Takeaways
• As has been the theme throughout this chapter, any HRM plan should be directly linked to thestrategic plan of the organization.
• A plan should be constantly updated and revised as things in the organization change.
• A good strategic plan provides tools to determine whether you met the goal. Any plan should havemeasureable goals so the connection to success is obvious.
• Changes in a strategic plan and in goal setting are necessary as the internal and externalenvironments change. An HR manager should always be aware of changes in forecasts, for example,so the plan can change, too.
• Legislative changes may impact strategic plans and budgets as well. It’s important to make sure HRmanagers are keeping up on these changes and communicating them.
Exercises
1. What are some ways an HR manager can keep up on legislative changes? Do a web search and listspecific publications that may help keep the HR manager aware of changes.
2. Why is it important to be able to measure strategic plans? What might happen if you don’t?
ReferencesReferences
Chari, S., “IBM Automates Parsing of Resumes,” iStock Analyst, July 11, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011,
http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5283887/ibm-automates-parsing-of-resumes.
5 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Human resource management was once called the personnel department. In the past, hiring peopleand working with hiring paperwork was this department’s job. Today, the HRM department has amuch broader role, and as a result, HR managers must align their strategies with the company’sstrategies.
• Functions that fall under HRM today include staffing, creation of workplace policies, compensationand benefits, retention, training and development, and working with regulatory issues and workerprotection.
• Human resource strategy is a set of elaborate and systematic plans of action. The companyobjectives and goals should be aligned with the objectives and goals of the individual departments.
• The steps to creating an HRM strategic plan include conducting a strategic analysis. This entailshaving an understanding of the values and mission of the organization, so you can align yourdepartmental strategy in the same way.
• The second step is to identify any HR issues that might impact the business.
• The third step, based on the information from the first and second steps, is to prioritize issues andtake action. Finally, the HRM professional will draw up the HRM plan.
• The HRM plan consists of six steps. The first is to determine the needs of the organization based onsales forecasts, for example. Then the HR professional will recruit and select the right person for thejob. HRM develops training and development to help better the skills of existing employees and newemployees, too. The HR manager will then determine compensation and appraise performance ofemployees. Each of these parts of the HRM plan is discussed in its own separate chapter in greaterdetail.
• As things in the organization change, the strategic plan should also change.
• To make the most from a strategic plan, it’s important to write the goals in a way that makes themmeasurable.
Chapter Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
53
Chapter CaseChapter Case
We Merged…Now What?
Earlier this month, your company, a running equipment designer and manufacturer called RunnersParadise, merged with a smaller clothing design company called ActiveLeak. Your company initiated thebuyout because of the excellent design team at ActiveLeak and their brand recognition, specifically fortheir MP3-integrated running shorts. Runners Paradise has thirty-five employees and ActiveLeak has tenemployees. At ActiveLeak, the owner, who often was too busy doing other tasks, handled the HRM roles.As a result, ActiveLeak has no strategic plan, and you are wondering if you should develop a strategicplan, given this change. Here are the things you have accomplished so far:
• Reviewed compensation and adjusted salaries for the sake of fairness. Communicated this to allaffected employees.
• Developed job requirements for current and new jobs.
• Had each old and new employee fill out a skills inventory Excel document, which has been mergedinto a database.
From this point, you are not sure what to do to fully integrate the new organization.
1. Why should you develop an HRM strategic plan?
2. Which components of your HR plan will you have to change?
3. What additional information would you need to create an action plan for these changes?
Team ActivitiesTeam Activities
1. Work in a group of three to five people. Choose a company and perform a SWOT analysis on thatorganization and be prepared to present it to the class.
2. Based on the SWOT analysis you performed in the first question, develop new objectives for theorganization.
5 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Chapter 3: Diversity and Multiculturalism
Hiring MulticulturalHiring Multicultural
On a Tuesday afternoon, as you are getting ready to go to lunch, you receive an e-mail from your human resources
(HR) manager about the need to hire a new project manager, and there is a $500 bonus for referring a friend who
successfully joins the company. Immediately, you e-mail your friend Daniel, because you know he would be great
for the job. Daniel is eventually hired for the position, and a few months later a new e-mail goes out asking for
friend recommendations for a new position. You and Daniel both recommend someone, and eventually that person
gets hired. Over the next year, hiring notices are not advertised externally as the organization has had good luck
with this hiring practice. Seems like a great way to recruit new people, doesn’t it? It can be, but it also can be a
detriment to the diversity and multiculturalism of the workplace. How, you might wonder?
While not true across the board, people have a tendency to spend time with people who are like themselves, in
race, income level, and other aspects of diversity such as sexual orientation. In fact, according to the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a study published in the American Journal of Sociology,
it is much more likely that someone will name a person in their own race as a friend than someone of a different
race (Moody, 2001). Likewise, even from a young age, people tend to choose friends who are of the same
race. As a result, when you recommend Daniel for a position, it is highly likely that Daniel is similar, from a
diversity perspective, to you. Then, when Daniel recommends someone for a job, it is highly likely that he, too,
is recommending someone with similar characteristics as you both. This obviously creates a lack of multicultural
diversity in the workplace, which can mean lost profits for companies.
HRM and MulticulturalismHRM and Multiculturalism
(click to see video)
ReferencesReferences
Moody, J., “Race, School Integration, and Friendship Segregation in America,” American Journal of Sociology
107, no. 3 (2001): 679–719.
55
3.1 Diversity and Multiculturalism
Learning Objectives
1. Define, explain, and identify your own power and privilege.
2. Provide reasoning as to why diversity is important to maintain profitability.
Many people use the terms diversity and multiculturalism interchangeably, when in fact, there are major
differences between the two. Diversity is defined as the differences between people. These differences can include
race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, background, socioeconomic status, and much more. Diversity, when
talking about it from the human resource management (HRM) perspective, tends to focus more on a set of policies
to meet compliance standards. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) oversees complaints in
this area. We discuss the EEOC in Section 3.3.1 “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)” and in
greater detail in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” and Chapter 5 “Selection”.
Multiculturalism goes deeper than diversity by focusing on inclusiveness, understanding, and respect, and also
by looking at unequal power in society. In a report called “The 2007 State of Workplace Diversity Management
Report1,” most HR managers said that diversity in the workplace is
1. not well defined or understood at work,
2. focuses too much on compliance, and
3. places too much emphasis on gender and ethnicity.
This chapter focuses on the advantages of a diverse workplace and discusses multiculturalism at work and the
compliance aspect of diversity.
Power and PrivilegePower and Privilege
As defined in this chapter, diversity focuses on the “otherness” or differences between individuals and has a goal
of making sure, through policies, that everyone is treated the same. While this is the legal and the right thing to do,
multiculturalism looks at a system of advantages based on race, gender, and sexual orientation called power and
56
privilege. In this system, the advantages are based on a system in which one race, gender, and sexual orientation
is predominant in setting societal rules and norms.
The interesting thing about power and privilege is that if you have it, you may not initially recognize it, which is
why we can call it invisible privilege. Here are some examples:
1. Race privilege. Let’s say you (a Caucasian) and your friend (an African American) are having dinner
together, and when the bill comes, the server gives the check to you. While this may not seem like a big
issue, it assumes you (being Caucasian) are the person paying for the meal. This type of invisible privilege
may not seem to matter if you have that privilege, but if you don’t, it can be infuriating.
2. Social class privilege. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, many people from outside the
storm area wondered why so many people stayed in the city, not even thinking about the fact that some
people couldn’t afford the gas to put in their car to leave the city.
3. Gender privilege. This refers to privileges one gender has over another—for example, the assumption
that a female will change her name to her husband’s when they get married.
4. Sexual orientation privilege. If I am heterosexual, I can put a picture of my partner on my desk without
worrying about what others think. I can talk about our vacations together or experiences we’ve had without
worrying what someone might think about my relationship. This is not the case for many gay, lesbian, and
transgendered people and their partners.
Oftentimes the privilege we have is considered invisible, because it can be hard to recognize one’s own privilege
based on race, gender, or social class. Many people utilize the color-blind approach, which says, “I treat everyone
the same” or “I don’t see people’s skin color.” In this case, the person is showing invisible privilege and
thus ignoring the privileges he or she receives because of race, gender, or social class. While it appears this
approach would value all people equally, it doesn’t, because people’s different needs, assets, and perspectives are
disregarded by not acknowledging differences (Plaut, et. al., 2009).
Another important aspect of power and privilege is the fact that we may have privilege in one area and not another.
For example, I am a Caucasian female, which certainly gives me race privilege but not gender privilege. Important
to note here is that the idea of power and privilege is not about “white male bashing” but understanding our own
stereotypes and systems of advantage so we can be more inclusive with our coworkers, employees, and managers.
So what does this all mean in relation to HRM? It means we can combine the understanding of certain systems
that allow for power and privilege, and by understanding we may be able to eliminate or at least minimize these
issues. Besides this, one of the best things we can do for our organizations is to have a diverse workforce, with
people from a variety of perspectives. This diversity leads to profitability and the ability to better serve customers.
We discuss the advantages of diversity in Section 3.1.2 “Why Diversity and Multiculturalism?”.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Take this week to examine your own power and privilege as a result of gender, race, or social class. Noticehow people treat you because of your skin color, gender, or how you dress and talk.
3 . 1 D I V E R S I T Y A N D M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M • 5 7
Stereotypes and the Effect on PrivilegeStereotypes and the Effect on Privilege
This video discusses some racial stereotypes and white privilege through “on the street” interviews.
Please view this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1wztUJ4VVE.
Why Diversity and Multiculturalism?Why Diversity and Multiculturalism?
Figure 3.1
While there may be no “money fairy,” diversity has proven to result in higher profits for companies.
Just Another Shot – Fairies!! – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Wikimedia Commons – public domain.
When many people look at diversity and multiculturalism, they think that someone’s gender, skin color, or social
class shouldn’t matter. So diversity can help us with policies to prevent discrimination, while multiculturalism can
help us gain a deeper understanding of the differences between people. Hopefully, over time, rather than look at
diversity as attaining numerical goals or complying with the law, we can combine the concepts to create better
workplaces. Although many books discuss laws relating to diversity, not many actually describe why diversity is
necessary in the workplace. Here are a few main reasons:
1. It is the law.
2. We can better serve customers by offering a broader range of services, such as being able to speak a
5 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
variety of languages and understanding other cultures.
3. We can better communicate with one another (saving time and money) and customers.
4. With a multicultural perspective, we can create better ideas and solutions.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
Hilton is one of the most recognized names in the hotel industry. Hilton employs 130,000 people in 3,750hotels in 84 countries. The hotel chain, with some locations franchised, focuses on diversity and inclusionas part of its operations. First, it has a director of global diversity and inclusion, who plays a key role inexecuting the Hilton global diversity and inclusion efforts, which are focused on culture, talent, workplace,and marketplace diversity strategies. Each Hilton brand must establish its own diversity performance goalsand initiatives, which are monitored by the diversity council. The diversity council is made up of thecompany board of directors, the CEO, and vice president of human resources. At any given time, Hiltonhas thirty or more diversity initiatives in place (Forsythe, 2005), which are managed by the diversitycouncil.
Hilton has created several diversity programs within the communities in which the hotels operate. Forexample, Hilton was one of the first hotel chains to develop an outreach program to educate minority andfemale entrepreneurs for franchise investments. One part of the program includes invitation-only seminarsthat discuss what it takes to be a successful hotel owner. Hilton says its diversity seminars are driven bythe fact that it wants employees to reflect the diversity of the customers.
In addition to the outreach program, Hilton partners with historically black colleges and universities forrecruiting, which creates an effective tie to jobs once students graduate. It has developed a supplier trackingsystem, so it knows the total number of supplier payments made and how many of those suppliers arefemale or minorities. William A. Holland, the vice president for workforce planning and analysis says, “Ittakes leadership to make diversity work, and our diversity initiative comes from the highest levels of ourorganization” (Forsythe, 2005)
Promoting a multicultural work environment isn’t just the law. Through a diverse work environment and
multicultural understanding, organizations can attain greater profitability. A study by Cedric Herring called Does
Diversity Pay? (Herring, 2006) reveals that diversity does, in fact, pay. The study found those businesses with
greater racial diversity reporter higher sales revenues, more customers, larger market shares, and greater relative
profits than those with more homogeneous workforces. Other research on the topic by Scott Page, the author of
The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies (Page, 2007)
ended up with similar results. Page found that people from varied backgrounds are more effective at working
together than those who are from similar backgrounds, because they offer different approaches and perspectives
in the development of solutions. Often people believe that diversity is about checking a box or only providing
window dressing to gain more customers, but this isn’t the case. As put by Eric Foss, chairperson and CEO of
Pepsi Beverages Company, “It’s not a fad. It’s not an idea of the month. It’s central and it’s linked very directly to
business strategy” (Holstein, 2009). A study by the late Roy Adler of Pepperdine University shows similar results.
His 19-year study of 215 Fortune 500 companies shows a strong correlation between female executives and high
profitability (Adler). Another study, conducted by Project Equality, found that companies that rated low on equal
opportunity issues earned 7.9 percent profit, while those who rated highest with more equal opportunities resulted
3 . 1 D I V E R S I T Y A N D M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M • 5 9
in 18.3 percent profit (Lauber, 2011). These numbers show that diversity and multiculturalism certainly is not a
fad, but a way of doing business that better serves customers and results in higher profits.
As managers, we need to recognize this and develop policies that recognize not only the importance of diversity
but the importance of nurturing multicultural understanding in the workplace. Many employees, however, may be
resistant to a discussion on diversity and multiculturalism. Much of this may have to do with their own power and
privilege, but some resistance may be related to the discomfort people may feel when faced with the realization
that change is a necessity and the cultural makeup of the workplace is changing. Some people may feel “We’ve
always done it this way” and are less willing to change to the new ways of doing things.
Perhaps one of the best diversity statements by a Fortune 500 company was made by Jose Manuel Souto, the
CFO for Visa in Latin America. He says, “A diverse workforce is critical to providing the best service to our
global clients, supporting our business initiatives, and creating a workplace environment that promotes respect
and fairness2.”
Now that you have an understanding of the meaning of diversity, power, and privilege, as well as the importance
of diversity, we will discuss specific diversity strategies in Section 3.2 “Diversity Plans”.
Key Takeaways
• Diversity is the real or perceived differences between individuals. This can include race, gender,sexual orientation, size, cultural background, and much more.
• Multiculturalism is a term that is similar to diversity, but it focuses on development of a greaterunderstanding of how power in society can be unequal due to race, gender, sexual orientation,power, and privilege.
• Power and privilege is a system of advantages based on one’s race, gender, and sexual orientation.This system can often be invisible (to those who have it), which results in one race or gender havingunequal power in the workplace. Of course, this unequal power results in unfairness, which may beof legal concern.
• Diversity is important to the success of organizations. Many studies have shown a direct linkbetween the amount of diversity in a workplace and the company’s success.
Exercises
1. Perform an Internet search to find a specific diversity policy for an organization. What is thepolicy? From what you know of the organization, do you believe they follow this policy in reality?
2. Visit the website http://www.diversityinc.com and find their latest “top 50 list.” What criteria areused to appear on this list? What are the top five companies for the current year?
1Society for Human Resource Management, The 2007 State of Workplace Diversity Management Report, March
6 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2008, accessed August 3, 2011, http://www.shrm.org/Publications/HRNews/Pages/
DiversityBusinessImperative.aspx.
2National Latina Business Women Association, “Women and Minorities on Corporate Boards Still Lags Far
Behind National Population,” accessed August 24, 2011, http://nlbwa.org/component/content/article/
64-nationalnews/137-procon-and-asian-global-sourcing-conference.
ReferencesReferences
Adler, R., “Women in the Executive Suite Correlate to High Profits,” Glass Ceiling Research Center.
Forsythe, J., “Leading with Diversity,” New York Times, 2005, accessed July 13, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/
marketing/jobmarket/diversity/hilton.html.
Herring, C., “Does Diversity Pay? Racial Composition of Firms and the Business Case for Diversity” (paper
presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Montreal, Canada, August 11,
2006), accessed May 5, 2009, http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/0/1/7/9/
pages101792/p101792-1.php.
Holstein, W. J., “Diversity is Even More Important in Hard Times,” New York Times, February 13, 2009, accessed
August 25, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/14/business/14interview.html.
Lauber, M., “Studies Show That Diversity in Workplace Is Profitable,” Project Equality, n.d., accessed July 11,
2011, http://www.villagelife.org/news/archives/diversity.html.
Page, S. E., The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies
(Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007).
Plaut, V. C., Kecia M. Thomas, and Matt J. Goren, “Is Multiculturalism or Color Blindness Better for Minorities?”
Psychological Science 20, no. 4 (2009): 444–46.
3 . 1 D I V E R S I T Y A N D M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M • 6 1
3.2 Diversity Plans
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to apply strategies to create a multicultural work environment and diversity plans.
2. Be able to create an HR plan with diversity considerations.
While state and federal laws must be followed to ensure multiculturalism, the culture of the company and the
way the organization operates can contribute to the nurturing of a multicultural environment (or not). Most
companies have a formalized and written antidiscrimination and harassment policy. For example, Zappos’s policy
states, “The diversity of Zappos’ employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal
opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment. Examples
of such behavior include derogatory comments based on racial or ethnic characteristics and unwelcome sexual
advances. Please refer to the applicable sections of the Employee Handbook for further guidance1.”
Implementing a policy is an excellent first step, but what is important is how the company acts on those formalized
processes and written policies. Let’s say, for example, an organization has a published policy on inclusion of those
with physical disabilities, but much “schmoozing” and relationship development with managers takes place on
the golf course on Friday afternoons. While the policy states the company doesn’t discriminate, their actions and
“traditions” show otherwise and do discriminate against those with disabilities. If this is where the informal work
and relationship building take place, an entire group could be left out of this process, likely resulting in lower
pay and promotion rates. Likewise, organizations that have a “beer Friday” environment may discriminate against
those whose religions do not condone drinking alcohol. While none of these situations are examples of blatant
discrimination, a company’s culture can contribute to an environment that is exclusive rather than inclusive.
Many organizations have developed diversity management plans that are tied to the written diversity policy of
the organization. In fact, in many larger organizations, such as Hilton, manager- or director-level positions have
been created to specifically manage diversity plans and programs. Josh Greenberg, a researcher in the area of
workplace diversity, contends that organizations with specific diversity plans tend to be able to facilitate changes
more quickly than companies without diversity plans (Greenberg, 2004). He says there are three main steps to
creating diversity plans:
1. Assessment of diversity. Employee satisfaction surveys, discussions, and open forums that can provide
62
insight into the challenges and obstacles to diversity. Inclusion of all workers for input is necessary to create
a useful plan.
2. Development of the diversity plan. Based on step 1, a series of attainable and measurable goals should
be developed regarding workplace diversity.
3. Implementation of the plan. The commitment of executives and management is necessary. Formulating
action plans based on the goals developed in step 2 and assignment of implementation and measurement of
those plans must follow. The action plan should be the responsibility of the entire organization, not just the
director of diversity or human resources.
In Section 3.2.1 “Recruitment and Selection”, we discuss some of the HR plan considerations in company culture
and “our way of doing things” that are worth considering when creating a diversity plan.
Recruitment and SelectionRecruitment and Selection
As you saw in the opening of Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”, sometimes organizations do not
mean to be exclusive or discriminatory, but their practices are discriminatory and illegal. For example, the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says it is illegal to publish a job advertisement that
shows a preference for a particular type of person or discourages someone from applying for a job. For
example, a Facebook post that says “recent college graduates wanted” might be inclusive to a younger group and
discouraging to a diverse (older) workforce, not making the post multicultural. Another example might be the
reliance on word-of-mouth advertisement for job openings. Suppose you have a mostly Hispanic workforce and
use word of mouth for recruitment. It is likely that most new hires will also be Hispanic. This is also illegal, but
perhaps a consideration is the lack of diversity you will have in your workplace with these recruitment methods.
Make sure that job announcements aren’t posted only for your Facebook friends to see; post them in a variety of
places to gain the largest and most diverse response.
We address discrimination in the selection process in Chapter 5 “Selection”. However, a mention of the four-fifths
rule here is important to determine how we can quantitatively evaluate discrimination in our selection practices.
One way to calculate possible discrimination is by using the four-fifths rule, or 80 percent rule. The rule states
that a selection rate for any race, sex, or ethnic group that is less than four-fifths of the rate for the group with the
highest rate could be regarded as adverse impact. Adverse impact refers to employment practices that may appear
to be neutral but have a discriminatory effect on a protected group. For example, let’s assume 100 women and 500
men applied to be firefighters. Let’s say 20 of those women were hired and 250 men were hired. To determine
adverse impact based on the four-fifths rule, calculate the following:
• Selection rate for women: 20 percent
• Selection rate for men: 50 percent
• Then divide the highest selection rate: .20/.50 = .4
Because .4, or 40 percent, is less than four-fifths, there may be adverse impact in the selection process for
firefighters.
3 . 2 D I V E R S I T Y P L A N S • 6 3
TestingTesting
If employment tests are required, a test must be in direct relation to the job. For example, an organization that uses
a personality test in hiring must be able to show that the personality test results are nondiscriminatory and do not
exclude a population.
In addition, if a reasonable accommodation is needed, such as an interpreter, and it does not cause financial
difficulty for the organization, this should be granted.
Also consider the type of test and how it might exclude a certain group of people, such as those who don’t speak
English as a first language. We will discuss multiculturalism and testing further in Chapter 5 “Selection”.
Pay and PromotionPay and Promotion
Development of policies related to pay and promotion is key to fairness in a multicultural situation. It is widely
published that women make about 77 percent of what men earn for similar jobs2. Many studies have tried to
determine a cause for this pay inequity, and here are some of the possible reasons studied and researched:
1. Hours worked. Studies have said that women tend to work fewer hours because of child-care and
housework expectations.
2. Occupational choice. A study performed by Anne York at Meredith College (York, 2008) found that
women tend to choose careers that pay less because they are worried about balancing family and career. In
addition, numerous studies show that women choose careers on the basis of gender stereotypes (e.g., nurse,
teacher) and that this leads to lower pay.
3. Stereotypes. The concept of male bias is a possibility. In many studies, people were more likely to
choose male doctors over female doctors, even when experience and education were the same (Hekman, et.
al., 2010). There appears to be a perception that men may be more competent in certain types of jobs.
4. Maternity and family leave. Women leaving the workforce for a short or extended period of time may
affect the perception of promotability in the workplace.
5. Salary negotiation(Bowles & Babcock, 2008). A study performed by Bowles and Babcock showed that
men were eight times more likely to negotiate salary than women. In addition, when women did negotiate,
they received lower monetary returns. Consider a study performed by Cornell University, which found that
women were often negatively affected in their job when they negotiated salary, as compared to men not
being viewed negatively after negotiations.
Whatever the reason for pay difference, all managers should be aware of these differences when hiring and
promoting. Allowing managers to determine the pay for their employees can also bring out negative
stereotypes—and lead to breaking of the law. Determining a set pay schedule for all new and promoted employees
can help remedy this situation.
A factor in promotions can also be the mentor-mentee relationship. Most individuals in organizations will have
an informal mentor who helps them “through the ranks.” Traditionally, this informal mentor relationship results
in someone “pairing up” with another who has similar physical characteristics, is the same gender, or has a
6 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
similar mind-set. As a result, if the organization has, for example, mostly men, it is likely the female will not
be informally mentored, which can result in lack of promotion. Likewise, if the workforce consists of mostly
Caucasian females, it is likely the African American male may not develop an informal mentor relationship with
his female counterparts. Development of a formal mentorship program to ensure that everyone has a mentor is
one way to alleviate this situation. Mentorship programs are discussed in Chapter 8 “Training and Development”.
Now What?Now What?
Now that you have an awareness of the aspects of HR that could be affected by multiculturalism, you may
consider what steps you can take to create a more multicultural workplace. The first step would be to create a
diversity plan, as discussed earlier in this section. The second step would be to look at the operation of the HR
department and to figure out what departmental measures can be taken to promote diversity.
HR, for example, can provide a training series on power and privilege and how it relates to the workplace.
Awareness is the first step to creating a truly multicultural environment. Once employees recognize their own
power and privilege, the training could be developed to include laws related to diversity, and discussions on bias
can take place. Then discussions can be held on how to improve HR plans such as job analysis, recruitment, and
selection to create a multicultural work environment. Rather than thinking about this training as one of many
objectives that must be accomplished, think about the training from the conversation perspective. Getting the
conversation started is the first step in this personal and professional development process for employees.
Figure 3.2
Checking your own perceptions on multiculturalism can be a good first step to creating a more
multicultural and diverse workplace.
Paul Townsend – relics of a bygone age – sounds you’ll probably never hear again! – CC BY-ND 2.0.
3 . 2 D I V E R S I T Y P L A N S • 6 5
Some of the aspects to creating a training focused on multiculturalism might include the following:
1. Build a cultural knowledge about customs, religions, and histories.
2. Discuss treatment of people based on them as individuals, rather than as part of a “group,” which can
result in stereotyping.
3. Teach employees to listen actively, which can help raise cultural awareness.
4. Train employees to rethink current policies and how those policies might be exclusive to a certain group.
5. Work on resistance to change. Many employees think, “This is the way we have always done it, and now
we have to change it because we have a group of ____ working here now.”
6. Does your leadership team have a multiculturalism perspective? Are many ethnic backgrounds and other
multicultural traits represented?
While these suggestions may not eliminate power and privilege, the ability to talk about differences and
expectations can be a key ingredient to creating a more inclusive environment. Sometimes this type of training can
help people evaluate their perceptions. For example, suppose a complaint came through that a woman was making
derogatory sexual comments to only one group of men in an organization. When talked to about it, she said she
made comments to the “techies” because she thought the comments would provide them a needed confidence
boost, but she generally wouldn’t make those types of comments. This is an example of her perception (“techies”
need confidence boosts from women) followed by her action (the comments) on this perception. When we assume
our perceptions are correct, we are usually wrong. Training can get people to consider their emotions, stereotypes,
and expectations. Besides training, asking ourselves a series of important questions can be the start to making
diversity and multiculturalism work. The University of California, San Francisco human resource department lists
some of these questions, which are shown in the sidebar.
Things to Consider When Creating a Multicultural and Diverse Work EnvironmentThings to Consider When Creating a Multicultural and Diverse Work Environment
• Do you test your assumptions before acting on them?
• Do you believe there is only one right way of doing things, or that there are a number of valid waysthat accomplish the same goal? Do you convey that to staff?
• Do you have honest relationships with each staff member you supervise? Are you comfortable witheach of them? Do you know what motivates them, what their goals are, and how they like to berecognized?
• Are you able to give negative feedback to someone who is culturally different from you?
• When you have open positions, do you insist on a diverse screening committee and make additionaloutreach efforts to ensure that a diverse pool of candidates has applied?
• When you hire a new employee, do you not only explain job responsibilities and expectations clearlybut orient the person to the campus and department culture and unwritten rules?
• Do you rigorously examine your unit’s existing policies, practices, and procedures to ensure thatthey do not differentially impact different groups? When they do, do you change them?
6 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Are you willing to listen to constructive feedback from your staff about ways to improve the workenvironment? Do you implement staff suggestions and acknowledge their contribution?
• Do you take immediate action with people you supervise when they behave in ways that showdisrespect for others in the workplace, such as inappropriate jokes and offensive terms?
• Do you make good faith efforts to meet your affirmative action goals?
• Do you have a good understanding of institutional isms such as racism and sexism and how theymanifest themselves in the workplace?
• Do you ensure that assignments and opportunities for advancement are accessible to everyone?
• What policies, practices, and ways of thinking have differential impact on different groups?
• What organizational changes should be made to meet the needs of a diverse workforce?
Source: University of California, San Francisco, “Managing Diversity in the Workplace,” chap. 12 inGuide to Managing Human Resources, accessed July 11, 2011, http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/pubs/hrguidearticle/chapter-12-managing-diversity-in-the-workplace/#684.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Why is multiculturalism important in the workplace? What is your role, as an employee in yourorganization, to ensure a diverse workforce?
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Refer a Friend
Your manager is very concerned about the cost of hiring the three new people you need. As a result, she doesn’t
want to post the advertisement in a variety of places; she thinks it’s best to just use a “refer a friend” recruitment
strategy. When she moves forward with this strategy, ten people turn in résumés. Upon looking further, it appears
all applicants went to the same private religious college and graduated around the same time. You are concerned
that this method of recruitment lacks diversity. How would you handle this with your manager?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1371393/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1371393/embed.
3 . 2 D I V E R S I T Y P L A N S • 6 7
Key Takeaways
• Oftentimes there are cultural aspects to an organization that make it resistant to an inclusiveenvironment. These are often not obvious, but it is important to be aware of how your own companyculture impacts multiculturalism.
◦ One way to begin the discussion within your organization is to create diversity action plans, forwhich the entire company is responsible and for which HR is the change agent. In addition tocompanywide initiatives, HR can also look within its own HR plans to see where it may be ableto change.
◦ In recruitment, awareness of how and where you post announcements is crucial.
◦ Testing should be fair and unbiased and shouldn’t negatively impact someone based on race,national origin, gender, social class, or educational level.
◦ There are many reasons for differences in pay. Development of a set pay scale can alleviatesome of the issues surrounding unfair pay, especially between men and women.
◦ Formal mentorship programs can create multicultural understanding and can ensure people donot stick with their own race or gender when helping someone move up the ranks in anorganization.
Exercises
1. What are some things we can do, personally, to be more multiculturally efficient?
2. What are the advantages of having a set pay scale? What are the disadvantages?
1Zappos.com, accessed August 25, 2011, http://about.zappos.com/our-unique-culture/zappos-core-values/build-
open-and-honest-relationships-communication.
2National Committee on Pay Equity, accessed August 25, 2011, http://www.iwpr.org/initiatives/pay-equity-and-
discrimination/#publications.
ReferencesReferences
Bowles, H. R. and Linda Babcock, “When Doesn’t It Hurt Her to Ask? Framing and Justification Reduce the
Social Risks of Initiating Compensation” (paper presented at IACM 21st Annual Conference, December 14,
2008): accessed August 25, 2011, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1316162.
Greenberg, J., “Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, Solutions,” The Multicultural Advantage, 2004,
accessed July 12, 2011, http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/diversity/Diversity-in-the-Workplace-
Benefits-Challenges-Solutions.asp.
6 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Hekman, D. R., Karl Aquino and Brad P. Owens, “An Examination of Whether and How Racial and Gender
Biases Influence Customer Satisfaction,” Academy of Management Journal 53, no. 2 (April 2010): 238–264.
York, E. A., “Gender Differences in the College and Career Aspirations of High School Valedictorians,” Journal
of Advanced Academics 19, no. 4 (Summer 2008): 578–600, http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/
detail?accno=EJ822323.
3 . 2 D I V E R S I T Y P L A N S • 6 9
3.3 Multiculturalism and the Law
Learning Objectives
1. Define the role of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
2. Explain the various types of laws covered by the EEOC.
As we already know, it is in an organization’s best interest to hire and promote a multicultural and diverse
workforce. Sometimes though, people are still discriminated against at work. As a result, a federal agency has
been established to ensure employees have a place to file complaints should they feel discriminated against. This
is the topic of Section 3.1 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”. However, please note that each of these topics is
discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” as well, but they are also worth mentioning here.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency charged with the task of enforcing
federal employment discrimination laws. The laws include those that protect people from discrimination in
all areas of employment, such as discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and
disability. People who have filed a discrimination charge are also protected against discrimination under the
EEOC. Employers with at least fifteen employees (twenty for age discrimination) are covered under the EEOC.
This agency covers not only discrimination in hiring but also discrimination in all types of work situations such as
firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits. The EEOC has the authority to investigate charges
of discrimination against employers. The agency investigates the claims, makes a finding, and then tries to settle
the charge. If they are unsuccessful in settling the charge, the EEOC has the right to file a lawsuit on behalf of
the complainants. The EEOC has headquarters in Washington, DC, with fifty-three field offices throughout the
United States.
If a company has more than one hundred employees, a form called the EEO-1 must be filled out yearly. This form
confirms the demographics of an organization based on different job categories1. An organization that employs
more than fifty people and works for the federal government must also file an EEO-1 yearly, with the deadline
normally in September. In addition, organizations must post the EEOC notice, which you have probably seen
70
before, perhaps in the company break room. Finally, organizations should keep on file records such as hiring
statistics in the event of an EEOC investigation.
It is necessary to mention here that while there is a legal compliance concern, as discussed before, it is in the
company’s best interest to hire a diverse workforce. So while we can discuss the legal aspects, remember that
the purpose of having a diverse workforce is not just to meet EEOC requirements but to create a better, more
profitable workplace that better serves customers.
Table 3.1 How the EEOC Process Works and Requirements for Employers
Requirements by EEOC
Post Federal and State EEOC notices
File yearly report called EEO-1
Keep copies of documents on file
Process for Investigation
1. The EEOC complaint is filed.
2. The EEOC notifies the organization of the charges.
3. The EEOC acts as a mediator between the employee and the employer to find a solution.
4. If step 3 is unsuccessful, the EEOC will initiate an investigation.
5. The EEOC makes a determination, and then the employer has the option of remedying the situation or face a potential lawsuit.
EEOC Federal LegislationEEOC Federal Legislation
While the EEOC is the larger governing body, many pieces of legislation relating to multicultural practices are
part of the EEOC family of laws. Many of these laws began with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.
This act, enforced by the EEOC, covers several areas in which discrimination was rampant. However, a bona
fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) is a quality or attribute employers are allowed to consider when making
decisions during the selection process. Examples of BFOQs are a maximum age limit for airline pilots for safety
reasons and a Christian college’s requirement that the president of the college be Christian.
EEOC laws relate specifically to the following and are discussed in detail in Chapter 4 “Recruitment” and Chapter
5 “Selection”:
1. Age
2. Disability
3. Equal pay
4. Genetic information
5. National origin
6. Pregnancy
7. Race/color
8. Religion
3 . 3 M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M A N D T H E L A W • 7 1
9. Retaliation
10. Sex
11. Sexual harassment
AgeAge
Age discrimination involves treating someone less favorably because of his or her age. Created in 1967, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is enforced by the EEOC. This law covers people who are age forty
or older. It does not cover favoring an older worker over a younger worker, if the older worker is forty years or
older. The law covers any aspect of employment such as hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs,
training, fringe benefits, and any other condition or term of employment.
The law also goes deeper by forbidding harassment of someone based on age. While simple teasing or offhand
comments are not covered, more serious offensive remarks about age are covered by this EEOC law.
DisabilityDisability
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities and is
enforced by the EEOC. Discrimination based on disability means treating a qualified person unfavorably because
of a disability. For example, if someone has AIDS that is controlled, the employee cannot be treated unfavorably.
The law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee or applicant with a disability,
unless this accommodation would cause significant difficulty or expense for the employer. A reasonable
accommodation is defined by the EEOC as any change in the work environment or in the way things are
customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities. A
reasonable accommodation might include making the workplace accessible for wheelchair use or providing
equipment for someone who is hearing or vision impaired.
This law does not mean that organizations are required to hire unqualified people. The law specifically states the
person must be qualified for the job and have a disability defined by the law. A disability defined by the law can
include the following:
1. Physical or mental condition that limits a major life activity (walking, talking, seeing, hearing, or
learning)
2. History of a disability (e.g., cancer that is in remission)
3. Physical or mental impairment that is not transitory (lasting or expected to last less than six months)
The law places limits on employers when it comes to asking job applicants questions about medical history or
asking a person to take a medical exam.
Equal Pay/CompensationEqual Pay/Compensation
The basis of this law is that people are paid the same for the same type of work, and the law specifically addresses
gender pay differences. Rather than job title, job content is used to determine if the job is the same work. In
7 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
addition to covering salary, it deals with overtime pay, bonus, stock options, profit sharing, and other types of
bonus plans such as vacation and holiday pay. If inequality in pay is found, the employer cannot reduce the wages
of either sex to equalize the pay.
An employee who files an equal pay charge has the option to go directly to court rather than the EEOC.
Genetic InformationGenetic Information
This law is one of the newer EEOC laws, which took effect in November 2009. The EEOC’s definition of genetic
information includes family medical information or information about the manifestation of a disease or disorder
in an individual’s family. For example, an employer cannot discriminate against an employee whose family has
a history of diabetes or cancer. This information could be used to discriminate against an employee who has an
increased risk of getting a disease and may make health-care costs more expensive for the organization.
In addition, the employer is not allowed to seek out genetic information by requesting, requiring, or purchasing
this information. However, there are some situations in which receiving this information would not be illegal:
1. A manager or supervisor overhears an employee talking about a family member’s illness.
2. Information is received based on wellness programs offered on a voluntary basis.
3. If the information is required as documentation to receive benefits for the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA). FMLA is discussed in Section 3 “Pregnancy”.
4. If the information is commercial, such as the appearance of information in a newspaper, as long as the
employer is not specifically searching those sources for the purpose of finding genetic information.
5. If genetic information is required through a monitoring program that looks at the biological effects of
toxic substances in the workplace.
6. For those professions that require DNA testing, such as law enforcement agencies. In this case, the
genetic information may only be used for analysis in relation to the specific case at hand.
This law also covers how information about genetics should be kept. For example, genetic information must be
kept separate from an employee’s regular file.
National OriginNational Origin
It is illegal to treat people unfavorably because they are from a particular country or part of the world, because
of their accent, or because they appear to be of a particular descent (even if they are not). The law protecting
employees based on national origin refers to all aspects of employment: hiring, firing, pay, job assignments,
promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits. An employer can require an employee to speak English only if
it is necessary to perform the job effectively. An English-only policy is allowed only if it is needed to ensure the
safe or efficient operations of the employer’s business. An employer may not base an employment decision on a
foreign accent, unless the accent seriously interferes with job performance.
3 . 3 M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M A N D T H E L A W • 7 3
PregnancyPregnancy
This section of the EEOC refers to the unfavorable treatment of a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth, or
a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, added to
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is enforced by the EEOC. The female who is unable to perform her job owing
to pregnancy must be treated the same as other temporarily disabled employees. For example, modified tasks
or alternative assignments should be offered. This law refers not only to hiring but also to firing, pay, job
assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits. In addition to this law against discrimination of
pregnant women, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is enforced by the US Department of Labor2.
The FMLA requires companies with fifty or more employees to provide twelve weeks of unpaid leave for the
following:
1. Birth and care of a newborn child
2. Care of an adopted child
3. Care for immediate family members (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition
4. Medical leave for the employee who is unable to work because of a serious health condition
In addition to the company size requirement, the employee must have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past
12 months.
Race/ColorRace/Color
This type of discrimination refers to treating someone unfavorably because he or she is of a certain race or because
of certain characteristics associated with race. These characteristics might include hair texture, skin color, or facial
features. Discrimination can occur when the person discriminating is the same race or color of the person who is
being discriminated against. EEOC law also protects people who are married to or associated with someone of a
certain race or color. As with the other types of antidiscrimination laws we have discussed, this law refers not only
to the initial hiring but also to firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits.
ReligionReligion
This part of the EEOC refers to treating a person unfavorably because of their religious beliefs. This law requires
a company to reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs or practices, unless doing so would burden
the organization’s operations. For example, allowing flexible scheduling during certain religious periods of time
might be considered a reasonable accommodation. This law also covers accommodations in dress and grooming,
such as a headscarf, religious dress, or uncut hair and a beard in the case of a Sikh. Ideally, the employee or
applicant would notify the employer that he or she needs such an accommodation for religious reasons, and then a
discussion of the request would occur. If it wouldn’t pose hardship, the employer should honor the request. If the
request might cause a safety issue, decrease efficiency, or infringe on the rights of other employees, it may not be
honored.
7 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Sex and Sexual HarassmentSex and Sexual Harassment
Sex discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of their sex. As with all EEOC laws, this
relates to hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and fringe benefits. This law directly
ties into sexual harassment laws, which include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. The victim can be male or female, and sexual harassment can
occur female to female, female to male, male to female, and male to male. We discuss more details of harassment
in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance”.
Harassment at Yale?Harassment at Yale?
(click to see video)
This 2011 video outlines a sexual harassment lawsuit at Yale University. The video shows that the lawsuit blamed
Yale not for the harassment but for not taking a harder stand on this type of harassment.
RetaliationRetaliation
In all the laws mentioned, the EEOC set of laws makes it illegal to fire, demote, harass, or retaliate against people
because they filed a charge of discrimination, complained about discrimination, or participated in employment
discrimination proceedings. Perhaps one of the most high-profile sexual harassment and retaliation cases was that
of Sanders v. Thomas. Isiah Thomas, then coach of the New York Knicks, fired Anucha Browne Sanders because
she hired an attorney to file sexual harassment claims charges. The jury awarded Browne Sanders $11.6 million
in punitive charges because of the hostile work environment Thomas created and another $5.6 million because
Browne Sanders was fired for complaining (Schmidt, 2007). A portion of the lawsuit was to be paid by Madison
Square Garden and James Dolan, chairman of Cablevision, the parent company of Madison Square Garden and
the Knicks. Browne Sanders’s lawyers successfully argued that the inner workings of Madison Square Garden
were hostile and lewd, and that the former marketing executive of the organization subjected her to hostility and
sexual advances. Thomas left the organization as coach and president in 2008. As in this case, there are large
financial and public relations penalties not only for sexual harassment but for retaliation after a harassment suit
has been filed.
All types of discrimination and laws affecting multiculturalism are a key aspect for HR managers and managers
to understand. These types of discrimination are discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”, specifically, how they
pertain to recruiting and hiring.
Military ServiceMilitary Service
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERR) protects people who serve or
have served in the armed forces, Reserves, National Guard, or other uniformed services. The act ensures these
individuals are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service. It also requires they be
reemployed in their civilian jobs upon return to service and prohibits discrimination based on past, present, or
future military service.
3 . 3 M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M A N D T H E L A W • 7 5
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Figure 3.3
An accommodation for religion, such as allowing turbans, would be
considered a reasonable accommodation in work dress.
Vít Hassan – Turban – CC BY-NC 2.0.
What types of discrimination (under the EEOC) do you think are the most common and why? Have youever experienced discrimination in the workplace, at school, or in extracurricular activities? Explain.
Key Takeaways
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency charged with thedevelopment and enforcement of laws relating to multiculturalism and diversity in the workplace.
• The EEOC covers discrimination based on several areas. Companies cannot discriminate based on
7 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
age; EEOC law covers people who are forty years or older.
• Employers cannot discriminate against people with disabilities and must provide reasonableaccommodations, such as the addition of a wheelchair ramp to accommodate those with disabilities.
• Equal pay refers to the fact people should legally be paid the same amount for performing the sametype of work, even if the job title is different.
• The newest addition to EEOC law prohibits discrimination based on genetic information, such as ahistory of cancer in a family.
• Unfavorable treatment of people because they are from a particular country or part of the world orhave an accent is covered by the EEOC. An organization cannot require people to speak English,unless it is a requirement for the job or needed for safety and efficient operation of the organization.
• Women can’t be discriminated against because they are pregnant. The inability to perform certaintasks due to pregnancy should be treated as a temporary disability; accommodation can be in theform of modified tasks or alternative assignments.
• The EEOC protects people from discrimination based on their race or color.
• Religion is also an aspect of the EEOC family of laws. The protection of religion doesn’t allow fordiscrimination; accommodations include modifications of work schedules or dress to be made forreligious reasons.
• Discrimination on the basis of sex is illegal and covered by the EEOC. Sexual harassment is alsocovered by the EEOC and states that all people, regardless of sex, should work in a harassment-freeenvironment.
• Retaliation is also illegal. An organization cannot retaliate against anyone who has filed a complaintwith the EEOC or a discrimination lawsuit.
• The US Department of Labor oversees some aspects of EEOC laws, such as the Family and MedicalLeave Act (FMLA). This act requires organizations to give twelve weeks of unpaid leave in the eventof an adoption, a birth, or a need to provide care to sick family members.
Exercises
1. Visit the EEOC website at http://www.eeoc.gov and explain the methods an employee can use infiling a complaint with the EEOC.
2. If an employer is found to have discriminated, what are some “remedies” listed on the EEOCwebsite?
1Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, 2011 EEO-1 Survey, accessed December 20, 2010,
http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/eeo1survey.
2US Department of Labor, Leave Benefits: Family and Medical Leave, US Department of Labor, accessed
December 20, 2010, http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/benefits-leave/fmla.htm.
3 . 3 M U L T I C U L T U R A L I S M A N D T H E L A W • 7 7
ReferencesReferences
Schmidt, M., “Jury Awards $11.6 Million to Former Knicks Executive,” New York Times, October 2, 2007,
accessed July 12, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/sports/basketball/03garden-cnd.html.
7 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
3.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Diversity is the real or perceived differences between individuals. Diversity can include race, gender,sexual orientation, size, cultural background, and many other differences. Multiculturalism is similarto diversity but focuses on the development of a greater understanding of how power in society canbe unequal because of race, gender, sexual orientation, power, and privilege.
• Power and privilege is a system of advantages based on one’s race, gender, and sexual orientation.This system can often be invisible (to those who have it), which results in one race or gender havingunequal power in the workplace. Of course, this unequal power results in unfairness, which may be alegal concern.
• Diversity is important to the success of organizations. Many studies have shown a direct linkbetween the amount of diversity in a workplace and the success of the company.
• Oftentimes there are cultural aspects to an organization that make it resistant to an inclusiveenvironment. These are often not obvious, but awareness of how your own company culture impactsmulticulturalism is important. Job announcements, testing, and pay differences are company culturecomponents that can create exclusive environments.
• In recruitment, awareness of how and where you post announcements is crucial. Development of aset pay scale can alleviate some of the issues surrounding unfair pay, especially between men andwomen.
• Formal mentorship programs can create multicultural understanding and ensure people do not stickwith their own race or gender when helping someone move up the ranks in an organization.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency charged withdevelopment and enforcement of laws relating to multiculturalism and diversity in the workplace.
• The EEOC covers discrimination based on several areas. Companies cannot discriminate based onage—that is, against someone who is forty or older. They also can’t discriminate against people withdisabilities or on the basis of race, genetic information, national origin, gender, or religion.
• Retaliation is also illegal, based on EEOC laws. An organization cannot retaliate against anyone whohas filed a complaint with the EEOC or a discrimination lawsuit.
• The US Department of Labor oversees some aspects of EEOC laws, such as the Family and MedicalLeave Act (FMLA). This act requires organizations to give twelve weeks of unpaid leave in the event
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of an adoption, birth, or caregiving of sick family members.
Chapter Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
But…It’s Our Company Culture!
You are the HR manager for a fifty-person firm that specializes in the development and marketing ofplastics technologies. When you were hired, you felt the company had little idea what you should be paidand just made up a number, which you were able to negotiate to a slightly higher salary. While you havebeen on the job for three months, you have noticed a few concerning things in the area of multiculturalism,besides the way your salary was offered. The following are some of those items:
1. You know that some of the sales team, including the sales manager, get together once a month tohave drinks at a strip club.
2. A Hispanic worker left the organization, and in his exit interview, he complained of not seeing apath toward promotion.
3. The only room available for breast-feeding mothers is the women’s restroom.
4. The organization has a policy of offering $200 to any employee who refers a friend, as long as thefriend is hired and stays at least six months.
5. The manufacturing floor has an English-only policy.
6. You have heard managers refer to those wearing turbans in a derogatory way.
What do you think needs to be done to create a more inclusive environment, without losing the culture ofthe company? What suggestions would you make to those involved in each of the situations?
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. In groups, research recent high-profile cases involving diversity or multiculturalism. Prepare afive-minute presentation on the case to present to classmates.
8 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Chapter 4: Recruitment
Keeping Up with GrowthKeeping Up with Growth
Over the last two years, the company where Melinda works as HR manager, Dragon Enterprises, has seen plenty
of growth. Much of this growth has created a need for a strategic, specific recruiting processes. In the past, Dragon
Enterprises recruited simply on the basis of the applications they received, rather than actively searching for the
right person for the job. The first thing Melinda did when arriving at the company was to develop a job analysis
questionnaire, which she had all employees fill out using the website SurveyMonkey. The goal was to create a
job analysis for each position that existed at the company. This happened to be the point where the organization
started seeing rapid growth, as a result of increased demand for the types of parts the company sells. Luckily, since
Melinda followed the industry closely and worked closely with management, part of her strategic outline planned
for the hiring of several new positions, so she was mostly ready for it. Keeping in mind the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) laws and the company’s position on a diverse workforce, Melinda set out to
write new job descriptions for the job analysis she had performed. She knew the job analysis should be tied to the
job description, and both of these should be tied to the job qualifications. Obviously, to recruit for these positions,
she needed to develop a recruitment plan. Over the next year, the organization needed to hire three more floor
management positions, three office positions, and fifteen factory floor positions. Next, she needed to determine a
time line to recruit candidates and a method by which to accept the applications she would receive. After sharing
this time line with her colleague, the chief operating officer, she went to work recruiting. She sent an e-mail to all
employees asking them to refer a friend and receive a $500 bonus. Next, part of her strategy was to try to find very
specialized talent in management to fill those positions. For this, she thought working with a recruiting company
might be the best way to go. She also used her Twitter and Facebook accounts to broadcast the job openings. After
a three-week period, Melinda had 54 applications for the management positions, 78 for the office positions, and
110 for the factory floor positions. Pleased with the way recruiting had gone, she started reviewing the résumés to
continue with the selection process.
Recruitment IntroductionRecruitment Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on recruitment strategies.
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4.1 The Recruitment Process
Learning Objectives
1. Discuss the need for forecasting human resource needs and techniques for forecasting.
2. Be able to explain the steps to an effective recruitment strategy.
3. Be able to develop a job analysis and job description.
The recruitment process is an important part of human resource management (HRM). It isn’t done without proper
strategic planning. Recruitment is defined as a process that provides the organization with a pool of qualified
job candidates from which to choose. Before companies recruit, they must implement proper staffing plans and
forecasting to determine how many people they will need. The basis of the forecast will be the annual budget of
the organization and the short- to long-term plans of the organization—for example, the possibility of expansion.
In addition to this, the organizational life cycle will be a factor. Organization life cycle is discussed in Chapter 2
“Developing and Implementing Strategic HRM Plans”. Forecasting is based on both internal and external factors.
Internal factors include the following:
1. Budget constraints
2. Expected or trend of employee separations
3. Production levels
4. Sales increases or decreases
5. Global expansion plans
External factors might include the following:
1. Changes in technology
2. Changes in laws
3. Unemployment rates
4. Shifts in population
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5. Shifts in urban, suburban, and rural areas
6. Competition
Once the forecasting data are gathered and analyzed, the HR professional can see where gaps exist and then begin
to recruit individuals with the right skills, education, and backgrounds. This section will discuss this step in HR
planning.
Recruitment StrategyRecruitment Strategy
Although it might seem easy, recruitment of the right talent, at the right place and at the right time, takes skill and
practice, but more importantly, it takes strategic planning. In Chapter 2 “Developing and Implementing Strategic
HRM Plans”, development of staffing plans is discussed. An understanding of the labor market and the factors
determining the relevant aspects of the labor market is key to being strategic about your recruiting processes.
Based on this information, when a job opening occurs, the HRM professional should be ready to fill that position.
Here are the aspects of developing a recruitment strategy:
1. Refer to a staffing plan. This is discussed in Chapter 2 “Developing and Implementing Strategic HRM
Plans”.
2. Confirm the job analysis is correct through questionnaires.
3. Write the job description and job specifications.
4. Have a bidding system to recruit and review internal candidate qualifications for possible promotions.
5. Determine the best recruitment strategies for the position.
6. Implement a recruiting strategy.
The first step in the recruitment process is acknowledgment of a job opening. At this time, the manager and/or the
HRM look at the job description for the job opening (assuming it isn’t a new job). We discuss how to write a job
analysis and job description in Section 4.1.2 “Job Analysis and Job Descriptions”.
Assuming the job analysis and job description are ready, an organization may decide to look at internal candidates’
qualifications first. Internal candidates are people who are already working for the company. If an internal
candidate meets the qualifications, this person might be encouraged to apply for the job, and the job opening
may not be published. Many organizations have formal job posting procedures and bidding systems in place for
internal candidates. For example, job postings may be sent to a listserv or other avenue so all employees have
access to them. However, the advantage of publishing open positions to everyone in and outside the company is
to ensure the organization is diverse. Diversity is discussed in Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”. We
discuss more about internal and external candidates and bidding systems in Chapter 5 “Selection”.
Then the best recruiting strategies for the type of position are determined. For example, for a high-level executive
position, it may be decided to hire an outside head-hunting firm. For an entry-level position, advertising on social
networking websites might be the best strategy. Most organizations will use a variety of methods to obtain the
best results. We discuss specific strategies in Section 4.3 “Recruitment Strategies”.
4 . 1 T H E R E C R U I T M E N T P R O C E S S • 8 3
Another consideration is how the recruiting process will be managed under constraining circumstances such as
a short deadline or a low number of applications. In addition, establishing a protocol for how applications and
résumés will be processed will save time later. For example, some HRM professionals may use software such as
Microsoft Excel to communicate the time line of the hiring process to key managers.
Once these tasks are accomplished, the hope is that you will have a diverse group of people to interview (called
the selection process). Before this is done, though, it is important to have information to ensure the right people
are recruited. This is where the job analysis and job description come in. We discuss this in Section 4.1.2 “Job
Analysis and Job Descriptions”.
Job Analysis and Job DescriptionsJob Analysis and Job Descriptions
The job analysis is a formal system developed to determine what tasks people actually perform in their jobs.
The purpose of a job analysis is to ensure creation of the right fit between the job and the employee and to
determine how employee performance will be assessed. A major part of the job analysis includes research, which
may mean reviewing job responsibilities of current employees, researching job descriptions for similar jobs with
competitors, and analyzing any new responsibilities that need to be accomplished by the person with the position.
According to research by Hackman and Oldham (Hackman & Oldham, 1976), a job diagnostic survey should be
used to diagnose job characteristics prior to any redesign of a job. This is discussed in Chapter 7 “Retention and
Motivation”.
To start writing a job analysis, data need to be gathered and analyzed, keeping in mind Hackman and Oldham’s
model. Figure 4.1 “Process for Writing the Job Analysis” shows the process of writing a job analysis. Please
note, though, that a job analysis is different from a job design. Job design refers to how a job can be modified or
changed to be more effective—for example, changing tasks as new technology becomes available. We discuss job
design in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation” and Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”.
Figure 4.1 Process for Writing the Job Analysis
The information gathered from the job analysis is used to develop both the job description and the job
specifications. A job description is a list of tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a job. Job specifications, on the
other hand, discuss the skills and abilities the person must have to perform the job. The two are tied together, as
job descriptions are usually written to include job specifications. A job analysis must be performed first, and then
8 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
based on that data, we can successfully write the job description and job specifications. Think of the analysis as
“everything an employee is required and expected to do.”
Figure 4.2 Sample Job Analysis Questionnaire
This questionnaire shows how an HR professional might gather data for a job analysis. Questionnaires can
be completed on paper or online.
4 . 1 T H E R E C R U I T M E N T P R O C E S S • 8 5
Two types of job analyses can be performed: a task-based analysis and a competency- or skills-based analysis. A
task-based analysis focuses on the duties of the job, as opposed to a competency-based analysis, which focuses
on the specific knowledge and abilities an employee must have to perform the job. An example of a task-based
analysis might include information on the following:
1. Write performance evaluations for employees.
2. Prepare reports.
3. Answer incoming phone calls.
4. Assist customers with product questions.
5. Cold-call three customers a day.
With task job analysis, the specific tasks are listed and it is clear. With competency based, it is less clear and more
objective. However, competency-based analysis might be more appropriate for specific, high-level positions. For
example, a competency-based analysis might include the following:
1. Able to utilize data analysis tools
2. Able to work within teams
3. Adaptable
4. Innovative
You can clearly see the difference between the two. The focus of task-based analyses is the job duties required,
while the focus of competency-based analyses is on how a person can apply their skills to perform the job. One
is not better than the other but is simply used for different purposes and different types of jobs. For example, a
task-based analysis might be used for a receptionist, while a competency-based analysis might be used for a vice
president of sales position. Consider the legal implications, however, of which job analysis is used. Because a
competency-based job analysis is more subjective, it might be more difficult to tell whether someone has met the
criteria.
Once you have decided if a competency-based or task-based analysis is more appropriate for the job, you can
prepare to write the job analysis. Of course, this isn’t something that should be done alone. Feedback from
managers should be taken into consideration to make this task useful in all levels of the organization. Organization
8 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
is a key component to preparing for your job analysis. For example, will you perform an analysis on all jobs in
the organization or just focus on one department? Once you have determined how you will conduct the analysis,
a tool to conduct the analysis should be chosen. Most organizations use questionnaires (online or hard copy) to
determine the duties of each job title. Some organizations will use face-to-face interviews to perform this task,
depending on time constraints and the size of the organization. A job analysis questionnaire usually includes the
following types of questions, obviously depending on the type of industry:
1. Employee information such as job title, how long in position, education level, how many years of
experience in the industry
2. Key tasks and responsibilities
3. Decision making and problem solving: this section asks employees to list situations in which problems
needed to be solved and the types of decisions made or solutions provided.
4. Level of contact with colleagues, managers, outside vendors, and customers
5. Physical demands of the job, such as the amount of heavy lifting or ability to see, hear, or walk
6. Personal abilities required to do the job—that is, personal characteristics needed to perform well in this
position
7. Specific skills required to do the job—for example, the ability to run a particular computer program
8. Certifications to perform the job
Once all employees (or the ones you have identified) have completed the questionnaire, you can organize the data,
which is helpful in creating job descriptions. If there is more than one person completing a questionnaire for one
job title, the data should be combined to create one job analysis for one job title. There are a number of software
packages available to help human resources perform this task, such as AutoGOJA.
Once the job analysis has been completed, it is time to write the job description and specifications, using the data
you collected. Job descriptions should always include the following components:
1. Job functions (the tasks the employee performs)
2. Knowledge, skills, and abilities (what an employee is expected to know and be able to do, as well as
personal attributes)
3. Education and experience required
4. Physical requirements of the job (ability to lift, see, or hear, for example)
4 . 1 T H E R E C R U I T M E N T P R O C E S S • 8 7
Figure 4.3 Sample Job Description
Notice how the job description includes the job function; knowledge, skills, and abilities required to do the
job; education and experience required; and the physical requirements of the job.
Once the job description has been written, obtaining approval from the hiring manager is the next step. Then the
HR professional can begin to recruit for the position. Before we discuss specific recruitment strategies, we should
address the law and how it relates to hiring. This is the topic of Section 4.2 “The Law and Recruitment”.
8 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Tips to Writing a Good Job DescriptionTips to Writing a Good Job Description
• Be sure to include the pertinent information:
◦ Title
◦ Department
◦ Reports to
◦ Duties and responsibilities
◦ terms of employment
◦ qualifications needed
• Think of the job description as a snapshot of the job.
• Communicate clearly and concisely.
• Make sure the job description is interesting to the right candidate applying for the job.
• Avoid acronyms.
• Don’t try to fit all job aspects into the job description.
• Proofread the job description.
Writing a Job DescriptionWriting a Job Description
(click to see video)
A short video on how to write an effective job description, with examples.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Does your current job or past job have a job description? Did it closely match the tasks you actuallyperformed?
Key Takeaways
• The recruitment process provides the organization with a pool of qualified applicants.
• Some companies choose to hire internal candidates—that is, candidates who are already working forthe organization. However, diversity is a consideration here as well.
• A job analysis is a systematic approach to determine what a person actually does in his or her job.This process might involve a questionnaire to all employees. Based on this analysis, an accurate job
4 . 1 T H E R E C R U I T M E N T P R O C E S S • 8 9
description and job specifications can be written. A job description lists the components of the job,while job specifications list the requirements to perform the job.
Exercises
1.Do an Internet search for “job description.” Review three different job descriptions and then answerthe following questions for each of the jobs:
a. What are the job specifications?
b. Are the physical demands mentioned?
c. Is the job description task based or competency based?
d. How might you change this job description to obtain more qualified candidates?
2. Why do the five steps of the recruitment process require input from other parts of theorganization? How might you handle a situation in which the employees or management arereluctant to complete a job analysis?
ReferencesReferences
Hackman J. R. and Greg R. Oldham, “Motivation through the Design of Work: Test of a Theory,” Organizational
Behavior and Human Performance 16, no. 2 (August 1976): 250–79.
9 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
4.2 The Law and Recruitment
Learning Objective
1. Explain the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), Patriot Act, and equal employmentopportunity (EEO) laws and how they relate to recruiting.
One of the most important parts of HRM is to know and apply the law in all activities the HR department handles.
Specifically with hiring processes, the law is very clear on a fair hiring that is inclusive to all individuals applying
for a job. The laws discussed here are applied specifically to the recruiting of new employees.
Immigration Reform and Control ActImmigration Reform and Control Act
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was adopted by Congress in 19861. This law requires
employers to attest to their employees’ immigration status. It also makes it illegal to hire or recruit illegal
immigrants. The purpose of this law is to preserve jobs for those who have legal documentation to work in
the United States. The implications for human resources lie in the recruitment process, because before entering
employees into the selection process (interviewing, for example), it is important to know they are eligible to work
in the United States. This is why many application forms ask, “Are you legally able to work in the United States?”
Dealing with the IRCA is a balancing act, however, because organizations cannot discriminate against legal aliens
seeking work in the United States.
The IRCA relates not only to workers you hire but also to subcontractors. In a subcontractor situation (e.g., your
organization hires an outside firm to clean the building after hours), your organization can still be held liable if
it is determined your organization exercises control over how and when the subcontractors perform their jobs.
In 2005, undocumented janitorial workers sued Walmart, arguing that the contracting company they worked for
didn’t pay them a minimum wage2. Because the retailer controlled many of the details of their work, Walmart was
considered to be a coemployer, and as a result, Walmart was held responsible not only for back wages but for the
fact their subcontractor had hired undocumented workers.
HR professionals must verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all employees, even if they are
91
temporary employees. The INS I-9 form (Employment Eligibility Verification form) is the reporting form that
determines the identity and legal work status of a worker.
If an audit is performed on your company, you would be required to show I-9 forms for all your workers. If an
employer hires temporary workers, it is important to manage data on when work visas are to expire, to ensure
compliance. Organizations that hire illegal workers can be penalized $100 to $1,000 per hire. There is a software
solution for management of this process, such as HR Data Manager. Once all data about workers are inputted,
the manager is sent reminders if work authorization visas are about to expire. Employers are required to have the
employee fill out the I-9 form on their first day of work, and the second section must be filled out within three
days after the first day of employment. The documentation must be kept on file three years after the date of hire or
for one year after termination. Some states, though, require the I-9 form be kept on file for as long as the person
is employed with the organization.
In 2010, new rules about the electronic storage of forms were developed. The US Department of Homeland
Security said that employees can have these forms electronically signed and stored.
Figure 4.4
The I-9 form must be completed by management within three days of hire and be kept for at least three
years, but in some states, it must be kept on file for the duration of employment.
Patriot ActPatriot Act
In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States, the Patriot Act was signed,
introducing legislative changes to enhance the federal government’s ability to conduct domestic and international
investigations and surveillance activities. As a result, employers needed to implement new procedures to maintain
employee privacy rights while also creating a system that allowed for release of information requested by the
government.
9 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
The act also amended the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, allowing the federal government easier access
to electronic communications. For example, only a search warrant is required for the government to access voice
mail and e-mail messages.
The act also amended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The government is allowed to view
communications if an employee is suspected of terrorism, and the government does not have to reveal this
surveillance to the employer.
It is prudent for HR professionals and managers to let potential employees know of these new requirements,
before the hiring process begins.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Wrong Job Description
Aimee, a highly motivated salesperson, has come to you with a complaint. She states that she had her performance
evaluation, but all the items on her evaluation didn’t relate to her actual job. In the past two years, she explains, her
job has changed because of the increase of new business development using technology. How would you handle
this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1371475/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1371475/embed.
EEO Set of LawsEEO Set of Laws
We discuss Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws in Chapter 3. They are worth mentioning again here in
relation to the recruitment process. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency
charged with the task of enforcing federal employment discrimination laws. While there are restrictions on the
type of company covered (companies with at least fifteen employees), the EEOC requires collection of data and
investigates discrimination claims, again, for organizations with more than fifteen employees.
Under EEO law related to the recruitment process, employers cannot discriminate based on age (forty years or
older), disability, genetic information, national origin, sex, pregnancy, race, and religion. In a job announcement,
organizations usually have an EEO statement. Here are some examples:
1. (Company name) is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining,
developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, gender, color,
religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran
status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work
environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and
dignity.
2. (Company name) does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin,
4 . 2 T H E L A W A N D R E C R U I T M E N T • 9 3
age, height, weight, marital status, familial status, handicap/disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status
in employment or the provision of services, and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation
including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to
participate in all programs and activities.
3. It is the policy of (college name), in full accordance with the law, not to discriminate in employment,
student admissions, and student services on the basis of race, color, religion, age, political affiliation or
belief, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, place of birth, general education development certification
(GED), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other legally
protected classification. (College name) recognizes its responsibility to promote the principles of equal
opportunity for employment, student admissions, and student services taking active steps to recruit
minorities and women.
4. (Company name) will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment on
the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status,
or status with regard to public assistance. (Company name) will take affirmative action to ensure that all
practices are free of such discrimination. Such employment practices include, but are not limited to, the
following: hiring, upgrading, demotion, transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, selection, layoff,
disciplinary action, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training.
In addition to including the EEO policy in the job announcement, HR is required to post notices of EEOC policies
in a visible part of the work environment (such as the break room).
Although the EEOC laws in hiring are clear about discrimination, an exception may occur, called the bona fide
occupational qualification (BFOQ). BFOQ is a quality or attribute that is reasonably necessary to the normal
operation of the business and that can be used when considering applicants. To obtain a BFOQ exception, a
company must prove that a particular person could not perform the job duties because of sex, age, religion,
disability, and national origin. Examples of BFOQ exceptions might include the following:
1. A private religious school may require a faculty member to be of the same denomination.
2. Mandatory retirement is required for airline pilots at a certain age.
3. A clothing store that sells male clothing is allowed to hire only male models.
4. If an essence of a restaurant relies on one sex versus another (e.g., Hooters), they may not be required to
hire male servers.
However, many arguments for BFOQ would not be considered valid. For example, race has never been a BFOQ,
nor has customers’ having a preference for a particular gender. Generally speaking, when going through the
recruitment process and writing job descriptions, assuming a BFOQ would apply might be a mistake. Seeking
legal council before writing a job description would be prudent.
Other aspects to consider in the development of the job description are disparate impact and disparate treatment.
These are the two ways to classify employment discrimination cases. Disparate impact occurs when an
organization discriminates through the use of a process, affecting a protected group as a whole, rather than
consciously intending to discriminate. Some examples of disparate impact might include the following:
9 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
1. Requirement of a high school diploma, which may not be important to employment, could discriminate
against racial groups
2. A height requirement, which could limit the ability of women or persons of certain races to apply for the
position
3. Written tests that do not relate directly to the job
4. Awarding of pay raises on the basis of, say, fewer than five years of experience, which could discriminate
against people older than forty
Disparate treatment, when one person is intentionally treated differently than another, does not necessarily impact
the larger protected group as a whole, as in disparate impact. The challenge in these cases is to determine if
someone was treated differently because of their race or gender or if there was another reason for the different
treatment. Here are two examples:
1. Both a male and a female miss work, and the female is fired but the male is not.
2. A company does not hire people of a certain race or gender, without a BFOQ.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Can you think of other examples of disparate impact that might affect a certain protected group of peopleunder EEOC?
The Concept of Disparate ImpactThe Concept of Disparate Impact
(click to see video)
An attorney from Berkent Legal Services explains the concept of disparate impact.
Key Takeaways
• IRCA stands for Immigration and Reform Act. This law requires all employers to determineeligibility of an employee to work in the United States. The reporting form is called an I-9 and mustbe completed and kept on file (paper or electronic) for at least three years, but some states requirethis documentation to be kept on file for the duration of the employee’s period of employment.
• The Patriot Act allows the government access to data that would normally be consideredprivate—for example, an employee’s records and work voice mails and e-mails (without thecompany’s consent). The HR professional might consider letting employees know of the compliancewith this law.
• The EEOC is a federal agency charged with ensuring discrimination does not occur in theworkplace. They oversee the equal employment opportunity (EEO) set of laws. Organizations mustpost EEO laws in a visible location at their workplace and also include them on job announcements.
4 . 2 T H E L A W A N D R E C R U I T M E N T • 9 5
• Related to the EEOC, the bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) makes it legal todiscriminate in hiring based on special circumstances—for example, requiring the retirement ofairline pilots at a certain age due to safety concerns.
• Disparate impact refers to a policy that may limit a protected EEO group from receiving fairtreatment. Disparate impact might include a test or requirement that negatively impacts someonebased on protected group status. An example is requiring a high school diploma, which may notdirectly impact the job. Disparate treatment refers to discrimination against an individual, such asthe hiring of one person over another based on race or gender.
Exercises
1. Describe the difference between disparate treatment and disparate impact.
2. Explain a situation (other than the ones described in this section) in which a BFOQ might beappropriate. Then research to see if in the past this reasoning has been accepted as a BFOQ.
1U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Accessed January 17, 2011. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/
site/uscis/
menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=b328194d3e88d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1
RCRD&vgnextoid =04a295c4f635f010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD.
2Zavala v. Wal-Mart, No. 03-5309, DC NJ (2005).
9 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
4.3 Recruitment Strategies
Learning Objective
1. Explain the various strategies that can be used in recruitment.
Now that we have discussed development of the job analysis, job description, and job specifications, and you
are aware of the laws relating to recruitment, it is time to start recruiting. It is important to mention, though,
that a recruitment plan should be in place. This plan can be informal, but you should outline where you plan to
recruit and your expected time lines. For example, if one of your methods is to submit an ad to a trade publication
website, you should know their deadlines. Also of consideration is to ensure you are recruiting from a variety of
sources to ensure diversity. Lastly, consider the economic situation of the country. With high unemployment, you
may receive hundreds of applications for one job. In an up economy, you may not receive many applications and
should consider using a variety of sources.
Some companies, such as Southwest Airlines, are known for their innovative recruitment methods. Southwest
looks for “the right kind of people” and are less focused on the skills than on the personality of the individual
(Carey, 2011). When Southwest recruits, it looks for positive team players that match the underdog, quirky
company culture. Applicants are observed in group interviews, and those who exhibit encouragement for their
fellow applicants are usually those who continue with the recruitment process. This section will discuss some of
the ways Southwest and many other Fortune 500 companies find this kind of talent.
Recruitment Videos at ZapposRecruitment Videos at Zappos
(click to see video)
Zappos has developed and posted a series of YouTube videos called “Why Do I Like Working at Zappos?” The
videos show the culture of the organization and provide a great tool for recruitment.
RecruitersRecruiters
Some organizations choose to have specific individuals working for them who focus solely on the recruiting
function of HR. Recruiters use similar sources to recruit individuals, such as professional organizations, websites,
97
and other methods discussed in this chapter. Recruiters are excellent at networking and usually attend many events
where possible candidates will be present. Recruiters keep a constant pipeline of possible candidates in case a
position should arise that would be a good match. There are three main types of recruiters:
1. Executive search firm. These companies are focused on high-level positions, such as management and
CEO roles. They typically charge 10–20 percent of the first year salary, so they can be quite expensive.
However, they do much of the upfront work, sending candidates who meet the qualifications.
2. Temporary recruitment or staffing firm. Suppose your receptionist is going on medical leave and you
need to hire somebody to replace him, but you don’t want a long-term hire. You can utilize the services of a
temporary recruitment firm to send you qualified candidates who are willing to work shorter contracts.
Usually, the firm pays the salary of the employee and the company pays the recruitment firm, so you don’t
have to add this person to your payroll. If the person does a good job, there may be opportunities for you to
offer him or her a full-time, permanent position. Kelly Services, Manpower, and Snelling Staffing Services
are examples of staffing firms.
3. Corporate recruiter. A corporate recruiter is an employee within a company who focuses entirely on
recruiting for his or her company. Corporate recruiters are employed by the company for which they are
recruiting. This type of recruiter may be focused on a specific area, such as technical recruiting.
A contingent recruiter is paid only when the recruiter starts working, which is often the case with temporary
recruitment or staffing firms. A retained recruiter gets paid up front (in full or a portion of the fee) to perform a
specific search for a company.
While the HR professional, when using recruiters, may not be responsible for the details of managing the search
process, he or she is still responsible for managing the process and the recruiters. The job analysis, job description,
and job specifications still need to be developed and candidates will still need to be interviewed.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
In 2009, when Amazon purchased Zappos for 10 million shares of Amazon stock (roughly $900 million in2009), the strategic move for Amazon didn’t change the hiring and recruiting culture of Zappos. Zappos,again voted one of the best one hundred companies to work for by CNN Money (Sowa, 2011) believesit all starts with the people they hire. The recruiting staff always asks, “On a scale of 1–10, how weirddo you think you are?” This question ties directly to the company’s strategic plan and core value numberthree, which is “create fun and a little weirdness.” Zappos recruits people who not only have the technicalabilities for the job but also are a good culture fit for the organization. Once hired, new employees gothrough two weeks of training. At the end of the training, newly hired employees are given “the offer.” Theoffer is $2,000 to quit on the spot. This ensures Zappos has committed people who have the desire to workwith the organization, which all begins with the recruiting process.
Campus RecruitingCampus Recruiting
Colleges and universities can be excellent sources of new candidates, usually at entry-level positions. Consider
technical colleges that teach cooking, automotive technology, or cosmetology. These can be great sources of
9 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
people with specialized training in a specific area. Universities can provide people that may lack actual experience
but have formal training in a specific field. Many organizations use their campus recruiting programs to develop
new talent, who will eventually develop into managers.
For this type of program to work, it requires the establishment of relationships with campus communities, such as
campus career services departments. It can also require time to attend campus events, such as job fairs. IBM, for
example, has an excellent campus recruiting program. For IBM, recruiting out of college ensures a large number
of people to grow with the organization1.
Setting up a formal internship program might also be a way to utilize college and university contacts. Walgreens,
for example, partners with Apollo College to recruit interns; this can result in full-time employment for the
motivated intern and money saved for Walgreens by having a constant flow of talent.
Professional AssociationsProfessional Associations
Professional associations are usually nonprofit organizations whose goal is to further a particular profession.
Almost every profession has its own professional organization. For example, in the field of human resources, the
Society for Human Resource Management allows companies to post jobs relating to HR. The American Marketing
Association, also a professional organization, allows job postings as well. Usually, there is a fee involved, and
membership in this association may be required to post jobs. Here are some examples of professional associations:
1. Professional Nursing Association
2. Society of Women Engineers
3. International Federation of Accountants
4. Institute of Management Consultants
5. United Professional Sales Association
6. National Lawyers Guild
7. National Organization of Minority Architects
8. International Federation of Journalists (union)
9. International Metalworkers Federation (union)
10. Association of Flight Attendants (union)
Labor unions can also be excellent sources of candidates, and some unions also allow job postings on their
website. We will discuss unions further in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”. The key to using this
as a successful recruitment strategy is to identify the organizations that relate to your business and to develop
relationships with members in these organizations. This type of networking can help introduce you to people in
your industry who may be looking for a job or know of someone who needs a job.
4 . 3 R E C R U I T M E N T S T R A T E G I E S • 9 9
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What do you think is the best way to determine the right set of recruitment methods for your organization?What methods would be best for your current job?
Figure 4.5 Overview of the Steps to the Recruitment Process
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4 . 3 R E C R U I T M E N T S T R A T E G I E S • 1 0 1
WebsitesWebsites
If you have ever had to look for a job, you know there are numerous websites to help you do that. From the HR
perspective, there are many options to place an ad, most of which are inexpensive. The downside to this method is
the immense number of résumés you may receive from these websites, all of which may or may not be qualified.
Many organizations, to combat this, implement software that searches for keywords in résumés, which can help
combat this problem. We discuss more about this in Chapter 5 “Selection”. Some examples of websites might
include the following:
• Your own company website
• Yahoo HotJobs
• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• JobCentral
Social MediaSocial Media
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and MySpace are excellent places to obtain a media presence to attract
a variety of workers. In 2007, Sodexo, which provides services such as food service and facilities management,
started using social media to help spread the word about their company culture. Since then, they have saved
$300,000 on traditional recruiting methods (Sodexo, 2011). Sodexo’s fifty recruiters share updates on Twitter
about their excellent company culture. Use of this media has driven traffic to the careers page on Sodexo’s
website, from 52,000 to 181,000.
The goal of using social media as a recruiting tool is to create a buzz about your organization, share stories
of successful employees, and tout an interesting culture. Even smaller companies can utilize this technology by
posting job openings as their status updates. This technique is relatively inexpensive, but there are some things
to consider. For example, tweeting about a job opening might spark interest in some candidates, but the trick is
to show your personality as an employer early on. According to Bruce Morton of Allegis Group Services, using
social media is about getting engaged and having conversations with people before they’re even thinking about
you as an employer (Lindow, 2011). Debbie Fisher, an HR manager for a large advertising agency, Campbell
Mithun, says that while tweeting may be a good way to recruit people who can be open about their job hunt,
using tools such as LinkedIn might be a better way to obtain more seasoned candidates who cannot be open about
their search for a new job, because of their current employment situation. She says that LinkedIn has given people
permission to put their résumé online without fear of retribution from current employers.
Creativity with a social media campaign also counts. Campbell Mithun hired thirteen interns over the summer
using a unique twist on social media. They asked interested candidates to submit thirteen tweets over thirteen days
and chose the interns based on their creativity.
Many organizations, including Zappos (Video 4.4), use YouTube videos to promote the company. Within the
videos is a link that directs viewers to the company’s website to apply for a position in the company.
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Facebook allows free job postings in Facebook Marketplace, and the company Facebook page can also be used
as a recruiting tool. Some organizations decide to use Facebook ads, which are paid on a “per click” or per
impression (how many people potentially see the ad) basis. Facebook ad technology allows specific regions and
Facebook keywords to be targeted (Black, 2011). Some individuals even use their personal Facebook page to post
status updates listing job opportunities and asking people to respond privately if they are interested.
EventsEvents
Many organizations, such as Microsoft, hold events annually to allow people to network and learn about new
technologies. Microsoft’s Professional Developer Conference (PDC), usually held in July, hosts thousands of web
developers and other professionals looking to update their skills and meet new people.
Some organizations, such as Choice Career Fairs, host job fairs all over the country; participating in this type of
job fair may be an excellent way to meet a large variety of candidates. Other events may not be specifically for
recruiting, but attending these events may allow you to meet people who could possibly fill a position or future
position. For example, in the world of fashion, Fashion Group International (FGI) hosts events internationally on
a weekly basis, which may allow the opportunity to meet qualified candidates.
Special/Specific Interest Groups (SIGs)Special/Specific Interest Groups (SIGs)
Special/specific interest groups (SIGs), which may require membership of individuals, focus on specific topics for
members. Often SIGs will have areas for job posting, or a variety of discussion boards where jobs can be posted.
For example, the Women in Project Management SIG provides news on project management and also has a place
for job advertisements. Other examples of SIGs might include the following:
• Oracle Developer SIG
• African American Medical Librarians Alliance SIG
• American Marketing Association Global Marketing SIG
• Special Interest Group for Accounting Information Systems (SIG-ASYS)
• Junior Lawyer SIG
Recruiting using SIGs can be a great way to target a specific group of people who are trained in a specific area or
who have a certain specialty.
ReferralsReferrals
Most recruiting plans include asking current employees, “Who do you know?” The quality of referred applicants
is usually high, since most people would not recommend someone they thought incapable of doing the job. E-
mailing a job opening to current employees and offering incentives to refer a friend can be a quick way of
recruiting individuals. Due to the success of most formalized referral programs, it is suggested that a program
be part of the overall HRM strategic plan and recruitment strategy. However, be wary of using referrals as the
only method for recruitment, as this can lead to lack of diversity in a workplace. Nepotism means a preference
4 . 3 R E C R U I T M E N T S T R A T E G I E S • 1 0 3
for hiring relatives of current employees, which can also lead to lack of diversity and management issues in the
workplace.
For example, the University of Washington offers $1,200 any time a current employee successfully refers a
friend to work at their medical centers. Usually, most incentives require the new employee to be hired and stay
a specified period of time. Some examples of incentives that can be used to refer a friend might include the
following:
• A gift card to the employee
• A financial incentive
• Raffles for most referrals
These types of programs are called employee referral programs (ERPs) and tend to generate one of the highest
returns on investment per hire (Lefkow, 2002). To make an ERP program effective, some key components should
be put into place:
1. Communicate the program to existing employees.
2. Track the success of the program using metrics of successful hires.
3. Be aware of the administrative aspect and the time it takes to implement the program effectively.
4. Set measureable goals up front for a specialized program.
Accenture recently won the ERE Media Award for one of the most innovative ERPs. Its program has increased
new hires from referrals from 14 percent to 32 percent, and employee awareness of the program jumped from
just 20 percent to 99 percent (Sullivan, 2009). The uniqueness of their program lies with the reward the employee
receives. Instead of offering personal financial compensation, Accenture makes a donation to the charity of the
employee’s choice, such as a local elementary school. Their program also seeks to decrease casual referrals, so the
employee is asked to fill out an online form to explain the skills of the individual they are referring. The company
has also developed a website where current employees can go to track the progress of referrals. In addition,
employee referral applications are flagged online and fast-tracked through the process—in fact, every referral is
acted upon. As you can see, Accenture has made their ERP a success through the use of strategic planning in the
recruitment process.
Table 4.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of Recruiting Methods
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Recruitment Method Advantages Disadvantages
ExpensiveOutside recruiters, executive searchfirms, and temporary employmentagencies
Can be time saving Less control over finalcandidates to beinterviewed
Can hire people to grow with the organization Time consumingCampus recruiting/educationalinstitutions Plentiful source of talent
Only appropriate for certaintypes of experience levels
Industry specific May be a fee to place an adProfessional organizations andassociations Networking
May be time-consuming tonetwork
Diversity friendly Could be too broad
Low costWebsites/Internet recruiting
Quick
Be prepared to deal withhundreds of résumés
Time consumingSocial media Inexpensive
Overwhelming response
Can be expensive
Events Access to specific target markets of candidates May not be the right targetmarket
SIG Industry specificResearch required forspecific SIGS tied to jobs
Higher quality peopleConcern for lack ofdiversityReferrals
Retention Nepotism
Unsolicited résumés and applicationsInexpensive, especially with time-saving keyword résumé searchsoftware
Time consuming
Internet and/or traditionaladvertisements
Can target a specific audience Can be expensive
For smaller organizations, it means someone does not have toadminister compensation and benefits, as this is handled by leasingcompany
Possible costs
Employee leasing
Can be a good alternative to temporary employment if the job ispermanent
Less control of whointerviews for the position
The potential ability to recruit a more diverse workforce
No cost, since it’s a government agencyPublic employment agencies
2,300 points of service nationwide
May receive many résumés,which can betime-consuming
May not apply to some jobsor industries
Labor unions Access to specialized skillsBuilds relationship with theunion
Costs of RecruitmentCosts of Recruitment
Part of recruitment planning includes budgeting the cost of finding applicants. For example, let’s say you have
three positions you need to fill, with one being a temporary hire. You have determined your advertising costs will
4 . 3 R E C R U I T M E N T S T R A T E G I E S • 1 0 5
be $400, and your temporary agency costs will be approximately $700 for the month. You expect at least one of
the two positions will be recruited as a referral, so you will pay a referral bonus of $500. Here is how you can
calculate the cost of recruitment for the month:
cost per hire = advertising costs + recruiter costs + referral costs + social media costs + event costs.
$400 + $700 + $500 = $1600/3 = $533 recruitment cost per hire.
In addition, when we look at how effective our recruiting methods are, we can look at a figure called the yield
ratio. A yield ratio is the percentage of applicants from one source who make it to the next stage in the selection
process (e.g., they get an interview). For example, if you received two hundred résumés from a professional
organization ad you placed, and fifty-two of those make it to the interview state, this means a 26 percent yield
(52/200). By using these calculations, we can determine the best place to recruit for a particular position. Note,
too, that some yield ratios may vary for particular jobs, and a higher yield ratio must also consider the cost of that
method, too. For an entry-level job, campus recruiting may yield a better ratio than, say, a corporate recruiter, but
the corporate recruiter may have higher cost per hires.
After we have finished the recruiting process, we can begin the selection process. This is the focus of Chapter 5
“Selection”.
Key Takeaways
• HR professionals must have a recruiting plan before posting any job description. The plan shouldoutline where the job announcements will be posted and how the management of candidatematerials, such as résumés, will occur. Part of the plan should also include the expected cost ofrecruitment.
• Many organizations use recruiters. Recruiters can be executive recruiters, which means an outsidefirm performs the search. For temporary positions, a temporary or staffing firm such as KellyServices might be used. Corporate recruiters work for the organization and function as a part of theHR team.
• Campus recruiting can be an effective way of recruiting for entry-level positions. This type ofrecruiting may require considerable effort in developing relationships with college campuses.
• Almost every profession has at least one professional association. Posting announcements on theirwebsites can be an effective way of targeting for a specific job.
• Most companies will also use their own website for job postings, as well as other websites such asMonster and CareerBuilder.
• Social media is also a popular way to recruit. Usage of websites such as Twitter and Facebook canget the word out about a specific job opening, or give information about the company, which canresult in more traffic being directed to the company’s website.
• Recruiting at special events such as job fairs is another option. Some organizations have specific jobfairs for their company, depending on the size. Others may attend industry or job-specific fairs to
1 0 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
recruit specific individuals.
• SIGs, or special/specific interest groups, are usually very specialized. For example, female projectmanagers may have an interest group that includes a discussion board for posting of jobannouncements.
• Employee referrals can be a great way to get interest for a posted position. Usually, incentives areoffered to the employee for referring people they know. However, diversity can be an issue, as cannepotism.
• Our last consideration in the recruitment process is recruitment costs. We can determine this bylooking at the total amount we have spent on all recruiting efforts compared to the number of hires.A yield ratio is used to determine how effective recruiting efforts are in one area. For example, wecan look at the number of total applicants received from a particular form of media, and divide thatby the number of those applicants who make it to the next step in the process (e.g., they receive aninterview).
Exercises
1. Perform an Internet search on professional associations for your particular career choice. List atleast three associations, and discuss recruiting options listed on their websites (e.g., do they havediscussion boards or job advertisements links?).
2. Have you ever experienced nepotism in the workplace? If yes, describe the experience. What doyou think are the upsides and downsides to asking current employees to refer someone they know?
1“University Students,” IBM, n.d., accessed January 17, 2011, http://www-03.ibm.com/employment/
start_university.html.
ReferencesReferences
Black, T., “How to Use Social Media as a Recruiting Tool,” Inc., April 22, 2010, accessed July 12, 2011,
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/04/social-media-recruiting.html.
Carey, W. P., “Employees First: Strategy for Success,” Knowledge @ W. P. Carey, W. P. Carey School of
Business, Arizona State University, June 26, 2008, accessed July 11, 2011, http://knowledge.wpcarey.asu.edu/
article.cfm?articleid=1620.
Lefkow, D., “Improving Your Employee Referral Program and Justifying Your Investment,” ERE.net, February
21, 2002, accessed July 12, 2011, http://www.ere.net/2002/02/21/improving-your-employee-referral-program-
and-justifying-your-investment.
Lindow, A., “How to Use Social Media for Recruiting,” Mashable, June 11, 2011, accessed July 12, 2011,
http://mashable.com/2011/06/11/social-media-recruiting.
4 . 3 R E C R U I T M E N T S T R A T E G I E S • 1 0 7
Sodexo, “Sodexo Earns SNCR Excellent Award for Innovative Use of Social Media,” news release, December
2, 2009, accessed January 17, 2011, http://www.sodexousa.com/usen/newsroom/press/press09/
sncrexcellenceaward.asp.
Sowa, C., “Going Above and Beyond,” America’s Best, September/October 2008, accessed July 11, 2011,
http://www.americasbestcompanies.com/magazine/articles/going-above-and-beyond.aspx.
Sullivan, J., “Amazing Practices in Recruiting—ERE Award Winners 2009,” pt. 1, ERE.net, April 13, 2009,
accessed July 12, 2011, http://www.ere.net/2009/04/13/amazing-practices-in-recruiting-ere-award-
winners-2009-part-1-of-2.
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4.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• The recruitment process provides the organization with a pool of qualified applicants.
• Some companies choose to hire internal candidates—that is, candidates who are already working forthe organization. However, diversity is a consideration here as well.
• A job analysis is a systematic approach to determine what a person actually does in his or her job.This process might involve a questionnaire to all employees. Based on this analysis, an accurate jobdescription and job specifications can be written. A job description lists the components of the job,while job specifications list the requirements to perform the job.
• IRCA stands for Immigration and Reform Act. This law requires all employers to determineeligibility of an employee to work in the United States. The reporting form is called an I-9 and mustbe completed and kept on file (paper or electronic) for at least three years, but some states requirethis documentation to be kept on file for the duration of the employee’s period of employment.
• The Patriot Act allows the government access to data that would normally be considered private, forexample, an employee’s records and work voice mails and e-mails (without the company’s consent).The HR professional might consider letting employees know of the compliance with this law.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency charged with ensuringdiscrimination does not occur in the workplace. They oversee the EEO set of laws. Organizationsmust post EEO laws in a visible location at their workplace and also include them on jobannouncements.
• Related to the EEOC, the bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) makes it legal todiscriminate in hiring based on special circumstances, for example, requiring the retirement ofairline pilots at a certain age due to safety concerns.
• Disparate impact refers to a policy that may limit a protected EEO group from receiving fairtreatment. Disparate impact might include a test or requirement that negatively impacts someonebased on protected group status. An example is requiring a high school diploma, which may notdirectly impact the job. Disparate treatment refers to discrimination against an individual, such asthe hiring of one person over another based on race or gender.
• HR professionals must have a recruiting plan before posting any job description.
• Many organizations use recruiters. Recruiters can be executive recruiters, which means an outside
109
firm performs the search. For temporary positions, a temporary or staffing firm such as KellyServices might be used. Corporate recruiters work for the organization and function as a part of theHR team.
• Campus recruiting can be an effective way of recruiting for entry-level positions. This type ofrecruiting may require considerable effort in developing relationships with college campuses.
• Almost every profession has at least one professional association. Posting announcements on theirwebsites can be an effective way of targeting for a specific job.
• Most companies will also use their own website for job postings, as well as other websites such asMonster and CareerBuilder.
• Social media is also a popular way to recruit. Usage of websites such as Twitter and Facebook canget the word out about a specific job opening, or give information about the company, which canresult in more traffic being directed to the company’s website.
• Recruiting at special events such as job fairs is another option. Some organizations have specific jobfairs for their company, depending on the size. Others may attend industry or job specific fairs torecruit specific individuals.
• SIGs or special/specific interest groups are usually very specialized. For example, female projectmanagers may have an interest group that includes a discussion board for posting of jobannouncements.
• Employee referrals can be a great way to get interest for a posted position. Usually, incentives areoffered to the employee for referring people they know. However, diversity can be an issue, as cannepotism.
• Our last consideration in the recruitment process is recruitment costs. We can determine this bylooking at the total amount we have spent on all recruiting efforts compared to the number of hires.A yield ratio is used to determine how effective recruiting efforts are in one area. For example, wecan look at the number of total applicants received from a particular form of media, and divide thatby the number of those applicants who make it to the next step in the process (e.g., they receive aninterview).
Chapter Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Recruitment Statistics
As the assistant to the human resources director at Tally Group, you normally answer phones and setappointments for the director. You are interested in developing skills in HRM, and one day, your HRdirector presents you with a great opportunity for you to show what you can do. She asks you to analyzelast year’s recruitment data to determine which methods have worked best. As you look at the data, youaren’t sure how to start, but you remember something on this from your HRM class in college. After
1 1 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
reviewing the data in your book, you feel confident to analyze these numbers. Please go ahead and performcalculations on these numbers, then provide answers to the questions that follow.
Table 4.2 Tally Group Recruiting Numbers, 2012
Method Total Number Recruited Yearly Cost ($)
Temporary placement firms 8 3,200
Campus recruiting 2 1,500
Professional association ads 10 4,500
Social media/company website 33 300
Job fair 3 500
Referrals 26 26,000
1. Prepare a report summarizing your findings for the recruitment cost per hire and yield ratio foreach type of recruiting method.
2. Make a recommendation to your human resource director on where the department should spendmore of its time recruiting.
Team ActivitiesTeam Activities
1. Students should be in teams of four or five. Choose a recruitment method from Table 4.2 “TallyGroup Recruiting Numbers, 2012” and perform research on additional advantages and disadvantagesof that method and then present ideas to the class.
2. Visit the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (http://www.occupationalinfo.org) and view the list ofjob titles presented on the website. Create a sample job description for a job title of your team’schoice.
4 . 4 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 1 1 1
Chapter 5: Selection
The InterviewThe Interview
Many of us have or will sit in a waiting room with our best clothes on awaiting a job (or school) interview. You
can feel your palms sweat and thoughts race as you wait for your name to be called. You look around at the office
environment and imagine yourself walking through those doors everyday. People walk by and smile, and overall,
you have a really good first impression of the organization. You hope they like you. You tell yourself to remember
to smile, while recalling all your experience that makes you the perfect person for this job. A moment of self-
doubt may occur, as you wonder about the abilities of the other people being interviewed and hope you have more
experience and make a better impression than they do. You hear your name, stand up, and give a firm handshake
to the HR manager. The interview has begun.
As she walks you back to a conference room, you think you see encouraging smiles as you pass by people. She
asks you to take a chair and then tells you what the interview process will be like. She then asks the first question,
“Tell me about yourself.” As you start discussing your experience, you feel yourself relax, just a little bit. After
the interview finishes, she asks you to take a quick cognitive test, which you feel good about. She tells you she
will be doing reference checks and will let you know by early next week.
To get to this point, the hiring manager may have reviewed hundreds of résumés and developed criteria she
would use for selection of the right person for the job. She has probably planned a time line for hiring, developed
hiring criteria, determined a compensation package for the job, and enlisted help of other managers to interview
candidates. She may have even performed a number of phone interviews before bringing only a few of the
best candidates in for interviews. It is likely she has certain qualities in mind that she is hoping you or another
candidate will possess. Much work goes into the process of hiring someone, with selection being an important step
in that process. A hiring process done correctly is time-consuming and precise. The interviewer should already
have questions determined and should be ready to sell the organization to the candidate as well. This chapter will
discuss the main components to the selection process.
Employee Selection IntroductionEmployee Selection Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on employee selection.
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5.1 The Selection Process
Learning Objective
1. Be able to name and discuss the steps in the selection process.
Once you have developed your recruitment plan, recruited people, and now have plenty of people to choose
from, you can begin the selection process. The selection process refers to the steps involved in choosing people
who have the right qualifications to fill a current or future job opening. Usually, managers and supervisors
will be ultimately responsible for the hiring of individuals, but the role of human resource management (HRM)
is to define and guide managers in this process. Similar to the recruitment process discussed in Chapter 4
“Recruitment”, the selection process is expensive. The time for all involved in the hiring process to review
résumés, weight the applications, and interview the best candidates takes away time (and costs money) that those
individuals could spend on other activities. In addition, there are the costs of testing candidates and bringing them
in from out of town for interviews. In fact, the US Department of Labor and Statistics estimates the combined
direct and indirect cost of hiring someone new can reach upwards of $40,000 (Hamm, 2011). Because of the high
cost, it is important to hire the right person from the beginning and ensure a fair selection process. For example,
the Austin, Texas, fire department calculated it would cost $150,000 to reinterview candidates, after the interview
questions were leaked to the public, giving some candidates possibly unfair advantages in the interview process1.
Figure 5.1
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Interviews can be nerve wracking. In this chapter, we will discuss what goes into making the best hiring
decision.
Alan Cleaver – Interview – CC BY 2.0.
The selection process consists of five distinct aspects:
1. Criteria development. All individuals involved in the hiring process should be properly trained on the
steps for interviewing, including developing criteria, reviewing résumés, developing interview questions,
and weighting the candidates.
The first aspect to selection is planning the interview process, which includes criteria development. Criteria
development means determining which sources of information will be used and how those sources will
be scored during the interview. The criteria should be related directly to the job analysis and the job
specifications. This is discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”. In fact, some aspects of the job analysis and
job specifications may be the actual criteria. In addition to this, include things like personality or cultural
fit, which would also be part of criteria development. This process usually involves discussing which skills,
abilities, and personal characteristics are required to be successful at any given job. By developing the criteria
before reviewing any résumés, the HR manager or manager can be sure he or she is being fair in selecting
people to interview. Some organizations may need to develop an application or a biographical information
sheet. Most of these are completed online and should include information about the candidate, education, and
previous job experience.
2. Application and résumé review. Once the criteria have been developed (step one), applications can be
reviewed. People have different methods of going through this process, but there are also computer
programs that can search for keywords in résumés and narrow down the number of résumés that must be
looked at and reviewed.
3. Interviewing. After the HR manager and/or manager have determined which applications meet the
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minimum criteria, he or she must select those people to be interviewed. Most people do not have time to
review twenty or thirty candidates, so the field is sometimes narrowed even further with a phone interview.
This is discussed in Section 5.3.1 “Types of Interviews”.
4. Test administration. Any number of tests may be administered before a hiring decision is made. These
include drug tests, physical tests, personality tests, and cognitive tests. Some organizations also perform
reference checks, credit report checks, and background checks. Types of tests are discussed in Section 5.4.1
“Testing”. Once the field of candidates has been narrowed down, tests can be administered.
5. Making the offer. The last step in the selection process is to offer a position to the chosen candidate.
Development of an offer via e-mail or letter is sometimes a more formal part of this process. Compensation
and benefits will be defined in an offer. We discuss this in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”.
Figure 5.2 The Selection Process at a Glance
Criteria Development
• Understand KSAOs
• Determine sources of KSAO information such as testing, interviews
• Develop scoring system for each of the sources of information
• Create an interview plan
Application and ResumeReview
• Should be based on criteria developed in step one
• Consider internal versus external candidates
Interview
• Determine types of interview(s)
• Write interview questions
• Be aware of interview bias
Test Administration
• Perform testing as outlined in criteria development; could include reviewing work samples, drug testing or written cognitive andpersonality tests
Selection
• Determine which selection method will be used
• Compare selection method criteria
Making the Offer
• Use negotiation techniques
• Write the offer letter or employment agreement
We will discuss each of these aspects in detail in this chapter.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
In a 2010 interview (Bryant, 2010), Robert Selander, then CEO of MasterCard, cited presence as oneof the most important aspects to acing an interview. He describes how, in any large organization, anemployee will be expected to engage with a variety of stakeholders, from a member of Congress toa contractor replacing the carpet in the building. He says that a good employee—at any level of theorganization—should be able to communicate well but also be able to communicate to a variety ofstakeholders. We discuss communication in Chapter 9 “Successful Employee Communication”. Selanderalso says he will always ask the candidate about his or her weaknesses, but more importantly, how the
5 . 1 T H E S E L E C T I O N P R O C E S S • 1 1 5
candidate plans to address those weaknesses to make sure they do not become a barrier to success. Healways asks the question “What can you do for us?” When asked if he could pose only one interviewquestion, what would it be, his answer was, “Share with me two situations, work related that you areproud of, where something was achieved based on your own personal initiative and the other where theachievement was a result of the team getting something done that you could not have done alone.” In otherwords, Selander is looking for not only personal ability but the ability to work within a team to accomplishtasks. Selander offers advice to new college grads: try to find an organization where you can be involvedand see all aspects of the business and be provided training to help you with certain skills that will beneeded.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
When was the last time you interviewed for a job? Did the process seem to flow smoothly? Why or whynot?
Key Takeaways
• The selection process refers to the steps involved in choosing someone who has the rightqualifications to fill a current or future job opening.
• There are five main steps in the selection process. First, criteria are developed to determine how theperson will be chosen. Second is a review of the applications and résumés, often done via acomputer program that can find keywords. Next is interviewing the employee. The last steps involvetesting, such as a personality test or drug test, and then finally, making the offer to the rightcandidate.
Exercise
1. What components are included in the selection process? Which one do you think is the mostimportant?
1KVUE News, “Re-Interview Process to Cost $150,000,” June 23, 2011, accessed August 2, 2011,
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/AFD–124452379.html.
ReferencesReferences
Bryant, A., “The X Factor When Hiring? Call It Presence,” June 26, 2010, New York Times, accessed July
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12, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/business/
27corner.html?scp=1&sq=Selander&st=cse&pagewanted=1.
Hamm, L., “Pre-Employment Testing,” IHD Corporation, n.d., accessed August 2, 2011, http://www.ihdcorp.com/
articles-hr/pre-employment-testing.htm.
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5.2 Criteria Development and Résumé Review
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain why criteria development is an important part of the selection process.
2. Give examples of types of criteria that can be developed.
3. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of internal and external candidates.
Before we begin to review résumés and applications, we must have a clear idea of the person we want to hire for
the position. Obviously, the job specifications will help us know the minimum qualifications, such as education
level and years of experience. However, additional criteria might include the attitude of the potential hire, the
ability to take initiative, and other important personal characteristics and professional abilities that may not always
be demonstrated in an application or résumé. A specific score on a personality test, quality of work samples,
and other tools to determine qualifications should be included as part of the criteria. In other words, knowing
exactly what you want before you even begin the process of looking through résumés will make this process much
easier. In human resources, this is called KSAOs, or knowledge, skills, abilities, and other personal characteristics
that make a person successful on the job. Some organizations, such as the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, require applicants to address each one of the KSAOs listed in the job position within their cover letter1.
Criteria Development ConsiderationsCriteria Development Considerations
Many HR professionals and managers develop the criteria for hiring, as well as the interview questions, before
reviewing any résumés. This allows for a streamlined process with specific guidelines already set before
reviewing a résumé. For example, criteria for a project management job might include the following:
1. Two years of experience managing a $2 million or more project budget
2. A bachelor’s degree in business or closely related field
3. Ability to work on multiple projects at once
4. Problem-solving ability
5. Conflict-management ability
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6. Ability to manage a team of five to six diverse workers
7. Score of at least a 70 on cognitive ability test
8. Score of excellent from most recent employer
By setting criteria ahead of time, the hiring team has a clear picture of exactly what qualifications they are looking
for. As a result, it is easier to determine who should move forward in the selection process. For example, if
someone does not have a bachelor’s degree, given this is a criterion, their application materials can be filed away,
perhaps for another job opening. Likewise, the HR manager can include those résumés with two or more years
of experience and bachelor’s degree in the interview pile and then develop interview questions that show the
candidates’ problem-solving, multitasking, and conflict-management abilities.
Résumé parsing or résumé scanning software is readily available and can make the initial screening easier. For
example, Sovren software allows the HR manager to include keywords such as bachelor’s degree or management.
This software scans all received résumés and selects the ones that have the keywords. While it still may be
necessary to review résumés, this type of software can save time having to look through résumés that obviously
do not meet the minimum qualifications.
Validity and ReliablityValidity and Reliablity
The validity refers to how useful the tool is to measure a person’s attributes for a specific job opening. A tool may
include any and all of the following:
1. Résumé-scanning software
2. Reference checks
3. Cognitive ability tests
4. Work samples
5. Credit reports
6. Biographical information blanks
7. Weighted application forms
8. Personality tests
9. Interview questions
Biographical information blanks (BIBs) are a useful part of the application process. A BIB is a series of questions
about a person’s history that may have shaped his or her behavior. The BIB can be scored in the same way as an
interview or a résumé, assuming the organization knows which types of answers are predictable for success in a
given job. Similarly, a weighted application form involves selecting an employee characteristic to be measured
and then identifying which questions on the application predict the desired behavior. Then scores are assigned
to each predictor. Of course, the development of the scoring should be determined before any résumés and
application forms have been reviewed. In other words, any tool you use to determine someone’s qualifications for
a job should have validity to determine they are the right fit for the job.
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Reliability refers to the degree in which other selection techniques yield similar data over time. For example,
if you ask the same interview question of every applicant for the project management position, and the “right”
answer always yields similar, positive results, such as the hiring of a successful employee every time, the
question would be considered reliable. An example of an unreliable test might occur with reference checks. Most
candidates would not include a reference on their résumé who might give them a poor review, making this a less
reliable method for determining skills and abilities of applicants.
Fit IssuesFit Issues
Fit includes not only the right technical expertise, education, and experience but also fit in company culture and
team culture. For example, at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California, engineers are selected based on
their willingness to take risks, as risk taking is nurtured at Facebook (McGirt, 2010). In addition to this component
of their company culture, the company looks for the “hacker” personality, because a hacker is someone who finds
ways around the constraints placed upon a system. At Zappos, profiled in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”, the company
culture is one focused on customer service and the willingness of people to provide the best customer service in
all aspects of the business. At Amazon, the huge online retailer, a core value in their company culture is a focus
on developing leaders to grow with the organization. If a potential candidate is not interested in long-term career
growth, he or she might not be deemed an appropriate strategic fit with the organization. In today’s organizations,
most people are required to work within teams. As a result, fit within a team is as important as company culture
fit. Microsoft, for example, does an immense amount of teamwork. The company is structured so that there are
marketers, accountants, developers, and many others working on one product at a time. As a result, Microsoft
looks for not only company culture fit but also fit with other team members.
Reviewing RésumésReviewing Résumés
Once we have developed our criteria for a specific job, we can begin the review process. Everyone prefers to
perform this differently. For example, all the hiring decision makers may review all résumés, list the people they
would like to meet in person, and then compare the lists. Another method might be to rate each candidate and
interview only those above a certain score. This is discussed in Section 5.4.2 “Selection Methods”. Obviously,
much of the process will depend on the organization’s size and the type of job. None of this process can be done
fairly without first setting criteria for the job.
When looking at résumés to determine whom to interview, a manager should be concerned with the concepts
of disparate impact and disparate treatment. This is discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”. Disparate impact
is unintended discrimination against a protected group as a whole through the use of a particular requirement.
Disparate impact may be present in the interviewing process, as well as other employment-related processes such
as pay raises and promotions. For example, a requirement of being able to lift 110 pounds might be considered
as having disparate impact on women, unless the job requires this ability. Every criteria developed should be
closely considered to see if it might have disparate impact on a protected group of individuals. For example, the
requirement of a certain credit score might have a negative impact on immigrants, who may not have a well-
developed credit rating. However, if being able to manage money is an important requirement of the job, this
requirement might not be discriminatory.
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Disparate treatment in hiring might include not interviewing a candidate because of one’s perception about the
candidate’s age, race, or gender.
The last consideration is the hiring of internal versus external candidates. An internal candidate is someone
who already works within the organization, while an external candidate is someone who works outside the
organization. A bidding process may occur to notify internal candidates of open positions. This is discussed
in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”. Generally speaking, it is best to go through a formal interview process with all
candidates, even if they work within the organization. This way, an HR professional can be assured that disparate
treatment does not occur because of favoritism. For example, a senior executive of your organization just left,
and you believe the manager in that department is qualified to take over the position. Suppose, though, that the
manager has been lobbying you for the job for some time and has even taken you out to lunch to talk about
the job. While this person has maintained high visibility and lobbied for the promotion, there may be equally
qualified internal candidates who did not use the same lobbying techniques. Automatically offering the position
to this internal candidate might undermine others who are equally qualified. So while hiring internally can be a
motivator, making assumptions about a particular person may not be a motivator to others. This is why it is best,
even if you hire internally, to post a formal job announcement listing the job description and job qualifications, so
everyone in the organization can have an equal opportunity to apply for the job.
Once you have completed the criteria for the particular job and narrowed down the field, you can begin the
interview process. We discuss this in Section 5.3 “Interviewing”.
Table 5.1 Possible Advantages and Disadvantages of Hiring an Internal versus an External Candidate
Advantages Disadvantages
Rewards contributions of current staffCan produce “inbreeding,” which may reduce diversityand difference perspectives
Can be cost effective, as opposed to using a traditionalrecruitment strategy
May cause political infighting between people to obtainthe promotions
Can improve morale
InternalCandidates
Knowing the past performance of the candidate can assist inknowing if they meet the criteria
Can create bad feelings if an internal candidate appliesfor a job and doesn’t get it
Brings new talent into the company Implementation of recruitment strategy can be expensive
Can help an organization obtain diversity goals Can cause morale problems for internal candidatesExternalCandidates
New ideas and insight brought into the company Can take longer for training and orientation
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Poor Interviewer
As the assistant to the HR manager, one of your jobs is to help managers get ready to interview candidates. When
you offer help to Johnathan, he says he has interviewed hundreds of people and doesn’t need your help in planning
the interview process. When you sit in the interview with him, he asks inappropriate questions that you don’t feel
really assess the abilities of a candidate. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
5 . 2 C R I T E R I A D E V E L O P M E N T A N D R É S U M É R E V I E W • 1 2 1
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360625/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360625/embed.
Key Takeaways
• The first step in selection is to begin reviewing résumés. Even before you do this, though, it isimportant to develop criteria that each candidate will be measured against. This can come from thejob description as well as the job qualifications.
• Other tools, such as cognitive ability tests, credit checks, and personality tests, can be used todetermine qualifications. When developing your criteria for interviewing, determine the level theapplicant needs to meet to meet the minimum criteria, for example, a minimum score on apersonality test.
• We should be concerned with validity and reliability of measurement tools. Validity refers to howvalid the test is, that is, how well a test measures a candidate’s abilities to do a job. Reliability refersto which selection techniques yield similar data or results over time. It is important to choose theright measurement tool used to determine whether the candidate meets the criteria.
• Setting criteria before the interview process starts ensures that disparate impact or disparatetreatment does not occur in the interview process.
• When hiring, there is the option of internal and external candidates. Each has its own set ofadvantages and disadvantages. Internal candidates may be able to “hit the ground running,” butexternal candidates may come in with new perspectives. Even if an internal candidate seems to bethe best hire, it is best to still perform the process of posting the job and interviewing, since otherless vocal employees might be qualified internal candidates as well. In other words, don’t assumeone person is the obvious choice for the promotion.
Exercises
1. Develop criteria for the position of a retail salesperson working in teams.
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of hiring an internal and external candidate. Give anexample of when you don’t think an external candidate should be considered for a position.
3. How can development of criteria or minimum standards help in a case of disparate treatmentaccusations?
1“What Are KSAs?” US Department of Veterans Affairs, accessed August 2, 2011, http://www.va.gov/jobs/hiring/
apply/ksa.asp.
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ReferencesReferences
McGirt, E., “Most Innovative Companies,” Fast Company, February 2010, accessed July 12, 2011,
http://www.fastcompany.com/mic/2010/profile/facebook.
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5.3 Interviewing
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the various types of interviews and interview questions.
2. Discuss interview methods and potential mistakes in interviewing candidates.
3. Explain the interview process.
Interviewing people costs money. As a result, after candidates are selected, good use of time is critical to making
sure the interview process allows for selection of the right candidate. In an unstructured interview, questions are
changed to match the specific applicant; for example, questions about the candidate’s background in relation to
their résumé might be used. In a structured interview, there is a set of standardized questions based on the job
analysis, not on individual candidates’ résumés. While a structured interview might seem the best option to find
out about a particular candidate, the bigger concern is that the interview revolves around the specific job for which
the candidate is interviewing. In a structured interview, the expected or desired answers are determined ahead
of time, which allows the interviewer to rate responses as the candidate provides answers. This allows for a fair
interview process, according to the US Office of Personnel Management1. For purposes of this section, we will
assume that all interviews you perform will be structured, unless otherwise noted.
Types of InterviewsTypes of Interviews
Interview processes can be time-consuming, so it makes sense to choose the right type of interview(s) for the
individual job. Some jobs, for example, may necessitate only one interview, while another may necessitate a
telephone interview and at least one or two traditional interviews. Keep in mind, though, that there will likely be
other methods with which to evaluate a candidate’s potential, such as testing. Testing is discussed in Section 5.4.1
“Testing”. Here are different types of interviews:
1. Traditional interview. This type of interview normally takes place in the office. It consists of the
interviewer and the candidate, and a series of questions are asked and answered.
2. Telephone interview. A telephone interview is often used to narrow the list of people receiving a
traditional interview. It can be used to determine salary requirements or other data that might automatically
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rule out giving someone a traditional interview. For example, if you receive two hundred résumés and
narrow these down to twenty-five, it is still unrealistic to interview twenty-five people in person. At this
point, you may decide to conduct phone interviews of those twenty-five, which could narrow the in-person
interviews to a more manageable ten or so people.
3. Panel interview. A panel interview occurs when several people are interviewing one candidate at the
same time. While this type of interview can be nerve racking for the candidate, it can also be a more
effective use of time. Consider some companies who require three to four people to interview candidates for
a job. It would be unrealistic to ask the candidate to come in for three or four interviews, so it makes sense
for them to be interviewed by everyone at once.
4. Information interview. Informational interviews are usually used when there is no specific job opening,
but the candidate is exploring possibilities in a given career field. The advantage to conducting these types
of interviews is the ability to find great people ahead of a job opening.
5. Meal interviews. Many organizations offer to take the candidate to lunch or dinner for the interview.
This can allow for a more casual meeting where, as the interviewer, you might be able to gather more
information about the person, such as their manners and treatment of waitstaff. This type of interview might
be considered an unstructured interview, since it would tend to be more of a conversation as opposed to a
session consisting of specific questions and answers.
6. Group interview. In a group interview, two or more candidates interview at the same time. This type of
interview can be an excellent source of information if you need to know how they may relate to other
people in their job.
7. Video interviews. Video interviews are the same as traditional interviews, except that video technology
is used. This can be cost saving if one or more of your candidates are from out of town. Skype, for example,
allows free video calls. An interview may not feel the same as a traditional interview, but the same
information can be gathered about the candidate.
8. Nondirective interview (sometimes called an unstructured interview). In a nondirective interview, the
candidate essentially leads the discussion. Some very general questions that are planned ahead of time may
be asked, but the candidate spends more time talking than the interviewer. The questions may be more open
ended; for example, instead of asking, “Do you like working with customers?” you may ask, “What did you
like best about your last job?” The advantage of this type of interview is that it can give candidates a good
chance to show their abilities; however, the downside is that it may be hard to compare potential candidates,
since questions are not set in advance. It relies on more of a “gut feeling” approach.
It is likely you may use one or more of these types of interviews. For example, you may conduct phone interviews,
then do a meal interview, and follow up with a traditional interview, depending on the type of job.
Interview QuestionsInterview Questions
Most interviews consist of many types of questions, but they usually lean toward situational interviews or
behavior description interviews. A situational interview is one in which the candidate is given a sample situation
and is asked how he or she might deal with the situation. In a behavior description interview, the candidate is
asked questions about what he or she actually did in a variety of given situations. The assumption in this type of
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interview is that someone’s past experience or actions are an indicator of future behavior. These types of questions,
as opposed to the old “tell me about yourself” questions, tend to assist the interviewer in knowing how a person
would handle or has handled situations. These interview styles also use a structured method and provide a better
basis for decision making. Examples of situational interview questions might include the following:
1. If you saw someone stealing from the company, what would you do?
2. One of your employees is performing poorly, but you know he has some personal home issues he is
dealing with. How would you handle complaints from his colleagues about lack of performance?
3. A coworker has told you she called in sick three days last week because she actually decided to take a
vacation. What would you do?
4. You are rolling out a new sales plan on Tuesday, which is really important to ensure success in your
organization. When you present it, the team is lukewarm on the plan. What would you do?
5. You disagree with your supervisor on her handling of a situation. What would you do?
Examples of behavior description interview questions might include the following:
1. Tell me about a time you had to make a hard decision. How did you handle this process?
2. Give an example of how you handled an angry customer.
3. Do you show leadership in your current or past job? What would be an example of a situation in which
you did this?
4. What accomplishments have given you the most pride and why?
5. What plans have you made to achieve your career goals?
Top 36 Interview Questions and AnswersTop 36 Interview Questions and Answers
(click to see video)
Examples of how to answer those difficult interview questions.
As you already know, there are many types of interview questions that would be considered illegal. Here are some
examples:
1. National origin. You cannot ask seemingly innocent questions such as “That’s a beautiful name, where is
your family from?” This could indicate national origin, which could result in bias. You also cannot ask
questions about citizenship, except by asking if a candidate is legally allowed to work in the United States.
Questions about the first language of the candidate shouldn’t be asked, either. However, asking “Do you
have any language abilities that would be helpful in this job?” or “Are you authorized to work in the United
States?” would be acceptable.
2. Age. You cannot ask someone how old they are, and it is best to avoid questions that might indicate age,
such as “When did you graduate from high school?” However, asking “Are you over 18?” is acceptable.
3. Marital status. You can’t ask direct questions about marital status or ages of children. An alternative
may be to ask, “Do you have any restrictions on your ability to travel, since this job requires 50 percent
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travel?”
4. Religion. It’s illegal to ask candidates about their religious affiliation or to ask questions that may
indicate a religion-affiliated school or university.
5. Disabilities. You may not directly ask if the person has disabilities or recent illnesses. You can ask if the
candidate is able to perform the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
6. Criminal record. While it is fine to perform a criminal record check, asking a candidate if they have
ever been arrested is not appropriate; however, questions about convictions and guilty pleadings are
acceptable.
7. Personal questions. Avoid asking personal questions, such as questions about social organizations or
clubs, unless they relate to the job.
Besides these questions, any specific questions about weight, height, gender, and arrest record (as opposed to
allowable questions about criminal convictions) should be avoided.
HR professionals and managers should be aware of their own body language in an interview. Some habits, such
as nodding, can make the candidate think they are on the right track when answering a question. Also, be aware
of a halo effect or reverse halo effect. This occurs when an interviewer becomes biased because of one positive
or negative trait a candidate possesses. Interview bias can occur in almost any interview situation. Interview
bias is when an interviewer makes assumptions about the candidate that may not be accurate (Lipschultz, 2010).
These assumptions can be detrimental to an interview process. Contrast bias is a type of bias that occurs when
comparing one candidate to others. It can result in one person looking particularly strong in an area, when in
fact they look strong compared to the other candidates. A gut feeling bias is when an interviewer relies on an
intuitive feeling about a candidate. Generalization bias can occur when an interviewer assumes that how someone
behaves in an interview is how they always behave. For example, if a candidate is very nervous and stutters while
talking, an assumption may be made that he or she always stutters. Another important bias called cultural noise
bias occurs when a candidate thinks he or she knows what the interviewer wants to hear and answers the questions
based on that assumption. Nonverbal behavior bias occurs when an interviewer likes an answer and smiles and
nods, sending the wrong signal to the candidate. A similar to me bias (which could be considered discriminatory)
results when an interviewer has a preference for a candidate because he or she views that person as having similar
attributes as themselves. Finally, recency bias occurs when the interviewer remembers candidates interviewed
most recently more so than the other candidates.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What are the dangers of a reverse halo effect?
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Figure 5.3
A halo effect occurs when a desirable trait makes us believe all traits possessed by the candidate are
desirable. This can be a major danger in interviewing candidates.
OpenClipartVectors – Pixabay – CC0 Public Domain.
Interview ProcessInterview Process
Once the criteria have been selected and interview questions developed, it is time to start interviewing people.
Your interviewing plan can determine the direction and process that should be followed:
1. Recruit new candidates.
2. Establish criteria for which candidates will be rated.
3. Develop interview questions based on the analysis.
4. Set a time line for interviewing and decision making.
5. Connect schedules with others involved in the interview process.
6. Set up the interviews with candidates and set up any testing procedures.
7. Interview the candidates and perform any necessary testing.
8. Once all results are back, meet with the hiring team to discuss each candidate and make a decision based
on the established criteria.
9. Put together an offer for the candidate.
As you can see, a large part of the interviewing process is planning. For example, consider the hiring manager
1 2 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
who doesn’t know exactly the type of person and skills she is looking to hire but sets up interviews anyway. It
is difficult, if not impossible, to determine who should be hired if you don’t know what you are looking for in
the first place. In addition, utilizing time lines for interviewing can help keep everyone involved on track and
ensure the chosen candidate starts work in a timely manner. Here are some tips to consider when working with the
interview process:
1. Make sure everyone is trained on the interviewing process. Allowing someone who has poor
interviewing skills to conduct the interview will likely not result in the best candidate. In a worst-case
scenario, someone could ask an illegal question, and once hired, the candidate can sue the organization.
UCLA researchers (Hanricks, 2011) calculated that plaintiffs win about half of hiring discrimination cases
that go to trial, sometimes because of interviewers asking illegal questions. For example, “I see you speak
Spanish, where did you study it?” is a seemingly harmless question that could be indirectly asking a
candidate his or her ethnic background. To avoid such issues, it’s important to train managers in the proper
interviewing process.
2. Listen to the candidate and try to develop a rapport with them. Understand how nervous they must be and
try to put them at ease.
3. Be realistic about the job. Do not try to paint a “rosy” picture of all aspects of the job. Being honest up
front helps a candidate know exactly what they will be in for when they begin their job.
4. Be aware of your own stereotypes and do not let them affect how you view a potential candidate.
5. Watch your own body language during the interview and that of the candidate. Body language is a
powerful tool in seeing if someone is the right fit for a job. For example, Scott Simmons, vice president at
Crist|Kolder, interviewed someone for a CFO position. The candidate had a great résumé, but during the
interview, he offered a dead-fish handshake, slouched, and fidgeted in his chair. The candidate didn’t make
eye contact and mumbled responses, and, of course, he didn’t get the job (Reeves, 2006), because his body
language did not portray the expectations for the job position.
6. Stick to your criteria for hiring. Do not ask questions that have not been predetermined in your criteria.
7. Learn to manage disagreement and determine a fair process if not everyone on the interviewing team
agrees on who should be hired. Handling these types of disagreements is discussed further in Chapter 9
“Successful Employee Communication”.
Once you have successfully managed the interview process, it is time to make the decision. Section 5.4.1
“Testing” discusses some of the tools we can use to determine the best candidate for the job.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Can you think of a time when the interviewer was not properly trained? What were the results?
Silly Job Interview—Silly Job Interview—Monty PythonMonty Python
(click to see video)
5 . 3 I N T E R V I E W I N G • 1 2 9
An exaggerated and funny example of an untrained interviewer.
Key Takeaways
• Traditional, telephone, panel, informational, meal, group, and video are types of interviews. Acombination of several of these may be used to determine the best candidate for the job. A structuredinterview format means the questions are determined ahead of time, and unstructured means thequestions are based on the individual applicant. The advantage of a structured interview is that allcandidates are rated on the same criteria. Before interviewing occurs, criteria and questions for astructured interview should be developed.
• Interview questions can revolve around situational questions or behavioral questions. Situationalquestions focus on asking someone what they would do in a given situation, while behavioralquestions ask candidates what they have done in certain situations.
◦ Interview questions about national origin, marital status, age, religion, and disabilities areillegal. To avoid any legal issues, it is important for interviewers to be trained on whichquestions cannot be asked. The halo effect, which assumes that one desirable trait means alltraits are desirable, should also be avoided.
◦ The process involved in interviewing a person includes the following steps: recruit newcandidates; establish criteria for which candidates will be rated; develop interview questionsbased on the analysis; set a time line for interviewing and decision making; connect scheduleswith others involved in the interview process; set up interviews with candidates and set up anytesting procedures; interview the candidates and perform any necessary testing; and once allresults are back, meet with the hiring team to discuss each candidate and make a decision basedon the established criteria; then finally, put together an offer for the candidate.
◦ Developing a rapport, being honest, and managing the interview process are tips to having asuccessful interview.
Exercises
1. With a partner, develop a list of five examples (not already given in the chapter) of situational andbehavioral interview questions.
2. Why is it important to determine criteria and interview questions before bringing someone in foran interview?
3. Visit Monster.com and find two examples of job postings that ask those with criminal records notto apply. Do you think, given the type of job, this is a reasonable criteria?
1“Structured Interviews: A Practical Guide,” US Office of Personnel Management, September 2008, accessed
January 25, 2011, https://apps.opm.gov/ADT/ContentFiles/SIGuide09.08.08.pdf.
1 3 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
ReferencesReferences
Hanricks, M., “3 Interview Questions That Could Cost You $1 Million,” BNET, March 8, 2011, accessed
August 2, 2011, http://www.bnet.com/blog/business-myths/3-interview-questions-that-could-cost-your-
company-1-million/791.
Lipschultz, J., “Don’t Be a Victim of Interview Bias,” Career Builder, June 15, 2010, accessed July 12, 2011,
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/06/15/interview-bias/.
Reeves, S., “Is Your Body Betraying You in Job Interviews?” Forbes, February 2006, accessed August 2, 2011,
http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/15/employment-careers-interviews-cx_sr_0216bizbasics.html.
5 . 3 I N T E R V I E W I N G • 1 3 1
5.4 Testing and Selecting
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the types of tests that can be administered as part of the selection process.
2. Be able to discuss the types of selection models.
Besides the interview, we can also look at several other aspects that may predict success on the job. If any test
is to be criteria for measuring a candidate, this should be communicated to each person interviewing, and criteria
should be developed on specific test scores and expectations before interviewing and testing begins.
TestingTesting
A variety of tests may be given upon successful completion of an interview. These employment tests can gauge a
person’s KSAOs in relation to another candidate. The major categories of tests include the following:
1. Cognitive ability tests
2. Personality tests
3. Physical ability tests
4. Job knowledge tests
5. Work sample
A number of written tests can be administered. A cognitive ability test can measure reasoning skills, math skills,
and verbal skills. An aptitude test measures a person’s ability to learn new skills, while an achievement test
measures someone’s current knowledge. Depending on the type of job, one or both will be better suited.
A cognitive ability test measures intelligences, such as numerical ability and reasoning. The Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT) is an example of a cognitive ability test. It is important to note that some cognitive ability tests can have
disparate impact. For example, in EEOC v. Ford Motor Co. and United Automobile Workers of America, African
Americans were rejected from an apprentice program after taking a cognitive test known as the Apprenticeship
Training Selection System (ATSS)1. The test showed significant disparate impact on African Americans, and it
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was then replaced by a different selection procedure, after costing Ford $8.55 million. Some sample test categories
might include the following:
1. Reasoning questions
2. Mathematical questions and calculations
3. Verbal and/or vocabulary skills
Aptitude tests can measure things such as mechanical aptitude and clerical aptitude (e.g., speed of typing or ability
to use a particular computer program). Usually, an aptitude test asks specific questions related to the requirements
of the job. To become a New York City police offer, for example, an aptitude test is required before an application
will be considered. The written exam is given as a computerized test at a computerized testing center in the city.
The test measures cognitive skills and observational skills (aptitude test) required for the job2.
Personality tests such as Meyers-Briggs and the “Big Five” personality factors may be measured and then
compared with successful employee scores. For example, The University of Missouri Health Care system recently
launched a patient satisfaction initiative as part of its strategic plan. The plan includes training for current
employees and personality testing for nursing, managerial, and physician candidates (Silvey, 2011). The goal of
the test is to assess talent and to see if the candidate has the potential to meet the expectations of patients. They
hired a private company, Talent Plus, who conducts the test via phone interviews. However, many companies
administer tests themselves, and some tests are free and can be administered online.
The Big Five personality test looks at extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.
Self-assessment statements might include the following:
1. I have an assertive personality.
2. I am generally trusting.
3. I am not always confident in my abilities.
4. I have a hard time dealing with change.
Some institutions also require physical ability tests; for example, to earn a position in a fire department, you may
have to be able to carry one hundred pounds up three flights of stairs. If you use tests in your hiring processes,
the key to making them useful is to determine a minimum standard or expectation, specifically related to the
requirements of the job. An HR manager should also consider the legality of such tests. In the EEOC v. Dial
Corp. case1, women were disproportionately rejected for entry-level positions. Prior to the test, 46 percent of
hires were women, but after implementation of the test, only 15 percent of the new hires were women. The Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) established that the test was considerably more difficult than the
job, resulting in disparate impact. Physical ability tests need to show direct correlation with the job duties.
A job knowledge test measures the candidate’s level of understanding about a particular job. For example, a job
knowledge test may require an engineer to write code in a given period of time or may ask candidates to solve a
case study problem related to the job.
Work sample tests ask candidates to show examples of work they have already done. In the advertising business,
this may include a portfolio of designs, or for a project manager, this can include past project plans or budgets.
5 . 4 T E S T I N G A N D S E L E C T I N G • 1 3 3
When applying for a pharmaceutical representative position, a “brag book” might be required (Hansen, 2011).
A brag book is a list of recommendation letters, awards, and achievements that the candidate shares with the
interviewer. Work sample tests can be a useful way to test for KSAOs. These work samples can often be a good
indicator of someone’s abilities in a specific area. As always, before looking at samples, the interviewer should
have specific criteria or expectations developed so each candidate can be measured fairly.
Once the interview is completed and testing occurs, other methods of checking KSAOs, including checking
references, driving records, and credit history, can be performed. Some companies even use Facebook as a way of
gauging the candidate’s professionalism.
Reference checking is essential to verify a candidate’s background. It is an added assurance that the candidate’s
abilities are parallel with what you were told in the interview. While employment dates and job titles can
be verified with previous employers, many employers will not verify more than what can be verified in the
employment record because of privacy laws. However, if you do find someone who is willing to discuss more than
just dates and job titles, a list of questions is appropriate. Some of these questions might include the following:
1. What was the title and responsibilities of the position the candidate had while at your company?
2. Do you think the candidate was qualified to assume those responsibilities?
3. Does this person show up on time and have good attendance?
4. Would you consider this person a team player?
5. What are the three strongest and weakest characteristics of this candidate?
6. Would you rehire this person?
If a candidate will be driving a company car or vehicle, such as a UPS truck, driving records may be checked.
Criminal background checks may also be used if the position will include interaction with the public. If the
position requires handling of money, a credit check may be required, although a written notice is required to be
given to the candidate before the credit check is carried out. In addition, written permission must be provided
to the credit agency, and the applicants must receive a copy of the report and a copy of their rights under the
Consumer Credit Reporting Reform Act (CCRRA). All these types of tests can be used to determine if someone
has been honest about their past employment.
Some companies require drug testing, which causes some debate. While some organizations say this is a
safety issue (and pay lower insurance premiums), others say it is an invasion of privacy. As long as drug
tests are administered for a defensible reason (safety), many organizations will continue to require them. Some
organizations will also require physical examinations to ensure the candidate can perform the tasks required. A
final form of testing is the honesty test. A number of “what would you do” questions are asked. The challenge
with this type of test is that many people know the “right” answer but may not be honest in their responses.
Table 5.2 Reasons Why Employers Acted upon Data Found on Social Networking Sites
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Provocative or inappropriate photos or info 53%
Drinking or drug use 44%
Badmouthing previous employer, colleague, or client 35%
Poor communication skills 29%
Discriminatory comments 26%
Lied about qualifications 24%
Leaked confidential information about previous job 20%
Source: Kit Eaton “If You’re Applying for a Job, Censor Your Facebook Page,” Fast Company, August 19, 2009,
accessed January 27, 2011, http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/if-youre-applying-job-censor-
your-facebook-page.
Forty-five percent of organizations use social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn to gather
information about potential candidates (Eaton, 2009). See Table 5.2 “Reasons Why Employers Acted upon Data
Found on Social Networking Sites” for the types of data found on social networking sites that disqualified
candidates, according to an article by Fast Company. This can be an effective method to see the kind of image the
candidate portrays in his or her personal time.
Selection MethodsSelection Methods
Tell Me about YourselfTell Me about Yourself
(click to see video)
How to answer that famous “tell me about yourself” question in an interview.
A clinical selection approach is probably the most common selection method, and it involves all who will be
making the decision to hire a candidate. The decision makers review the data and, based on what they learn
from the candidate and the information available to them, decide who should be hired for a job. Because
interviewers have a different perception about the strengths of a candidate, this method leaves room for error. One
consideration is disparate treatment, in which one’s biases may result in not hiring candidates based on their age,
race, or gender. One way to handle this and limit the personal stereotypes and perceptions of the interviewers is to
use a statistical method in hiring.
In the statistical method, a selection model is developed that assigns scores and gives more weight to specific
factors, if necessary. For example, for some jobs, the ability to work in a team might be more important, while
in others, knowledge of a specific computer program is more important. In this case, a weight can be assigned to
each of the job criteria listed. For example, if the job is a project manager, ability to work with the client might
be more important than how someone dresses for the interview. So, in the example shown in Figure 5.4 “Sample
Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting Filled In”, dress is weighted 1, while being able to give
bad news to a client is weighted 5. In the example, the rating is multiplied by the weight to get the score for the
particular job criteria. This method allows for a fairer process and can limit disparate treatment, although it may
not limit disparate impact. A statistical method may work like this: you and the hiring team review the job analysis
5 . 4 T E S T I N G A N D S E L E C T I N G • 1 3 5
and job description and then determine the criteria for the job. You assign weights for each area and score ranges
for each aspect of the criteria, rate candidates on each area as they interview, and then score tests or examine work
samples. Once each hiring manager has scored each candidate, the hiring team can compare scores in each area
and hopefully hire the best person in the best way. A sample candidate selection model is included in Figure 5.4
“Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting Filled In”.
With the statistical approach, there is more objectivity than with the clinical approach. Statistical approaches
include the compensatory model, multiple cutoff model, and the multiple hurdle model. In the compensatory
model, a similar method of scoring is used as the weighted model but permits a high score in an important area to
make up for a lower score in another area. In our Figure 5.4 “Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and
Weighting Filled In” example, ability to give bad news to a client might outweigh a test score. These decisions
would be made before the interviews happen.
A multiple cutoff model requires that a candidate has a minimum score level on all selection criteria. In our
Figure 5.4 “Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting Filled In” example, the candidate may
be required to have a score of at least 2 out of 5 on each criteria. If this was the case, the candidate in Figure 5.4
“Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting Filled In” scored low on “bad news to a client,”
meaning he or she wouldn’t get the job in a multiple cutoff model. In the multiple hurdle model, only candidates
with high (preset) scores go to the next stages of the selection process. For example, the expectations might be to
score a 4 on at least three of the items in Figure 5.4 “Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting
Filled In”. If this were the case, this candidate might make it to the next level of the selection process, since he or
she scored at least a 4 on three criteria areas.
Once the discussion on whom to hire has occurred and a person has been selected, the final phase of the process
is to make an offer to the candidate. This is discussed in Section 5.5 “Making the Offer”.
Figure 5.4 Sample Selection Model, with Sample Scores and Weighting Filled In
Job Criteria Rating* Weight** Total Comments
Dress 4 1 4 Candidate dressed appropriately.
Personality 2 5 10 Did not seem excited about the job.
Interview questions
Give an example of a time you showed leadership. 3 3 9 Descriptive but didn’t seem to have experience required.
Give an example of when you had to give bad news to a client. 0 5 0 Has never had to do this.
Tell us how you have worked well in a team 5 4 20 Great example of teamwork given.
Score on cognitive ability test. 78 5 390 Meets minimum required score of 70
458
*Rating system of 1-5, with 5 being the highest
**Weighting of 1-5, with 5 being the most important
1 3 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Key Takeaways
• Once the interview process is complete, some companies use other means of measuring candidates.For example, work samples are an excellent way of seeing how someone might perform at yourcompany.
• An aptitude test or achievement test can be given. An aptitude test measures how well someonemight be able to do something, while an achievement test measures what the candidate alreadyknows. Tests that measure cognitive ability and personality are examples.
• Some organizations also perform drug tests and physical tests. A physical test might consist of beingable to lift a certain amount of weight, if required for the job. Honesty tests are also given; thesemeasure the honesty level of the candidate. However, these tests may not be reliable, since someonecan guess the “right” answer.
• Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites are also used to gather information about acandidate. Calling references is another option.
• Every person interviewing the candidate should have a selection model; this method utilizes astatistical approach as opposed to a clinical approach. The selection table lists the criteria on the leftand asks interviewers to provide a rating for each. This method can allow for a more consistent wayof measuring candidates.
Exercises
1. Develop a sample candidate selection for your current job.
2. Visit your or another person’s Facebook page. Consider the content from an interviewer’s point ofview. Should anything be removed or changed?
1“Employment Tests and Selection Procedures,” US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accessed
August 2, 2011, http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/factemployment_procedures.html.
2“Exam Schedule,” New York Police Department, accessed August 2, 2011, http://www.nypdrecruit.com/exam-
center/exam-overview.
ReferencesReferences
Eaton, K., “If You’re Applying for a Job, Censor Your Facebook Page,” Fast Company, August 19, 2009,
accessed January 27, 2011, http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/if-youre-applying-job-censor-
your-facebook-page.
Hansen, K., “So, You Want to Get into Paramedical Sales?” n.d., Quintessential Careers, accessed August 2, 2011,
http://www.quintcareers.com/pharmaceutical_sales_careers.html.
5 . 4 T E S T I N G A N D S E L E C T I N G • 1 3 7
Silvey, J., “MU Health Care to Renew Satisfaction Effort,” Columbia Daily Tribune, August 2, 2011, accessed
August 2, 2011, http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/aug/02/mu-health-care-to-renew-satisfaction-
effort/.
1 3 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
5.5 Making the Offer
Learning Objective
1. Explain the steps in making the offer to the candidate.
Oftentimes once the decision is made to hire a candidate, HR professionals feel their job is finished. But making
the offer to the chosen candidate can be equally as important as the interview process. If the offer is not handled
properly, you can lose the candidate, or if the candidates takes the job, he or she could start off on the wrong foot.
According to Paul Falcone, vice president for human resources at the Fortune 500 company Time Warner, detailed
information should be asked of the candidate before the offer is even made (Falcone, 2011). He says that as soon
as the offer is made, power is shifted to the candidate. To handle this, he suggests asking salary questions in the
interview, including the following:
1. “If we were to make a job offer today, when would you be in a position to accept or reject the
offer?” If the candidate answers “right now,” this indicates they do not have other job offers on the table or
if they do, you are their first choice.
2. “At what point, dollar wise, would you accept our job offer and at what point, dollar wise would
you reject the offer?” The advantage of using this strategy is that it gets to the point of understanding the
candidate’s expectations. If the interviewee does not respond right away, you can clarify by asking, “I am
asking this question because I would like to gauge your interest level. Share with me the ideal salary offer
versus at what point you would be willing to walk away from this opportunity.”
Asking these questions can assist in qualifying candidates, based on salary expectations. For example, if a
candidate requests 20 percent more than you are able to pay for the job, this discussion can be had before the offer
is even made, perhaps making this candidate no longer viable.
Once you have determined in the interview process that the salary expectation is in the range of what you can
offer, the first step is to make the offer as soon as the decision is made. In a tight labor market, waiting a week
or two may impact your ability to hire your first choice. You probably already have a salary range in mind and
can begin to narrow down the offer based on the individual’s KSAOs. Based on the range of salary you can offer,
consider the following questions when making the offer to a candidate:
139
• What is the scarcity of the particular skills set?
• What are the “going” wages in your geographic area?
• What are the current economic conditions?
• What is the current pay for similar positions in your organization?
• What is your organizational compensation strategy?
• What is the fair market value of the job?
• What is the level of the job within the organization?
• What are your budget constraints?
• How soon will the employee be productive in the organization?
• Are there other candidates equally qualified that might have lower salary expectations?
• What are the national and regional unemployment rates?
• If you cannot pay more, can you offer other perks such as a signing bonus or flexible work schedule?
Once the offer has been made, it is reasonable to give the candidate some time to decide, but not too long, as this
can result in losing other candidates should this candidate reject the job offer. It is likely the candidate may come
back and ask for higher salary or benefits. Some tips to successfully negotiate are included below and in Video
5.4:
1. Be prepared. Know exactly what you can and can’t offer.
2. Explain the career growth the organization can provide.
3. Address the benefits of the candidate’s joining the organization.
4. Discuss the entire offer, including other benefits offered to the employee.
5. View the negotiation as a win-win situation.
6. Be able to provide salary research of similar positions and competitors for the same job title.
7. Use the trading technique. For example, “I cannot offer you the salary you are requesting right now, but
what if we were able to review salary at your six-month performance review, assuming ____ objectives are
met?”
Once the phone call is made and the candidate accepts the offer, an e-mail or formal letter should follow, outlining
details of the employment agreement. The employment agreement or offer letter should include the following:
1. Job title
2. Salary
3. Other compensation, such as bonuses or stock options
4. Benefits, such as health-care coverage, 401(k)
5. Vacation time/paid holidays
6. Start date
1 4 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
7. Noncompete agreement expectations
8. Additional considerations such as relocation expenses
Once the pay and benefits package has been successfully negotiated and the offer letter (or e-mail) sent, you
should clarify acceptance details in writing and receive confirmation of the start date. It is not unusual for people
in higher-level positions to need a month or even two to transition from their old jobs. During this period, make
sure to stay in touch and even complete the new hire paperwork in the meantime.
Pirates of the Caribbean Negotiation AnalysisPirates of the Caribbean Negotiation Analysis
(click to see video)
This lively video, using the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, offers great analysis and tips on how to successfully
negotiate just about anything.
Key Takeaways
• The HR professional’s job isn’t finished once the selection is made. The next step is to actually makethe offer. This step is important, because if it isn’t done properly, you could lose the candidate orhave ill feelings at the onset of the employment relationship.
• Once you have made the decision to hire someone, make the offer to the candidate right away.Normally this is done through a phone call and a follow-up e-mail, outlining the details of the offer.
• It is not unusual for someone to negotiate salary or benefits. Know how far you can negotiate andalso be aware of how your current employees will be affected if you offer this person a higher salary.
• If you are having trouble coming to an agreement, be creative in what you can offer; for example,offer flextime instead of higher pay.
Exercise
1. Research “salary negotiation” on the Internet. What tips are provided for job seekers? Do youthink these same tips could apply to the HR professional? Why or why not?
ReferencesReferences
Falcone, P., “The New Hire: Five Questions to Ask before Making the Job Offer,” n.d., Monster.com, accessed
July 13, 2011, http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/acquiring-job-candidates/
making-a-job-offer.aspx.
5 . 5 M A K I N G T H E O F F E R • 1 4 1
5.6 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• The selection process refers to the steps involved in choosing someone who has the rightqualifications to fill a current or future job opening.
• There are five main steps in the selection process. First, criteria should be developed to determinehow the person will be chosen. Second, a review of the applications and résumés is conducted, oftenvia a computer program that can find keywords. Next, interview the employee. The last stepsinvolve administering tests, such as a personality test or drug test, and making the offer to the rightcandidate.
• The first step in selection is to review résumés. Even before you do this, though, it is important todevelop criteria against which each candidate will be measured. Criteria can come from the jobdescription as well as the job qualifications.
• Other tools, such as cognitive ability tests, credit checks, or personality tests, can be used todetermine qualifications. When developing your criteria for interviewing, determine the level theapplicant needs to meet to meet the minimum criteria—for example, a minimum score for apersonality test.
• We should be concerned with validity and reliability of measurement tools. Validity refers to howvalid the test is—that is, how well a test measures a candidate’s abilities to do a job. Reliabilityrefers to which selection techniques yield similar data or results over time. It is important to choosethe right measurement tool used to determine whether the candidate meets the criteria.
• Use of criteria before the interview process starts is also important to make sure disparate impact ordisparate treatment do not occur in the interview process.
• When hiring, there is the option of internal and external candidates. Each has its own set ofadvantages and disadvantages. Internal candidates may be able to “hit the ground running” butexternal candidates may come in with new perspectives. Even if an internal candidate seems to bethe best hire, it is best to still perform the process of posting the job and interviewing, since otherless vocal employees might be qualified internal candidates as well. In other words, don’t assumeone person is the obvious choice for the promotion.
• Traditional, telephone, panel, informational, meal, group, and video are types of interviews. Acombination of several of these may be used to determine the best candidate for the job. A structuredinterview format means the questions are determined ahead of time, and unstructured means the
142
questions are based on the individual applicant. The advantage of a structured interview is that allcandidates are rated on the same criteria. Before interviewing occurs, criteria and questions for astructured interview should be developed.
• Interview questions can revolve around situational questions or behavioral questions. Situationalquestions focus on asking someone what they would do in a given situation, while behavioralquestions ask candidates what they would have done in certain situations.
• Interview questions about national origin, marital status, age, religion, and disabilities are illegal. Toavoid any legal issues, it is important for interviewers to be trained on which questions cannot beasked. The halo effect, which assumes that one desirable trait means all traits are desirable, shouldalso be avoided.
• The process involved in interviewing a person includes the following steps: recruit new candidates;establish criteria for which candidates will be rated; develop interview questions based on theanalysis; set a time line for interviewing and decision making; connect schedules with othersinvolved in the interview process; set up interviews with candidates and set up any testingprocedures; interview the candidates and perform any necessary testing; and once all results areback, meet with the hiring team to discuss each candidate and make a decision based on theestablished criteria. Finally, put together an offer for the candidate.
• Developing a rapport, being honest, and managing the interview process are tips to having asuccessful interview.
• Once the interview process is complete, some companies use other means of measuring candidates.For example, work samples are an excellent way of seeing how someone might perform at yourcompany.
• An aptitude test or achievement test can be given. An aptitude test measures how well someonemight be able to do something, while an achievement test measures what the candidate alreadyknows. Tests that measure cognitive ability and personality are examples.
• Some organizations also perform drug tests and physical tests. A physical test might consist of beingable to lift a certain amount of weight, if required for the job. Honesty tests are also given, whichmeasure the honesty level of the candidate. However, these tests may not be reliable, since someonecan guess the “right” answer.
• Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking websites are used to gather information about acandidate. Calling references is another option.
• Every person interviewing the candidate should have a selection model; this method utilizes astatistical approach as opposed to a clinical approach. The selection table lists the criteria on the leftand asks interviewers to provide a rating for each. This method can allow for a more consistent wayof measuring candidates.
• The job of the HR professional isn’t finished once the selection is made. The next step is to make theoffer. This step is important, because if it isn’t done properly, you could lose the candidate or have illfeelings at the onset of the employment relationship.
• Once you have made the decision to hire someone, make the offer to the candidate right away.Normally this is done through a phone call and a follow-up e-mail, outlining the details of the offer.
• It is not unusual for someone to negotiate salary or benefits. Know how far you can negotiate, andalso be aware of how your current employees will be affected if you offer this person a higher salary.
5 . 6 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 1 4 3
• If you are having trouble coming to an agreement, be creative in what you can offer; for example,offer flextime instead of higher pay.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
The Four-Fifths Rule
The four-fifths rule is a way of measuring adverse impact in selection processes of organizations. It workslike this: assume your organization requires a cognitive test for employment. You set a test score of 70as the required pass rate for the candidate to be considered for an interview. Based on our numbers, if 50percent of men passed this test with a score of 70, then four-fifths or 40 percent of women should also beable to pass the test. You might calculate it like this:
Gender Total who scored 70 or above Total who took the test Percent
Male 52 62 83.8 or 84% passed
Female 36 58 62.07 or 62%
If you divide the total of who scored above 70 by the total number who took the test, it shows thepercentage of 84 percent passed the test. If you divide the number of women who passed by the totalnumber of women who took the test, you come up with 62 percent. Then divide 62 percent by 84 percent(62/84 = 73.8%). The resulting 74 percent means that it is below the 80 percent or the four-fifths rule, andthis test could be considered to have disparate impact.
52/62 = 84% of men who took the test passed the test36/58 = 62% of women who took the test passed the test62/84 = 73.8%, less than 80%, which could show disparate impact
This is only an indicator as to how the selection process works for the organization, and other factors,such as sample size, can impact the reliability of this test. Using the tables below, please calculate possibledisparate impact and then answer the questions that follow.
National Origin Passing Test Score Total Number Taking the Test Percent
Caucasians 56 89
Minority groups 48 62
Age Passing Test Score Total Number Taking the Test Percent
People under 40 28 52
People over 40 23 61
1 4 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Gender Passing Test Score Total Number Taking the Test Percent
Male 71 82
Female 64 85
1.Please calculate the above numbers using the four-fifths rule. Based on your calculation:
a. Which group or groups might be affected negatively by this test?
b. What would be your considerations before changing any selection tools based on this data?
c. How might you change your selection process to ensure disparate impact isn’t occurring atyour organization?
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. In a team of two, take the Big Five personality test online (http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/)and compare scores.
2. Assume you are hiring a retail salesperson and plan to administer the same Big Five personalitytest you took above. In your team, develop minimum percentile scores for each of the five areas thatwould be acceptable for your new hire.
5 . 6 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 1 4 5
Chapter 6: Compensation and Benefits
Matching Compensation with Core ValuesMatching Compensation with Core Values
As you sit down to review the compensation package your company offers, one thing that stands out is that your
compensation package no longer matches the core values of your organization. When your organization merged
five years ago with a similar firm that specializes in online shoe retailing, your company had to hire hundreds
of people to keep up with growth. As a result—and what happens with many companies—the compensation
plans are not revised and revisited as they should be. The core values your company adopted from the merging
company focused on customer service, freedom to work where employees felt they could be most productive,
and continuing education of employees, whether or not the education was related to the organization. The
compensation package, providing the basic salary, health benefits, and 401(k) plans, seems a bit old-fashioned for
the type of company yours has become.
After reviewing your company’s strategic plan and your human resource management (HRM) strategic plan,
you begin to develop a compensation plan that includes salary, health benefits, and 401(k) plans, but you feel it
might be smart to better meet the needs of your employees by making some changes to these existing plans. For
example, you are considering implementing a team bonus program for high customer service ratings and coverage
for alternative forms of medicine, such as acupuncture and massage. Instead of guessing what employees would
like to see in their compensation packages, you decide to develop a compensation survey to assess what benefits
are most important to your employees. As you begin this task, you know it will be a lot of work, but it’s important
to the continued recruitment, retention, and motivation of your current employees.
Compensation and Benefits IntroductionCompensation and Benefits Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on compensation and benefits.
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6.1 Goals of a Compensation Plan
Learning Objective
1. Be able to explain the goals of a compensation plan.
So far, we have discussed the process for strategic plan development and the recruitment and selection process.
The next aspect of HRM is to develop compensation plans that will help in the recruitment and retention of
employees. This is the topic of this chapter.
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Figure 6.1
The goal of a compensation plan is not only to attract people,
but to retain them.
johnhain – Pixabay – CC0 public domain.
Most of us, no matter how much we like our jobs, would not do them without a compensation package. When we
think of compensation, often we think of only our paycheck, but compensation in terms of HRM is much broader.
A compensation package can include pay, health-care benefits, and other benefits such as 401(k) plans, which will
all be discussed in this chapter. Before we discuss specifics, you should be aware of courses and certifications that
can be earned through the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals, specifically related to compensation
(other certifications will be discussed in their respective chapters).
WorldatWork offers several certifications in the area of compensation:
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP)
• Certified Sales Compensation Professional (CSCP)
• Certified Executive Compensation Professional (CECP)
These certifications involve taking a multiple-choice exam online or at one of the WorldatWork testing locations.
The exams test for knowledge, experience, and skills in each of the compensation certification areas and can be a
valuable asset to you when applying for HR positions.
1 4 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
The certifications are based on many of the aspects of this chapter, including understanding the goals of
compensation packages for employees, which is our focus for this section.
First, the compensation package should be positive enough to attract the best people for the job. An organization
that does not pay as well as others within the same industry will likely not be able to attract the best candidates,
resulting in a poorer overall company performance.
Once the best employees and talent come to work for your organization, you want the compensation to be
competitive enough to motivate people to stay with your organization. Although we know that compensation
packages are not the only thing that motivates people, compensation is a key component. We discuss other
motivations in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance”.
Third, compensation can be used to improve morale, motivation, and satisfaction among employees. If employees
are not satisfied, this can result not only in higher turnover but also in poor quality of work for those employees
who do stay. A proper compensation plan can also increase loyalty in the organization.
Pay systems can also be used to reward individual or team performance and encourage employees to work at their
own peak performance. In fact, in the 2011 list of the Best Companies to Work For by Fortune magazine, all the
companies who topped the list (SAS and Boston Consulting Group, for example) had satisfied employees—not
only with their pay, but their entire benefits package1.
With an appropriate pay system, companies find that customer service is better because employees are happier.
In addition, having fairly compensated, motivated employees not only adds to the bottom line of the organization
but also facilitates organizational growth and expansion. Motivated employees can also save the company money
indirectly, by not taking sick days when the employee isn’t really sick, and companies with good pay packages
find fewer disability claims as well.
So far, our focus on HRM has been a strategic focus, and the same should be true for development of
compensation packages. Before the package is developed for employees, it’s key to understand the role
compensation plays in the bottom line of the organization. For example, in 2010, the US military spent 22 percent
of its budget on personnel salaries2. One-fifth of the total budget—or more—is not uncommon for most US
organizations, depending on the industry. As a result, it is easy to see why the compensation plan should be an
important aspect of the overall HRM strategic plan. The next few sections will detail the aspects of creating the
right compensation packages: for your organization, including legal considerations.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
If you have had or currently have a job, do you feel the compensation plan motivated you? Why or whynot?
6 . 1 G O A L S O F A C O M P E N S A T I O N P L A N • 1 4 9
Key Takeaways
• A compensation package is an important part of the overall strategic HRM plan, since much of thecompany budget is for employee compensation.
• A compensation package can include salary, bonuses, health-care plans, and a variety of other typesof compensation.
• The goals of compensation are to attract people to work for your organization and to retain peoplewho are already working in the organization.
• Compensation is also used to motivate employees to work at their peak performance and improvemorale.
• Employees who are fairly compensated tend to provide better customer service, which can result inorganizational growth and development.
Exercise
1. Visit a website that gives salary information for a variety of jobs, such as http://www.salary.com.Using the search box, type in your ideal job and research salary information. What is the mediansalary for the job you searched? What is the lowest salary you would be willing to accept for thisjob? At which point would you be completely satisfied with the pay for this job?
1“100 Best Companies to Work For,” CNN Money, accessed February 11, 2011, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/
fortune/bestcompanies/2011/snapshots/1.html?iid=EL.
2US Department of Defense, Financial Summary Tables, May 2009, accessed February 11, 2011,
http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2010/fy2010_summary_tables_whole.pdf.
1 5 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
6.2 Developing a Compensation Package
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain the internal and external considerations of compensation package development.
2. Know how to develop a compensation philosophy.
There are a few basic aspects of compensation packages we should discuss before moving into the specific aspects
of compensation. These foundations can assist in the development of a compensation strategy that meets the goals
of your organization and is in line with your strategic plan.
Before beginning work on your compensation packages, some analysis should be done to determine your
organization’s philosophy in regard to compensation. Before development of your compensation philosophies,
there are some basic questions to address on your current compensation packages.
1. From the employee’s perspective, what is a fair wage?
2. Are wages too high to achieve financial health in your organization?
3. Do managers and employees know and buy-into your compensation philosophy?
4. Does the pay scale reflect the importance of various job titles within the organization?
5. Is your compensation good enough to retain employees?
6. Are state and federal laws being met with your compensation package?
7. Is your compensation philosophy keeping in line with labor market changes, industry changes, and
organizational changes?
Once these basic questions are addressed, we can see where we might have “holes” in our compensation package
and begin to develop new philosophies in line with our strategic plan, which benefits the organization. Some
possible compensation policies might include the following:
1. Are salaries higher or lower depending on the location of the business? For example, orthopedic surgeons
are paid higher in the North Central states ($537,000) than in Hawaii ($250,000), according to the
Medscape Physical report of 2011 (Miller, 2011). Reasons could include cost of living in the area and fewer
151
qualified people in a given area, giving them leverage to ask for a higher salary.
2. Are salaries lower or higher than the average in your region or area? If the salary is lower, what other
benefits will the employee receive to make up for this difference? For example, wages might not be as high,
but offering flextime or free day care might offset the lower salary.
3. Should there be a specific pay scale for each position in the organization, or should salaries be negotiated
on an individual basis? If there is no set pay scale, how can you ensure individual salary offers are fair and
nondiscriminatory?
4. What balance of salary and other rewards, such as bonuses, should be part of your compensation
package? For example, some organizations prefer to offer a lower salary, but through bonuses and profit
sharing, the employee has the potential to earn more.
5. When giving raises, will the employee’s tenure be a factor, or will pay increases be merit based only, or a
combination of both?
Let’s discuss some internal and external factors in determining compensation in more detail.
Internal and External Pay FactorsInternal and External Pay Factors
One major internal factor is the compensation strategy the company has decided to use. Sixty-two percent of
organizations have a written, documented compensation policy (Scott, 2011).
Some organizations choose a market compensation policy, market plus, or market minus philosophy. A market
compensation policy is to pay the going rate for a particular job, within a particular market based on research
and salary studies. The organization that uses a market plus philosophy will determine the going rate and add a
percentage to that rate, such as 5 percent. So if a particular job category median pays $57,000, the organization
with a market plus of 5 percent philosophy will pay $59,850. A market minus philosophy pays a particular
percentage less than the market; so in our example, if a company pays 5 percent less, the same job would pay
$54,150. The University of Arizona, for example, posts its compensation philosophy on its website1:
In order to fulfill its mission, the University of Arizona shall maintain a compensation program directed toward attracting,
retaining, and rewarding a qualified and diverse workforce. Within the boundaries of financial feasibility, employee
compensation shall be externally competitive and internally equitable, and shall be based upon performance as recognized
within the work unit.
In addition to their compensation philosophy, the university lists compensation objectives, such as “average
salaries will be targeted at the average salary levels of employees in comparable positions in our various labor
markets.” This is an example of a market compensation policy.
An example of an organization with a market plus philosophy is Cisco Systems, listed as one of the top-paying
companies on Fortune’s annual list. For example, they pay $131,716 for software engineers, while at Yahoo!
software engineers are paid an average of $101,669, using a market philosophy. The pay at Cisco reflects its
compensation philosophy and objectives:
1 5 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Cisco operates in the extremely competitive and rapidly changing high-technology industry. The Board’s Compensation
Committee believes that the compensation programs for the executive officers should be designed to attract, motivate, and
retain talented executives responsible for the success of Cisco and should be determined within a framework based on
the achievement of designated financial targets, individual contribution, customer satisfaction, and financial performance
relative to that of Cisco’s competitors. Within this overall philosophy, the Compensation Committee’s objectives are to do the
following:
Offer a total compensation program that is flexible and takes into consideration the compensation practices of
a group of specifically identified peer companies and other selected companies with which Cisco competes for
executive talent
Provide annual variable cash incentive awards that take into account Cisco’s overall financial performance
in terms of designated corporate objectives, as well as individual contributions and a measure of customer
satisfaction
Align the financial interests of executive officers with those of shareholders by providing appropriate long-term,
equity-based incentives
An example of an organization with a market minus philosophy is Whole Foods. The executive compensation for
Whole Foods is a maximum of nineteen times the average store worker (or $608,000), very low by Fortune 500
executive pay standards, which average 343 times (Allen, 2011). According to John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO,
paying on a market minus philosophy makes good business sense: “Fewer things harm an organization’s morale
more than great disparities in compensation. When a workplace is perceived as unfair and greedy, it begins to
destroy the social fabric of the organization” (Hamner & McNichol, 2011). Another example of an organization
with a market minus philosophy is Southwest Airlines. Despite the lower pay (and more hours), the organization
boasts just a 1.4 percent turnover rate, which can be attributed not to pay but to the workplace culture and, as a
result, loyalty to the company (Eggers, 2011).
There are many reasons why an organization would choose one philosophy over another. A market minus
philosophy may tie into the company’s core values, as in Whole Foods, or it may be because the types of jobs
require an unskilled workforce that may be easier and less expensive to replace. A company may use a market
plus philosophy because the industry’s cutting-edge nature requires the best and the brightest.
Other internal pay factors might include the employer’s ability to pay, the type of industry, and the value of the
employee and the particular job to the organization. In addition, the presence of a union can lead to mandated pay
scales. Unions are discussed in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”.
External pay factors can include the current economic state. For example, in June 2011, the US unemployment
rate was 9.2 percent, which is quite high for the country. As a result of surplus workers, compensation may be
reduced within organizations because of oversupply of workers. Inflation and cost of living in a given area can
also determine compensation in a given market.
Once an organization has looked at the internal and external forces affecting pay, it can begin to develop a pay
system within the organization. We discuss how to develop a pay system in Section 6.3 “Types of Pay Systems”.
6 . 2 D E V E L O P I N G A C O M P E N S A T I O N P A C K A G E • 1 5 3
Key Takeaways
• Before beginning work on a pay system, some general questions need to be answered. Importantstarting points include questions ranging from what is a fair wage from the employees’ perspectivesto how much can be paid but still retain financial health.
• After some pay questions are answered, a pay philosophy must be developed, based on internal andexternal factors. Some companies implement a market compensation philosophy, which pays thegoing market rate for a job. Other companies may decide to utilize a market plus philosophy, whichpays higher than the average. A company could decide its pay philosophy is a market minusphilosophy, which pays less than the market rate. For example, an organization may decide to paylower salaries but offer more benefits.
• Once these tasks are done, the HR manager can then build a pay system that works for the size andindustry of the organization.
Exercise
1. Think of your current organization or a past organization. What do you think their pay policy is/was? Describe and analyze whether you think it was or is effective. If you haven’t worked before,perform an Internet search on pay policies and describe/analyze the pay policy of an organization.
1University of Arizona, “Compensation Philosophy,” accessed July 23, 2011, http://www.hr.arizona.edu/
compensation_philosophy.
ReferencesReferences
Allen, T., “AFL-CIO Defends Pay Equality Disclosure Mandate,” ISS (blog), July 19, 2011, accessed July 23,
2011, http://blog.riskmetrics.com/gov/2011/07/afl-cio-defends-pay-equity-disclosure-mandate-1.html.
Eggers, K., “Why It’s OK to Be Paid Less,” Fins Technology, n.d., accessed July 23, 2011, http://it-jobs.fins.com/
Articles/SB130816636352923783/Why-It-s-Okay -to-Get-Paid-Less.
Hamner S. and Tom McNichol, “Ripping Up the Rules of Management,” CNN Money, n.d., accessed July 23,
2011, http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/biz2/0705/gallery.contrarians.biz2/3.html.
Miller, L., “9 Statistics on Orthopedic Surgeon Compensation by Location,” OS Review, May 25, 2011, accessed
August 3, 2011, http://www.beckersorthopedicandspine.com/orthopedic-spine-practices-improving-profits/item/
4061-9-statistics-on-2010-orthopedic-surgeon-compensation-by-location.
Scott, D., “Survey of Compensation Policies and Practices,” WorldatWork, accessed July 23, 2011,
http://www.worldatwork.org/waw/research/html/comppol03.html.
1 5 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
6.3 Types of Pay Systems
Learning Objectives
1. Explain types of job evaluation systems and their uses.
2. Be able to define and discuss the types of pay systems and factors determining the type of paysystem used.
3. Know the laws relating to compensation.
Once you have determined your compensation strategy based on internal and external factors, you will need to
evaluate jobs, develop a pay system, and consider pay theories when making decisions. Next, you will determine
the mix of pay you will use, taking into consideration legal implications.
Figure 6.2 The Process for Implementing Compensation Strategy
Job Evaluation SystemsJob Evaluation Systems
As mentioned when we discussed internal and external factors, the value of the job is a major factor when
determining pay. There are several ways to determine the value of a job through job evaluation. Job evaluation
is defined as the process of determining the relative worth of jobs to determine pay structure. Job evaluation
can help us determine if pay is equitable and fair among our employees. There are several ways to perform a
job evaluation. One of the simplest methods, used by smaller companies or within individual departments, is
a job ranking system. In this type of evaluation, job titles are listed and ranked in order of importance to the
organization. A paired comparison can also occur, in which individual jobs are compared with every other job,
based on a ranking system, and an overall score is given for each job, determining the highest-valued job to the
lowest-valued job. For example, in Table 6.1 “Example of a Paired Comparison for a Job Evaluation”, four jobs
155
are compared based on a ranking of 0, 1, or 2. Zero indicates the job is less important than the one being compared,
1 means the job is about the same, and 2 means the job is more important. When the scores are added up, it is
a quick way to see which jobs are of more importance to the organization. Of course, any person creating these
rankings should be familiar with the duties of all the jobs. While this method may provide reasonably good results
because of its simplicity, it doesn’t compare differences between jobs, which may have received the same rank of
importance.
Table 6.1 Example of a Paired Comparison for a Job Evaluation
Job Receptionist Project Manager Account Manager Sales Director
Receptionist X 0 0 0 0 = 4th
Project Administrative Assistant 1 X 0 0 1 = 3rd
Account Manager 2 1 X 0 3 = 2nd
Sales Director 2 2 2 X 6 = 1st
Based on the paired ranking system, the sales director should have a higher salary than the project administrative assistant,because the ranking for that job is higher. Likewise, a receptionist should be paid less than the project administrative assistantbecause this job ranks lower.
In a job classification system, every job is classified and grouped based on the knowledge and skills required for
the job, years of experience, and amount of authority for that job. The US military is perhaps the best known for
this type of classification system. The navy, for example, has job classification codes, such as HM (hospitalman).
Then the jobs are divided into specialties, such as HM-8483, the classification for surgical technologist, and
HM-8451 for a hospitalman-X-ray technician. The federal government and most state governments use this type
of system. Tied to each job are the basic function, characteristics, and typical work of that job classification,
along with pay range data. A sample of a job classification system is shown in Table 6.2 “Example of a Job
Classification System at the University of Washington”.
Table 6.2 Example of a Job Classification System at the University of Washington
1 5 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
JobCode Job Title
State JobClass CodeReference
RepresentativeGroup
PayTable
PayRange
MinimumMo. Rate
Maximum Mo.IncrementalRate
OTEligible
7715ACCELERATORTECHNICIAN 1
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 40 $2689 $3583 Y
7300 ACCOUNTANT 1SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 40 $2689 $3583 Y
7301 ACCOUNTANT 2SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 44 $2949 $3956 N
7302 ACCOUNTANT, SENIORSEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 50 $3410 $4587 N
7011ACCOUNTINGSUPERVISOR
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 50 $3410 $4587 N
7045ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT A
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 39 $2623 $3493 Y
7044ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT A-SUPV
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 41 $2751 $3667 Y
7046ADMINISTRATIVEASSISTANT B
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 42 $2816 $3763 Y
7080ADMINISTRATIVECOORDINATOR
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 37 $2506 $3325 Y
7490 ADMISSIONS SPECIALISTSEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 41 $2751 $3667 Y
7583AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/HUMAN RIGHTS ASST
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 41 $2751 $3667 Y
8696ALCOHOLISMTHERAPIST 1
WFSE HMC B0 56 $3507 $5021 Y
6119ALCOHOLISMTHERAPIST 2
359FClassifiedNon-Union
C0 63 $3761 $5224 Y
6329ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYLABORATORY LEAD
315HClassifiedNon-Union
C0 73 $4154 $5771 Y
6328ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYLABORATORYSUPERVISOR
315IClassifiedNon-Union
C0 79 $4412 $6126 N
8146ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNICIAN
SEIU Local925-HMC Technical
B7 55 $3472 $4822 Y
8326ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNICIAN
SEIU LOCAL 925Medical/LaboratoryTech
B7 55 $3472 $4822 Y
8145ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNICIAN TRAINEE
SEIU Local925-HMC Technical
B7 40 $2991 $4155 Y
Source: Reprinted from The University of Washington website, Compensation: A Division of Human Resources,http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/ocpsp/compensation/alpha.sort.files/alpha.sort.html (accessed September 14, 2011).
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 5 7
JobCode Job Title
State JobClass CodeReference
RepresentativeGroup
PayTable
PayRange
MinimumMo. Rate
Maximum Mo.IncrementalRate
OTEligible
8325ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNICIAN TRAINEE
SEIU LOCAL 925Medical/LaboratoryTech
B7 40 $2991 $4155 Y
8147ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNOLOGIST
SEIU Local925-HMC Technical
B7 66 $3874 $5383 Y
8327ANATOMIC PATHOLOGYTECHNOLOGIST
SEIU LOCAL 925Medical/LaboratoryTech
B7 66 $3874 $5383 Y
6313ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICAL SERVICESSUPV
320HClassifiedNon-Union
CA 61 $3686 $5277 N
6310ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN 1
320EClassifiedNon-Union
CA 13 $2287 $3271 Y
8711ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN 1
WFSE HMC BA 10 $2219 $3271 Y
8312ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN 2
SEIU LOCAL 925Medical/LaboratoryTech
BS 46 $3344 $4933 Y
8960ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN 2
1199NW-HMCRespiratory/Anesthesiology
BS 46 $3344 $4933 Y
6311ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN LEAD
320GClassifiedNon-Union
CA 52 $3370 $4826 Y
8959ANESTHESIOLOGYTECHNICIAN LEAD
1199NW-HMCRespiratory/Anesthesiology
BS 53 $3585 $5288 Y
7724 ANIMAL TECHNICIAN 1SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 25 $1903 $2506 Y
7725 ANIMAL TECHNICIAN 2SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 26 $1948 $2567 Y
7726 ANIMAL TECHNICIAN 3SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 30 $2134 $2816 Y
4727ANIMAL TECHNICIANSUPERVISOR
525HClassifiedNon-Union
C1 35 $2370 $3063 Y
4658ASSISTANT FACILITIESDESIGNER
540LClassifiedNon-Union
C1 48 $3213 $4214 Y
8874ASSISTANT STEAMENGINEER
WFSE SkilledTrades
BL 46G $3566 $4106 Y
8507 BAKER WFSE Campuswide BI 30 $2113 $2789 Y
8508 BAKER LEAD WFSE Campuswide BI 33 $2266 $2994 Y
4700BIOMEDICALELECTRONICSTECHNICIAN 1
511EClassifiedNon-Union
CA 54 $3438 $4924 Y
Source: Reprinted from The University of Washington website, Compensation: A Division of Human Resources,http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/ocpsp/compensation/alpha.sort.files/alpha.sort.html (accessed September 14, 2011).
1 5 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
JobCode Job Title
State JobClass CodeReference
RepresentativeGroup
PayTable
PayRange
MinimumMo. Rate
Maximum Mo.IncrementalRate
OTEligible
4701BIOMEDICALELECTRONICSTECHNICIAN 2
511FClassifiedNon-Union
CA 68 $3954 $5659 Y
4702BIOMEDICALELECTRONICSTECHNICIAN 3
511GClassifiedNon-Union
CA 78 $4368 $6249 Y
4703BIOMEDICALELECTRONICSTECHNICIAN LEAD
511HClassifiedNon-Union
CA 83 $4591 $6568 Y
4704BIOMEDICALELECTRONICSTECHNICIAN SUPV
511IClassifiedNon-Union
CA 88 $4826 $6903 N
8875 BOILER OPERATORWFSE SkilledTrades
BL 42G $3247 $3736 Y
7613BOOK PRODUCTIONCOORDINATOR
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 44 $2949 $3956 Y
7075BOOKKEEPINGMACHINE OPERATOR
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 29 $2088 $2751 Y
7550BROADCASTTECHNICIAN 1
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 41 $2751 $3667 Y
7551BROADCASTTECHNICIAN 2
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 47 $3166 $4255 Y
7552BROADCASTTECHNICIAN 3
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 51 $3493 $4699 Y
7553BROADCASTTECHNICIANSUPERVISOR
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 55 $3856 $5186 N
7335 BUDGET ANALYSTSEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 42 $2816 $3763 Y
7336BUDGET/FISCALANALYST
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 46 $3093 $4154 N
7337BUDGET/FISCALANALYST LEAD
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 51 $3493 $4699 N
7339BUDGET/FISCALOPERATIONSSUPERVISOR
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 57 $4053 $5448 N
7338BUDGET/FISCAL UNITSUPERVISOR
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 54 $3763 $5059 N
7021BUILDING SERVICESCOORDINATOR
SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 33 $2289 $3023 Y
Source: Reprinted from The University of Washington website, Compensation: A Division of Human Resources,http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/ocpsp/compensation/alpha.sort.files/alpha.sort.html (accessed September 14, 2011).
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 5 9
JobCode Job Title
State JobClass CodeReference
RepresentativeGroup
PayTable
PayRange
MinimumMo. Rate
Maximum Mo.IncrementalRate
OTEligible
7022BUILDING SERVICESSUPERVISOR
SEIU Local 925Clerical Supervisory
B4 38 $2567 $3410 Y
5215BUILDINGS ANDGROUNDS SUPERVISORA
598GClassifiedNon-Union
C1 49 $3293 $4322 N
5216BUILDINGS ANDGROUNDS SUPERVISORB
598HClassifiedNon-Union
C1 55 $3819 $5010 N
7119 BUYER 1SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 38 $2567 $3410 Y
7120 BUYER 2SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 44 $2949 $3956 Y
7122 BUYER 3SEIU Local 925ClericalNonsupervisory
B4 49 $3325 $4472 N
Source: Reprinted from The University of Washington website, Compensation: A Division of Human Resources,http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/ocpsp/compensation/alpha.sort.files/alpha.sort.html (accessed September 14, 2011).
Another type of job evaluation system is the point-factor system, which determines the value of a job by
calculating the total points assigned to it. The points given to a specific job are called compensable factors.
These can range from leadership ability to specific responsibilities and skills required for the job. Once the
compensable factors are determined, each is given a weight compared to the importance of this skill or ability to
the organization. When this system is applied to every job in the organization, expected compensable factors for
each job are listed, along with corresponding points to determine which jobs have the most relative importance
within the organization. Tompkins County in New York uses a point-factor system. Some of their compensable
factors include the following:
1. Knowledge
2. Autonomy
3. Supervision
4. Psychological demands
5. Interpersonal skills
6. Internal and external contacts
In this point-factor system, autonomy ranks the highest and is given a weight of twenty-nine, while knowledge
is given a rate of twenty, for example. Each of the compensable factors has a narrative that explains how points
should be distributed for each factor. In this system, one hundred points are given for knowledge for a bachelor’s
degree and two to three years of experience, and eighty points are given if an employee has an associate’s degree
or high school diploma and two to three years of experience. The points are then multiplied by the weight (for
knowledge, the weight is twenty) to give a final score on that compensable factor. After a score is developed for
1 6 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
each, the employee is placed on the appropriate pay level for his or her score, as illustrated in Figure 6.3 “Example
of a Point-Factor System”.
Figure 6.3 Example of a Point-Factor System
Another option for job evaluation is called the Hay profile method. This proprietary job evaluation method
focuses on three factors called know-how, problem solving, and accountability. Within these factors are specific
statements such as “procedural proficiency.” Each of these statements is given a point value in each category
of know-how, problem solving, and accountability. Then job descriptions are reviewed and assigned a set of
statements that most accurately reflect the job. The point values for each of the statements are added for each job
description, providing a quantitative basis for job evaluation and eventually, compensation. An advantage of this
method is its quantitative nature, but a disadvantage is the expense of performing an elaborate job evaluation.
Pay SystemsPay Systems
Once you have performed a job evaluation, you can move to the third step, which we call pay grading. This is the
process of setting the pay scale for specific jobs or types of jobs.
The first method to pay grade is to develop a variety of pay grade levels. Figure 6.4 “Sample Pay Scale for
General Federal Jobs” shows an example. Then once the levels are developed, each job is assigned a pay grade.
When employees receive raises, their raises stay within the range of their individual pay grade, until they receive
a promotion that may result in a higher pay grade. The advantage of this type of system is fairness. Everyone
performing the same job is within a given range and there is little room for pay discrimination to occur. However,
since the system is rigid, it may not be appropriate for some organizations in hiring the best people. Organizations
that operate in several cities might use a pay grade scale, but they may add percentages based on where someone
lives. For example, the cost of living in Spokane, Washington, is much lower than in New York City. If an
organization has offices in both places, it may choose to add a percentage pay adjustment for people living within
a geographic area—for example, 10 percent higher in New York.
One of the downsides to pay grading is the possible lack of motivation for employees to work harder. They know
even if they perform tasks outside their job description, their pay level or pay grade will be the same. This can
incubate a stagnant environment. Sometimes this system can also create too many levels of hierarchy. For large
companies, this may work fine, but smaller, more agile organizations may use other methods to determine pay
structure. For example, some organizations have moved to a delayering and banding process, which cuts down
the number of pay levels within the organization. General Electric delayered pay grades in the mid-1990s because
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 6 1
it found that employees were less likely to take a reassignment that was at a lower pay grade, even though the
assignment might have been a good development opportunity (Ferris, 1995). So, delayering enables a broader
range of pay and more flexibility within each level. Sometimes this type of process also occurs when a company
downsizes. Let’s assume a company with five hundred employees has traditionally used a pay grade model but
decided to move to a more flexible model. Rather than have, say, thirty pay levels, it may reduce this to five or six
levels, with greater salary differentials within the grades themselves. This allows organizations to better reward
performance, while still having a basic model for hiring managers to follow.
Figure 6.4 Sample Pay Scale for General Federal Jobs
Rather than use a pay grade scale, some organizations use a going rate model. In this model, analysis of the going
rate for a particular job at a particular time is considered when creating the compensation package. This model can
work well if market pressures or labor supply-and-demand pressures greatly impact your particular business. For
example, if you need to attract the best project managers, but more are already employed (lack of supply)—and
most companies are paying $75,000 for this position—you will likely need to pay the same or more, because of
labor supply and demand. Many tools are available, such as salarywizard.com, to provide going rate information
on particular jobs in every region of the United States.
Compensation StrategiesCompensation Strategies
(click to see video)
The president of HR That Works provides some tips on determining compensation.
1 6 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Another pay model is the management fit model. In this model, each manager makes a decision about who should
be paid what when that person is hired. The downside to this model may be potential discrimination, halo effects,
and resentment within the organization. Of course, these factors can create morale issues, the exact thing we want
to avoid when compensating employees.
In addition to the pay level models we just looked at, other considerations might include the following:
1. Skill-based pay. With a skill-based pay system, salary levels are based on an employee’s skills, as
opposed to job title. This method is implemented similarly to the pay grade model, but rather than job title,
a set of skills is assigned a particular pay grade.
2. Competency-based pay. Rather than looking at specific skills, the competency-based approach looks at
the employee’s traits or characteristics as opposed to a specific skills set. This model focuses more on what
the employee can become as opposed to the skills he or she already has.
3. Broadbanding. Broadbanding is similar to a pay grade system, except all jobs in a particular category
are assigned a specific pay category. For example, everyone working in customer service, or all
administrative assistants (regardless of department), are paid within the same general band. McDonald’s
uses this compensation philosophy in their corporate offices, stating that it allows for flexibility in terms of
pay, movement, and growth of employees (McDonald’s Corporation, 2011).
4. Variable pay system. This type of system provides employees with a pay basis but then links the
attainment of certain goals or achievements directly to their pay. For example, a salesperson may receive a
certain base pay but earn more if he or she meets the sales quota.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
You have been working for your organization for five years. After lots of hard work, you are promoted to sales
manager. One of your first tasks is to develop goals for your sales team, then create a budget based on these goals.
First, you look at the salaries of all the sales staff to find major pay discrepancies. Some salespeople, who perform
equally well, are paid much lower than some sales staff whom you consider to be nonperformers. As you dig
deeper, you see this is a problem throughout the sales team. You are worried this might affect motivation for your
team if they find out what others are making. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360653/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360653/embed.
Pay TheoriesPay Theories
Now that we have discussed pay systems, it is important to look at some theories on pay that can be helpful to
know when choosing the type of pay system your organization will use.
The equity theory is concerned with the relational satisfaction employees get from pay and inputs they provide
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 6 3
to the organization. It says that people will evaluate their own compensation by comparing their compensation to
others’ compensation and their inputs to others’ inputs. In other words, people will look at their own compensation
packages and at their own inputs (the work performed) and compare that with others. If they perceive this to be
unfair, in that another person is paid more but they believe that person is doing less work, motivational issues
can occur. For example, people may reduce their own inputs and not work as hard. Employees may also decide
to leave the organization as a result of the perceived inequity. In HR, this is an important theory to understand,
because even if someone is being paid fairly, they will always compare their own pay to that of others in the
organization. The key here is perception, in that the fairness is based entirely on what the employee sees, not what
may be the actual reality. Even though HR or management may feel employees are being paid fairly, this may
not be the employee’s belief. In HR, we need to look at two factors related to pay equity: external pay equity and
internal pay equity. External pay equity refers to what other people in similar organizations are being paid for a
similar job. Internal pay equity focuses on employees within the same organization. Within the same organization,
employees may look at higher level jobs, lower level jobs, and years with the organization to make their decision
on pay equity. Consider Walmart, for example. In 2010, Michael Duke, CEO of Walmart, earned roughly $35
million in salary and other compensation (Gomstyne, 2010), while employees earned minimum wage or slightly
higher in their respective states. While Walmart contends that its wages are competitive in local markets, the retail
giant makes no apologies for the pay difference, citing the need for a specialized skill set to be able to be the CEO
of a Fortune 500 company. There are hundreds of articles addressing the issue of pay equity between upper level
managers and employees of an organization. To make a compensation strategy work, the perceived inputs (the
work) and outputs (the pay) need to match fairly.
The expectancy theory is another key theory in relation to pay. The expectancy theory says that employees will
put in as much work as they expect to receive. In other words, if the employee perceives they are going to be paid
favorably, they will work to achieve the outcomes. If they believe the rewards do not equal the amount of effort,
they may not work as hard.
The reinforcement theory, developed by Edward L. Thorndike (Indiana University, 2011), says that if high
performance is followed by some reward, that desired behavior will likely occur in the future. Likewise, if high
performance isn’t followed by a reward, it is less likely the high performance will occur in the future. Consider
an extreme example of the reinforcement theory in the world of finance. On Wall Street, bonuses for traders and
bankers are a major part of their salary. The average bonus in 2010 was $128,530 (Smith, 2011), which does not
take into account specific commissions on trades, which can greatly increase total compensation. One interesting
consideration is the ethical implications of certain pay structures, particularly commission and bonus plans. For
example, after the US government bailed out American International Group (AIG) with $170 billion in 2009, it
was reported AIG would still provide some $165 million in bonuses to the same business unit that brought the
company to near collapse, because of contractual issues. Traditionally, a bonus structure is designed to reward
performance, rather than be a guaranteed part of the compensation plan, as was the case with AIG. Bonus and
commission plans should be utilized to drive desired behavior and act as a reward for the desired behavior, as the
reinforcement theory states.
All these theories provide us information to make better decisions when developing our own pay systems. Other
considerations are discussed next.
1 6 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Pay Decision ConsiderationsPay Decision Considerations
Besides the motivational aspect of creating a pay structure, there are some other considerations. First, the size of
the organization and the expected expansion of the organization will be a factor. For example, if you are the HR
manager for a ten-person company, you likely use a going rate or management fit model. While this is appropriate
for your company today, as your organization grows, it may be prudent to develop a more formal pay structure.
Ascentium Corporation, based in Seattle, Washington, found this to be the case. When the company started with
fewer than fifteen employees, a management fit model was used. As the company ballooned to over five hundred
employees in four cities, a pay banding model had to be put into place for fairness.
If your organization also operates overseas, a consideration is how domestic workers will be paid in comparison to
the global market. One strategy is to develop a centralized compensation system, which would be one pay system
for all employees, regardless of where they live. The downside to this is that the cost of living may be much less in
some countries, making the centralized system possibly unfair to employees who live and work in more expensive
countries. Another consideration is in what currency employees will be paid. Most US companies pay even their
overseas workers in dollars, and not in the local currency where the employee is working. Currency valuation
fluctuations could cause challenges in this regard (Watson, 2005). We further discuss some global compensation
policies in Chapter 14 “International HRM”.
How you communicate your pay system is extremely important to enhance the motivation that can be created
by fair and equitable wage. In addition, where possible, asking for participation from your employees through
the use of pay attitude surveys, for example, can create a transparent compensation process, resulting in higher
performing employees.
Organizations should develop market pay surveys and review their wages constantly to ensure the organization is
within expected ranges for the industry.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Why do you think a transparent compensation policy is so important to motivating a workforce?
Table 6.3 Types of Pay
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 6 5
Pay Attributes
Salary Fixed compensation calculated on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. No extra pay for overtime work.
Hourly Wage Employees are paid on the basis of number of hours worked.
PieceworkSystem
Employees are paid based on the number of items that are produced.
Types ofIncentivePlans
Attributes
CommissionPlans
An employee may or may not receive a salary but will be paid extra (e.g., a percentage for every sale made).
Bonus PlansExtra pay for meeting or beating some goal previously determined. Bonus plans can consist of monetary compensation,but also other forms such as time off or gift certificates.
Profit-SharingPlans
Annual bonuses paid to employees based on the amount of profit the organization earned.
Stock OptionsWhen an employee is given the right to purchase company stock at a particular rate in time. Please note that a stock“option” is different from the actual giving of stock, since the option infers the employee will buy the stock at a set rate,obviously, usually cheaper than the going rate.
Other TypesofCompensation
Attributes
FringeBenefits
This can include a variety of options. Sick leave, paid vacation time, health club memberships, daycare services.
HealthBenefits
Most organizations provide health and dental care benefits for employees. In addition, disability and life insurancebenefits are offered.
401(k) PlansSome organizations provide a retirement plan for employees. The company would work with a financial organization toset up the plan so employees can save money, and often, companies will “match” a percentage of what the employeecontributes to the plan.
Types of PayTypes of Pay
After a pay system has been developed, we can begin to look at specific methods of paying our employees.
Remember that when we talk about compensation, we are referring to not only an actual paycheck but additional
types of compensation, such as incentive plans that include bonuses and profit sharing. We can divide our total
pay system into three categories: pay, incentives, and other types of compensation. Pay is the hourly, weekly,
or monthly salary an employee earns. An incentive, often called a pay-for-performance incentive, is given for
meeting certain performance standards, such as meeting sales targets. The advantage to incentive pay is that
company goals can be linked directly to employee goals, resulting in higher pay for the employee and goal
achievement by the organization. The following are desirable traits of incentive plans:
• Clearly communicated
• Attainable but challenging
• Easily understandable
• Tied to company goals
Table 6.3 “Types of Pay” illustrates the three types of compensation.
1 6 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Most organizations use a combination of pay, incentives, and other compensation, as outlined in Table 6.3 “Types
of Pay”, to develop the total compensation package.
Laws Relating to PayLaws Relating to Pay
As you have already guessed from our earlier chapter discussions, people cannot be discriminated against when
it comes to development of pay systems. One issue hotly debated is the issue of comparable worth. Comparable
worth states that people should be given similar pay if they are performing the same type of job. Evidence over
the years shows this isn’t the case, with women earning less than men in many industries. On average, a woman
earns 79 cents for every $1.00 a man earns. For women of color, the gap is wider at 69 cents for African-American
women and 59 cents for Latina women (National Organization for Women, 2011). Many publications state that
women earn less than men for a few reasons:
1. Women work fewer hours because of family care and maternity leave.
2. The career path or job choice of women tends to be lower as a whole.
3. There is a bias favoring men as the “breadwinners,” and therefore they are paid more.
4. Women are valued less than men in the workplace.
5. Women don’t negotiate salaries as well as men do.
While the reasons are certainly debatable, there is evidence that young women (without children) entering the
workforce actually earn more than their male counterparts, owing to higher levels of education (Dougherty, 2010).
As you may remember from Chapter 3 “Diversity and Multiculturalism”, the EEOC covers discrimination in the
workplace, including pay discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The Equal Pay
Act of 1963 makes it illegal to pay different wages to men and women if they perform equal work in the same
workplace.
More recent legislation on pay includes the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the first law signed by President
Obama. This bill amends the Civil Rights Act stating that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal pay
lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each discriminatory paycheck. The bill stemmed from a lawsuit
against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company by Lilly Ledbetter, who claimed that her nineteen-year career at the
company consisted of unfair pay, compared to male workers in the organization. Her complaint was time barred
by the US Supreme Court, and the new act addressed the time (180 days) constraint in which people have to file
claims.
The Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA, was established in 1938 and set a minimum wage for jobs, overtime
laws, and child labor laws. FLSA divides workers into exempt and nonexempt status, and jobs under exempt
status do not fall under the FLSA guidelines. An exempt employee is usually paid a salary and includes executive,
professional, outside sales, and administrative positions. A nonexempt employee is usually an hourly employee.
For nonexempt employees, some states may implement a higher minimum wage than that established by the
federal government. For example, in 2011, the minimum wage is $8.67 per hour in Washington State, while the
federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Obviously, as an HR manager or manager, it is your responsibility to
ensure everyone is being paid the minimum wage. This law also requires overtime pay if employees work over
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 6 7
forty hours per week. Organizations must also post the FLSA poster in a visible part of the workplace, outlining
these laws.
Child labor also falls under FLSA. The goal of these laws is to protect the education of children, prohibit the
employment of children in dangerous jobs, and limit the number of working hours of children during the school
year and other times of the year (US Department of Labor, 2011).
According to the FLSA, tipped employees are those earning $30 or more per month in tips, such as servers in a
restaurant. Employers whose employees receive more than $30 in tips may consider tips as part of wages, but they
also must pay $2.12 an hour in direct wages. They must also be able to show that the employee receives at least
the applicable minimum wage. If the tips and direct wage do not meet the minimum wage, the employer must pay
the difference.
Also relating to pay is the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA). FUTA provides for payments of
unemployment compensation to workers who have lost their jobs. Most employers pay a federal and a state
unemployment tax, and portions of these funds go toward unemployment benefits should the worker lose
his or her job. The Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) provides federal employees injured in the
performance of their jobs compensation benefits, such as disability. Please note that this is elective for private
companies but required of federal agencies.
Negotiating SalaryNegotiating Salary
(click to see video)
This video provides tips on negotiating salary from the perspective of an employee.
Key Takeaways
• A job evaluation system should be used to determine the relative value of one job to another. This isthe first step in setting up a pay system.
• Several types of pay systems can be implemented. A pay grade system sets up specific pay levels forparticular jobs, while a going rate system looks at the pay through the industry for a certain job title.Management fit gives maximum flexibility for managers to pay what they think someone shouldearn.
• HR managers can also develop pay systems based on skills and competency and utilizebroadbanding, which is similar to pay grades. Another option might include variable pay.
• There are several motivational theories in regard to pay. First, the equity theory says that people willevaluate their own satisfaction with their compensation by comparing it to others’ compensation.The expectancy theory says people will put in only as much work as they expect to receive inrewards. Finally, the reinforcement theory says if high performance is followed by a reward, highperformance is likely to happen in the future.
• Other pay considerations include the size of the organization, whether the company is global, and thelevel of communication and employee involvement in compensation. HR managers should alwaysbe aware of what others are paying in the industry by performing market surveys.
1 6 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• There are several laws pertaining to pay. Of course, the EEOC ensures that pay is fair for all anddoes not discriminate. FLSA sets a minimum wage and establishes standards for child labor. FUTArequires employers to pay unemployment taxes on employees. FECA ensures that federal employeesreceive certain benefits.
Exercises
1. Name and describe three considerations in developing a pay system. Which do you think is best?
2. Which pay theory do you think is the most important when developing your pay system? Why?
3. Visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm (please note that sometimes webaddress change so you may need to search for the information), which publishes minimum wagedata for the United States. View the map and compare your state with the federal minimum wage. Isit higher or lower? Which two states have the highest minimum wage? The lowest?
ReferencesReferences
Dougherty, C., “Young Women’s Pay Exceeds Male Peers,” Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2010.
Ferris, G., Handbook of Human Resource Management (Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1995).
Gomstyn, A., “Walmart CEO Pay,” ABC News Money, July 2, 1010, accessed July 23, 2011,
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/walmart-ceo-pay-hour-workers-year/story?id=11067470.
Indiana University, “Edward L. Thorndike,” accessed February 14, 2011, http://www.indiana.edu/~intell/
ethorndike.shtml.
McDonald’s Corporation, “Your Pay and Rewards,” accessed July 23, 2011, http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/
mcd/corporate_careers/benefits/highlights_of_what_we_offer/pay_and_rewards.html.
National Organization for Women, “Facts about Pay Equity,” accessed February 15, 2011, http://www.now.org/
issues/economic/factsheet.html.
Smith, A., “The 2010 Wall Street Bonus,” CNN Money, February 24, 2011, accessed July 23, 2011,
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/24/news/economy/wall_street_bonus/index.htm.
US Department of Labor, “Child Labor,” accessed February 15, 2011, http://www.dol.gov/whd/childlabor.htm.
Watson, B., “Global Pay Systems, Compensation in Support of a Multinational Strategy,” Compensation Benefits
Review 37, no. 1 (2005): 33–36.
6 . 3 T Y P E S O F P A Y S Y S T E M S • 1 6 9
6.4 Other Types of Compensation
Learning Objective
1. Explain the various types of benefits that can be offered to employees.
As you already know, there is more to a compensation package than just pay. There are many other aspects
to the creation of a good compensation package, including not only pay but incentive pay and other types of
compensation. First, we will discuss benefits that are mandated by the federal government, and then we will
discuss types of voluntary benefits, including both incentive pay and other types of compensation.
Mandated: Social Security and MedicareMandated: Social Security and Medicare
The Social Security Act of 1935 requires employers to withdraw funds from workers’ paychecks to pay for
retirement benefits. This is called a payroll tax. Please note that all organizations are legally compelled to offer
this benefit. After several revisions, we now call this OASDHI or the Old Age, Survivors, Disability, and Health
Insurance Program. To be insured, employees must work forty quarters, with a minimum of $1,000 earned per
quarter. Once this money is put aside, anyone born after 1960 will receive benefits at 67. The OASDHI tax in 2011
is 4.2 percent on earnings for employees, up to $106,800 and 6.2 percent for the employer up to the same limits.
This covers both retirement income as well as medical benefits, called Medicare, once the employee reaches
retirement age.
Mandated: Unemployment Insurance and Workers’ CompensationMandated: Unemployment Insurance and Workers’ Compensation
Unemployment insurance is required under the Social Security Act of 1935 and is also called the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA). This program’s goals include providing some lost income for employees during
involuntary unemployment, helping workers find a new job, incentivizing employers to continue employment,
and developing worker skills if they are laid off. The majority of this plan is funded by employers’ payroll taxes,
which account for .8 percent per employee. The rate is actually 6.2 percent of compensation, but employers
are allowed a tax credit for these payments, which results in the net .8 percent. With this benefit, employees
receive unemployment benefits and/or job training when they are laid off or let go from a current job. However,
170
employees would be ineligible to receive these benefits if they quit their job, as it must be involuntary. Just like
Social Security, this payroll tax on employers is required.
Some employers also offer workers’ compensation benefits. If an employee is hurt on the job, he or she would
receive certain benefits, such as a percentage of pay. Jobs are classified into risk levels, and obviously the higher
the risk level, the higher the cost of insurance. This is not a federally mandated program, but for some occupations
in some states, it may be a requirement.
Mandated: COBRAMandated: COBRA
While the government does not require companies to provide health-care and medical benefits to employees, the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires companies to allow employees to extend
their group coverage for up to thirty-six months. The restrictions for this plan include the requirement of a
qualifying event that would mean a loss of benefits, such as termination or reduction in hours. For example, if
an employee works forty hours a week with medical insurance, but the schedule is reduced to twenty hours, no
longer qualifying him or her for benefits, COBRA would be an option.
Voluntary: Incentive Pay SystemsVoluntary: Incentive Pay Systems
As we discussed earlier, there are several types of incentive pay systems that can be tied directly to business
objectives and the employees’ ability to help the company meet those objectives. They include commissions,
bonuses, profit sharing, stock options, team pay, and merit pay.
Commissions are usually calculated on the basis of a percentage and earned based on the achievement of specific
targets that have been agreed upon by the employee and employer. For example, many salespeople receive
commissions from each item sold. Many commission incentive plans require employees to meet a minimum level
of sales, who then are paid a comission on each sale beyond the minimum. A straight commission plan is one in
which the employee receives no base pay and entire pay is based on meeting sales goals. Many plans, however,
include a base pay and commission for each sale. Base pay is the guaranteed salary the employee earns.
Several types of bonuses can be given to employees as incentive pay. Meeting certain company goals or
successfully completing a project or other objectives can be tied to a bonus, which is a one-time payment to an
employee. A spot bonus is an unplanned bonus given to an employee for meeting a certain objective. These types
of bonuses do not always have to be money; they can be other forms such as a gift certificate or trip. Fifty-eight
percent of WorldatWork members (WorldatWork, 2000) said that they provide spot bonuses to employees for
special recognition above and beyond work performance.
Some organizations choose to reward employees financially when the organization as a whole performs well,
through the use of profit sharing as an incentive. For example, if an organization has a profit-sharing program
of 2 percent for employees, the employees would earn 2 percent of the overall profit of the company. As you
have guessed, this can be an excellent incentive for employees to both work as a team and also monitor their
own personal performance so as not to let down the team. For example, in 2011, US automaker General Motors
gave one of its highest profit-sharing payouts ever. Forty-five thousand employees received $189 million in a
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 7 1
profit-sharing bonus, which equaled about $4,200 per person (Bunkley, 2011). While profit sharing can be a great
incentive, it can also be a large expense that should be carefully considered.
Employee ownership of the organization is similar to profit sharing but with a few key differences. In this type of
plan, employees are granted stock options, which allow the employees to buy stock at a fixed price. Then if the
stock goes up in value, the employee earns the difference between what he or she paid and the value of the stock.
With this type of incentive, employees are encouraged to act in the best interest of the organization. Some plans,
called employee stock ownership plans, are different from stock options, in that in these plans the employee is
given stock as reward for performance.
Figure 6.5
Profit sharing and stock ownership can be a good way to motivate employees to work toward the goals of
the organization.
Chris Potter – 3D Budget Pie Chart – CC BY 2.0.
In a smaller organization, team pay or group incentives can be popular. In this type of plan, if the group meets a
specified goal, such as the increase of sales by 10 percent, the entire group receives a reward, which can consist
of additional pay or bonus. Please note that this is different from individualized bonuses, discussed earlier, since
the incentive is a reward for the group as opposed for the individual.
Merit pay is a pay program that links pay to how well the employee performs within the job, and it is normally
tied to performance appraisals. Performance appraisals are discussed further in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee
Performance”. Merit base is normally an annual pay increase tied to performance. The problem with merit pay is
that it may only be received once per year, limiting incentive flexibility. To make merit pay work, performance
guidelines should be predetermined. Some organizations offer cost of living annual increases (COLAs), which is
not tied to merit but is given to employees as an annual inflationary increase.
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FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
While the cost of health insurance premiums may be going up for most Americans, these premiums donot hit the individual employee’s pocketbook at Microsoft. Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington,finds itself once again on the Fortune 500 Best Companies to Work For list in several areas, includingpaying for 100 percent of employees’ health-care premiums1. In addition to cutting this cost for employees,Microsoft also offers domestic partner benefits, one of the first Fortune 500 companies to do so. In 2005,Microsoft also began to offer partial coverage for transgender surgery to its existing health-care coverage,which earned Microsoft the highest attainable score by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Index(GLEAM, 2011). Microsoft also promotes fitness and wellness as part of its health-care plan, providing anon-site fitness center and subsidized gym memberships.
Voluntary: Medical InsuranceVoluntary: Medical Insurance
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62 percent of companies in 2010 offered health-care benefits to
employees (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). The yearly cost for employee medical insurance averages
$9,552, according to the 2009 Towers Perrin survey (Watson, 2009). With such a significant cost to companies,
it is up to HR managers to contain these costs, while not negatively affecting employee motivation. Medical
insurance usually includes hospital expenses, surgical expenses, and routine health-care visits. Most insurance
plans also allow for wellness visits and other alternative care (e.g., massage and acupuncture) within the plans.
Many employers also offer vision and dental care benefits as part of their benefits packages. Disability insurance
is also provided by some employers as well. We will discuss each of these in detail next.
One important law to keep in mind regarding medical insurance is the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. It provides federal protections for personal health information held by
covered entities, such as employers. In other words, employers cannot divulge or share health care information
they may have on an employee.
Figure 6.6
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 7 3
As you can see from MetLife’s 9th annual study in 2010, cost containment is an important aspect to health-
care plans.
Source: MetLife, “9th Annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends,” 2010, http://www.metlife.com/assets/
institutional/services/insights-and-tools/ebts/Employee-Benefits-Trends-Study.pdf (accessed July 23,
2011).
As the HR professional, it will likely be your responsibility to choose the health-care plan that best meets the
needs of your employees. Some options include the following:
1. Fee-for-service plans. In this type of plan, people pay for medical expenses out of pocket, and then are
reimbursed for the benefit level. For example, if your insurance plan covers doctor visits, you could see any
doctor, pay the bill, and then submit payment to your insurer for reimbursement. Most companies will have
a base plan, which covers more serious issues requiring hospitalization, while the major medical part of the
plan would cover routine services, such as doctor’s visits. As you can imagine, the disadvantage of this type
of plan can be twofold: first, the initial expense for the employee, and second, the time it may take to
receive reimbursement for employees. Remember that medical insurance can help retain and motivate
employees and help you recruit new employees, so consideration of the disadvantages is important.
2. Health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The HMO will likely have greater coverage than the fee-
for-service plan, but it limits the ability of employees to see the doctors they choose. There may be a limited
number of physicians and specialists for the employee to see, and going outside the plan and seeing another
doctor may result in an out-of-pocket expense for the employee. Most HMOs cover a wide range of medical
issues and will usually require a copayment by the employee. Some may have minimum deductibles they
must meet before the HMO will cover in full. For example, if you are part of an HMO with a deductible of
$500 and copayments of $25, you would need to see the doctor for a value of $500 (paid out of pocket)
before you can begin to just make the $25 copayment for visits. Some HMOs will not allow members to see
a specialist, such as a dermatologist, without prior approval from the primary care physician.
3. Preferred provider organization (PPO). This type of medical plan is similar to HMOs but allows
employees to see a physician outside the network. They will likely still have to pay a deductible as
mentioned above, but PPOs do allow employees more freedom to see specialists, such as dermatologists.
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Figure 6.7 Considerations When Choosing Medical Insurance
When choosing the best type of plan for your organization, the following aspects should be considered:
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 7 5
1. The cost of the plan
2. The type of coverage
3. The quality of the care
4. Administration of the plan
First, the cost is usually a major consideration for the HR professional. Developing a budget for health-care costs,
initiating bids from possible providers, and then negotiating those bids is a key factor in controlling this cost for
employers.
Second, asking for employees’ opinions about the type of coverage they would prefer is a way to ensure your plan
meets the needs of your employees. Next, consider the quality of care your employees will receive and, finally,
how simple will the plan be for your HR department to administer. For example, many HMO plans offer fully
automated and online services for employees, making them easy to administer.
Disability insurance provides income to individuals (usually a portion of their salary) should they be injured or
need long-term care resulting from an illness. Short-term disability insurance (STD) provides benefits to someone
if they are unable to work for six months or less, while long-term disability insurance (LTD) covers the employee
for a longer period of time. Normally, disability insurance provides income to the employee that is 60–80 percent
of their normal salary.
Figure 6.8
One of the biggest challenges in health-care benefits planning is to manage the growing cost of health
insurance premiums for employees while still managing cost containment for the organization.
Source: Economic Policy Institute, “The State of Working America: Health Premiums,”
http://stateofworkingamerica.org/charts/growth-rate-of-premiums-earnings-and-inflation/ (accessed July
23, 2011).
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Voluntary: 401(k) PlansVoluntary: 401(k) Plans
As the scenery of the workforce has changed, benefits have changed, too. One such recent change is the movement
of employee pension plans to 401(k) plans. While some organizations still offer pension plans, such plans are far
more rare. A pension plan is a set dollar amount an employee will receive when they retire from their organization.
This type of plan was popular when most people worked their entire life at the same company. However, many
pension plans have gone bankrupt, and the United States has an agency to protect people from losing pension
benefits. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) was created by the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA) to protect pension benefits in private sector pension plans. If a pension plan ends or isn’t
able to pay all benefits, PBGC’s insurance program pays the benefit that should have been provided. Financing
for this plan comes from insurance premiums paid by the companies whose plans PBGC protects.
As more mobility in the workplace has occurred, most organizations no longer offer pension plans, but instead,
they offer 401(k) plans. While a pension plan can motivate employee loyalty, 401(k) plans are far more popular.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employer-provided retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, were
available to 74 percent of all full-time workers in the United States (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010), while
39 percent of part-time workers had access to retirement benefits.
A 401(k) plan is a plan set up by the organization in which employees directly deposit money from their paycheck.
The funds are tax deferred for the employee until retirement. If an employee leaves the job, their 401(k) plan goes
with them. As an extra incentive, many organizations offer to match what the employee puts into the plan, usually
based on a percentage. For example, an employee can sign up to contribute 5 percent of salary into a 401(k) plan,
and the company will contribute the same amount. Most companies require a vesting period—that is, a certain
time period, such as a year, before the employer will match the funds contributed.
Usually, 401(k) plans are easy to administer, after the initial setup has occurred. If the employer is matching
employee contributions, the expense of such a plan can be great, but it also increases employee retention. Some
considerations when choosing a 401(k) plan are as follows:
1. Is the vendor trustworthy?
2. Does the vendor allow employees to change their investments and account information online?
3. How much are the management fees?
It is first important to make sure the vendor you are considering for administration of your 401(k) plan has a
positive reputation and also provides ease of access for your employees. For example, most 401(k) plans allow
employees to change their address online and move investments from a stock to a bond. Twenty-four-hour access
has become the expectation of most employees, and as a result, this is a major consideration before choosing a
plan. Most 401(k) plans charge a fee to manage the investments of your employees. The management fees can
vary greatly, so receiving a number of bids and comparing these fees is important to ensure your employees are
getting the best deal.
It is important to mention the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) here, as this relates directly to
administration of your 401(k) plan. First, ERISA does not require employers to offer a pension or 401(k) plan, but
for those who do, it requires them to meet certain standards when administering this type of plan. Some of these
standards include the following:
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 7 7
1. Requires participants receive specific information about the plan, such as plan features and funding
2. Sets minimum standards for participation and vesting
3. Requires accountability of plan’s fiduciary responsibilities
4. Requires payment of certain benefits, should the plan be terminated
Voluntary: Paid Time OffVoluntary: Paid Time Off
Time off is a benefit we should address, since this type of benefit varies greatly, especially in other parts of
the world. French companies, for example, are mandated by law to provide five weeks of paid vacation time to
employees (Leung, 2009). In the United States, the number of days off provided is a major budget item worth
considering. Here are the general types of time off:
Paid HolidaysPaid Holidays
Many companies offer a set number of paid holidays, such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Christmas,
Independence Day, and Thanksgiving.
Sick LeaveSick Leave
The number of sick leave days can vary greatly among employers. The average in the United States is 8.4 paid
sick days offered to employees per year (HRM Guide, 2011).
Paid VacationPaid Vacation
With full-time employment, many organizations also offer paid vacation to employees, and it is generally expected
as part of the compensation package. According to a survey performed by Salary.com, the average number of paid
vacation days in the United States is nine days for one year of service, fourteen days for five years of service, and
seventeen days for ten years of service to the organization (Yang, 2011).
Organizations vary greatly in how vacation time is accrued. Some organizations give one hour for a certain
number of days worked, while others require a waiting period before earning any paid time off (PTO). In addition,
some organizations allow their employees to carry over unused vacation time from one year to the next, while
other employees must use their vacation every year or risk losing it.
Paid Time Off (PTO)Paid Time Off (PTO)
One option is to provide a set number of days off, which can be used for vacation time, holidays, and/or sick leave.
To promote longevity, some organizations offer paid (or for example, 60 percent of salary paid) sabbaticals. For
example, after five years of employment, the employee may take a paid sabbatical for one month.
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A Final Note on Compensation and Benefits StrategyA Final Note on Compensation and Benefits Strategy
When creating your compensation plan, of course the ability to recruit and retain should be an important factor.
But also, consideration of your workforce needs is crucial to any successful compensation plan. The first step
in development of a plan is to ask the employees what they care about. Some employees would rather receive
more pay with fewer benefits or better benefits with fewer days off. Surveying the employees allows you, as the
HR professional, to better understand the needs of your specific workforce. Once you have developed your plan,
understand that it may change to best meet the needs of your business as it changes over time.
Once the plan is developed, communicating the plan with your employees is also essential. Inform your employees
via an HR blog, e-mails, and traditional methods such as face to face. Your employees might not always be aware
of the benefits cost to the company, so making sure they know is your responsibility. For example, if you pay for
80 percent of the medical insurance premiums, let your employees know. This type of communication can go a
long way to allowing the employees to see their value to you within the organization.
Compensation StrategiesCompensation Strategies
(click to see video)
Lynn Cameron, managing partner of TechEdge, discusses compensation strategies.
Key Takeaways
• Before beginning work on a pay system, some general questions need to be answered. Questionssuch as what is a fair wage from the employee’s perspective and how much can be paid but stillretain financial health are important starting points.
• After some pay questions are answered, development of a pay philosophy must be developed. Forexample, an organization may decide to pay lower salaries but offer more benefits.
• Once these tasks are done, the HR manager can then build a pay system that works for the size andindustry of the organization.
• Besides salary, one of the biggest expenses for compensation is medical benefits. These can includehealth benefits, vision, dental, and disability benefits.
• Social Security and unemployment insurance are both required by federal law. Both are paid as apercentage of income by the employee and employer.
• Depending on the state, workers’ compensation might be a requirement. A percentage is paid onbehalf of the employee in case he or she is hurt on the job.
• A mandatory benefit, COBRA was enacted to allow employees to continue their health insurancecoverage, even if they leave their job.
• There are three main types of health-care plans. A fee-based plan allows the insured to see anydoctor and submit reimbursement after a visit. An HMO plan restricts employees to certain doctorsand facilities and may require a copayment and/or deductibles. A PPO plan is similar to the HMObut allows for more flexibility in which providers the employee can see.
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 7 9
• Pension funds were once popular, but as people tend to change jobs more, 401(k) plans arebecoming more popular, since they can move with the employee.
• Profit sharing is a benefit in which employees receive a percentage of profit the organization earns.Stock ownership plans are plans in which employees can purchase stock or are granted stock andbecome an owner in the organization.
• Team rewards are also a popular way to motivate employees. These can be in the form ofcompensation if a group or the company meets certain target goals.
• Paid time off, or PTO, can come in the form of holidays, vacation time, and sick leave. Usually,employees earn more days as they stay with the company.
• Communication with employees is key to a successful benefits strategy.
Exercises
1. Of the benefits we discussed, which ones are required by law? Which are not?
2. Research current Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax rates and Social Security limits,as these change frequently. Write down each of these rates and be prepared to share in class.
3. Describe the considerations when developing medical benefits. Which do you think would be themost important to you as the HR manager?
4. Visit websites of three companies you might be interested in working for. Review the incentivesthey offer and be prepared to discuss your findings in class.
1“100 Best Companies to Work For,” Fortune, accessed July 21, 2011, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/
bestcompanies/2010/snapshots/51.html.
ReferencesReferences
Bunkley, N., “GM Workers to Get $189 Million in Profit Sharing,” New York Times, February 14, 2011, accessed
February 21, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/business/15auto.html?_r=2&ref=business.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees at Microsoft (GLEAM), Microsoft website, accessed July
21, 2011, http://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/en/us/programs/ergen/gleam.aspx.
HRM Guide, “Sick Day Entitlement Survey,” accessed February 21, 2011, http://www.hrmguide.com/health/sick-
entitlement.htm.
Leung, R., “France: Less Work, More Time Off,” CBS News, February 11, 2009, accessed July 23, 2011,
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/27/60II/main704571.shtml.
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employee Benefits Survey,” 2010, accessed July 23, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/
ncs/ebs/benefits/2010/ownership/private/table01a.htm.
Watson, T., “2009 Health Care Cost Survey Reveals High-Performing Companies Gain Health Dividend,”
WorldatWork, “Spot Bonus Survey,” July 2000, accessed July 23, 2011, http://www.worldatwork.org/waw/
research/html/spotbonus-home.html.
Yang, J., “Paid Time Off from Work Survey,” Salary.com, accessed September 15, 2011, http://www.salary.com/
Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?part=par088.
6 . 4 O T H E R T Y P E S O F C O M P E N S A T I O N • 1 8 1
6.5 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• A compensation package is an important part of the overall strategic HRM plan, since much of thecompany budget is for employee compensation.
• A compensation package can include salary, bonuses, health-care plans, and a variety of other typesof compensation.
• The goals of compensation are first to attract people to work for your organization. Second, they canbe used to retain people who are already working in the organization.
• Compensation is also used to motivate employees to work at their peak performance and improvemorale of the organization.
• Employees who are fairly compensated tend to provide better customer service, which can result inorganizational growth and development.
• Several types of pay systems can be implemented. A pay grade system sets up specific pay levels forparticular jobs, while a going rate system looks at the pay throughout the industry for a certain jobtitle. Management fit gives maximum flexibility for managers to pay what they think someoneshould earn.
• HR managers can also develop pay systems based on skills and competency and utilize abroadbanding approach, which is similar to pay grades. Another option might include variable pay.
• There are several motivational theories in regard to pay. First, the equity theory says that people willevaluate their own satisfaction with their compensation by comparing it to others’ compensation.The expectancy theory says people will put in only as much work as they expect to receive inrewards. Finally, the reinforcement theory says that if high performance is followed by a reward,high performance is likely to happen in the future.
• Other pay considerations include the size of the organization, whether the company is global, and thelevel of communication and employee involvement in compensation. HR managers should alwaysbe aware of what others are paying in the industry by performing market surveys.
• There are several laws pertaining to pay. Of course, the Equal Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC) ensures that pay is fair for all and does not discriminate. The Fair LaborStandards Act (FLSA) sets a minimum wage and establishes standards for child labor. The FederalUnemployment Tax Act (FUTA) requires employers to pay unemployment taxes on employees. The
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Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) ensures that federal employees receive certainbenefits.
• Besides salary, one of the biggest expenses for compensation is medical benefits. These can includehealth benefits, vision, dental, and disability benefits.
• The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act(COBRA) was enacted to allow employees tocontinue their health insurance coverage, even if they leave their job.
• There are three main types of health-care plans. A fee-based plan allows the insured to see anydoctor and submit reimbursement after a visit. An HMO plan restricts employees to certain doctorsand facilities and may require a copayment and/or deductibles. A PPO plan is similar to the HMObut allows for more flexibility in which providers the employee can see.
• Pension funds were once popular, but as people tend to change jobs more, 401(k) plans arebecoming more popular, since they can move with the employee.
• Profit sharing is a benefit in which employees receive a percentage of profit the organization earns.Stock ownership plans are plans in which employees can purchase stock or are granted stock andbecome an owner in the organization.
• Team rewards are also a popular way to motivate employees. These can be in the form ofcompensation if a group or the company meets certain target goals.
• Social Security and unemployment insurance are both required by federal law. Both are paid as apercentage of income by the employee and employer.
• Depending on the state, workers’ compensation might be a requirement. A percentage is paid onbehalf of the employee in case he or she is hurt on the job.
• Paid time off, or PTO, can come in the form of holidays, vacation time, and sick leave. Usually,employees earn more days as they stay with the company.
• Communication with employees is key to a successful benefits strategy. This includescommunication before implementing the plan as well as communication about the plan.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
PTO: Too Little or Too Much?
You just finished analyzing information for the current compensation and benefits program. You find thatsome changes should be made, as the majority of employees (you have 120 employees) are not happy withwhat is being offered. In fact, the plan had not been revised in over fifteen years, making it dated anddefinitely ready for some changes.
One of the major points of contention is the PTO the organization offers. Employees feel the current systemof sick time and vacation time offers too few options. For example, one employee says, “I often come towork sick, so I can still have my vacation time for my vacation.” Another employee says, “I have given
6 . 5 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 1 8 3
nine years to this organization, but I receive only three days more than someone who has just started.” Hereis the current PTO offering:
1+ year 7 days
5+years 10 days
10+ years 14 days
1. What cost considerations would you take into account when revising this part of yourcompensation plan?
2. What other considerations would you take into account when developing a new PTO plan?
3. Propose a new plan and estimate the cost of your plan on an Excel spreadsheet. Be prepared topresent to the board of directors.
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. Work in teams of four or five. Assume your organization is expanding and wants to open a salesoffice overseas. What compensation factors would be a concern? Brainstorm a list and be preparedto present to the rest of the class.
2. Go to http://www.bls.gov/oco/ and review the information on the Occupational OutlookHandbook in teams of three. Pick three different jobs under the management category and recordtheir average salary. Discuss reasons for the pay difference between the jobs you choose.
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Chapter 7: Retention and Motivation
Dissatisfaction Isn’t Always about PayDissatisfaction Isn’t Always about Pay
As an HR consultant, your job normally involves reviewing HR strategic plans and systems of small to medium
size companies, then making recommendations on how to improve. Most of the companies you work with do not
have large HR departments, and they find it less expensive to hire you than to hire a full-time person.
Your current client, Pacific Books, is a small online retailer with forty-seven employees. Pacific Books has had
some challenges, and as the economy has improved, several employees have quit. They want you to look into this
issue and provide a plan to improve retention.
Pacific Books currently has just one person managing payroll and benefits. The individual managers in the
organization are the ones who handle other HR aspects, such as recruiting and developing compensation plans. As
you speak with the managers and the payroll and benefits manager, it is clear employees are not happy working
for this organization. You are concerned that if the company does not improve its employee retention, they will
spend an excessive amount of time trying to recruit and train new people, so retention of the current employees is
important.
As with most HR issues, rather than just guessing what employees want, you develop a survey to send to all
employees, including management. You developed the survey on SurveyMonkey and asked employee satisfaction
questions surrounding pay and benefits. However, you know that there are many other things that can cause
someone to be unhappy at work, so to take this survey a step further, you decide to ask questions about the type of
work employees are doing, management style, and work-life balance. Then you send out a link to all employees,
giving them one week to take the survey.
When the results come in, they are astounding. Out of the forty-seven employees, forty-three selected
“dissatisfied” on at least four or more areas of the five-question survey. While some employees are not happy
with pay and benefits, the results say that other areas of the organization are actually what are causing the
dissatisfaction. Employees are feeling micromanaged and do not have freedom over their time. There are also
questions of favoritism by some managers for some employees, who always seem to get the “best” projects.
When you sit down with the CEO to discuss the survey results, at first she defends the organization by saying the
company offers the highest salaries and best benefits in the industry, and she doesn’t understand how someone can
be dissatisfied. You explain to her that employee retention and motivation is partly about pay and benefits, but it
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includes other aspects of the employee’s job, too. She listens intently and then asks you to develop a retention and
motivation plan that can improve the organization.
Beyond Compensation and Benefits IntroductionBeyond Compensation and Benefits Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on retention and motivation strategies.
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7.1 The Costs of Turnover
Learning Objectives
1. Be able identify the difference between direct and indirect turnover costs.
2. Describe some of the reasons why employees leave.
3. Explain the components of a retention plan.
According to the book Keeping the People Who Keep You in Business by Leigh Branham (Branham, 2000), the
cost of losing an employee can range from 25 percent to 200 percent of that employee’s salary. Some of the costs
cited revolve around customer service disruption and loss of morale among other employees, burnout of other
employees, and the costs of hiring someone new. Losing an employee is called turnover.
There are two types of turnover, voluntary turnover and involuntary turnover. Voluntary turnover is the type
of turnover that is initiated by the employee for many different reasons. Voluntary turnover can be somewhat
predicted and addressed in HR, the focus of this chapter. Involuntary turnover is where the employee has no choice
in their termination—for example, employer-initiated due to nonperformance. This is discussed further in Chapter
9 “Successful Employee Communication”.
It has been suggested that replacement of an employee who is paid $8 per hour can range upwards of $4,000
(Paiement, 2009). Turnover can be calculated by
separations during the time period (month)/total number of employees midmonth × 100 = the percentage of
turnover.
For example, let’s assume there were three separations during the month of August and 115 employees midmonth.
We can calculate turnover in this scenario by
3/115 × 100 = 2.6% turnover rate.
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This gives us the overall turnover rate for our organization. We may want to calculate turnover rates based on
region or department to gather more specific data. For example, let’s say of the three separations, two were in the
accounting department. We have ten people in the accounting department. We can calculate that by
accounting: 2/10 × 100 = 20% turnover rate.
The turnover rate in accounting is alarmingly high compared to our company turnover rate. There may be
something happening in this department to cause unusual turnover. Some of the possible reasons are discussed in
Section 7.1.1 “Reasons for Voluntary Turnover”.
Figure 7.1 United States Yearly Turnover Statistics, 2001–11
Source: Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey,” accessed
August 11, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/jlt/#data.
In HR, we can separate the costs associated with turnover into indirect costs and direct costs. Direct turnover costs
include the cost of leaving, replacement costs, and transition costs, while indirect turnover costs include the loss
of production and reduced performance. The following are some examples of turnover costs (Maertz & Campion,
1998):
• Recruitment of replacements
• Administrative hiring costs
• Lost productivity associated with the time between the loss of the employee and hiring of replacement
• Lost productivity due to a new employee learning the job
• Lost productivity associated with coworkers helping the new employee
• Costs of training
• Costs associated with the employee’s lack of motivation prior to leaving
• Sometimes, the costs of trade secrets and proprietary information shared by the employee who leaves
• Public relations costs
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To avoid these costs, development of retention plans is an important function of the HR strategic plan. Retention
plans outline the strategies the organization will use to reduce turnover and address employee motivation.
Table 7.1 Turnover Costs
Direct Indirect
Recruitment costs Lost knowledge
Advertising costs for new position Loss of productivity while new employee is brought up to speed
Orientation and training of new employee Cost associated with lack of motivation prior to leaving
Severance costs
Testing costs
Time to interview new replacements
Time to recruit and train new hires
Cost associated with loss of trade secrets
Costs of Turnover in HospitalityCosts of Turnover in Hospitality
(click to see video)
This video provides an excellent illustration of how to measure the cost of employee turnover in the hospitality
industry.
Reasons for Voluntary TurnoverReasons for Voluntary Turnover
Before we discuss specific details on retention planning, it is important to address the reasons why people
choose to leave an organization to begin with. One mistake HR professionals and managers make is to assume
people leave solely on the basis of their unhappiness with their compensation packages. Many factors can cause
demotivated employees, which we discuss in Section 7.2.1 “Theories on Job Dissatisfaction”.
Once we find out what can cause voluntary turnover, we can develop retention strategies to reduce turnover. Some
of the common reasons employees leave organizations can include the following:
1. A poor match between the job and the skills of the employee. This issue is directly related to the
recruitment process. When a poor match occurs, it can cause frustration for the employee and for the
manager. Ensuring the recruitment phase is viable and sound is a first step to making sure the right match
between job and skills occurs.
2. Lack of growth. Some employees feel “stuck” in their job and don’t see a way to have upward mobility
in the organization. Implementing a training plan and developing a clearly defined path to job growth is a
way to combat this reason for leaving.
3. Internal pay equity. Some employees, while they may not feel dissatisfied with their own pay initially,
may feel dissatisfaction when comparing their pay with others. Remember the pay equity theory discussed
in Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”? This theory relates to one reason why people leave.
4. Management. Many employees cite management as their reason for leaving. This can be attributed to
overmanaging (micromanaging) people, managers not being fair or playing favorites, lack of or poor
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communication by managers, and unrealistic expectations of managers.
5. Workload. Some employees feel their workloads are too heavy, resulting in employees being spread thin
and lacking satisfaction from their jobs, and possibly, lack of work-life balance as a result.
We know that some people will move or perhaps their family situation changes. This type of turnover is normal
and expected. Figure 7.2 “Common Reasons for Employee Turnover” shows other examples of why people leave
organizations.
Figure 7.2 Common Reasons for Employee Turnover
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Figure 7.3
Cost of employee turnover can be high for both the bottom line and employee morale.
Jacklee – Frustrated man at desk – CC BY-SA 3.0.
As HR professionals and managers, we want to be sure we have plans in place to keep our best people. One such
plan is the retention plan, which we will discuss in Section 7.2 “Retention Plans”.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Do you feel your current or past organization did a good job of reducing turnover? Why or why not?
Key Takeaways
• Retaining employees is an important component to a healthy organization. Losing an employee iscalled turnover. Turnover can be very expensive to an organization, which is why it is important todevelop retention plans to manage turnover.
• Voluntary turnover is turnover that is initiated by the employee, while involuntary turnover isinitiated by the organization for various reasons such as nonperformance.
• Direct turnover costs and indirect turnover costs can include the costs associated with employee
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replacement, declining employee morale, or lost customers.
• Some of the reasons why employees leave can include a poor match between job and skills, nogrowth potential, pay inequity among employees, the fairness and communication style ofmanagement, and heavy workloads.
Exercise
1. Perform an Internet search of average employee turnover cost and report findings from at leastthree different industries or companies.
ReferencesReferences
Branham, L., Keeping the People Who Keep You in Business (New York: American Management Association,
2000), 6.
Maertz, C. P. Jr. and M. A. Campion, “25 Years of Voluntary Turnover Research: A Review and Critique,”
in International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, vol. 13, ed. Cary L. Cooper and Ivan T.
Robertson (London: John Wiley, 1998), 49–86.
Paiement, N., “It Will Cost You $4,000 to Replace Just One $8 per Hour Employee,” Charity Village, July 13,
2009, accessed August 30, 2011, http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rhr50.html.
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7.2 Retention Plans
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to discuss some of the theories on job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
2. Explain the components of a retention plan.
Effective high-performance work systems (HPWS) is the name given to a set of systematic HR practices
that create an environment where the employee has greater involvement and responsibility for the success of
the organization. A high-performance work system is a strategic approach to many of the things we do in
HR, including retention. Generally speaking, a HPWS gets employees involved in conceiving, designing, and
implementing processes that are better for the company and better for the employee, which increases retention.
Figure 7.4 “HR Components of a HPWS” gives an example of HR’s part in creating these systems.
Figure 7.4 HR Components of a HPWS
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Keeping HPWS in mind, we can begin to develop retention plans. The first step in this process is to understand
some of the theories on job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Next, we can gather data as to the satisfaction level of
our current employees. Then we can begin to implement specific strategies for employee retention.
Theories on Job DissatisfactionTheories on Job Dissatisfaction
There are a number of theories that attempt to describe what makes a satisfied employee versus an unsatisfied
employee. While you may have learned about these theories in another class, such as organizational behavior, they
are worth a review here to help us better understand employee satisfaction from an HR perspective.
Progression of Job WithdrawalProgression of Job Withdrawal
The first step to developing a retention plan is understanding some of the theories surrounding job satisfaction.
One of the basic theories is the progression of job withdrawal theory, developed by Dan Farrell and James Petersen
(Farrell & Petersen, 1984). It says that people develop a set of behaviors in succession to avoid their work
situation. These behaviors include behavior change, physical withdrawal, and psychological withdrawal.
Within the behavior change area, an employee will first try to change the situation that is causing the
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dissatisfaction. For example, if the employee is unhappy with the management style, he or she might consider
asking for a department move. In the physical withdrawal phase, the employee does one of the following:
• Leaves the job
• Takes an internal transfer
• Starts to become absent or tardy
If an employee is unable to leave the job situation, he or she will experience psychological withdrawal. They will
become disengaged and may show less job involvement and commitment to the organization, which can create
large costs to the organization, such as dissatisfied customers.
Figure 7.5 Process of Job Withdrawal
Employee becomes dissatisfied• For any number of reasons discussed earlier in this chapter
Behavior change
• If unionized, increased grievances
• Whistle-blowing
• Change of conditions, such as applying for other jobs
Physical withdrawal
• Leave the job
• Internal transfer
• Absenteeism
• Tardiness
Psychological withdrawal
• Disengagement in job and/or with team members
• Less organizational commitment
• Become less productive
Hawthorne StudiesHawthorne Studies
Between 1927 and 1932, a series of experiments were conducted by Elton Mayo in the Western Electric
Hawthorne Works company in Illinois (Mayo, 1949; 2007). Mayo developed these experiments to see how the
physical and environmental factors of the workplace, such as lighting and break times, would affect employee
motivation.
This was some of the first research performed that looked at human motivation at work. His results were
surprising, as he found that no matter which experiments were performed, worker output improved. His
conclusion and explanation for this was the simple fact the workers were happy to receive attention from
researchers who expressed interest in them. As a result, these experiments, scheduled to last one year, extended to
five years to increase the knowledge base about human motivation.
The implication of this research applies to HR and managers even today. It tells us that our retention plans must
include training and other activities that make the employee feel valued.
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Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed what was known as the theory of human motivation (Maslow, 1999). His
theory was developed in an attempt to explain human motivation. According to Maslow, there is a hierarchy of
five needs, and as one level of need is satisfied, it will no longer be a motivator. In other words, people start at the
bottom of the hierarchy and work their way up. Maslow’s hierarchy consists of the following:
• Self-actualization needs
• Esteem needs
• Social needs
• Safety needs
• Physiological needs
Physiological needs are our most basic needs, including food, water, and shelter. Safety needs at work might
include feeling safe in the actual physical environment, or job security. As humans, we have the basic need
to spend time with others. Esteem needs refer to the need we have to feel good about ourselves. Finally, self-
actualization needs are the needs we have to better ourselves.
The implications of his research tell us, for example, that as long as an employee’s physiological needs are met,
increased pay may not be a motivator. Likewise, employees should be motivated at work by having all needs met.
Needs might include, for example, fair pay, safety standards at work, opportunities to socialize, compliments to
help raise our esteem, and training opportunities to further develop ourselves.
Herzberg Two-Factor TheoryHerzberg Two-Factor Theory
In 1959, Frederick Herzberg published The Motivation to Work (Herzberg, et. al., 1993), which described his
studies to determine which aspects in a work environment caused satisfaction or dissatisfaction. He performed
interviews in which employees were asked what pleased and displeased them about their work. From his research,
he developed the motivation-hygiene theory to explain these results.
The things that satisfied the employees were motivators, while the dissatisfiers were the hygiene factors. He
further said the hygiene factors were not necessarily motivators, but if not present in the work environment, they
would actually cause demotivation. In other words, the hygiene factors are expected and assumed, while they may
not necessarily motivate.
His research showed the following as the top six motivation factors:
1. Achievement
2. Recognition
3. The work itself
4. Responsibility
5. Advancement
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6. Growth
The following were the top six hygiene factors:
1. Company policies
2. Supervision
3. Relationship with manager
4. Work conditions
5. Salary
6. Relationship with peers
The implication of this research is clear. Salary, for example, is on the hygiene factor list. Fair pay is expected, but
it doesn’t actually motivate someone to do a better job. On the other hand, programs to further develop employees,
such as management training programs, would be considered a motivator. Therefore, our retention plans should
be focused on the area of fair salary of course, but if they take the direction of Herzberg’s motivational factors,
the actual motivators tend to be the work and recognition surrounding the work performed.
McGregorMcGregor
Douglas McGregor proposed the X-Y theory in his 1960 book called The Human Side of Enterprise (McGregor,
2006). McGregor’s theory gives us a starting point to understanding how management style can impact the
retention of employees. His theory suggests two fundamental approaches to managing people. Theory X
managers, who have an authoritarian management style, have the following fundamental management beliefs:
• The average person dislikes work and will avoid it.
• Most people need to be threatened with punishment to work toward company goals.
• The average person needs to be directed.
• Most workers will avoid responsibility.
Theory Y managers, on the other hand, have the following beliefs:
• Most people want to make an effort at work.
• People will apply self-control and self-direction in pursuit of company objectives.
• Commitment to objectives is a function of expected rewards received.
• People usually accept and actually welcome responsibility.
• Most workers will use imagination and ingenuity in solving company problems.
As you can see, these two belief systems have a large variance, and managers who manage under the X theory
may have a more difficult time retaining workers and may see higher turnover rates. As a result, it is our job in HR
to provide training opportunities in the area of management, so our managers can help motivate the employees.
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Training is a large part of the retention plan. This will be addressed in more detail in Section 7.3 “Implementing
Retention Strategies”.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What are the disadvantages of taking a theory X approach with your employees?
Carrot and StickCarrot and Stick
It is unknown for sure where this term was first used, although some believe it was coined in the 1700s during the
Seven Years’ War. In business today, the stick approach refers to “poking and prodding” to get employees to do
something. The carrot approach refers to the offering of some reward or incentive to motivate employees. Many
companies use the stick approach, as in the following examples:
• If you don’t increase your sales by 10 percent, you will be fired.
• Everyone will have to take a pay cut if we don’t produce 15 percent more than we are currently producing.
As you can see, the stick approach takes a punitive look at retention, and we know this may motivate for a short
period of time, but not in the long term.
The carrot approach might include the following:
• If you increase sales by 10 percent, you will receive a bonus.
• If production increases by 15 percent, the entire team will receive an extra day off next month.
The carrot approach takes a much more positive approach to employee motivation but still may not be effective.
For example, this approach can actually demotivate employees if they do not feel the goal is achievable. Also, if
organizations use this as the only motivational technique, ignoring physiological rewards such as career growth,
this could be a detriment as well. This approach is used as a retention method, usually as part of a compensation
plan.
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Figure 7.6
The carrot approach normally means some incentive will occur if expectations are met. The expectations
should be attainable and shouldn’t be the only method used in retention planning and turnover reduction.
Bruce Thomton – Carrot and stick – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
All the employee satisfaction theories we have discussed have implications for the development of our retention
plans and reduction of turnover. These theories can be intertwined into the specific retention strategies we will
implement. This is discussed in Section 7.3.1 “Salaries and Benefits”.
Sources of Employee Satisfaction DataSources of Employee Satisfaction Data
After we have an understanding of why employees leave and employee satisfaction theories, research is our next
step in developing a retention plan that will work for your organization. There isn’t a “one size fits all” approach
to retention planning, so the research component is essential to formulate a plan that will make a difference in
turnover rates.
Research can be performed in two ways. First, exit interviews of employees who are leaving the organization can
provide important retention information. An exit interview is an interview performed by HR or a manager that
seeks information as to what the employee liked at the organization and what they see should be improved. Exit
interviews can be a valuable way to gather information about employee satisfaction and can serve as a starting
point for determining any retention issues that may exist in the organization. However, the exit survey data should
be reviewed over longer periods of time with several employees, so we can be sure we are not making retention
plans based on the feedback of only a few people.
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Sample Exit Interview Questions
1. What is your primary reason for leaving?
2. What did you like most about your job?
3. What did you like least about your job?
4. Did you feel there was room for growth in your job?
5. What incentives did you utilize while at our company?
6. Which incentives would you change and why?
7. Did you have enough training to do your job effectively?
The second way to perform research is through employee satisfaction surveys. A standardized and widely used
measure of job satisfaction is the job descriptive index (JDI) survey. While JDI was initially developed in 1969 at
Bowling Green State University, it has gone through extensive revisions, the most recent one in 2009. JDI looks
at five aspects of job satisfaction, including present job, present pay, opportunities for promotion, supervision,
and coworkers1. Each of the five facets contains nine or eighteen questions; the survey can be given in whole or
measure only one facet. The value of the scale is that an HR manager can measure job satisfaction over a period
of time and compare current results to past results and even compare job satisfaction at their company versus their
industry. This allows the HR manager to consider changes in the organization, such as a change in compensation
structure, and see how job satisfaction is impacted by the change.
Any type of survey can provide information on the employee’s satisfaction with their manager, workload, and
other satisfaction and motivational issues. An example of a general employee satisfaction survey is shown
in Figure 7.7 “A Sample Employee Satisfaction Survey”. However, a few things should be considered when
developing an employee satisfaction survey:
1. Communicate the purpose and goal of the survey.
2. Once the survey is complete, communicate what changes have been made as a result of the survey.
3. Assure employees their responses will be anonymous and private.
4. Involve management and leadership in the survey development.
5. Ask clear, concise questions that get at the root of morale issues.
Once data have been gathered and analyzed, we can formulate our retention plans. Our plan should always be
tied to the strategic goals of the organization and the HPWS previously developed, and awareness of motivational
theories should be coupled with the plans. Here are the components of a retention plan:
1. JDI survey results, other survey results, and exit interview findings
2. Current retention plans, strengths, and weaknesses
3. Goals of a retention plan (e.g., reduce turnover by 10 percent)
4. Individual strategies to meet retention and turnover reduction goals.
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5. Budgeting. An understanding of how your retention plans will impact the payroll budget is important.
See Video 7.2 for an example on how to calculate turnover costs and compare those to costs saved with an
effective retention strategy.
In Section 7.3 “Implementing Retention Strategies”, we will discuss the implementation of specific retention
strategies.
Figure 7.7 A Sample Employee Satisfaction Survey
Source: “Sample Employee Satisfaction Surveys,” Zarca Interactive, accessed August 18, 2011,
http://www.zarca.com/Online-Surveys-Employee/sample-employee-surveys.html.
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Key Takeaways
• A high-performance work system (HPWS) is a set of systematic HR practices that create anenvironment where the employee has greater involvement and responsibility for the success of theorganization. The overall company strategy should impact the HPWS HR develops in regard toretention.
• Retention plans are developed to address employee turnover, resulting in a more effectiveorganization.
• The first step in developing a retention plan is to use exit interviews and/or surveys to find out thesatisfaction level of employees. Once you have the data, you can begin to write the plan, makingsure it is tied to the organizational objectives.
• A standardized and widely used measure of job satisfaction is the JDI survey, or the Job DescriptiveIndex. While JDI was initially developed in 1969 at Bowling Green State University, it has gonethrough extensive revisions, the most recent one in 2009. JDI looks at five aspects of jobsatisfaction, including present job, present pay, opportunities for promotion, supervision, andcoworkers1.
• A retention plan normally consists of survey and exit interview analysis, any current plans andstrengths and weaknesses of those plans, the goal of the retention plan, and finally, the specificstrategies to be implemented.
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• There are many motivation theories that attempt to explain people’s motivation or lack of motivationat work.
• The Hawthorne studies were a series of studies beginning in 1927 that initially looked at physicalenvironments but found that people tended to be more motivated when they felt cared about. Theimplications to retention are clear, in that employees should feel cared about and developed withinthe organization.
• Maslow’s theory on motivation says that if someone already has a need met, giving them somethingto meet more of that need will no longer motivate. Maslow divided the needs into physiological,safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. Many companies only motivate based on thelow-level needs, such as pay. Development of training opportunities, for example, can motivateemployees on high-level self-actualization needs.
• Herzberg developed motivational theories based on actual motivation factors and hygiene factors.Hygiene factors are those things that are expected in the workplace and will demotivate employeeswhen absent but will not actually motivate when present. If managers try to motivate only on thebasis of hygiene factors, turnover can be high. Motivation on both of his factors is key to a goodretention plan.
• McGregor’s theory on motivation looked at managers’ attitudes toward employees. He found thattheory X managers had more of a negative view of employees, while theory Y managers had a morepositive view. Providing training to the managers in our organization can be a key retention strategybased on McGregor’s theory.
• The carrot-and-stick approach means you can get someone to do something by prodding or byoffering some incentive to motivate them to do the work. This theory implies these are the only twomethods to motivate, which of course, we know isn’t true. The implication of this in our retentionplan is such that we must utilize a variety of methods to retain employees.
Exercises
1. What types of things will motivate you in your career? Name at least five things. Where wouldthese fit on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s two-factor theory?
2.How can you apply each of these motivation techniques to motivation theories?
a. Training
b. Employee recognition programs
c. Bonuses
d. Management training for your current managers
e. Profit sharing
1“Job Descriptive Index,” JDI Research Group, Bowling Green State University, accessed July 29, 2011,
http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/psych/io/jdi/page54706.html.
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ReferencesReferences
Farrell D., and James C. Petersen, “Commitment, Absenteeism and Turnover of New Employees: A Longitudinal
Study,” Human Relations 37, no. 8 (August 1984): 681–692, accessed August 26, 2011, http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/
uncg/f/J_Petersen_Commitment_1984.pdf.
Herzberg, F., Bernard Mausner, and Barbara Bloch Snyderman, The Motivation to Work (New Brunswick, NJ:
Transaction Publishers, 1993).
Maslow, A., Toward a Psychology of Being, 3rd ed. (New York: Wiley, 1999).
Mayo, E., The Social Problems of an Industrial Civilization (1949; repr., New York: Arno Press, 2007).
McGregor, D., The Human Side of Enterprise (1960; repr., New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006).
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7.3 Implementing Retention Strategies
Learning Objective
1. Explain the strategies and considerations in development of a retention plan.
As we have addressed so far in this chapter, retention and reduction of turnover is paramount to a healthy
organization. Performing research, such as calculating turnover rates, doing exit interviews, and surveying
employees’ satisfaction, are the first steps. Once this is done, understanding motivational theories and the
application of them in the retention plan can help reduce turnover. Next, we can apply specific retention strategies
to include in our plans, while keeping our budget in mind. Some of the retention strategies discussed have already
or will be discussed in their own chapters, but they are certainly worth a mention here as part of the overall plan.
Salaries and BenefitsSalaries and Benefits
As we know from Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, a comprehensive compensation plan that includes
not only pay but things such as health benefits and paid time off (PTO) is the first retention strategy that should
be addressed. The compensation plan should not only help in recruitment of the right people but also help retain
employees. Utilizing a pay banding system, in which the levels of compensation for jobs are clearly defined, is
one way to ensure fairness exists within internal pay structures.
As we know from this chapter, compensation is not everything. An employee can be well paid and have great
benefits but still not be satisfied with the organization. Some of the considerations surrounding pay as a way to
retain employees include the following:
1. Instituting a standard process. Many organizations do not have set pay plans, which can result in
unfairness when onboarding (the process of bringing someone “on board” with the company, including
discussion and negotiation of compensation) or offering pay increases. Make sure the process for receiving
pay raises is fair and defensible, so as not to appear to be discriminatory. This can be addressed in both your
compensation planning process as well as your retention plan.
2. A pay communication strategy. Employees deserve to know how their pay rates are being determined.
Transparency in the process of how raises are given and then communicating the process can help in your
207
retention planning process1.
3. Paid time off. Is your organization offering competitive PTO? Consider implementing a PTO system that
is based on the amount of hours an employee works. For example, rather than developing a policy based on
hours worked for the company, consider revising the policy so that for every X number of hours worked,
PTO is earned. This can create fairness for the salaried employee, especially for those employees who may
work more than the required forty hours.
Please refer to Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits” for more information on pay and benefits, and analyze
how your compensation plans could be negatively affecting your retention.
Training and DevelopmentTraining and Development
To meet our higher level needs, humans need to experience self-growth. HR professionals and managers can help
this process by offering training programs within the organization and paying for employees to attend career skill
seminars and programs. In addition, many companies offer tuition reimbursement programs to help the employee
earn a degree. Dick’s Drive-In, a local fast food restaurant in Seattle, Washington, offers $18,000 in scholarships
over four years to employees working twenty hours per week. There is a six-month waiting period, and the
employee must continue to work twenty hours per week. In a high turnover industry, Dick’s Drive-In boasts one
of the highest retention rates around.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
You work for a small organization in the HR department. One of your web developers schedules a meeting with
you, and during the meeting she says that she doesn’t see any career growth for her in the organization. As a result,
she confides that she is planning to leave the organization as soon as she can find another job. She is one of the
best developers you have and you would hate to lose her.
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1348713/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1348713/embed.
Performance AppraisalsPerformance Appraisals
Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”, addresses performance appraisals. The performance appraisal is a
formalized process to assess how well an employee does his or her job. The effectiveness of this process can
contribute to employee retention, in that employees can gain constructive feedback on their job performance, and
it can be an opportunity for the manager to work with the employee to set goals within the organization. This
process can help ensure the employee’s upper level self-actualization needs are met, but it also can address some
of the motivational factors discussed by Herzberg, such as achievement, recognition, and responsibility.
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Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
How important is PTO to you? How do you think the amount of PTO would affect your likelihood toaccept one job over another?
Succession PlanningSuccession Planning
Succession planning is a process of identifying and developing internal people who have the potential for filling
positions. As we know, many people leave organizations because they do not see career growth or potential. One
way we can combat this in our retention plan is to make sure we have a clear succession planning process that
is communicated to employees. Succession planning is sometimes called the talent bench, because successful
companies always have talented people “on the bench” or ready to do the job should a key position become vacant.
The goals of most succession plans include the following (Rothwell & Kazanas, 1999):
• Identify high-potential employees capable of advancing to positions of higher responsibility.
• Ensure the development of these individuals to help them be “ready” to earn a promotion into a new
position.
• Ensure diversity in the talent bench by creating a formal succession planning process.
Succession planning must be just that: planned. This allows clear communication to the employees on how they
can further develop within the organization, and it helps them see what skills they should master before that time
comes. Chapter 8 “Training and Development” will provide more information on how to develop and implement
a succession plan.
Examples of Retention Strategies at Michels CorporationExamples of Retention Strategies at Michels Corporation
(click to see video)
This video addresses some “real world” retention strategies used at Michels Corporation, a utility contractor
services company.
Flextime, Telecommuting, and SabbaticalsFlextime, Telecommuting, and Sabbaticals
According to a Salary.com survey, the ability to work from home and flexible work schedules are benefits that
would entice an employee to stay in their job2. The ability to implement this type of retention strategy might be
difficult, depending on the type of business. For example, a retailer may not be able to implement this, since the
sales associate must be in the store to assist customers. However, for many professions, it is a viable option, worth
including in the retention plan and part of work-life balance, which we will discuss in Section 7.3.10 “Work-Life
Balance”.
Some companies, such as Recreational Equipment Incorporated, based in Seattle, offer twelve weeks of unpaid
leave per year (beyond the twelve weeks required under the Family and Medical Leave Act) for the employee to
7 . 3 I M P L E M E N T I N G R E T E N T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 0 9
pursue volunteering or traveling opportunities. In addition, with fifteen years of service with the company, paid
sabbaticals are offered, which include four weeks plus already earned vacation time.
Management TrainingManagement Training
As we discuss in Section 7.1.1 “Reasons for Voluntary Turnover”, a manager can affect an employee’s willingness
to stay on the job. In a recent Gallup poll of one million workers, a poor supervisor or manager is the number one
reason why people leave their jobs3. Managers who bully, use the theory X approach, communicate poorly, or are
incompetent may find it difficult to motivate employees to stay within the organization. While in HR we cannot
control a manager’s behavior, we can provide training to create better management. Training of managers to be
better communicators and motivators is a way to handle this retention issue. We will discuss training further in
Chapter 8 “Training and Development”.
Conflict Management and FairnessConflict Management and Fairness
Perceptions on fairness and how organizations handle conflict can be a contributing factor to retention. Outcome
fairness refers to the judgment that people make with respect to the outcomes they receive versus the outcomes
received by others with whom they associate with. When people are deciding if something is fair, they will likely
look at procedural justice, or the process used to determine the outcomes received. There are six main areas
employees will use to determine the outcome fairness of a conflict:
1. Consistency. The employee will determine if the procedures are applied consistently to other persons and
throughout periods of time.
2. Bias suppression. The employee perceives the person making the decision does not have bias or vested
interest in the outcome.
3. Information accuracy. The decision made is based on correct information.
4. Correctability. The decision is able to be appealed and mistakes in the decision process can be corrected.
5. Representativeness. The employee feels the concerns of all stakeholders involved have been taken into
account.
6. Ethicality. The decision is in line with moral societal standards.
For example, let’s suppose JoAnn just received a bonus and recognition at the company party for her contributions
to an important company project. Another employee, Sam, might compare his inputs and outputs and determine
it was unfair that JoAnn was recognized because he had worked on bigger projects and not received the same
recognition or bonus. When we look at how our retention strategies are developed, we want to be sure they
can apply to everyone in the organization; otherwise it may cause retention problems. Some of the procedures
questioned could include the following:
• How time off is requested
• How assignments of the “best” projects are given
• Division of work
2 1 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Promotion processes
• Pay processes
While some of these policies may seem minor, they can make a big difference in retention. Besides development
of fair policies, we should be sure that the policies are clearly communicated and any processes are communicated
as well. These types of policies should be revisited yearly and addressed in the retention plan if it appears they are
causing employee dissatisfaction.
In addition to a sense of fairness within the organization, there should be a specific way (process) of managing
conflict. If the organization is unionized, it is likely a grievance process is already in place to handle many types
of conflicts. We will discuss this process in greater detail in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”. There are
four basic steps to handle conflict. First, the individuals in conflict should try to handle the conflict by discussing
the problem with one another. If this doesn’t work, a panel of representatives from the organization should hear
both sides of the dispute and make a recommendation. If this doesn’t work, the organization may want to consider
mediation and, in extreme cases, arbitration. In mediation, a neutral third party from outside the organization hears
both sides of a dispute and tries to get the parties to come to a resolution, while in arbitration, an outside person
hears both sides and makes a specific decision about how things should proceed.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
With over nineteen thousand employees in sixty countries, Google has seen its share of retentionproblems4. In late 2010, Googlers left the organization en masse to work for Facebook or Twitter (Popper,2010). Many who left were looking for pre–initial public offering (IPO) organizations to work with,something that Google couldn’t compete with, since it went IPO in April 2004. As a result of the highturnover, Google put its mathematical algorithms to work to determine which employees were most likelyto leave, allowing HR to determine what departments to focus on in their retention plans. In 2011, Googlegave every employee a 10 percent pay raise, and it continues to offer a variety of new and old perks,such as free food in any of its cafeterias, 20 percent of time to work on personal projects, and $175peer spot bonuses. Google also offers free laundry services, climbing walls, tuition reimbursement, child-care centers, financial planning classes, and matching funds (up to $3,000 per employee) to nonprofitorganizations. For all this, Google ranked number four on Fortune magazine’s list of 100 best companiesto work for in 20115. Some say it isn’t the perks, high pay, or bonuses but the company culture that Googlecreates. A weekly all-hands meeting with the founders, where people are encouraged to ask the foundersquestions, and a team focus meeting where everyone shares ideas are examples of the company cultureGoogle creates. Google exemplifies the importance of culture in retention of employees.
Job Design, Job Enlargement, and EmpowermentJob Design, Job Enlargement, and Empowerment
As we have discussed previously, one of the reasons for job dissatisfaction is the job itself. Ensuring we are
appropriately matching skills with the job when we do our initial hiring is important. Revisiting the recruitment
plan and selection process should be a consideration.
Job enrichment means to enhance a job by adding more meaningful tasks to make the employee’s work more
rewarding. For example, if a retail salesperson is good at creating eye-catching displays, allow him or her to
7 . 3 I M P L E M E N T I N G R E T E N T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 1 1
practice this skill and assign tasks revolving around this. Job enrichment can fulfill the higher level of human
needs while creating job satisfaction at the same time. In fact, research in this area by Richard Hackman and Greg
Oldham (Ford, 1969; Paul, et. al., 1969) found that employees need the following to achieve job satisfaction:
• Skill variety, or many different activities as part of the job
• Task identity, or being able to complete one task from beginning to end
• Task significance, or the degree to which the job has impact on others, internally or externally
• Autonomy, or freedom to make decisions within the job
• Feedback, or clear information about performance
In addition, job enlargement, defined as the adding of new challenges or responsibilities to a current job, can create
job satisfaction. Assigning employees to a special project or task is an example of job enlargement. Be cautioned,
though, that some employees may resent additional work, and job enlargement could actually be a demotivator.
Otherwise, knowing the employee and his or her goals and adding work that can be an end to these goals is the
best way to achieve retention through job enlargement.
Figure 7.8
Some companies offer unique benefits to reduce turnover. An on-site yoga class is an example of a unique,
although expensive, benefit to consider including in a retention plan.
Edson Hong – Beauty Orange County Yoga – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Employee empowerment involves employees in their work by allowing them to make decisions and act upon
those decisions, with the support of the organization. Employees who are not micromanaged and who have the
power to determine the sequence of their own work day, for example, tend to be more satisfied than those who are
not empowered. Empowerment can include the following:
2 1 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Encourage innovation or new ways of doing things.
• Make sure employees have the information they need to do their jobs; for example, they are not dependent
on managers for information in decision making.
• Use management styles that allow for participation, feedback, and ideas from employees.
Pay-for-Performance StrategiesPay-for-Performance Strategies
In Chapter 6 “Compensation and Benefits”, we discussed several pay-for-performance strategies we can
implement to motivate our employees. A pay-for-performance strategy means that employees are rewarded for
meeting preset objectives within the organization. For example, in a merit-based pay system, the employee is
rewarded for meeting or exceeding performance during a given time period. Rather than a set pay increase
every year, the increase is based on performance. Some organizations offer bonuses to employees for meeting
objectives, while some organizations offer team incentive pay if a team achieves a specific, predetermined
outcome. For example, each player on the winning team of the 2010 NFL Super Bowl earned a team bonus of
$83,000 (Rovell, 2011), while the losing team of the Super Bowl took home $42,000. Players also earn money for
each wild card game and payoff game. Some organizations also offer profit sharing, which is tied to a company’s
overall performance. Gain sharing, different from profit sharing, focuses on improvement of productivity within
the organization. For example, the city of Loveland in Colorado implemented a gain-sharing program that defined
three criteria that needed to be met for employees to be given extra compensation. The city revenues had to exceed
expenses, expenses had to be equal to or less than the previous year’s expenses, and a citizen satisfaction survey
had to meet minimum requirements.
To make sure a pay-for-performance system works, the organization needs to ensure the following:
• Standards are specific and measureable.
• The system is applied fairly to all employees.
• The system is communicated clearly to employees.
• The best work from everyone in the organization is encouraged.
• Rewards are given to performers versus nonperformers.
• The system is updated as the business climate changes.
• There are substantial rewards for high performers.
As we have already addressed, pay isn’t everything, but it certainly can be an important part of the employee
retention plan and strategy.
Pay for Performance: TeachersPay for Performance: Teachers
(click to see video)
This video shows an example of a new pay-for-performance plan for teachers in South Carolina.
7 . 3 I M P L E M E N T I N G R E T E N T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 1 3
Work-Life BalanceWork-Life Balance
Work-life balance discussions originated during the 1960s and 1970s and pertained mostly to working mothers’
meeting the demands of family and work. During the 1980s, the realization that meeting a work-life balance
is important (for all, not just working mothers) resulted in companies such as IBM implementing flextime and
home-based work solutions. The growing awareness of the work-life balance problem continued into the 1990s,
when policies were developed and implemented but not acted upon by managers and employees, according to Jim
Bird in Employment Relations Today (Bird, 2006). Today, work-life balance is considered an important topic, so
much so that the World at Work Society offers special certifications in this area. The World at Work certification
programs focus on creation of successful programs to attract, retain, and motivate employees.
Karol Rose, author of Work Life Effectiveness (Rose, 2006), says that most companies look at a systems approach
of work-life balance, instead of a systems and individual approach. The systems approach to work-life balance
includes policies and procedures that allow people flexibility, such as telecommuting and flextime options.
According to Rose, looking at the individual differences is equally as important as the systems approach. Brad
Harrington, the director of Boston College’s Center for Work and Family, stresses this issue: “Work-life balance
comes down, not to an organizational strategy, but to an individual strategy.” For example, a single parent
has a different work-life balance need than someone without children. In other words, as HR professionals,
we can create work-life balance systems, but we should also look at individual approaches. For example, at
Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI)6, they use the systems approach perspective and offer paid time off
and sabbaticals, but their employee assistance program also offers access to services, referrals, and free consulting
for the individual to find his or her perfect work-life balance. For this, REI receives a number nine ranking on
Fortune’s list of best companies to work for in the area of work-life balance.
The company culture can contribute greatly to work-life balance. Some organizations have a culture of flexibility
that fares well for workers who do not want to feel tethered to an office, while some workers prefer to be in
the office where more informal socializing can occur. While some companies promote work-life balance on
paper, upper management needs to let employees know it is OK to take advantage of the alternatives to create a
positive work-life balance. For example, companies place different levels of value on work-life options such as
telecommuting. An organization may have a telecommuting option, but the employees must feel it is OK to use
these options. Even in a company that has work-life balance systems, a manager who sends e-mails at 10 p.m. on
Saturday night could be sending the wrong message to employees about the expectations, creating an environment
in which work-life balance is not practiced in reality. O’Neill, a surf gear company in California, sends a strong
message to its employees by offering half-day Fridays during the summer7, so employees can get a head start on
the weekend.
Jim Bird, in his work-life balance article in Employment Relations Today, suggests implementing a work-life
balance training program that is dual purpose (can serve both personal interests and professional development).
In other words, implement trainings in which the employee can develop both personal skills and interests that can
translate into higher productivity at work.
Besides the training program, Bird suggests creating a monthly work-life newsletter as an educational tool to show
the company’s commitment to work-life balance. The newsletter can include interviews from respected employees
and tips on how to create a work-life balance.
2 1 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Finally, training managers on the importance of work-life balance and how to create a culture that embraces this
is a key way to use work-life balance as a retention strategy.
Other Retention StrategiesOther Retention Strategies
According to Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,”5 retention strategies that are more unusual might be
part of your retention plan. Some strategies from the list might include the following:
• On-site daycare or daycare assistance
• Gym memberships or on-site gyms
• Concierge service to assist in party planning or dog grooming, for example
• On-site dry cleaning drop-off and pickup
• Car care, such as oil changes, on-site once a week
• On-site doggie daycare
• On-site yoga or other fitness classes
• “Summer Fridays,” when all employees work half days on Fridays during the summer
• Various support groups for cancer survivors, weight loss, or support in caring for aging parents
• Allowance for fertility treatment benefits
• On-site life coaches
• Peer-to-peer employee recognition programs
• Management recognition programs
While some of these options may not work in your organization, we must remember to be creative when our goal
is to retain our best employees and reduce turnover in our organizations. The bottom line is to create a plan and
make sure the plan is communicated to all employees.
Key Takeaways
• Once you determine the employee’s level of satisfaction through exit interviews and surveys andunderstand motivational theories, you can begin to develop specific retention strategies.
• Of course, salary and benefits are a major component of retention strategies. Consistent pay systemsand transparent processes as to how raises occur must be included in a retention plan (andcompensation strategy).
• Training and development meets the higher level needs of the individual. Many companies offer paidtuition programs, reimbursement programs, and in-house training to increase the skills andknowledge of the employee.
• Performance appraisals provide an avenue for feedback and goal setting. They also allow foremployees to be recognized for their contributions.
7 . 3 I M P L E M E N T I N G R E T E N T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 1 5
• Succession plans allow employees to see how they can continue their career with the organization,and they clearly detail what employees need to do to achieve career growth, without leaving yourorganization.
• Flextime and telecommuting options are worth considering as an addition to your retention plan.These types of plans allow the employee flexibility when developing his or her schedule and somecontrol of his or her work. Some companies also offer paid or unpaid sabbaticals after a certainnumber of years with the company to pursue personal interests.
• Since one of the reasons people are dissatisfied at their job is because of the relationship with theirmanager, providing in-house training to all management team members to help them become bettercommunicators and better managers can trickle down to the employee level, creating betterrelationships and resulting in better retention and less turnover.
• Reviewing company policies to ensure they are fair can contribute to better retention. For example,how projects are assigned or the process for requesting vacation time can contribute todissatisfaction if the employee feels the processes are not fair.
• Review the job design to ensure the employee is experiencing growth within their job. Changing thejob through empowerment or job enlargement to help the growth of the employee can create betterretention.
• Other, more unique ways of retaining employees might include offering services to make theemployee’s life easier, such as dry cleaning, daycare services, or on-site yoga classes.
Exercise
1. Research two different companies you might be interested in working for. When reviewing theirlist of benefits, which ones are offered that might motivate someone to stay with the organization?
1“The Knowledge of Pay Study,” WorldatWork and The LeBlanc Group LLC, 2010, accessed February 26, 2011,
http://www.worldatwork.org/waw/Content/research/html/research-home.jsp.
2“Employee Job Satisfaction and Retention Survey, 2007/2008,” Salary.com, 2008, accessed February 26, 2011,
http://www.salary.com/docs/resources/JobSatSurvey_08.pdf.
3“No. 1 Reason People Quit Their jobs,” AOL News, Netscape, n.d., accessed July 28, 2011,
http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/whatsnew/package.jsp?name=fte/quitjobs/quitjobs&floc=wn-dx.
4“Our Philosophy,” Google, n.d., accessed July 28, 2011, http://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/
tenthings.html.
5“100 Best Companies to Work For,” CNN Money, 2011, accessed July 28, 2011, http://money.cnn.com/
magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2011/snapshots/4.html.
2 1 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
6“Pay and Benefits: Total Rewards at REI,” Recreational Equipment Incorporated, n.d., accessed July 29, 2011,
http://www.rei.com/jobs/pay.html.
7“Vans, Quiksilver, and California Top Skate Companies Offer Dream Careers to FIDM’s Graphic Design School
Grads,” Fashion News, June 4, 2011, accessed July 29, 2011, http://www.fashionnews.com/2011/06/04/vans-
quiksilver-californias-top-skate-companies-offer-dream-careers-to-fidms-graphic -design-school-grads.
ReferencesReferences
Bird, J., “Work-Life Balance: Doing It Right and Avoiding the Pitfalls,” Employment Relations Today 33, no. 3
(2006), reprinted on WorkLifeBalance.com, accessed July 29, 2011, http://www.worklifebalance.com/assets/pdfs/
article3.pdf.
Ford, R. N.,Motivation through the Work Itself (New York: American Management Association, 1969).
Paul, W. J., Keith B. Robertson, and Frederick Herzberg, “Job Enrichment Pays Off,” Harvard Business Review,
March–April 1969, 61–78.
Popper, B., “Why Google’s Retention Plan Backfired,” CBS Business Network, September 16, 2010, accessed
July 28, 2011, http://www.bnet.com/blog/high-tech/why-googles-retention-plan-backfired/1172.
Rose, K., Work-life Effectiveness: Bottom-line Strategies for Today’s Workplace (Scottsdale, AZ: World at Work
Press, 2006).
Rothwell, W. J., and H. C. Kazanas, Building In-House Leadership and Management Development Programs:
Their Creation, Management, and Continuous Improvement (Westport, CT: Quorum Books, 1999), 131.
Rovell, D., “How Much Do Players Get Paid for Winning the Super Bowl?” CNBC Sports, January 18,
2011, accessed July 29, 2011, http://www.cnbc.com/id/41138354/
How_Much_Do_Players_Get_Paid_For_Winning_the_Super_Bowl.
7 . 3 I M P L E M E N T I N G R E T E N T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 1 7
7.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Retaining employees is an important component to a healthy organization. Losing an employee iscalled turnover.
• Direct turnover costs and indirect turnover costs can include the costs associated with employeereplacement, declining employee morale, or lost customers.
• A high-performance work system (HPWS) is a set of systematic HR practices that create anenvironment where the employee has greater involvement and responsibility for the success of theorganization. The overall company strategy should impact the HPWS HR develops in regard toretention.
• Retention plans are developed to address employee turnover, resulting in a more effectiveorganization.
• Some of the reasons why employees leave can include a poor match between job and skills, nogrowth potential, pay inequity among employees, the fairness and communication style ofmanagement, and heavy workloads.
• The first step in developing a retention plan is to use exit interviews and/or surveys to find out thesatisfaction level of employees. Once you have the data, you can begin to write the plan, makingsure it is tied to the organizational objectives.
• A retention plan normally consists of survey and exit interview analysis, any current plans andstrengths and weaknesses of those plans, the goal of the retention plan, and the specific strategies tobe implemented.
• There are many motivation theories that attempt to explain people’s motivation or lack of motivationat work.
• The Hawthorne studies were a series of studies beginning in 1927 that initially looked at physicalenvironments but found that people tended to be more motivated when they felt cared about. Theimplications to retention are clear, in that employees should feel cared about and developed withinthe organization.
• Maslow’s theory on motivation says that if someone already has a need met, giving them somethingto meet more of that need will no longer motivate. Maslow divided the needs into physiological,safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. Many companies only motivate based on the
218
low-level needs, such as pay. Development of training opportunities, for example, can motivateemployees on high-level self-actualization needs.
• Herzberg developed motivational theories based on actual motivation factors and hygiene factors.Hygiene factors are those things that are expected in the workplace and will demotivate employeeswhen absent but will not actually motivate when present. If managers try to motivate only on thebasis of hygiene factors, turnover can be high. Motivation on both factors is key to a good retentionplan.
• McGregor’s theory on motivation looked at managers’ attitudes toward employees. He found thattheory X managers had more of a negative view of employees, while theory Y managers had a morepositive view. Providing training to the managers in our organization can be a key retention strategy,based on McGregor’s theory.
• The carrot-and-stick approach means you can get someone to do something by prodding or offeringsome incentive to motivate them to do the work. This theory implies these are the only two methodsto motivate, which we know isn’t true. The implication of this in our retention plan is such that wemust utilize a variety of methods to retain employees.
• Once you determine the employee’s level of satisfaction through exit interviews and surveys andunderstand motivational theories, you can develop specific retention strategies.
• Of course, salary and benefits are a major component of retention strategies. Consistent pay systemsand transparent processes as to how raises occur must be included in a retention plan (andcompensation strategy).
• Training and development meets the higher level needs of the individual. Many companies offer paidtuition programs, reimbursement programs, and in-house training to increase the skills andknowledge of the employee.
• Performance appraisals provide an avenue for feedback and goal setting. They also allow foremployees to be recognized for their contributions.
• Succession plans allow employees to see how they can continue their career with the organization,and they clearly detail what employees need to do to achieve career growth-without leaving yourorganization.
• Flextime and telecommuting options are worth considering as an addition to your retention plan.These types of plans allow the employee flexibility when developing his or her schedule and somecontrol of his or her work. Some companies also offer paid or unpaid sabbaticals after a certainnumber of years with the company to pursue personal interests.
• Since one of the reasons people are dissatisfied at their job is because of the relationship with theirmanager, providing in-house training to all management team members to help them become bettercommunicators and better managers can trickle down to the employee level, creating betterrelationships and resulting in better retention and less turnover.
• Reviewing company policies to ensure they are fair can contribute to better retention. For example,how projects are assigned or the process for requesting vacation time can contribute todissatisfaction if the employee feels the processes are not fair.
• Review the job design to ensure the employee is experiencing growth within their job. Changing thejob through empowerment or job enlargement to help the growth of the employee can create betterretention.
7 . 4 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 2 1 9
• Other, more unique ways of retaining employees might include offering services to make theemployee’s life easier, such as dry cleaning, daycare services, or on-site yoga classes.
Chapter Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Turnover Analysis
You recently completed your company’s new compensation plan. You are happy with the results but knowthere is more to retaining the employees than just pay, and you don’t currently have a retention plan.Your organization is a large staffing firm, consisting of several offices on the West Coast. The majority ofemployees are staffing recruiters, and they fill full-time and temporary positions for a variety of clients.One of the challenges you face is a difference in geographical areas, and as a result, there are differencesin what may motivate employees.
As you initially look at turnover numbers, you have the sense that turnover has increased over the lastsix months. Your initial thoughts are the need for a better retention strategy, utilizing a bonus structureas well as other methods of retention. Currently, your organization pays a straight salary to employees,does not offer flextime or telecommuting options, focuses on individual performance (number of staffingplacements) rather than team performance, and provides five days of vacation for every two years with theorganization.
Month Separated Employees Total Number of Employees Midmonth
March 12 552
April 14 541
May 16 539
June 20 548
July 22 545
1. Calculate monthly turnover for the past six months.
2. What are the possible reasons for turnover in your organization and other organizations?
3. What steps would you take to remedy the situation?
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1.
2 2 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Following is a list of some possible retention strategies. Rank each one in order of importance to youas an employee (1 being the most important), then share your rankings with classmates:
a. Salary
b. Opportunity for bonuses, profit sharing
c. Benefits
d. Opportunity to grow professionally with the organization
e. Team bonuses
f. More paid time off
g. Option to telecommute
h. Flextime scheduling
i. Sense of empowerment
j. Tuition reimbursement
k. Job satisfaction
7 . 4 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 2 2 1
Chapter 8: Training and Development
Training: Not Like It Used to BeTraining: Not Like It Used to Be
Imagine this: You have a pile of work on your desk and as you get started, your Outlook calendar reminds you
about a sexual harassment training in ten minutes. You groan to yourself, not looking forward to sitting in a
conference room and seeing PowerPoint slide after PowerPoint slide. As you walk to the conference room, you
run into a colleague who is taking the same training that day and commiserate on how boring this training is
probably going to be. When you step into the conference room, however, you see something very different.
Computers are set up at every chair with a video ready to start on the computer. The HR manager greets you and
asks you to take a seat. When the training starts, you are introduced (via video) on each of the computers to a
series of sexual harassment example scenarios. The videos stop, and there is a recorded discussion about what the
videos portrayed. Your colleagues in the Washington, DC, office are able to see the same training and, via video
conferencing, are able to participate in the discussions. It is highly interactive and interesting. Once the training
is finished, there are assignments to be completed via specific channels that have been set up for this training.
You communicate about the material and complete the assignments in teams with members of your Washington,
DC, office. If you want to review the material, you simply click on a review and the entire session or parts of
the training can be reviewed. In fact, on your bus ride home from work, you access the channels on your iPhone,
chatting with a colleague in your other office about the sexual harassment training assignment you have due next
week. You receive an e-mail from your HR manager asking you to complete a training assessment located in a
specific channel in the software, and you happily comply because you have an entirely new perspective on what
training can be.
This is the training of today. No longer do people sit in hot, stuffy rooms to get training on boring content.
Training has become highly interactive, technical, and interesting owing to the amount of multimedia we can
use. Sun Microsystems, for example, has developed just the kind of software mentioned above, called Social
Learning eXchange (SLX). This type of training allows people across the country to connect with each other,
saving both money and time. In fact, Sun Microsystems received a Best Practices Award from Training Magazine
for this innovative software in 20101. The SLX software allows training to be delivered in an interactive manner
in multiple locations. The implications of this type of software are numerous. For example, SLX is used at Sun
Professional Services division by delivering instructional videos on tools and software, which employees can view
at their own pace2. There is also a channel in the software that allows the vice president to communicate with
employees on a regular basis to improve employee communications. In another example, this software can be
222
used to quickly communicate product changes to the sales team, who then begin the process of positioning their
products to consumers. Training videos, including breakout sessions, can save companies money by not requiring
travel to a session. These can even be accessed using application technology on cell phones. Employees can obtain
the training they need in the comfort of their own city, office, or home. Someone is sick the day the training is
delivered? No problem; they can review the recorded training sessions.
An estimated $1,400 per employee is spent on training annually, with training costs consuming 2.72 percent of
the total payroll budget3 for the average company. With such a large amount of funds at stake, HR managers must
develop the right training programs to meet the needs; otherwise, these funds are virtually wasted. This chapter is
all about how to assess, develop, implement, and measure an effective training program.
Training and Development IntroductionTraining and Development Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on training and development.
1“2010 Top 25 Winners,” Training Magazine, accessed July 25, 2010, http://www.trainingmag.com/article/
2010-top-125-winners.
2“Video Community for the Enterprise,” Social Learning eXchange, accessed July 25, 2010,
3See the American Society for Training and Development Trend Review, ASTD Website, accessed July 25, 2010,
http://www.astd.org/.
C H A P T E R 8 : T R A I N I N G A N D D E V E L O P M E N T • 2 2 3
8.1 Steps to Take in Training an Employee
Learning Objective
1. Explain the four steps involved when training an employee.
Any effective company has training in place to make sure employees can perform his or her job. During the
recruitment and selection process, the right person should be hired to begin with. But even the right person may
need training in how your company does things. Lack of training can result in lost productivity, lost customers,
and poor relationships between employees and managers. It can also result in dissatisfaction, which means
retention problems and high turnover. All these end up being direct costs to the organization. In fact, a study
performed by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) found that 41 percent of employees
at companies with poor training planned to leave within the year, but in companies with excellent training, only
12 percent planned to leave (Branham, 2005). To reduce some costs associated with not training or undertraining,
development of training programs can help with some of the risk. This is what this chapter will address.
For effective employee training, there are four steps that generally occur. First, the new employee goes through
an orientation, and then he or she will receive in-house training on job-specific areas. Next, the employee should
be assigned a mentor, and then, as comfort with the job duties grows, he or she may engage in external training.
Employee training and development is the process of helping employees develop their personal and organization
skills, knowledge, and abilities.
Employee OrientationEmployee Orientation
The first step in training is an employee orientation. Employee orientation is the process used for welcoming a
new employee into the organization. The importance of employee orientation is two-fold. First, the goal is for
employees to gain an understanding of the company policies and learn how their specific job fits into the big
picture. Employee orientation usually involves filling out employee paperwork such as I-9 and 401(k) program
forms.
The goals of an orientation are as follows:
1. To reduce start-up costs. If an orientation is done right, it can help get the employee up to speed on
224
various policies and procedures, so the employee can start working right away. It can also be a way to
ensure all hiring paperwork is filled out correctly, so the employee is paid on time.
2. To reduce anxiety. Starting a new job can be stressful. One goal of an orientation is to reduce the stress
and anxiety people feel when going into an unknown situation.
3. To reduce employee turnover. Employee turnover tends to be higher when employees don’t feel valued
or are not given the tools to perform. An employee orientation can show that the organization values the
employee and provides tools necessary for a successful entry.
4. To save time for the supervisor and coworkers. A well-done orientation makes for a better prepared
employee, which means less time having to teach the employee.
5. To set expectations and attitudes. If employees know from the start what the expectations are, they tend
to perform better. Likewise, if employees learn the values and attitudes of the organization from the
beginning, there is a higher chance of a successful tenure at the company.
Some companies use employee orientation as a way to introduce employees not only to the company policies and
procedures but also to the staff. For an example of an orientation schedule for the day, see Figure 8.1.
Figure 8.1
Some companies have very specific orientations, with a variety of people providing information to the new
hires. This can create a welcoming environment, besides giving the employee the information they need.
This is an example of one such orientation.
8 . 1 S T E P S T O T A K E I N T R A I N I N G A N E M P L O Y E E • 2 2 5
Source: Sample schedule courtesy of Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center,
http://www.cleveland.va.gov/docs/NEOSchedule.pdf (accessed September 2, 2011).
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Have you ever participated in an orientation? What was it like? What components did it have?
In-House TrainingIn-House Training
In-house training programs are learning opportunities developed by the organization in which they are used. This
is usually the second step in the training process and often is ongoing. In-house training programs can be training
related to a specific job, such as how to use a particular kind of software. In a manufacturing setting, in-house
training might include an employee learning how to use a particular kind of machinery.
Many companies provide in-house training on various HR topics as well, meaning it doesn’t always have to relate
to a specific job. Some examples of in-house training include the following:
• Ethics training
• Sexual harassment training
• Multicultural training
• Communication training
• Management training
• Customer service training
• Operation of special equipment
• Training to do the job itself
• Basic skills training
As you can tell by the list of topics, HR might sometimes create and deliver this training, but often a supervisor
or manager delivers the training.
MentoringMentoring
After the employee has completed orientation and in-house training, companies see the value in offering
mentoring opportunities as the next step in training. Sometimes a mentor may be assigned during in-house
training. A mentor is a trusted, experienced advisor who has direct investment in the development of an employee.
A mentor may be a supervisor, but often a mentor is a colleague who has the experience and personality to help
guide someone through processes. While mentoring may occur informally, a mentorship program can help ensure
the new employee not only feels welcomed but is paired up with someone who already knows the ropes and can
help guide the new employee through any on-the-job challenges.
2 2 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
To work effectively, a mentoring program should become part of the company culture; in other words, new
mentors should receive in-house training to be a mentor. Mentors are selected based on experience, willingness,
and personality. IBM’s Integrated Supply Chain Division, for example, has successfully implemented a
mentorship program. The company’s division boasts 19,000 employees and half of IBM’s revenues, making
management of a mentorship program challenging. However, potential mentors are trained and put into a database
where new employees can search attributes and strengths of mentors and choose the person who closely meets
their needs. Then the mentor and mentee work together in development of the new employee. “We view this as a
best practice,” says Patricia Lewis-Burton, vice president of human resources, Integrated Supply Chain Division.
“We view it as something that is not left to human resources alone. In fact, the program is imbedded in the way
our group does business” (Witt, 2005).
Figure 8.2
In-house training occurs when someone from within the company is delivering the training information, while
external training is usually delivered by someone who does not work for the company and is not physically on-site.
Tadas1980 – FL Technics Training – CC BY-SA 3.0.
Some companies use short-term mentorship programs because they find employees training other employees to
be valuable for all involved. Starbucks, for example, utilizes this approach. When it opens a new store in a new
market, a team of experienced store managers and baristas are sent from existing stores to the new stores to lead
the store-opening efforts, including training of new employees.
External TrainingExternal Training
External training includes any type of training that is not performed in-house. This is usually the last step in
8 . 1 S T E P S T O T A K E I N T R A I N I N G A N E M P L O Y E E • 2 2 7
training, and it can be ongoing. It can include sending an employee to a seminar to help further develop leadership
skills or helping pay tuition for an employee who wants to take a marketing class. To be a Ford automotive
technician, for example, you must attend the Ford ASSET Program, which is a partnership between Ford Motor
Company, Ford dealers, and select technical schools1.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
To Train or Not to Train
Towanda Michaels is the human resource manager at a medium-size pet supply wholesaler. Casey Cleps is a
salesperson at the organization and an invaluable member of the team. Last year, his sales brought in about 20
percent of the company revenue alone. Everybody likes Casey: he is friendly, competent, and professional.
Training is an important part of the company, and an e-mail was sent last month that said if employees do not
complete the required safety training by July 1, they would be let go.
It is July 15, and it has just come to Towanda’s attention that Casey has not completed the online safety training
that is required for his job. When she approaches him about it, he says, “I am the best salesperson here; I can’t
waste time doing training. I already know all the safety rules anyway.”
Would you let Casey go, as stated in the e-mail? How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1348781/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1348781/embed.
Key Takeaways
• Employee training and development is the framework for helping employees develop their personaland organizational skills, knowledge, and abilities. Training is important to employee retention.
• There are four steps in training that should occur. Employee orientation has the purpose ofwelcoming new employees into the organization. An effective employee orientation can help reducestart-up costs, reduce anxiety for the employee, reduce turnover, save time for the supervisor andcolleagues, and set expectations and attitudes.
• An in-house training program is any type of program in which the training is delivered by someonewho works for the company. This could include management or HR. Examples might include sexualharassment training or ethics training. In-house training can also include components specific to ajob, such as how to use a specific kind of software. In-house training is normally done as a secondand ongoing step in employee development.
• A mentor form of training pairs a new employee with a seasoned employee. This is usually the thirdstep in employee training. A mentor program for training should include a formalized program and
2 2 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
process.
• External training is any type of training not performed in-house; part of the last training step,external training can also be ongoing. It can include sending employees to conferences or seminarsfor leadership development or even paying tuition for a class they want to take.
Exercises
1. Why do you think some companies do not follow the four training steps? What are the advantagesof doing so?
2. What qualities do you think a mentor should have? List at least five.
3. Have you ever worked with a mentor in a job, at school, or in extracurricular activities? Describeyour experience.
1“Automotive Technology/Ford ASSET Course,” Sheridan Technical Center, accessed July 29, 2011,
http://www.sheridantechnical.com/Default.aspx?tabid=692.
ReferencesReferences
Branham, L., The 7 Hidden Reasons Why Employees Leave (New York: American Management Association,
2005), 112–5.
Thompson, A., “Starbucks Corporation,” July 24, 2011, accessed July 29, 2011, http://www.mhhe.com/business/
management/thompson/11e/case/starbucks-2.html.
Witt, B., “Serious Leadership: IBM Builds a Successful Mentoring Program,” Material Handling Management,
December 1, 2005, accessed July 25, 2010, http://mhmonline.com/workforce-solutions/mhm_imp_4483/.
8 . 1 S T E P S T O T A K E I N T R A I N I N G A N E M P L O Y E E • 2 2 9
8.2 Types of Training
Learning Objective
1. Be able to explain and give examples of the types of training that can be offered within anorganization.
There are a number of different types of training we can use to engage an employee. These types are usually
used in all steps in a training process (orientation, in-house, mentorship, and external training). The training
utilized depends on the amount of resources available for training, the type of company, and the priority the
company places on training. Companies such as The Cheesecake Factory, a family restaurant, make training a
high priority. The company spends an average of $2,000 per hourly employee. This includes everyone from the
dishwasher and managers to the servers. For The Cheesecake Factory, this expenditure has paid off. They measure
the effectiveness of its training by looking at turnover, which is 15 percent below the industry average (Ruiz,
2006). Servers make up 40 percent of the workforce and spend two weeks training to obtain certification. Thirty
days later, they receive follow-up classes, and when the menu changes, they receive additional training (Ruiz,
2006). Let’s take a look at some of the training we can offer our employees.
As you will see from the types of training below, no one type would be enough for the jobs we do. Most HR
managers use a variety of these types of training to develop a holistic employee.
Technical or Technology TrainingTechnical or Technology Training
Depending on the type of job, technical training will be required. Technical training is a type of training meant
to teach the new employee the technological aspects of the job. In a retail environment, technical training might
include teaching someone how to use the computer system to ring up customers. In a sales position, it might
include showing someone how to use the customer relationship management (CRM) system to find new prospects.
In a consulting business, technical training might be used so the consultant knows how to use the system to input
the number of hours that should be charged to a client. In a restaurant, the server needs to be trained on how to use
the system to process orders. Let’s assume your company has decided to switch to the newest version of Microsoft
Office. This might require some technical training of the entire company to ensure everyone uses the technology
effectively. Technical training is often performed in-house, but it can also be administrered externally.
230
Quality TrainingQuality Training
In a production-focused business, quality training is extremely important. Quality training refers to familiarizing
employees with the means of preventing, detecting, and eliminating nonquality items, usually in an organization
that produces a product. In a world where quality can set your business apart from competitors, this type of
training provides employees with the knowledge to recognize products that are not up to quality standards and
teaches them what to do in this scenario. Numerous organizations, such as the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), measure quality based on a number of metrics. This organization provides the stamp of
quality approval for companies producing tangible products. ISO has developed quality standards for almost
every field imaginable, not only considering product quality but also certifying companies in environmental
management quality. ISO9000 is the set of standards for quality management, while ISO14000 is the set of
standards for environmental management. ISO has developed 18,000 standards over the last 60 years1. With
the increase in globalization, these international quality standards are more important than ever for business
development. Some companies, like 3M (QAI, 2011), choose to offer ISO training as external online training,
employing companies such as QAI to deliver the training both online and in classrooms to employees.
Training employees on quality standards, including ISO standards, can give them a competitive advantage. It can
result in cost savings in production as well as provide an edge in marketing of the quality-controlled products.
Some quality training can happen in-house, but organizations such as ISO also perform external training.
Skills TrainingSkills Training
Skills training, the third type of training, includes proficiencies needed to actually perform the job. For example,
an administrative assistant might be trained in how to answer the phone, while a salesperson at Best Buy might
be trained in assessment of customer needs and on how to offer the customer information to make a buying
decision. Think of skills training as the things you actually need to know to perform your job. A cashier needs to
know not only the technology to ring someone up but what to do if something is priced wrong. Most of the time,
skills training is given in-house and can include the use of a mentor. An example of a type of skills training is
from AT&T and Apple (Whitney, 2011), who in summer 2011 asked their managers to accelerate retail employee
training on the iPhone 5, which was released to market in the fall.
Continuing Education MattersContinuing Education Matters
(click to see video)
A small business owner explains the advantages of offering informal skills training about new products.
Soft Skills TrainingSoft Skills Training
Our fourth type of training is called soft skills training. Soft skills refer to personality traits, social graces,
communication, and personal habits that are used to characterize relationships with other people. Soft skills might
include how to answer the phone or how to be friendly and welcoming to customers. It could include sexual
harassment training and ethics training. In some jobs, necessary soft skills might include how to motivate others,
maintain small talk, and establish rapport.
8 . 2 T Y P E S O F T R A I N I N G • 2 3 1
In a retail or restaurant environment, soft skills are used in every interaction with customers and are a key
component of the customer experience. In fact, according to a Computerworld magazine survey, executives say
there is an increasing need for people who have not only the skills and technical skills to do a job but also the
necessary soft skills, such as strong listening and communication abilities (Hoffman, 2007). Many problems in
organizations are due to a lack of soft skills, or interpersonal skills, not by problems with the business itself. As
a result, HR and managers should work together to strengthen these employee skills. Soft skills training can be
administered either in-house or externally.
Professional Training and Legal TrainingProfessional Training and Legal Training
In some jobs, professional training must be done on an ongoing basis. Professional training is a type of training
required to be up to date in one’s own professional field. For example, tax laws change often, and as a result, an
accountant for H&R Block must receive yearly professional training on new tax codes (Silkey, 2010). Lawyers
need professional training as laws change. A personal fitness trainer will undergo yearly certifications to stay up
to date in new fitness and nutrition information.
Some organizations have paid a high cost for not properly training their employees on the laws relating to their
industry. In 2011, Massachusetts General Hospital paid over $1 million in fines related to privacy policies that
were not followed (Donnelly, 2011). As a result, the organization has agreed to develop training for workers on
medical privacy. The fines could have been prevented if the organization had provided the proper training to begin
with. Other types of legal training might include sexual harassment law training and discrimination law training.
2 3 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Figure 8.3
Professional training is normally given externally and is usually required for specific professions in which updates
occur often, as in the accounting industry.
Wikimedia Commons – public domain.
Team TrainingTeam Training
Do you know the exercise in which a person is asked to close his or her eyes and fall back, and then supposedly
the team members will catch that person? As a team-building exercise (and a scary one at that), this is an example
of team training. The goal of team training is to develop cohesiveness among team members, allowing them to get
to know each other and facilitate relationship building. We can define team training as a process that empowers
teams to improve decision making, problem solving, and team-development skills to achieve business results.
Often this type of training can occur after an organization has been restructured and new people are working
together or perhaps after a merger or acquisition. Some reasons for team training include the following:
• Improving communication
• Making the workplace more enjoyable
• Motivating a team
• Getting to know each other
• Getting everyone “onto the same page,” including goal setting
8 . 2 T Y P E S O F T R A I N I N G • 2 3 3
• Teaching the team self-regulation strategies
• Helping participants to learn more about themselves (strengths and weaknesses)
• Identifying and utilizing the strengths of team members
• Improving team productivity
• Practicing effective collaboration with team members
Team training can be administered either in-house or externally. Ironically, through the use of technology, team
training no longer requires people to even be in the same room.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What kind of team training have you participated in? What was it like? Do you think it accomplished whatit was supposed to accomplish?
Managerial TrainingManagerial Training
After someone has spent time with an organization, they might be identified as a candidate for promotion. When
this occurs, managerial training would occur. Topics might include those from our soft skills section, such as how
to motivate and delegate, while others may be technical in nature. For example, if management uses a particular
computer system for scheduling, the manager candidate might be technically trained. Some managerial training
might be performed in-house while other training, such as leadership skills, might be performed externally.
For example, Mastek, a global IT solutions and services provider, provides a program called “One Skill a Month,”
which enables managers to learn skills such as delegation, coaching, and giving feedback. The average number
of total training days at Mastek is 7.8 per employee2 and includes managerial topics and soft skills topics such
as e-mail etiquette. The goal of its training programs is to increase productivity, one of the organization’s core
values.
Safety TrainingSafety Training
Safety training is a type of training that occurs to ensure employees are protected from injuries caused by work-
related accidents. Safety training is especially important for organizations that use chemicals or other types
of hazardous materials in their production. Safety training can also include evacuation plans, fire drills, and
workplace violence procedures. Safety training can also include the following:
• Eye safety
• First aid
• Food service safety
• Hearing protection
2 3 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Asbestos
• Construction safety
• Hazmat safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, is the main federal agency charged with
enforcement of safety and health regulation in the United States. OSHA provides external training to companies
on OSHA standards. Sometimes in-house training will also cover safety training.
Starbucks Training VideoStarbucks Training Video
This is a short video Starbucks uses to train new employees on customer service.
Please view this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAmftgYEWqU.
Key Takeaways
• There are several types of training we can provide for employees. In all situations, a variety oftraining types will be used, depending on the type of job.
• Technical training addresses software or other programs that employees use while working for theorganization.
• Quality training is a type of training that familiarizes all employees with the means to produce agood-quality product. The ISO sets the standard on quality for most production and environmentalsituations. ISO training can be done in-house or externally.
• Skills training focuses on the skills that the employee actually needs to know to perform their job. Amentor can help with this kind of training.
• Soft skills are those that do not relate directly to our job but are important. Soft skills training maytrain someone on how to better communicate and negotiate or provide good customer service.
• Professional training is normally given externally and might be obtaining certification or specificinformation needed about a profession to perform a job. For example, tax accountants need to be upto date on tax laws; this type of training is often external.
• Team training is a process that empowers teams to improve decision making, problem solving, andteam-development skills. Team training can help improve communication and result in moreproductive businesses.
• To get someone ready to take on a management role, managerial training might be given.
• Safety training is important to make sure an organization is meeting OSHA standards. Safety trainingcan also include disaster planning.
8 . 2 T Y P E S O F T R A I N I N G • 2 3 5
Exercises
1. Which type of training do you think is most important for an administrative assistant? What aboutfor a restaurant server? Explain your answer.
2. Research OSHA. What are some of the new standards and laws it has recently developed? Outlinea training plan for the new standards.
1“The ISO Story,” International Organization for Standards, accessed July 26, 2010, http://www.iso.org/iso/about/
the_iso_story/iso_story_early_years.htm.
2Mastek website, accessed July 30, 2011, http://www.mastek.com/careers/learning-development.html.
ReferencesReferences
Donnelly, J., “Mass. General to Pay $1M to Settle Privacy Claims,” Boston Business Journal, February 24, 2011,
accessed February 26, 2011, http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/02/24/mass-general-to-pay-1m-to-
settle.html.
Hoffman, T., “Nine Nontechie Skills That Hiring Managers Wish You Had,” Computerworld, November 12, 2007,
accessed July 26, 2010, http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/305966/Are_You_the_Complete_Package_.
QAI website, accessed July 30, 2011, http://www.trainingforquality.com/Content.aspx?id=26.
Ruiz, G., “Cheesecake Factory Cooks Up a Rigorous Employee Training Program,” Workforce Management,
April 24, 2006, accessed July 25, 2010, http://www.workforce.com/section/11/feature/24/35/18/.
Silkey, J., “Tax Preparer Certifications,” Suite 101, January 28, 2010, accessed July 26, 2010, http://personal-tax-
planning.suite101.com/article.cfm/tax-preparer-certifications.
Whitney, L., “Apple, AT&T Reportedly Prepping Staff for iPhone 5 Launch,” CNET, July 26, 2011, accessed
July 29, 2011, http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20083435-37/apple-at-t-reportedly-prepping-staff-for-
iphone-5-launch/.
2 3 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
8.3 Training Delivery Methods
Learning Objective
1. Explain the types of training delivery methods.
Depending on the type of training occurring, you may choose one delivery method over another. This section
discusses the types of delivery methods we can use to execute the types of training. Keep in mind, however, that
most good training programs will use a variety of delivery methods.
Wendy’s Grill Training, circa 1989Wendy’s Grill Training, circa 1989
(click to see video)
This excellent training video was used at Wendy’s to teach employees how to grill the perfect burger. Although
the video is over twenty years old, the concepts used in it are still true today.
On-the-Job Coaching Training DeliveryOn-the-Job Coaching Training Delivery
On-the-job coaching is one way to facilitate employee skills training. On-the-job coaching refers to an approved
person training an employee on the skills necessary to complete tasks. A manager or someone with experience
shows the employee how to perform the actual job. The selection of an on-the-job coach can be done in a variety
of ways, but usually the coach is selected based on personality, skills, and knowledge. This type of skills training is
normally facilitated in-house. The disadvantage of this training revolves around the person delivering the training.
If he or she is not a good communicator, the training may not work. Likewise, if this person has “other things to
do,” he or she may not spend as much time required to train the person and provide guidance. In this situation,
training can frustrate the new employee and may result in turnover.
Figure 8.4
237
On-the-job coaching is similar to mentoring. Think of on-the-job coaching as more skills-based training,
while mentoring is usually a training delivery method that is more long term and goes beyond just showing
the employee skills to do the job.
Helen Beatham – Digital Enviornment – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Mentoring and Coaching Training DeliveryMentoring and Coaching Training Delivery
Mentoring is also a type of training delivery. A mentor is a trusted, experienced advisor who has direct investment
in the development of an employee. Mentoring is a process by which an employee can be trained and developed
by an experienced person. Normally, mentoring is used as a continuing method to train and develop an employee.
One disadvantage of this type of training is possible communication style and personality conflict. It can also
create overdependence in the mentee or micromanagement by the mentor. This is more different than on-the-job
coaching, which tends to be short term and focuses on the skills needed to perform a particular job.
Brown Bag Lunch Training DeliveryBrown Bag Lunch Training Delivery
Brown bag lunches are a training delivery method meant to create an informal atmosphere. As the name suggests,
brown bag lunch training is one in which the training occurs during lunchtime, employees bring their food, and
someone presents training information to them. The trainer could be HR or management or even another employee
showing a new technical skill. Brown bag lunches can also be an effective way to perform team training, as
it brings people together in a more relaxed atmosphere. Some companies offer brown bag lunch training for
personal development as well. For example, HR might want to bring in a specialist on 401(k) plans, or perhaps an
employee provides a slide presentation on a trip he or she has taken, discussing the things learned on the trip. One
disadvantage to this type of training can be low attendance and garnering enough interest from employees who
may not want to “work” during lunch breaks. There can also be inconsistency in messages if training is delivered
and not everyone is present to hear the message.
2 3 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What types of brown bag lunch training would employees be most willing to attend? Do you think thistype of training should be required?
Web-Based Training DeliveryWeb-Based Training Delivery
Web-based training delivery has a number of names. It could be called e-learning or Internet-based, computer-
based, or technology-based learning. No matter what it is called, any web-based training involves the use of
technology to facilitate training. There are two types of web-based learning. First, synchronous learning uses
instructor-led facilitation. Asynchronous learning is self-directed, and there is no instructor facilitating the course.
There are several advantages to web-based training. First, it is available on demand, does not require travel, and
can be cost efficient. However, disadvantages might include an impersonal aspect to the training and limited
bandwidth or technology capabilities1.
Web-based training delivery lends itself well to certain training topics. For example, this might be an appropriate
delivery method for safety training, technical training, quality training, and professional training. However, for
some training, such as soft-skills training, job skills training, managerial training, and team training, another more
personalized method may be better for delivery. However, there are many different platforms that lend themselves
to an interactive approach to training, such as Sun Microsystems’ Social Learning eXchange (SLX) training
system, which has real-time video and recording capabilities. Hundreds of platforms are available to facilitate
web-based training. DigitalChalk, for example, allows for both synchronous and asynchronous training and allows
the instructor or human relations manager to track training progress and completion (DigitalChalk, 2010). Some
companies use SharePoint, an intranet platform, to store training videos and materials (Microsoft SharePoint,
2010). Blackboard and Angel (used primarily by higher education institutions) allows human resource managers
to create training modules, which can be moderated by a facilitator or managed in a self-paced format. In any of
the platforms available, media such as video and podcasts can be included within the training.
Considerations for selecting a web-based platform include the following:
• Is there a one-time fee or a per-user fee?
• Do the majority of your employees use a Mac or a PC, and how does the platform work with both systems?
• Is there enough bandwidth in your organization to support this type of platform?
• Is the platform flexible enough to meet your training needs?
• Does the software allow for collaboration and multimedia?
• Is there training for the trainer in adoption of this system? Is technical support offered?
Job Shadowing Training DeliveryJob Shadowing Training Delivery
Job shadowing is a training delivery method that places an employee who already has the skills with another
8 . 3 T R A I N I N G D E L I V E R Y M E T H O D S • 2 3 9
employee who wants to develop those skills. Apprenticeships use job shadowing as one type of training method.
For example, an apprentice electrician would shadow and watch the journeyman electrician perform the skills
and tasks and learn by watching. Eventually, the apprentice would be able to learn the skills to do the job alone.
The downside to this type of training is the possibility that the person job shadowing may learn “bad habits” or
shortcuts to performing tasks that may not be beneficial to the organization.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
It takes a lot of training for the Walt Disney Company to produce the best Mickey Mouse, Snow White,Aladdin, or Peter Pan. In Orlando at Disneyworld, most of this training takes place at Disney University.Disney University provides training to its 42,000 cast members (this is what Disney calls employees)in areas such as culinary arts, computer applications, and specific job components. Once hired, all castmembers go through a two-day Disney training program called Traditions, where they learn the basics ofbeing a good cast member and the history of the company. For all practical purposes, Traditions is a newemployee orientation.
Training doesn’t stop at orientation, though. While all positions receive extensive training, one of themost extensive trainings are especially for Disney characters, since their presence at the theme parks is amajor part of the customer experience. To become a character cast member, a character performer auditionis required. The auditions require dancing and acting, and once hired, the individual is given the job ofseveral characters to play. After a two-week intensive training process on character history, personalities,and ability to sign the names of the characters (for the autograph books sold at the parks for kids), anexam is given. The exam tests competency in character understanding, and passing the exam is required tobecome hired (Hill, 2005).
While Disney University trains people for specific positions, it also offers an array of continuingdevelopment courses called Disney Development Connection. Disney says in 2010, more than 3,254,596hours were spent training a variety of employees2, from characters to management. The training doesn’tstop at in-house training, either. Disney offers tuition reimbursement up to $700 per credit and pays for100 percent of books and $100 per course for cost of other materials. In 2010, Disney paid over $8 millionin tuition expenses for cast members2.
Disney consistently ranks in “America’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune Magazine, and itsexcellent training could be one of the many reasons.
Job Swapping Training DeliveryJob Swapping Training Delivery
Job swapping is a method for training in which two employees agree to change jobs for a period of time. Of
course, with this training delivery method, other training would be necessary to ensure the employee learns the
skills needed to perform the skills of the new job. Job swap options can be motivational to employees by providing
a change of scenery. It can be great for the organization as well to cross-train employees in different types of jobs.
However, the time spent learning can result in unproductive time and lost revenue.
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Figure 8.5
Vestibule training is also known as “near site” training and can work great for many types of training
needs, such as team training and technical training.
Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0.
Vestibule Training DeliveryVestibule Training Delivery
In vestibule training, training is performed near the worksite in conference rooms, lecture rooms, and classrooms.
This might be an appropriate method to deliver orientations and some skills-based training. For example, to
become a journeyman electrician, an apprentice performs job shadowing, on-the-job training, and vestibule
training to learn the law and codes related to electricity installation. During the busy holiday season, Macy’s uses
vestibule training to teach new hires how to use the cash register system and provides skills training on how to
provide great customer service (Macy’s, 2010).
Many organizations use vestibule training for technical training, safety training, professional training, and quality
training. It can also be appropriate for managerial training, soft skills training, and team training. As you can tell,
this delivery method, like web-based training delivery, is quite versatile. For some jobs or training topics, this may
take too much time away from performing the actual “job,” which can result in lost productivity.
International Assignment TrainingInternational Assignment Training
Since we are working within a global economy, it might be necessary to provide training to employees who are
moving overseas or working overseas. Up to 40 percent of international assignments are terminated early because
of a lack of international training (Sullivan & Tu, 2011). Ensuring success overseas is reliant upon the local
8 . 3 T R A I N I N G D E L I V E R Y M E T H O D S • 2 4 1
employee’s learning how to navigate in the new country. The following topics might be included in this type of
training:
1. Cultural differences and similarities
2. Insight and daily living in the country
3. Social norms and etiquette
4. Communication training, such as language skills
This training is best delivered by a professional in the region or area in which the employee will be working. We
discuss this topic in more detail in Chapter 14 “International HRM”.
Key Takeaways
• Training delivery methods are important to consider, depending on the type of training that needs tobe performed.
• Most organizations do not use only one type of training delivery method; a combination of manymethods will be used.
• On-the-job coaching delivery method is a training delivery method in which an employee is assignedto a more experienced employee or manager to learn the skills needed for the job. This is similar tothe mentor training delivery method, except a mentor training method is less about skills trainingand more about ongoing employee development.
• Brown bag lunch training delivery is normally informal and can involve personal development aswell as specific job-related skills.
• Web-based training is any type of training that is delivered using technology.
• There are numerous platforms that can be used for web-based training and considerations, such ascost, when selecting a platform for use.
• A synchronous training method is used for web-based training and refers to delivery that is led by afacilitator. An asynchronous training method is one that is self-directed.
• Job shadowing is a delivery method consisting of on-the-job training and the employee’s learningskills by watching someone more experienced.
• To motivate employees and allow them to develop new skills, job swapping training delivery may beused. This occurs when two people change jobs for a set period of time to learn new skills. With thismethod, it is likely that other methods will also be used, too.
• Vestibule training delivery is also known as “near site” training. It normally happens in a classroom,conference room, or lecture room and works well to deliver orientations and some skills-basedtraining. Many organizations also use vestibule training for technical training, safety training,professional training, and quality training.
• Since many companies operate overseas, providing training to those employees with internationalassignments can better prepare them for living and working abroad.
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Exercises
1. Do an Internet search on web-based training. Discuss two of the platforms you found. What arethe features and benefits?
2. Which training delivery method do you think you personally would prefer in a job and why?
3. What do you see as advantages and disadvantages to each type of training method?
1“Advantages and Disadvantages,” Web Based Training Information Center, accessed July 27, 2010,
http://www.webbasedtraining.com/primer_advdis.aspx.
2“Training and Development,” Disney, accessed July 30, 2011, http://corporate.disney.go.com/citizenship2010/
disneyworkplaces/overview/traininganddevelopment/.
ReferencesReferences
DigitalChalk website, accessed August 12, 2010, http://www.digitalchalk.com/.
Hill, J., “Blood, Sweat, and Fur,” Jim Hill Media, May 2005, accessed July 30, 2011, http://jimhillmedia.com/
guest_writers1/b/rob_bloom/archive/2005/05/03/1703.aspx.
Macy’s website, accessed July 27, 2010, http://www.macysjobs.com/about/.
Microsoft’s SharePoint website, accessed August 12, 2010, http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/Pages/
default.aspx.
Sullivan, S. E. and Howard Tu, “Preparing Yourself for an International Assignment,” Bnet, accessed September
15, 2011, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1038/is_n1_v37/ai_14922926/.
8 . 3 T R A I N I N G D E L I V E R Y M E T H O D S • 2 4 3
8.4 Designing a Training Program
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to design a training program framework.
2. Understand the uses and applications of a career development program.
The next step in the training process is to create a training framework that will help guide you as you set up a
training program. Information on how to use the framework is included in this section.
Training Program Framework DevelopmentTraining Program Framework Development
When developing your training plan, there are a number of considerations. Training is something that should be
planned and developed in advance.
Figure 8.6 Training Program Development Model
244
The considerations for developing a training program are as follows:
1. Needs assessment and learning objectives. This part of the framework development asks you to
consider what kind of training is needed in your organization. Once you have determined the training
needed, you can set learning objectives to measure at the end of the training.
2. Consideration of learning styles. Making sure to teach to a variety of learning styles is important to
development of training programs.
3. Delivery mode. What is the best way to get your message across? Is web-based training more
appropriate, or should mentoring be used? Can vestibule training be used for a portion of the training while
job shadowing be used for some of the training, too? Most training programs will include a variety of
delivery methods.
4. Budget. How much money do you have to spend on this training?
5. Delivery style. Will the training be self-paced or instructor led? What kinds of discussions and
interactivity can be developed in conjunction with this training?
6. Audience. Who will be part of this training? Do you have a mix of roles, such as accounting people and
marketing people? What are the job responsibilities of these individuals, and how can you make the training
relevant to their individual jobs?
7. Content. What needs to be taught? How will you sequence the information?
8. Timelines. How long will it take to develop the training? Is there a deadline for training to be completed?
9. Communication. How will employees know the training is available to them?
10. Measuring effectiveness of training. How will you know if your training worked? What ways will you
use to measure this?
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Can you think of a time where you received training, but the facilitator did not connect with the audience?Does that ever happen in any of your classes (of course not this one, though)?
Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment
The first step in developing a training program is to determine what the organization needs in terms of training.
There are three levels of training needs assessment: organizational assessment, occupational (task) assessment,
and individual assessment:
1. Organizational assessment. In this type of needs assessment, we can determine the skills, knowledge,
and abilities a company needs to meet its strategic objectives. This type of assessment considers things such
as changing demographics and technological trends. Overall, this type of assessment looks at how the
organization as a whole can handle its weaknesses while promoting strengths.
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2. Occupational (task) assessment. This type of assessment looks at the specific tasks, skills knowledge,
and abilities required to do jobs within the organization.
3. Individual assessment. An individual assessment looks at the performance of an individual employee
and determines what training should be accomplished for that individual.
We can apply each of these to our training plan. First, to perform an organizational assessment, we can look at
future trends and our overall company’s strategic plan to determine training needs. We can also see how jobs and
industries are changing, and knowing this, we can better determine the occupational and individual assessments.
Researching training needs can be done through a variety of ways. One option is to use an online tool such as
SurveyMonkey to poll employees on what types of training they would like to see offered.
As you review performance evaluations turned in by your managers, you may see a pattern developing showing
that employees are not meeting expectations. As a result, this may provide data as to where your training is
lacking.
There are also types of training that will likely be required for a job, such as technical training, safety training,
quality training, and professional training. Each of these should be viewed as separate training programs, requiring
an individual framework for each type of training. For example, an employee orientation framework will look
entirely different from an in-house technical training framework.
Training must be tied to job expectations. Any and all training developed should transfer directly to the skills of
that particular employee. Reviewing the HR strategic plan and various job analyses may help you see what kind
of training should be developed for specific job titles in your organization.
Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives
After you have determined what type of training should occur, learning objectives for the training should be set. A
learning objective is what you want the learner to be able to do, explain, or demonstrate at the end of the training
period. Good learning objectives are performance based and clear, and the end result of the learning objective can
be observable or measured in some way. Examples of learning objectives might include the following:
1. Be able to explain the company policy on sexual harassment and give examples of sexual harassment.
2. Be able to show the proper way to take a customer’s order.
3. Perform a variety of customer needs analyses using company software.
4. Understand and utilize the new expense-tracking software.
5. Explain the safety procedure in handling chemicals.
6. Be able to explain the types of communication styles and strategies to effectively deal with each style.
7. Demonstrate ethics when handling customer complaints.
8. Be able to effectively delegate to employees.
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Once we have set our learning objectives, we can utilize information on learning styles to then determine the best
delivery mode for our training.
Learning StylesLearning Styles
Understanding learning styles is an important component to any training program. For our purposes, we will
utilize a widely accepted learning style model. Recent research has shown that classifying people into learning
styles may not be the best way to determine a style, and most people have a different style depending on the
information being taught. In a study by Pashler et al., the authors look at aptitude and personality as key traits
when learning, as opposed to classifying people into categories of learning styles. Bearing this in mind, we will
address a common approach to learning styles next.
An effective trainer tries to develop training to meet the three different learning styles1:
1. Visual learner. A visual learner usually has a clear “picture” of an experience. A visual learner often
says things such as “I can see what you are saying” or “This looks good.” A visual learner is best reached
using graphics, pictures, and figures.
2. Auditory learner. An auditory learner learns by sound. An auditory learner might say, “If I hear you
right” or “What do you hear about this situation?” The auditory learner will learn by listening to a lecture or
to someone explaining how to do something.
3. Kinesthetic learner. A kinesthetic learner learns by developing feelings toward an experience. These
types of learners tend to learn by doing rather than listening or seeing someone else do it. This type of
learner will often say things such as “This feels right.”
Most individuals use more than one type of learning style, depending on what kinds of information they are
processing. For example, in class you might be a visual learner, but when learning how to change a tire, you might
be a kinesthetic learner.
Delivery ModeDelivery Mode
Depending on the type of training that needs to be delivered, you will likely choose a different mode to deliver
the training. An orientation might lend itself best to vestibule training, while sexual harassment training may be
better for web-based training. When choosing a delivery mode, it is important to consider the audience and budget
constrictions. For example, Oakwood Worldwide, a provider of temporary housing, recently won the Top 125
Training Award for its training and development programs2. It offers in-class and online classes for all associates
and constantly add to its course catalog. This is a major recruitment as well as retention tool for its employees.
In fact, the company credits this program for retaining 25 percent of its workforce for ten years or more. Table
8.1 “Types of Training and Delivery” looks at each of the types of training and suggests appropriate options for
delivery modes.
Table 8.1 Types of Training and Delivery
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Delivery Method Type of Training Suggested
Technical training
Skills training
Managerial trainingOn-the-job coaching
Safety training
Technical training
Skills training
Managerial trainingMentor
Safety training
Quality training
Soft skills training
Professional trainingBrown bag lunch
Safety training
Technical training
Quality training
Skills training
Soft skills training
Professional training
Team training
Managerial training
Web-based
Safety training
Technical training
Quality training
Skills trainingJob shadowing
Safety training
Technical training
Quality training
Skills training
Professional training
Team training
Managerial training
Job swapping
Safety training
Technical training
Quality training
Skills training
Soft skills training
Professional training
Vestibule training
Team training
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Delivery Method Type of Training Suggested
Managerial training
Safety training
BudgetBudget
How much money do you think the training will cost? The type of training performed will depend greatly on the
budget. If you decide that web-based training is the right delivery mode, but you don’t have the budget to pay
the user fee for the platform, this wouldn’t be the best option. Besides the actual cost of training, another cost
consideration is people’s time. If employees are in training for two hours, what is the cost to the organization while
they are not able to perform their job? A spreadsheet should be developed that lists the actual cost for materials,
snacks, and other direct costs, but also the indirect costs, such as people’s time.
Delivery StyleDelivery Style
Taking into consideration the delivery method, what is the best style to deliver this training? It’s also important to
keep in mind that most people don’t learn through “death by PowerPoint”; they learn in a variety of ways, such as
auditory, kinesthetic, or visual. Considering this, what kinds of ice breakers, breakout discussions, and activities
can you incorporate to make the training as interactive as possible? Role plays and other games can make the
training fun for employees. Many trainers implement online videos, podcasts, and other interactive media in their
training sessions. This ensures different learning styles are met and also makes the training more interesting.
AudienceAudience
Considering your audience is an important aspect to training. How long have they been with the organization, or
are they new employees? What departments do they work in? Knowing the answers to these questions can help
you develop a relevant delivery style that makes for better training. For example, if you know that all the people
attending the training are from the accounting department, examples you provide in the training can be focused
on this type of job. If you have a mixed group, examples and discussions can touch on a variety of disciplines.
Content DevelopmentContent Development
The content you want to deliver is perhaps one of the most important parts in training and one of the most time-
consuming to develop. Development of learning objectives or those things you want your learners to know after
the training makes for a more focused training. Think of learning objectives as goals—what should someone know
after completing this training? Here are some sample learning objectives:
1. Be able to define and explain the handling of hazardous materials in the workplace.
2. Be able to utilize the team decision process model.
3. Understand the definition of sexual harassment and be able to recognize sexual harassment in the
workplace.
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4. Understand and be able to explain the company policies and structure.
After you have developed the objectives and goals, you can begin to develop the content of the training.
Consideration of the learning methods you will use, such as discussion and role playing, will be outlined in your
content area.
Development of content usually requires a development of learning objectives and then a brief outline of the major
topics you wish to cover. With that outline, you can “fill in” the major topics with information. Based on this
information, you can develop modules or PowerPoint slides, activities, discussion questions, and other learning
techniques.
TimelinesTimelines
For some types of training, time lines may be required to ensure the training has been done. This is often the case
for safety training; usually the training should be done before the employee starts. In other words, in what time
frame should an employee complete the training?
Another consideration regarding time lines is how much time you think you need to give the training. Perhaps
one hour will be enough, but sometimes, training may take a day or even a week. After you have developed your
training content, you will likely have a good idea as to how long it will take to deliver it. Consider the fact that
most people do not have a lot of time for training and keep the training time realistic and concise.
From a long-term approach, it may not be cost effective to offer an orientation each time someone new is hired.
One consideration might be to offer orientation training once per month so that all employees hired within that
month are trained at the same time.
Development of a dependable schedule for training might be ideal, as in the following example:
1. Orientation is offered on the first Thursday of every month.
2. The second and third Tuesday will consist of vestibule training on management skills and
communication.
3. Twice yearly, in August and March, safety and sexual harassment training will be given to meet the legal
company requirements.
Developing a dependable training schedule allows for better communication to your staff, results in fewer
communication issues surrounding training, and allows all employees to plan ahead to attend training.
CommunicationCommunication
Once you have developed your training, your next consideration is how you will communicate the available
training to employees. In a situation such as an orientation, you will need to communicate to managers, staff, and
anyone involved in the training the timing and confirm that it fits within their schedule. If it is an informal training,
such as a brown bag lunch on 401(k) plans, this might involve determining the days and times that most people
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are in the office and might be able to participate. Because employees use Mondays and Fridays, respectively, to
catch up and finish up work for the week, these days tend to be the worst for training.
Consider utilizing your company’s intranet, e-mail, and even old-fashioned posters to communicate the training.
Many companies have Listservs that can relay the message to only certain groups, if need be.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What can happen if training is not communicated to employees appropriately?
Measuring EffectivenessMeasuring Effectiveness
After we have completed the training, we want to make sure our training objectives were met. One model to
measure effectiveness of training is the Kirkpatrick model (Kirkpatrick, 2006), developed in the 1950s. His model
has four levels:
1. Reaction: How did the participants react to the training program?
2. Learning: To what extent did participants improve knowledge and skills?
3. Behavior: Did behavior change as a result of the training?
4. Results: What benefits to the organization resulted from the training?
Each of Kirkpatrick’s levels can be assessed using a variety of methods. We will discuss those next.
Figure 8.7 Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation
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Review the performance of the employees who received the training, and if possible review the performance of
those who did not receive the training. For example, in your orientation training, if one of the learning objectives
was to be able to request time off using the company intranet, and several employees who attended the training
come back and ask for clarification on how to perform this task, it may mean the training didn’t work as well as
you might have thought. In this case, it is important to go back and review the learning objectives and content of
your training to ensure it can be more effective in the future.
Many trainers also ask people to take informal, anonymous surveys after the training to gauge the training. These
types of surveys can be developed quickly and easily through websites such as SurveyMonkey. Another option
is to require a quiz at the end of the training to see how well the employees understand what you were trying to
teach them. The quiz should be developed based on the learning objective you set for the training. For example,
if a learning objective was to be able to follow OSHA standards, then a quiz might be developed specifically
related to those standards. There are a number of online tools, some free, to develop quizzes and send them to
people attending your training. For example, Wondershare QuizCreator offers a free trial and enables the manager
to track who took the quiz and how well they did. Once developed by the trainer, the quiz can be e-mailed to each
participant and the manager can see how each trainee did on the final quiz. After you see how participants do on
the quiz, you can modify the training for next time to highlight areas where participants needed improvement.
It can be easy to forget about this step in the training process because usually we are so involved with the next
task: we forget to ask questions about how something went and then take steps to improve it.
One way to improve effectiveness of a training program is to offer rewards when employees meet training goals.
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For example, if budget allows, a person might receive a pay increase or other reward for each level of training
completed.
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Figure 8.8
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8 . 4 D E S I G N I N G A T R A I N I N G P R O G R A M • 2 5 5
Once the training framework has been developed, the training content can be developed. The training plan
serves as a starting point for training development.
Career Development Programs and Succession PlanningCareer Development Programs and Succession Planning
Another important aspect to training is career development programs. A career development program is a process
developed to help people manage their career, learn new things, and take steps to improve personally and
professionally. Think of it as a training program of sorts, but for individuals. Sometimes career development
programs are called professional development plans.
Figure 8.9 Sample Career Development Plan Developed by an Employee and Commented on by Her Manager
Today’s Date February 15, 2012
Employee Sammie Smith
Current job title Clerk, Accounts Payable
Goals
• Develop management skills
• Learn accounting standards
• Promoted to Accounts Payable Manager
Estimated Costs
• Management training
• Peachtree accounting software Advanced training
• Earn AAAS online degree in accounting
• Take tax certification course
• Communications training
Completion Date Spring of 2014
Manager Notes:
• In-house training offered yearly: “Reading Body Language,” and “Writing Development,” and “Running an Effective Meeting”
• External Training needed: Peachtree software, AAAS Degree, Tax certification Training Course
• Assign Sammie to Dorothy Redgur, the CFO for mentorship
• Next steps: Sammie should develop a timeline for when she plans to complete the seminars.
The budget allows us to pay up to $1,000 per year for external training for all employees. Talk with Sammie about how to receive reimbursement.
As you can see, the employee developed goals and made suggestions on the types of training that could help her meet her goals. Based on this
data, the manager suggested in-house training and external training for her to reach her goals within the organization.
Career development programs are necessary in today’s organizations for a variety of reasons. First, with a
maturing baby-boom population, newer employees must be trained to take those jobs once baby boomers retire.
Second, if an employee knows a particular path to career development is in place, this can increase motivation.
A career development plan usually includes a list of short- and long-term goals that employees have pertaining
to their current and future jobs and a planned sequence of formal and informal training and experiences needed
to help them reach the goals. As this chapter has discussed, the organization can and should be instrumental in
defining what types of training, both in-house and external, can be used to help develop employees.
To help develop this type of program, managers can consider a few components (Heller, 2005):
1. Talk to employees. Although this may seem obvious, it doesn’t always happen. Talking with employees
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about their goals and what they hope to achieve can be a good first step in developing a formal career
development program.
2. Create specific requirements for career development. Allow employees to see that if they do A, B,
and C, they will be eligible for promotion. For example, to become a supervisor, maybe three years of
experience, management training, and communication training are required. Perhaps an employee might be
required to prove themselves in certain areas, such as “maintain and exceed sales quota for eight quarters”
to be a sales manager. In other words, in career development there should be a clear process for the
employees to develop themselves within the organization.
3. Use cross-training and job rotation. Cross-training is a method by which employees can gain
management experience, even if for short periods of time. For example, when a manager is out of the office,
putting an employee “in charge” can help the employee learn skills and abilities needed to perform that
function appropriately. Through the use of job rotation, which involves a systematic movement of
employees from job to job within an organization, employees can gain a variety of experiences to prepare
them for upward movement in the organization.
4. Utilize mentors. Mentorship can be a great way for employees to understand what it takes to develop
one’s career to the next level. A formal mentorship program in place with willing mentees can add value to
your career development program.
Figure 8.10 Career Development Sample Process to Become an Accounts Payable Manager
There are many tools on the web, including templates to help employees develop their own career development
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plans. Many organizations, in fact, ask employees to develop their own plans and use those as a starting point for
understanding long-term career goals. Then hopefully the organization can provide them with the opportunities
to meet these career goals. In the late 1980s, many employees felt that career opportunities at their current
organizations dwindled after seeing the downsizing that occurred. It gave employees the feeling that companies
were not going to help develop them, unless they took the initiative to do so themselves. Unfortunately, this
attitude means that workers will not wait for career opportunities within the company, unless a clear plan and
guide is put into place by the company (Capelli, 2010). Here is an example of a process that can be used to put a
career development program in place (Adolfo, 2010):
1. Meet individually with employees to identify their long-term career interests (this may be done by human
resources or the direct manager).
2. Identify resources within the organization that can help employees achieve their goals. Create new
opportunities for training if you see a gap in needs versus what is currently offered.
3. Prepare a plan for each employee, or ask them to prepare the plan.
4. Meet with the employee to discuss the plan.
5. During performance evaluations, revisit the plan and make changes as necessary.
Identifying and developing a planning process not only helps the employee but also can assist the managers in
supporting employees in gaining new skills, adding value, and motivating employees.
Figure 8.11 Career Development Planning Process
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Key Takeaways
• There are a number of key considerations in developing a training program. Training should not behandled casually but instead developed specifically to meet the needs of the organization. This canbe done by a needs assessment consisting of three levels: organizational, occupational, andindividual assessments.
• The first consideration is the delivery mode; depending on the type of training and other factors,some modes might be better than others.
• Budget is a consideration in developing training. The cost of materials, but also the cost of time,should be considered.
• The delivery style must take into account people’s individual learning styles. The amount of lecture,discussion, role plays, and activities are considered part of delivery style.
• The audience for the training is an important aspect when developing training. This can allow thetraining to be better developed to meet the needs and the skills of a particular group of people.
• The content obviously is an important consideration. Learning objectives and goals for the trainingshould be developed before content is developed.
• After content is developed, understanding the time constraints is an important aspect. Will thetraining take one hour or a day to deliver? What is the time line consideration in terms of whenpeople should take the training?
• Letting people know when and where the training will take place is part of communication.
• The final aspect of developing a training framework is to consider how it will be measured. At theend, how will you know if the trainees learned what they needed to learn?
• A career development process can help retain good employees. It involves creating a specificprogram in which employee goals are identified and new training and opportunities are identifiedand created to help the employee in the career development process.
Exercises
1. Develop a rough draft of a training framework using Figure 8.8 for a job you find onMonster.com.
2. Write three learning objectives you think would be necessary when developing orientationtraining for a receptionist in an advertising firm.
3. Why is a career development plan important to develop personally, even if your company doesn’thave a formal plan in place? List at least three reasons and describe.
1“What’s YOUR Learning Style?” adapted from Instructor Magazine, University of South Dakota, August 1989,
accessed July 28, 2010, http://people.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learning-style/.
2“Oakwood Worldwide Honored by Training Magazine for Fifth Consecutive Year Training also Presents
8 . 4 D E S I G N I N G A T R A I N I N G P R O G R A M • 2 5 9
Oakwood with Best Practice Award,” press release, February 25, 2011, Marketwire, accessed February 26, 2011,
http://www.live-pr.com/en/oakwood-worldwide-honored-by-training-magazine-r1048761409.htm.
ReferencesReferences
Adolfo, J. T., “The Career Development Plan: A Quick Guide for Managers and Supervisors,” n.d., National
Career Development Association, accessed July 29, 2010, http://associationdatabase.com/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/
news_article/6420/_PARENT/layout_details/false.
Capelli, P., “A Balanced Plan for Career Development,” n.d., Microsoft, accessed July 29, 2010,
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/a-balanced-plan-for-career-development-HA001126815.aspx.
Heller, M., “Six Tips for Effective Employee Development Programs,” CIO Magazine, June 15, 2005, accessed
July 28, 2010, http://www.cio.com/article/29169/Six_Tips_for_Effective_Career_Development_Programs.
Kirkpatrick, D., Evaluating Training Programs, 3rd ed. (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2006).
Pashler, H., Mark McDaniel, Doug Rohrer, and Robert Bjork, “Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence,”
Psychological Science in the Public Interest 9, no. 3 (2008): 109–19, accessed February 26, 2011,
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/pspi/PSPI_9_3.pdf.
WonderShare QuizCreator, accessed July 29, 2010, http://www.sameshow.com/quiz-creator.html#172.
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8.5 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Employee training and development is a necessity in today’s work environment. Training anddevelopment can lead to lower turnover and increased motivation.
• There are four basic steps to employee training: employee orientation, in-house training, mentoring,and external training.
• Different types of training can be delivered, each falling into the steps of employee training. Theseinclude technical or technology training, quality training, skills training, soft skills training,professional training, team training, managerial training, and safety training.
• Within the types of training, we need to determine which method is best for the actual delivery oftraining. Options include on-the-job training, mentor training, brown bag lunches, web-basedtraining, job shadowing, job swapping, and vestibule training.
• Development of a training development framework is the first step in solidifying the training.
• Considerations and steps to developing the training framework include determining the trainingneeds, delivery modes, budget, delivery style, audience, content, time lines, communication of thetraining, and measurement of the training.
• Career development programs can be an essential piece to the training puzzle. A comprehensiveprogram or plan, either developed by employees or administered by HR, can help with motivationand fill the gap when people in the organization leave or retire. It can also be used as a motivationaltool.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
New on the Job
261
JoAnn Michaels just started her job as human resources manager at In the Dog House, a retail chainspecializing in dog apparel and accessories. She is a good friend of yours you met in college.
The organization has 35 stores with 250 employees in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. As the chain hasgrown, the training programs have been conducted somewhat piecemeal. Upon visiting some of the storesin a three-week tour, JoAnn has realized that all the stores seem to have different ways of training theirin-store employees.
When she digs further, she realizes even the corporate offices, which employ seventy-five people, haveno formal training program. In the past, they have done informal and optional brown bag lunch trainingto keep employees up to date. As a result, JoAnn develops a survey using SurveyMonkey and sends it toall seventy-five corporate employees. She created a rating system, with 1 meaning strongly disagree and5 meaning strongly agree. Employees were not required to answer all questions, hence the variation in thenumber of responses column. After this task, JoAnn creates a slightly different survey and sends it to allstore managers, asking them to encourage their retail employees to take the survey. The results are shownhere.
In the Dog House Corporate Employee Survey Results
QuestionNumber ofResponses
AverageRating
I am paid fairly. 73 3.9
I feel my group works well as a team. 69 2.63
I appreciate the amount of soft skills training offered at In the Dog House. 74 2.1
I can see myself growing professionally here. 69 1.95
I feel I am paid fairly. 74 3.8
I have all the tools and equipment I need to do my job. 67 4.2
I feel confident if there were an emergency at the office, I would know what to do andcould help others.
73 2.67
I think my direct supervisor is an excellent manager. 55 2.41
The orientation training I received was helpful in understanding the expectations of the job. 75 3.1
I would take training related to my job knowing there would be a reward offered for doingso.
71 4.24
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In the Dog House Retail Employee Survey Results
QuestionNumber ofResponses
AverageRating
I am content with the benefits I am receiving. 143 1.2
I feel my store works well as a team. 190 4.1
I appreciate the amount of product training and information offered at In the Dog House. 182 2.34
I can see myself growing professionally here. 158 1.99
I feel I am paid fairly. 182 3.2
My supervisor works with my schedule, so I work at times that are convenient for me. 172 3.67
I feel confident if I had to evacuate the store, I would know what to do and could helpcustomers.
179 2.88
I think my store manager is a great manager. 139 3.34
The orientation training I received was helpful in understanding the expectations of thejob.
183 4.3
I am interested in developing my career at In the Dog House. 174 1.69
Based on the information JoAnn received from her survey, she decided some changes need to be made.JoAnn asks you to meet for coffee and take a look at the results. After you review them, JoAnn asks youthe following questions. How would you respond to each?
1. “Obviously, I need to start working on some training programs. Which topics do you think Ishould start with?”
2. “How do I go about developing a training program that will be really useful and make peopleexcited? What are the steps I need to take?”
3. “How should I communicate the training program to the corporate and retail employees? Shouldthe new training I develop be communicated in the same way?”
4. “Do you think that we should look at changing pay and benefits? Why or why not?”
5. “Can you please help me draft a training program framework for what we have discussed? Do youthink I should design one for both the corporate offices and one for the retail stores?” (Hint: Look atFigure 8.8 for guidelines.)
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. In teams of three to four, outline a two-hour training program for managers to better understandmotivation for their employees. Motivation is discussed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”.Use the training development model discussed in this chapter. Your training should address learningobjectives, delivery modes, budget, delivery style, time line, communication, and measurement.Prepare a five-minute presentation to present in class.
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2. Using the same plan above, plan and deliver the content to the rest of the class.
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Chapter 9: Successful EmployeeCommunication
The Biggest ChallengeThe Biggest Challenge
Casey is seated at his desk reviewing his human resource strategic plan when Lily walks in, obviously upset. Her
facial expressions show she is upset, and after she enters, she crosses her arms while standing in front of Casey’s
desk. Casey thinks Lily is a very hard worker and does an excellent job managing people as the manager of her
marketing department. Lately, she has been having trouble with some of her employees.
“Casey,” she says, “I really need to vent. Can I sit down and talk with you?” Casey offers Lily a seat and she sits
down. She tells Casey that Sam, a marketing manager, made snide and underhanded comments during a meeting
this morning. “For example, when I asked the status on one of our projects, Sam said snidely, ‘Why don’t you ask
one of your marketing assistants? They are doing such a great job, after all.’ I suspect he is upset with something I
wrote on my blog last week. As you know, I started the blog to continually let employees know of changes in the
department and to provide feedback. In last week’s blog, I wrote about what a great job the marketing assistants
are doing in my department.”
Lily goes on, “So I pulled him aside after the meeting and asked him about his comment. He said that he was
upset that I had given feedback to the marketing assistants because he feels that as their manager, it is his job to
do that. He felt I had stepped on his toes and the toes of other marketing managers.”
Casey thinks about the situation and asks Lily if she apologized. Lily responds, “I didn’t feel like I needed to. I do
think the marketing assistants are doing a good job, and I don’t need to apologize for mentioning that. I am just
trying to raise morale among them. You know, two marketing assistants have quit in the last three months.”
Casey leans back in his chair and gives some thought as to how to advise Lily. He suggests that Lily speak with
Sam directly (not via e-mail) and tell him that her intention was only positive and not meant to be harmful, and
see what happens. Lily thinks about that and says she will try to see Sam later today. When she leaves, Casey sits
back and thinks about how communication is one of the biggest challenges in any job, but especially in human
resources.
265
Communication IntroductionCommunication Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on employee communication
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9.1 Communication Strategies
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the concept of emotional intelligence.
2. Describe the four types of communication in the workplace.
3. Explain the various communication styles and identify your own style.
4. Define nonverbal communication and describe the importance of it in an HR setting.
Communication, as you see in our opening scenario, is key to a successful career as a human resource manager
(HRM) or as a manager. While communication is likely discussed in several of your business classes, it should
also be addressed in an HRM book, since much of what we do in HR is based on effective communication.
How many times do miscommunications happen on a daily basis, either in your personal life or at your job? The
good news is that we can all get better at communication. The first thing we need to do is learn how we can
communicate with our employees. Then we will want to look at our own communication style and compare that
with other styles. Have you ever spoken with someone you just didn’t “get”? It is probably because you have
different communication styles. We address this in Section 9.1.3 “Communication Styles”. Body language is also
a key contributor to communication; in fact, as was suggested in the late 1960s by researcher Albert Mehrabian,
body language makes up 93 percent of our communication (Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967). Part of communication
is also looking at the way we manage people. Depending on our style of management, we may use a variety
of management styles to communicate things we need done or to give performance feedback. One major way
companies communicate with employees is through the use of meetings. Some meetings can be very effective,
but as you probably already know, many meetings aren’t very productive. We will discuss some strategies to help
you run a more effective meeting.
Communication and Emotional Intelligence (EI)Communication and Emotional Intelligence (EI)
One of the most important aspects to good communication is emotional intelligence (EI). Emotional intelligence is
different from IQ. First, EI predicts much of life success, much more than IQ, in fact (Goleman, 2005). According
to Daniel Goleman, a researcher on EI, there are five main aspects or domains to EI:
267
1. Knowing your emotions
2. Managing your emotions
3. Motivating yourself
4. Recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions
5. Managing relationships
First, let’s discuss knowing your emotions. If we don’t know how we feel about something, it can be difficult
to communicate. It may seem obvious to know what we are feeling from moment to moment, but oftentimes we
do not. How we feel impacts our body language as well as our verbal communication. For example, let’s say
you just got home from work and had a really crummy day. When you get home, you find that your spouse has
not unloaded the dishwasher yet, as you had agreed. Tie this with a crummy day, and you might communicate
differently about it than if you had a great day.
On the other hand, if you recognize that you are tired and a bit cranky, your awareness of these emotions allows
you to manage them. The third aspect of EI, motivating yourself, goes without saying in a management or human
resource role. This is the key not only to career success but also to personal success.
The last two domains of EI revolve around being able to see and understand emotions in other people, which
in turn can benefit the relationship. Let’s say, in the situation above, you get home and the dishwasher isn’t
unloaded, but you recognize immediately through body language and facial expressions that your spouse is
extremely upset by something. Seeing this emotion in someone else may help you decide if you should mention
the dishwasher—or not—at this specific time. But what if you didn’t recognize this emotion and raised your voice
to your spouse about the unloaded dishwasher? It will probably result in an argument. Using this example, I am
sure you can see how this translates into the workplace. Emotional intelligence allows us to work better with
people, understand them, and communicate with them.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Do you think you are a good communicator? What could you improve?
Communication DirectionsCommunication Directions
As you already know, communication in companies is key to having a successful organization. Those companies
who communicate well with their employees end up with more loyal and motivated workers. Those that don’t
communicate well, though, see increased turnover, absenteeism, dissatisfied customers, higher product defect
rates, lack of focus on business objectives, and lack of innovation1. Proper communication can result in a sense of
belonging and self-worth, leading to less turnover and absenteeism, which is mentioned in the opening scenario.
These issues are also discussed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”. In Section 9.1.3 “Communication
Styles”, we discuss some of the ways we can stay connected with our employees.
Four main types of communications occur within a company: upward communication, downward communication,
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diagonal communication, and horizontal communication. Each type of communication can serve a different
purpose in human resources, and many messages may be sent in a variety of ways.
Upward communication is when the lower levels of an organization communicate with the upper levels of
an organization. Some examples might be an employee satisfaction survey using online survey tools such as
SurveyMonkey. These kinds of tools can be used to determine the changes that should occur in a company.
Oftentimes human resource departments may develop a survey such as this to find out how satisfied the
employees are with things such as benefits. Then the organization can make changes based on the satisfaction
level of the employees. Employees might also engage in upward communication in a given work situation. They
might tell their manager their plate is full and they can’t take on any new projects. This is considered upward
communication, too.
Downward communication is the opposite of upward communication, in that the communication occurs from
the upper levels of an organization down to the lower levels of the organization. A manager explaining how to
do a task to an employee would be considered downward communication. Development of training programs to
communicate safety in the organization might be another example. A change in a pay or bonus structure would be
communicated using the downward approach as well.
Figure 9.1 Types of Communication Flow in Organizations
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A diagonal communication approach occurs when interdepartmental communication occurs with people at
different levels of the organization. When the human resources assistant speaks with the marketing manager about
the hiring of a new employee in marketing, this would be considered diagonal communication.
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Horizontal communication occurs when people of the same level in an organization, for example, a marketing
manager and a human resource manager, communicate usually to coordinate work between departments. An
accounting manager might share information with a production manager so the production manager knows how
much budget they have left.
Within all the communication methods we discussed, there are a variety of approaches. Of course, the most
obvious is the informal communication that occurs. An e-mail may be sent or a phone call made. Meetings
are another way to communicate information. Companies can also use more formal means to communicate. A
blog would be an example. Many companies use blogs to communicate information such as financial numbers,
changes to policy, and other “state of the business” information. This type of information is often downward
communication. However, blogs are not just for upper management anymore. Companies are using microblogs
more and more to ensure that people in various departments stay connected with each other, especially when tasks
tend to be very interdependent.
Companies also use social networking sites to keep in touch, such as Twitter and Facebook. For example, Alcatel-
Lucent, a 77,000-employee telecommunications company in Europe, found that using social media keeps a large
number of employees connected and tends to be a low or no-cost method of communicating. Rather than sending
e-mail to their employees telling them to expect updates via these methods, the news is spread via word of mouth
as most of the employees blog or use Facebook or other social media to communicate. In fact, Alcatel-Lucent has
over eight hundred groups in its system, ranging from business related to ones social in nature (Gaudin, 2010).
Use of this type of technology can result in upward, downward, horizontal, and diagonal communication all at
once.
Companies also use intranets to communicate information to their employees. An intranet is an internal website,
meaning that others generally cannot log in and see information there. The intranet may include information on
pay and vacation time as well as recent happenings, awards, and achievements.
Communication StylesCommunication Styles
In addition to the communication that occurs within organizations, each of us has our own individual
communication style. Many organizations give tests that may indicate their candidate’s preferred style, providing
information on the best job fit.
Our communication styles can determine how well we communicate with others, how well we are understood,
and even how well we get along with others. As you can imagine, our personality types and our communication
styles are very similar. Keep in mind, though, that no one person is “always” one style. We can change our style
depending on the situation. The more we can understand our own dominant communication style and pinpoint
the styles of others, the better we can communicate. The styles are expresser, driver, relater, and analytical. Let’s
discuss each of these styles next.
People with an expresser communication style tend to get excited. They like challenges and rely heavily on
hunches and feelings. Depending on the type of business, this can be a downfall as sometimes hard data should be
used for decision-making purposes. These people are easily recognized because they don’t like too many facts or
boring explanations and tend to be antsy if they feel their time is being wasted with too many facts.
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People with a driver style like to have their own way and tend to be decisive. They have strong viewpoints, which
they are not afraid to share with others. They like to take charge in their jobs but also in the way they communicate.
Drivers usually get right to the point and not waste time with small talk.
People with a relater style like positive attention and want to be regarded warmly. They want others to care about
them and treat them well. Because relaters value friendships, a good way to communicate well with them is to
create a communication environment where they can feel close to others.
People with an analytical communication style will ask a lot of questions and behave methodically. They don’t
like to be pressured to make a decision and prefer to be structured. They are easily recognized by the high number
of questions they ask.
Table 9.1 Which One of These Communication Styles Do You Tend to Use?
Passive Assertive Aggressive
DefinitionCommunication style in which you putthe rights of others before your own,minimizing your own self-worth
Communication style in which you standup for your rights while maintainingrespect for the rights of others
Communication style in which youstand up for your rights but youviolate the rights of others
my feelings are not important we are both important your feelings are not important
I don’t matter we both matter you don’t matterImplicationsto others
I think I’m inferior I think we are equal I think I’m superior
apologetic I statements you statementsVerbal styles
overly soft or tentative voice firm voice loud voice
looking down or away looking direct staring, narrow eyesNonverbalstyles stooped posture, excessive head nodding
relaxed posture, smooth and relaxedmovements
tense, clenched fists, rigid posture,pointing fingers
lowered self-esteem higher self-esteem guilt
anger at self self-respect anger from others
false feelings of inferiority respect from others lowered self-esteem
disrespect from others disrespect from others
Potentialconsequences
pitied by othersrespect of others
feared by others
Let’s discuss an example of how these communication styles might interact. Let’s assume an analytical
communicator and a relater are beginning a meeting where the purpose is to develop a project time line. The
analytical communicator will be focused on the time line and not necessarily the rapport building that the relater
would be focused on. The conversation might go something like this:
Relater:
What are you doing this weekend? I am going to my son’s baseball game. It is supposed to be hot—I am looking
forward to it.
Analytical:
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That’s great. OK, so I was thinking a start date of August 1st for this project. I can get Kristin started on a to-do
list for the project.
Relater:
That would be great. Kristin is a really hard worker, and I’m sure she won’t miss any details.
Analytical:
Yes, she’s OK. So, your team will need to start development now with a start day coming up. How are you going
to go about this?
How do these two personality styles walk away from this conversation? First, the relater may feel ignored
or rejected, because the analytical communicator didn’t want to discuss weekend details. The analytical
communicator may feel annoyed that the relater is wasting time talking about personal things when they have
a goal to set a project time line. These types of small miscommunications in business are what can create low
morale, absenteeism, and other workplace issues. Understanding which style we tend to use can be the key in
determining how we communicate with others. Here is another, personal example of these communication styles
and how a conversation might go:
Expresser, to his partner:
I am really excited for our hiking trip this weekend.
Driver:
I still think we should leave on Thursday night rather than Friday.
Expresser:
I told you, I don’t think I can get all day Friday off. Besides, we won’t have much time to explore anyway, if we
get there on Thursday, it will already be dark.
Driver:
It won’t be dark; we will get there around 7, before anyone else, if we leave after work.
Expresser:
I planned the trip. I am the one who went and got our food and permits, I don’t see why you have to change it.
Driver:
You didn’t plan the trip; I am the one who applied for the permits.
In this situation, you can see that the expresser is just excited about the trip and brings up the conversation as
such. The driver has a tendency to be competitive and wants to win, hence his willingness to get there Thursday
before everyone else. The expresser, on the other hand, tried to sell his ideas and didn’t get the feedback he felt he
deserved for planning the trip, which made the communication start to go south.
In addition to our communication personalities, people tend to communicate based on one of three styles. First, a
passive communicator tends to put the rights of others before his or her own. Passive communicators tend to be
apologetic or sound tentative when they speak. They do not speak up if they feel like they are being wronged.
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An aggressive communicator, on the other hand, will come across as standing up for his or her rights, while
possibly violating the rights of others. This person tends to communicate in a way that tells others they don’t
matter, or their feelings don’t matter.
An assertive communicator respects his rights and the rights of others when communicating. This person tends to
be direct but not insulting or offensive. The assertive communicator stands up for his or her own rights but makes
sure the rights of others aren’t affected.
Have you heard of a passive-aggressive communicator? This person tends to be passive but later aggressive by
perhaps making negative comments about others or making snide or underhanded comments. This person might
express his or her negative feelings in an indirect way, instead of being direct. For example, you are trying to
complete a project for a client and the deadline is three days away. You and your team are working frantically to
finish. You ask one of your employees to come in to work on Saturday morning to finish up the loose ends, so
the project will be ready to present to the client on Monday. Your employee agrees, but when you show up on
Monday, the project isn’t ready to present. You find out that this person had plans on Saturday but wasn’t direct
with you about this. So the project didn’t get completed, and you had to change the appointment with the client.
Later, you also find out that this employee was complaining to everyone else that you had asked her to come in on
Saturday. As you can see from this example, passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t benefit anyone. The employee
should have been direct and simply said, “I can’t come in on Saturday, but I can come in Sunday or work late
Friday night.” Ideally, we want to be assertive communicators, as this shows our own self-esteem but at the same
time respects others and isn’t misleading to others, either.
When dealing with someone who exhibits passive-aggressive behavior, it is best to just be direct with them. Tell
that person you would rather she be direct than not show up. Oftentimes passive-aggressive people try to play the
martyr or the victim. Do not allow such people to press your buttons and get you to feel sorry for them. This gives
them control and can allow them to take advantage.
Nonverbal CommunicationNonverbal Communication
Now that we have discussed the types of communication in organizations and different verbal communication
styles, it is only appropriate to discuss body language as well. Most successful HR professionals are excellent
at reading and understanding nonverbal language, especially during the interview process. This is discussed in
Chapter 5 “Selection”. The interviewer’s nonverbal language can also help or hinder a candidate, so we want
to be careful of our nonverbal language when interviewing someone. Nonverbal language accounts for a large
part of communication. Without seeing and hearing the nonverbal clues, it is easier to have misunderstandings.
Nonverbal language can include facial expressions, eye contact, standing or sitting posture, and the position of
our hands. Our tone of voice, loudness or softness, and gestures can also be part of body language. The better we
can get at knowing what our own body language is telling others and reading others’ body language, the better we
can get at communicating well with others.
Strategic HR Communication Style in OrganizationsStrategic HR Communication Style in Organizations
(click to see video)
This video addresses the importance of determining company communication style.
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Consider the use of digital forms of communication, such as e-mail and text messaging. These forms of
communication do not allow us to read another’s body language, which can often result in misconceptions about
what another is saying. Use of “smiley” icons can make this clearer, but often people cannot detect sarcasm
and other nonverbal communication cues. If you have something important to communicate, it is better to
communicate most of the time in person or via phone, so you can hear tone and see facial expressions.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
She Said What?
As the HR manager, you have a meeting scheduled in a few minutes with Adeline. Adeline is the accounting
manager for a small firm in Boise, Idaho. She has four people who report to her, Alan being one of them. Alan
manages three people in his position as account director. Adeline just left a meeting with one of Alan’s employees,
who complained of Alan’s communication style and threatened to quit. She said that Alan belittles them and
withholds information. She also complained of Alan making inappropriate comments, which were meant as a joke
but were offensive. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360833/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360833/embed.
Another note to consider on body language is how body language can be different across cultures. For example,
the OK sign (thumb and pointer figure put together to form a circle) means “great” or “fine” in the United States,
but in Brazil, Germany, and Russia, this sign would be considered both rude and offensive. In Japan, this sign
means you want the store to give you change in coins. When traveling, we often take for granted that gestures, and
even interpersonal distance, or how far apart we stand from another person, are the same at home, but obviously
this is not the case. Different nonverbal language can be different wherever you go, so reading up on the place
you will visit can ensure you won’t offend anyone while there. Having this information can also help us train our
employees for overseas assignments. This is discussed in Chapter 8 “Training and Development” and Chapter 14
“International HRM”.
Figure 9.2
What Are Each of These Images Telling Us?
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ListeningListening
Listening is obviously an important part of communication. There are three main types of listening. Competitive
or combative listening happens when we are focused on sharing our own point of view instead of listening
to someone else. In passive listening, we are interesting in hearing the other person and assume we hear and
understand what the person says correctly, without verifying. In active listening, we are interested in what the
other person has to say and we are active in checking our understanding with the speaker. For example, we may
restate what the person has said and then verify our understanding is correct. The feedback process is the main
difference between passive listening and active listening.
Figure 9.3 Active listening involves four phases (Steil, et. al., 2011).
Key Takeaways
• Emotional intelligence can be improved over time, unlike IQ, which stays stable throughout life.
• Emotional intelligence includes knowing and managing your emotions, motivating yourself,recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions, and managing relationships.
• There are four types of communication at work: downward, upward, horizontal, and diagonal. Alltypes of communication can happen at once, especially with the use of blogs and social networkingsites.
2 7 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Companies that use good communication tend to have less turnover and less absenteeism.
• There are four main types of communication styles: expresser, driver, relater, and analytical. Thebetter we can understand our own style of communication and the communication styles of others,the easier it will be to communicate with them.
• Passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive behaviors are not healthy ways of communicating.Assertive behavior, on the other hand, respects one’s own rights and the rights of others.
• Nonverbal communication is one of the most important tools we can use to communicate how wefeel. Watching others’ body language can give us signals as to how they may really feel.
• Listening is also an important part of communication. Active listening occurs when we are interestedin what the other person has to say, and we check with the speaker to make sure we understand whatthey have said. Competitive or combative listening is when we are focused on sharing our own pointof view. Passive listening is when we listen to someone, but do not verify that we understand whatsomeone is saying.
Exercises
1.Learn more about your EI by going to http://www.queendom.com/tests/access_page/index.htm?idRegTest=1121 and taking the test. Then answer the following questions:
a. What did the test say about your EI?
b. What are some things you can do to improve your EI? What strategies might you use toimprove your EI?
2. Which communication style, the expresser, driver, relater, or analytical, do you typically use?How can you get better at understanding other people’s style and get comfortable communicating intheir style?
3. Do you tend to be passive, assertive, or aggressive? Give an example of when you used each styleand discuss the result.
4. Take a few hours and watch the body language of the people in your workplace or personal life.Pay careful attention, really being aware of body language. What was the situation? What kinds ofbody language did they show?
1“Effective Communication in the Workplace,” Business Performance, accessed July 19, 2010,
http://www.businessperform.com/workplace-communication/workplace_communication.html.
ReferencesReferences
Gaudin, S., “Alcatel-Lucent Gets Social with Company Communication,” Computerworld, accessed July 19,
9 . 1 C O M M U N I C A T I O N S T R A T E G I E S • 2 7 7
2010, http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179169/
Alcatel_Lucent_gets_social_with_company_communication.
Goleman, D., Emotional Intelligence (New York: Bantam Books, 2005). The great thing about EI is that it can
actually improve over time, unlike IQ, which stays the same over a lifetime.
Mehrabian, A., and Susan R. Ferris, “Inference of Attitudes from Nonverbal Communication in Two Channels,”
Journal of Consulting Psychology 31, no. 3 (1967): 248–58.
Steil, L., Larry Barker, and Kittie Watson, “SIER Hierarchy of Active Listening,” Provenmodels, accessed August
1, 2011, http://www.provenmodels.com/554.
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9.2 Management Styles
Learning Objectives
1. Define the various types of management styles.
2. Explain how we can determine which style to use in a variety of situations.
Management style ties in very closely with communication style. There isn’t necessarily one management style
that is better than another; they are simply different and might be used in a variety of situations. HR managers can
provide training on each of these areas since management style impacts the ability and motivation of employees
to do their jobs. This is addressed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
One of the most famous Fortune 500 management styles is the GE Way, which has been discussed innumerous books and articles. In fact, GE has traditionally been the recruiting ground for other companies’CEO searches. When Jack Welch, the famous GE CEO known for several books on his management style,including Winning, retired and was replaced, it took less than a week for the two runners-up for his job tobe offered jobs at other Fortune 500 companies. Home Depot recruited Robert Nardellia and 3M recruitedW. James McNearney (Deutsch, 2007). However, the command-and-control management style responsiblefor the success of GE did not work out well for several former GE executives. Command-and-control styleis based on military management. The idea is to get people to do what you tell them to do, and if they don’t,there are major penalties, similar to an autocratic style. Many say that Nardellia was unsuccessful at HomeDepot because of this ingrained management style learned at GE (Deutsch, 2007). For example, Nardelliainsisted that shelves be stocked during off hours, and he instituted formal inventory control. Unfortunately,he didn’t understand most employees were not looking to rise within the organization, so the extra workdidn’t provide any upside for the individuals, causing high turnover. An autocratic style may work wellin some organizations, well enough for numerous books to be written, but management style isn’t alwaystransferable to other organizations, as Nardellia found out at Home Depot.
Management styles are one of the most challenging topics we can deal with in a work setting. Everyoneis different; everyone has a preference for which style motivates them the best in a variety of situations.Oftentimes managers make the mistake of using the same style for everyone, regardless of ability or
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motivation. In this section, we will discuss some of the main management styles and how to know whichone to use in a specific situation.
Task Style versus People-Centered StyleTask Style versus People-Centered Style
When we look at the styles of management, we see that most styles fall into one of two categories, a task-oriented
management style or a people-centered style.
A manager with a task-oriented style will focus on the technical or task aspects of the job. The concern for this
manager is that employees know what is expected of them and have the tools needed to do their job.
A people-oriented style is more concerned with the relationships in the workplace. The manager emphasizes the
interpersonal relations, as opposed to the task. The manager is most concerned about the welfare of the employee
and tends to be friendly and trusting.
Understanding these two main differences in management style, we will now look at other possible styles a
manager might use.
Participatory, Directing, or Teamwork StylesParticipatory, Directing, or Teamwork Styles
Utilization of a participatory management style involves both a task-oriented style and a people-centered style.
This style emphasizes how the employee’s assigned task fits into the bigger picture. This style will provide support
and input where needed. As a result, the focus is on the task but also on the person and the relationships required
to get the task done. This style might be used when the employees are experienced and the deadlines reasonable
enough to provide the time needed to focus both on the task and the person. If more hands-on management is
required1, might be appropriate. Consider a very tight deadline or an emergency situation in which someone needs
to be calling the shots. For example, in your doggie treats business, you just received an order for one hundred
dog cookies by later this afternoon. You might consider using a directing style to make sure it gets done on time.
This style doesn’t focus on the person, but rather focuses on getting the task done; hence it tends to be more of a
task-oriented style.
A manager who uses a teamwork management style believes there is a value (or necessity) in having people work
in teams. As a result, this style tends to require a people-centered approach. Relationships are most important, and
assuming the individuals work well together, the task will be successfully accomplished. The advantage to this
style, given the type of task and situation, is that as a manager you are able to pool resources and abilities from
several different people. Use of a team style can also provide big benefits for the company. For example, Google
uses a teamwork approach it calls “grouplets.” Google believes that individuals should be able to spend time on
something that interests them and is also company related. Engineers at Google spend 20 percent of their time
on this endeavor. As a result, grouplets are formed, and the grouplet works on their idea with no specific budget.
Some of the best ideas from Google have come through this teamwork process. Gmail, in fact, was developed
using a grouplet (Mediratta, 2007).
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Autocratic, Participative, and Free-Reign StylesAutocratic, Participative, and Free-Reign Styles
An autocratic style of management involves the task-oriented style. The focus is on getting things done, and
relationships are secondary. This type of manager tends to tell people what to do and takes a “my way or the
highway” approach. Another description for this type of manager is a taskmaster. This person uses his or her
authority and makes all the decisions as to who does what, how it is done, and when it should get done.
On the other hand, a participative style constantly seeks input from the employees. Setting goals, making plans,
and determining objectives are viewed as a group effort, rather than the manager making all the decisions.
At the other extreme, a free-rein style gives employees total freedom to make decisions on how things will get
done. The manager may establish a few objectives, but the employees can decide how those objectives are met. In
other words, the leader tends to be removed from the day-to-day activities but is available to help employees deal
with any situation that may come up.
Path Goal Model for LeadershipPath Goal Model for Leadership
The path goal theory says that the role of a leader is to define goals and lay down the path for the employees to
meet those goals. Aspects include clarification of the task and scope of the process. Clarification of the employee’s
role and clarification around how the success of the task will be measured are key aspects in this model. The leader
also is involved in guidance and coaching surrounding the goal and removes obstacles for employees that might
affect the completion of the task. The path goal theory says that if employees are satisfied by the leadership style,
they will be motivated toward the goals of leadership. Part of the model also stresses that the skills, experience,
and environmental contingencies of the job play a role in the success of the leader.
Figure 9.4 Path Goal Model for Leadership
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Applying Management StylesApplying Management Styles
It is great to talk about management style, but application of that management style, especially in an HR
environment, is just as important as knowing the management styles. In this section, we will discuss how and
when you might use each style when managing people.
Another way we can view leadership is through the situational leadership model (Blanchard, 2000). This model,
developed by Ken Blanchard (author of the One Minute Manager series of books), does a good job explaining
how we might use one type of management style versus another.
The model looks at three areas: the relationship behavior of the manager, the task behavior of the manager, and
the readiness of employees. The relationship behavior means how supportive the manager needs to be in helping
employees. Task behavior refers to the type of style the manager should use when managing employees, based
on their readiness level. Readiness includes the willingness and skills to perform the task at hand. Depending on
where the employees fall in each of these areas, you might use a different management style:
• D4—High Competence, High Commitment—Experienced at the job and comfortable with their own ability
to do it well. May even be more skilled than the leader.
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• D3—High Competence, Variable Commitment—Experienced and capable, but may lack the confidence to
go it alone or the motivation to do it well/quickly.
• D2—Some Competence, Low Commitment—May have some relevant skills but won’t be able to do the job
without help. The task or the situation may be new to them.
• D1—Low Competence, High Commitment—Generally lacking the specific skills required for the job at
hand but has the confidence and/or motivation to tackle it.
Based on the readiness and commitment of the employee, the leader can see what management style and level of
support the employee should experience (Situational Leadership Grid, 2008):
• S1—Telling/Directing—High task focus, low relationship focus—Leaders define the roles and tasks of the
“follower” and supervise them closely. Decisions are made by the leader and announced, so communication
is largely one way. This style can be used with people who lack competence but are enthusiastic and
committed and who need direction and supervision to get them started.
• S2—Selling/Coaching—High task focus, high relationship focus—Leaders still define roles and tasks but
seek ideas and suggestions from the follower. Decisions remain the leader’s prerogative, but
communication is much more two-way. This approach can be used with people who have some competence
but lack commitment and who need direction and supervision because they are still relatively
inexperienced. These individuals may also need support and praise to build their self-esteem and
involvement in decision making to restore their commitment.
• S3—Participating/Supporting—Low task focus, high relationship focus—Leaders pass day-to-day
decisions, such as task allocation and processes, to the follower. The leader facilitates and takes part in
decisions, but control is given to the follower. This style can be used with people who have the necessary
competence but lack confidence or motivation. These individuals may need little direction because of their
skills, but support is necessary to bolster their confidence and motivation.
• S4—Delegating—Low task focus, low relationship focus—Leaders are still involved in decisions and
problem solving, but control is with the follower. The follower decides when and how the leader will be
involved. This style would work with people who have both competence and commitment and who are able
and willing to work on a project by themselves with little supervision or support.
The bottom line when discussing management style is that no one style works best in all situations. We may be
more comfortable with one style versus another, but we need to change our management style depending on the
person and task we are working with. For example, if you have an employee who is brand new, you will likely
work with that person using a more directive style. As she develops, you might change to a participative style.
Likewise, someone who does good work and has lots of experience may prefer a free-rein style. Many managers
make the mistake of trying to use the same style with every person in every situation. To be a great manager, we
must change our styles based on the situation and the individual involved.
9 . 2 M A N A G E M E N T S T Y L E S • 2 8 3
Figure 9.5 Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model
How does this relate to human resources? First, in HR, we are the “go to” people when there are communication
issues or issues between management and employees. By understanding these styles ourselves, it will be easier
to communicate with and provide solutions for the people we work with. We might even be able to use this
information to develop management training, which can result in better communication and higher productivity.
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Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What kind of management style does your supervisor use? Is it effective?
The Three Types of Bad ManagersThe Three Types of Bad Managers
(click to see video)
This video discusses several ways to deal with a poor manager.
Key Takeaways
• Just like in communication, a different management style should be used depending on theemployee.
• Task styles focus on getting the job done, while people-centered styles focus on relationships.
• A participatory style involves both task-oriented and people-centered styles. A directing style isfocused on the task and doesn’t allow for employee participation. A teamwork style focuses onteamwork and is a people-oriented style. The advantage of this style is the ability to use strengthsfrom everyone on the team.
• An autocratic style doesn’t allow much room for employee decision making; the focus is on gettingthe task done. A participative style constantly requires input from employees. The free-rein stylegives employees freedom to make decisions on how things will get done.
• The situational leadership model, which looks at relationship behavior, task behavior, and thereadiness of employees, is used to recommend different management styles.
• No one management style works in all situations. Just like with communication, you will likely wantto vary your approach based on the situation to get the best results.
Exercises
1. Why is it important to understand management style if you are an HR professional or manager?Discuss at least three points.
2.What combinations of management style might you use in each of these situations and why?
a. You are considering a major change in the way your company does business. Your staff hasan excellent record of achieving goals, and your relationship with them is trusting andsupportive.
b. Your employees do a great job. A situation has developed in which you need to make quick
9 . 2 M A N A G E M E N T S T Y L E S • 2 8 5
decisions and finish a project by the end of the week.
c. Your employees are having trouble getting the job done. Their performance as a whole is lessthan expected.
d. You have an employee who is very motivated but has little experience.
1“Three Effective Management Styles,” Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., 2010, accessed February 5, 2010,
http://smallbusiness.dnb.com/human-resources/workforce-management/11438-1.html. a directing management
styleA management style in which the manager tends to direct rather than allow for feedback.
ReferencesReferences
Blanchard, K., Patricia Zigarmi, and Drea Zigarmi, Leadership and the One Minute Manager (New York:
HarperCollins Entertainment, 2000).
Deutsch, C., “The GE Way Isn’t for Everyone,” New York Times, January 7, 2007, accessed August 1, 2011,
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/business/worldbusiness/04iht-ge.4102488.html.
Mediratta, B., as told to Julie Bick, “The Google Way: Give Engineers Room,” New York Times, October 21,
2007, accessed February 15, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/jobs/21pre.html.
Situational Leadership Grid, Chimaera Consulting, 2008, accessed February 4, 2010,
http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/sitleader.htm.
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9.3 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Emotional intelligence can be improved over time, unlike IQ, which stays stable throughout life.
• Emotional intelligence includes knowing and managing your emotions, motivating yourself,recognizing and understanding other people’s emotions, and managing relationships.
• There are four types of communication at work: downward, upward, horizontal, and diagonal. Alltypes of communication can happen at once, especially with the use of blogs and social networkingsites.
• Companies that use good communication tend to have less turnover and less absenteeism.
• There are four main types of communication styles: expresser, driver, relater, and analytical. Thebetter we can understand our own style of communication and the communication styles of others,the easier it will be to communicate with them.
• Passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive behaviors are not healthy ways of communicating.Assertive behavior, on the other hand, respects one’s own rights and the rights of others.
• Nonverbal communication is one of the most important tools we can use to communicate how wefeel. Watching others’ body language can give us signals as to how they may really feel.
• Just like in communication, a different management style should be used depending on theemployee.
• Task styles focus on getting the job done, while people-centered styles focus on relationships.
• A participatory style involves both task-oriented and people-centered styles. A directing style isfocused on the task and doesn’t allow for employee participation. A teamwork style focuses onteamwork and is a people-oriented style. The advantage of this style is the ability to use strengthsfrom everyone on the team.
• An autocratic style doesn’t allow much room for employee decision making; the focus is on gettingthe task done. A participative style constantly requires input from employees. The free-rein stylegives employees freedom to make decisions on how things will get done.
• The situational leadership model, which looks at relationship behavior, task behavior, and thereadiness of employees, is used to recommend different management styles.
• No one management style works in all situations. Just like with communication, you will likely want
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to vary your approach based on the situation to get the best results.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Management Style, Applied
You recently completely overhauled several aspects of employee benefits, including health insurance andcompensation packages. You have also developed clear succession plans and career development plans toassist in the retention of your current employees. You are pretty excited about the changes and feel theyare better for the employees, while costing your organization less money. These plans came from yourdevelopment of a strategic plan and goals set last year. You think these plans will result in lower turnover.
However, in four recent exit interviews, the former employees mentioned the lack of communication fromyour department on the changes you made. They said they did not feel well informed and are disappointedthey were not notified. In addition, they complained of micromanagement on the part of two particularmanagers. They said they spend half of their day responding to their managers with project updates, insteadof working on the projects themselves. As you begin to think about these exit interviews, you realize thatdevelopment of the strategic plan and implementing it simply isn’t enough; you must communicate thechanges to employees as well. You also have a bit of concern about the management styles mentioned andthink it might be a good time to offer training on effective management to your entire company.
1. Using concepts from this chapter and other HRM chapters, develop an outline for a trainingprogram on effective management.
2. Discuss some of the ways you can communicate the following topics to the employees: changes tobenefits, training opportunities, compensation plans, and succession plans.
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. In groups of three to five, prepare a presentation you could give to a team of managers onmanagement style and communication. In your presentation, address how management style affectsemployee retention.
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Chapter 10: Managing Employee Performance
A DilemmaA Dilemma
You have been the store manager for a large coffee shop for three years but have never had this type of problem
employee to handle before, and you schedule a meeting to speak with your HR manager about it. Jake, one of
your best employees, has recently begun to have some problems. He is showing up to work late at least twice per
week, and he missed the mandatory employee meeting on Saturday morning. When you ask him about it, he says
that he is having some personal problems and will try to get better.
For a bit of time, Jake does get better, comes to work on time, and is his normal, pleasant self when helping
customers. However, the situation gets more serious two weeks later when Jake comes to work smelling of alcohol
and wearing the same clothes he wore to work the day before. You overhear some of the employees talking about
Jake’s drinking problem. You pull Jake aside and ask him what is happening. He says his wife kicked him out of
the house last night and he stayed with a friend, but he didn’t have time to gather any of his belongings when he
left his house. You accept his answer and hope that things will get better.
A week later, when Jake arrives for his 10–7 shift, he is obviously drunk. He is talking and laughing loudly,
smells of alcohol, and has a hard time standing up. You pull him aside and decide to have a serious talk with him.
You confront him about his drinking problem, but he denies it, saying he isn’t drunk, just tired from everything
happening with his wife. You point out the smell and the inability to stand up, and Jake starts crying and says he
quit drinking ten years ago but has recently started again with his impending divorce. He begs for you to give him
another chance and promises to stop drinking. You tell him you will think about it, but in the meantime, you send
him home.
The meeting with HR is this afternoon and you feel nervous. You want to do what is right for Jake, but you
also know this kind of disruptive behavior can’t continue. You like Jake as a person and he is normally a good
employee, so you don’t want to fire him. When you meet with the HR manager, he discusses your options. The
options, he says, are based on a discipline process developed by HR, and the process helps to ensure that the
firing of an employee is both legal and fair. As you review the process, you realize that ignoring the behavior
early on has an effect on what you can do now. Since you didn’t warn Jake earlier, you must formally document
his behavior before you can make any decision to let him go. You hope that Jake can improve so it doesn’t come
down to that.
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Managing Employee PerformanceManaging Employee Performance
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on employee performance.
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10.1 Handling Performance
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the types of performance issues that occur in the workplace, and the internal and externalreasons for poor performance.
2. Understand how to develop a process for handling employee performance issues.
3. Be able to discuss considerations for initiating layoffs or downsizing.
As you know from reading this book so far, the time and money investment in a new employee is overwhelming.
The cost to select, hire, and train a new employee is staggering. But what if that new employee isn’t working out?
This next section will provide some examples of performance issues and examples of processes to handle these
types of employee problems.
Types of Performance IssuesTypes of Performance Issues
One of the most difficult parts of managing others isn’t when they are doing a great job—it is when they aren’t
doing a good job. In this section, we will address some examples of performance issues and how to handle them.
1. Constantly late or leaves early. While we know that flexible schedules can provide a work-life balance,
managing this flexible schedule is key. Some employees may take advantage and, instead of working at
home, perform nonwork-related tasks instead.
2. Too much time spent doing personal things at work. Most companies have a policy about using a
computer or phone for personal use. For most companies, some personal use is fine, but it can become a
problem if someone doesn’t know where to draw the line.
3. Inability to handle proprietary information. Many companies handle important client and patient
information. The ability to keep this information private for the protection of others is important to the
success of the company.
4. Family issues. Child-care issues, divorce, or other family challenges can cause absenteeism, but also
poor work quality. Absenteeism is defined as a habitual pattern of not being at work.
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5. Drug and alcohol abuse. The US Department of Labor says that 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47
percent of industrial injury can be tied to alcohol consumption. The US Department of Labor estimates that
employees who use substances are 25–30 percent less productive and miss work three times more often
than nonabusing employees (US Department of Labor, 2011). Please keep in mind that when we talk about
substance abuse, we are talking about not only illegal drugs but prescription drug abuse as well. In fact, the
National Institute on Drug Abuse says that 15.2 million Americans have taken a prescription pain reliever,
tranquilizer, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once (Fisher, 2011). Substance abuse can cause
obvious problems, such as tardiness, absenteeism, and nonperformance, but it can also result in accidents or
other more serious issues.
6. Nonperforming. Sometimes employees are just not performing at their peak. Some causes may include
family or personal issues, but oftentimes it can mean motivational issues or lack of tools and/or ability to do
their current job.
7. Conflicts with management or other employees. While it is normal to have the occasional conflict at
work, some employees seem to have more than the average owing to personality issues. Of course, this
affects an organization’s productivity.
8. Theft. The numbers surrounding employee theft are staggering. The American Marketing Association
estimates $10 billion is lost annually owing to employee theft, while the FBI estimates up to $150 billion
annually1. Obviously, this is a serious employee problem that must be addressed.
9. Ethical breaches. The most commonly reported ethical breaches by employees include lying,
withholding information, abusive behavior, and misreporting time or hours worked, according to a National
Business Ethics study2. Sharing certain proprietary information when it is against company policy and
violating noncompete agreements are also considered ethical violations. Many companies also have a
nonfraternization policy that restricts managers from socializing with nonmanagement employees.
10. Harassment. Engagement of sexual harassment, bullying, or other types of harassment would be
considered an issue to be dealt with immediately and, depending on the severity, may result in immediate
termination.
11. Employee conduct outside the workplace. Speaking poorly of the organization on blogs or Facebook
is an example of conduct occurring outside the workplace that could violate company policy. Violating
specific company policies outside work could also result in termination. For example, in 2010, thirteen
Virgin Atlantic employees were fired after posting criticisms about customers and joking about the lack of
safety on Virgin airplanes in a public Facebook group (Smith, 2010). In another example, an NFL
Indianapolis Colts cheerleader was fired after racy Playboy promotional photos surfaced (before she
became a cheerleader) that showed her wearing only body paint (Chandler, 2011).
While certainly not exhaustive, this list provides some insight into the types of problems that may be experienced.
As you can see, some of these problems are more serious than others. Some issues may only require a warning,
while some may require immediate dismissal. As an HR professional, it is your job to develop policies and
procedures for dealing with such problems. Let’s discuss these next.
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FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
To handle attendance problems at many organizations, a no-fault attendance plan is put into place. Inthis type of plan, employees are allowed a certain number of absences; when they exceed that number, aprogressive discipline process begins and might result in dismissal of the employee. A no-fault attendancepolicy means there are no excused or unexcused absences, and all absences count against an employee.For example, a company might give one point for an absence that is called in the night before work, ahalf point for a tardy, and two points for a no-call and no-show absence. When an employee reaches acertain number determined by the company, he or she is disciplined. This type of policy is advantageousin industries in which unplanned absences have a direct effect on productivity, such as manufacturing andproduction. Another advantage is that managers do not need to make judgment calls on what is an excusedversus an unexcused absence, and this can result in fairness to all employees.
One such company with a no-fault attendance policy is Verizon Communications. However, the EqualEmployment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated this policy and announced that Verizon willpay $20 million to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit (Evans, 2011). The lawsuit said that thecompany, through use of the no-fault attendance policy, denied reasonable accommodations required bythe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As a result, hundreds of Verizon employees were disciplinedor fired. In this case, the EEOC cites paid or unpaid leave as one way for an employer to providereasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability. The policy specified there would be noexceptions made to the no-fault attendance policy to accommodate employees with ADA disabilities.When discussing the case, the EEOC chair justified the agency’s position by saying, “Flexibility onleave can enable a worker with a disability to remain employed and productive, a win for the worker,employer, and the economy. By contrast, an inflexible leave policy may deny workers with disabilitiesa reasonable accommodation” (Evans, 2011). Part of the settlement also involved additional training toVerizon employees on ADA and how to administer the attendance plan. This successful lawsuit shows thateven the most seemingly clear performance expectations must be flexible to meet legal obligations.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What would you do if you saw a coworker taking a box of pens home from the office?
What Influences Performance?What Influences Performance?
When an employee isn’t performing as expected, it can be very disapointing. When you consider the amount of
time it takes to recruit, hire, and train someone, it can be disappointing to find that a person has performance
issues. Sometimes performance issues can be related to something personal, such as drug or alchol abuse, but
often it is a combination of factors. Some of these factors can be internal while others may be external. Internal
factors may include the following:
1. Career goals are not being met with the job.
2. There is conflict with other employees or the manager.
1 0 . 1 H A N D L I N G P E R F O R M A N C E • 2 9 3
3. The goals or expectations are not in line with the employee’s abilities.
4. The employee views unfairness in the workplace.
5. The employee manages time poorly.
6. The employee is dissatisfied with the job.
Some of the external factors may include the following:
1. The employee doesn’t have correct equipment or tools to perform the job.
2. The job design is incorrect.
3. External motivation factors are absent.
4. There is a lack of management support.
5. The employee’s skills and job are mismatched.
All the internal reasons speak to the importance once again of hiring the right person to begin with. The external
reasons may be something that can be easily addressed and fixed. Whether the reason is internal or external,
performance issues must be handled in a timely manner. This is addressed in Section 10.1.3 “Defining Discipline”.
We discuss performance issues in greater detail in Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”.
Defining DisciplineDefining Discipline
If an employee is not meeting the expectations, discipline might need to occur. Discipline is defined as the process
that corrects undesirable behavior. The goal of a discipline process shouldn’t necessarily be to punish, but to
help the employee meet performance expectations. Often supervisors choose not to apply discipline procedures
because they have not documented past employee actions or did not want to take the time to handle the situation.
When this occurs, the organization lacks consistency among managers, possibility resulting in motivational issues
for other employees and loss of productivity.
To have an effective discipline process, rules and policies need to be in place and communicated so all employees
know the expectations. Here are some guidelines on creation of rules and organizational policies:
1. All rules or procedures should be in a written document.
2. Rules should be related to safety and productivity of the organization.
3. Rules should be written clearly, so no ambiguity occurs between different managers.
4. Supervisors, managers, and human resources should communicate rules clearly in orientation, training,
and via other methods.
5. Rules should be revised periodically, as the organization’s needs change.
Of course, there is a balance between too many “rules” and giving employees freedom to do their work. However,
the point of written rules is to maintain consistency. Suppose, for example, you have a manager in operations and a
manager in marketing. They both lead with a different style; the operations manager has a more rigid management
style, while the marketing manager uses more of a laissez-faire approach. Suppose one employee in each of
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the areas is constantly late to work. The marketing manager may not do anything about it, while the operations
manager may decide each tardy day merits a “write-up,” and after three write-ups, the employee is let go. See
how lack of consistency might be a problem? If this employee is let go, he or she might be able to successfully
file a lawsuit for wrongful termination, since another employee with the same performance issue was not let go.
Wrongful termination means an employer has fired or laid off an employee for illegal reasons, such as violation
of antidiscrimination laws or violation of oral and/or written employee agreements. To avoid such situations, a
consistent approach to managing employee performance is a crucial part of the human resources job.
The Role of the Performance Appraisal in DisciplineThe Role of the Performance Appraisal in Discipline
Besides the written rules, each individual job analysis should have rules and policies that apply to that specific
job. We discuss performance appraisal in further detail in Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”, but it is worth a
mention here as well. The performance appraisal is a systematic process to evaluate employees on (at least) an
annual basis. The organization’s performance appraisal and general rules and policies should be the tools that
measure the employee’s overall performance. If an employee breaks the rules or does not meet expectations of
the performance appraisal, the performance issue model, which we will discuss next, can be used to correct the
behavior.
Performance Issue ModelPerformance Issue Model
Because of the many varieties of performance issues, we will not discuss how to handle each type in detail here.
Instead, we present a model that can be used to develop policies around performance, for fairness and consistency.
We can view performance issues in one of five areas. First, the mandated issue is serious and must be addressed
immediately. Usually, the mandated issue is one that goes beyond the company and could be a law. Examples of
mandated issues might include an employee sharing information that violates privacy laws, not following safety
procedures, or engaging in sexual harassment. For example, let’s say a hospital employee posts something on his
Facebook page that violates patient privacy. This would be considered a mandated issue (to not violate privacy
laws) and could put the hospital in serious trouble. These types of issues need to be handled swiftly. A written
policy detailing how this type of issue would be handled is crucial. In our example above, the policy may state
that the employee is immediately fired for this type of violation. Or, it may mean this employee is required to go
through privacy training again and is given a written warning. Whatever the result, developing a policy on how
mandated issues will be handled is important for consistency.
The second performance issue can be called a single incident. Perhaps the employee misspeaks and insults some
colleagues or perhaps he or she was over budget or late on a project. These types of incidents are usually best
solved with a casual conversation to let the employee know what he or she did wasn’t appropriate. Consider this
type of misstep a development opportunity for your employee. Coaching and working with the employee on this
issue can be the best way to nip this problem before it gets worse.
Figure 10.1 The Process for Handling Performance Issues
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Often when single incidents are not immediately corrected, they can evolve into a behavior pattern, which is our
third type of performance issue. This can occur when the employee doesn’t think the incident is a big deal because
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he hasn’t been correct before or may not even realize his is doing something wrong. In this case, it’s important to
talk with the employee and let him know what is expected.
If the employee has been corrected for a behavior pattern but continues to exhibit the same behavior, we call this
a persistent pattern. Often you see employees correct the problem after an initial discussion but then fall back
into old habits. If they do not self-correct, it could be they do not have the training or the skills to perform the
job. In this phase of handling performance issues, it is important to let the employee know that the problem is
serious and further action will be taken if it continues. If you believe the employee just doesn’t have the skills or
knowledge to perform the job, asking him or her about this could be helpful to getting to the root of the problem
as well. If the employee continues to be nonperforming, you may consider utilizing the progressive discipline
process before initiating an employee separation. However, investigating the performance issue should occur
before implementing any sort of discipline.
Investigation of Performance IssuesInvestigation of Performance Issues
When an employee is having a performance issue, often it is our responsibility as HR professionals to investigate
the situation. Training managers on how to document performance failings is the first step in this process. Proper
documentation is necessary should the employee need to be terminated later for the performance issue. The
documentation should include the following information:
1. Date of incident
2. Time of incident
3. Location (if applicable) of incident
4. A description of the performance issue
5. Notes on the discussion with the employee on the performance issue
6. An improvement plan, if necessary
7. Next steps, should the employee commit the same infraction
8. Signatures from both the manager and employee
With this proper documentation, the employee and the manager will clearly know the next steps that will be taken
should the employee commit the infraction in the future. Once the issue has been documented, the manager and
employee should meet about the infraction. This type of meeting is called an investigative interview and is used
to make sure the employee is fully aware of the discipline issue. This also allows the employee the opportunity to
explain his or her side of the story. These types of meetings should always be conducted in private, never in the
presence of other employees.
In unionized organizations, however, the employee is entitled to union representation at the investigative
interview. This union representation is normally called interest based bargaining referring to a National Labor
Relations Board case that went to the United States Supreme Court in 1975. Recently, Weingarten rights
continued to be protected when Alonso and Carus Ironworks was ordered to cease and desist from threatening
union representatives who attempted to represent an employee during an investigative interview (National Labor
Relations Board, 2011).
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Options for Handling Performance IssuesOptions for Handling Performance Issues
Our last phase of dealing with employee problems would be a disciplinary intervention. Often this is called the
progressive discipline process. It refers to a series of steps taking corrective action on nonperformance issues. The
progressive discipline process is useful if the offense is not serious and does not demand immediate dismissal,
such as employee theft. The progressive discipline process should be documented and applied to all employees
committing the same offenses. The steps in progressive discipline normally are the following:
1. First offense: Unofficial verbal warning. Counseling and restatement of expectations.
2. Second offense: Official written warning, documented in employee file.
3. Third offense: Second official warning. Improvement plan (discussed later) may be developed.
Documented in employee file.
4. Fourth offense: Possible suspension or other punishment, documented in employee file.
5. Fifth offense: Termination and/or alternative dispute resolution.
University of Iowa’s Progressive Discipline ProcessUniversity of Iowa’s Progressive Discipline Process
The chart below shows the typical progressive discipline process at the University of Iowa:
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CounselingandRestatementofExpectations
Counseling and Restatement of Expectations
Counseling by the immediate supervisor is the initial step to mentor or coach performance.
• Meet with the staff member and affirm expectations regarding performance.
• Discuss the performance deficit or behavioral concern.
• Provide a timeline and resources for improvement.
• Report consequences for no improvement.
• Document for an anecdotal file.
WrittenReprimand
Written ReprimandAt this time, the immediate supervisor may want to consult a Human Resources representative. After aninvestigation, follow the procedure outline above for the counseling process, with the exception of providingdocumentation to the employee in a letter of reprimand. The letter should outline previous informal efforts and thecurrent problem. Send copies of the signed letter to the department personnel file, proper University authority, andthe respective Union, if applicable.
ShortSuspension(orEquivalent)*
LongSuspension(orEquivalent)*
Suspension or EquivalentFully investigate the concern, followed by discussion with the employee. Summarize previous progressivediscipline and the current problem, and specify the timeframe for suspension in writing. Identify further disciplineand possible termination as a potential consequence for not meeting and maintaining standards for improvement.Provide copies as for the written reprimand.
Termination
TerminationTermination may be necessary when discipline is not successful in improving performance. Review the workhistory and record of progressive discipline with proper University authority. Schedule a final meeting with theemployee and conduct a meeting at which a letter of termination is provided. If necessary, the termination noticemay be sent via certified mail. Provide copies as for previous disciplinary measures.
*Salary reduction cannot be imposed on professional and scientific and faculty staff, due to unioncontracts
The Seven Tests of Just Cause
The seven test[s] of just cause represent a practical and effective way to determine whether a proposeddisciplinary action is firmly and fairly grounded. It is fair to assume that these tests will be applied byarbitrators in the event that disciplinary actions are challenged, and it is therefore good practice to applythem prospectively when considering the imposition of progressive discipline.
Seven tests:
1.Notice
◦ Prior to imposition of discipline, employee must have notice of rules and expectations.
◦ Establish through:
▪ i.New employee orientation
▪ ii. Orientation checklists
1 0 . 1 H A N D L I N G P E R F O R M A N C E • 2 9 9
▪ iii. Receipts for departmental handbooks
◦ Periodic reinforcement/coaching
2.Reasonable Rules and Orders
◦ Cannot be inconsistent with collective bargaining agreement(s)
◦ Cannot be arbitrary or capricious
◦ Must be reasonably related to business necessity
3.Investigation
◦ Must be thorough; consider all evidence, pro and con.
◦ Must be timely:
▪ i. Should be completed expeditiously
▪ i. Occurs before discipline imposed
◦ Give accused opportunity to respond (Loudermill hearing).
◦ Allow union representation (Weingarten rights).
4.Fair Investigation
◦ Result must not be forgone conclusion.
◦ Test assumptions/bias.
5.Proof
◦ Level of proof is normally substantial evidence.
◦ Greater proof required for more serious allegations.
6.Equal Treatment
Equal treatment must be balanced against just application:
◦ Rules must be applied even-handedly and without discrimination.
◦ Rules must be applied justly.
◦ Don’t blindly apply the same rule to all situations—managers/supervisors are expected toexercise judgment.
7.Penalty
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◦ Must be fair, not arbitrary and capricious, or based on emotional response.
◦ Factor in length of service, prior performance history, and previous progressive discipline.
Source: Reprinted from the University of Iowa’s Office of the Vice President for Research,http://research.uiowa.edu/pimgr/?get=discipline and http://research.uiowa.edu/pimgr/?get=7steps(accessed September 15, 2011).
Another option for handling continued infractions is to consider putting the employee on an improvementplan, which outlines the expectations and steps the employee should take to improve performance. Weaddress this in greater detail in Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”. The plan is detailed and outlined andensures both parties understand the specific expectations for improvement. If the improvement plan doesnot work, a progressive discipline process might be used.
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Figure 10.2 Sample of a Performance Improvement Plan
Whichever direction is taken with disciplining of the employee, documentation is key throughout the
process to avoid wrongful termination issues.
Alternative Dispute ResolutionAlternative Dispute Resolution
Another option in handling disputes, performance issues, and terminations is alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
This method can be effective in getting two parties to come to a resolution. In ADR, an unbiased third party
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looks at the facts in the case and tries to help the parties come to an agreement. In mediation, the third party
facilitates the resolution process, but the results of the process are not binding for either party. This is different
from arbitration, in which a person reviews the case and makes a resolution or a decision on the situation. The
benefits of ADR are lower cost and flexibility, as opposed to taking the issue to court. We discuss these types of
systems in greater detail in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”.
Some organizations use a step-review system. In this type of system, the performance issue is reviewed by
consecutively higher levels of management, should there be disagreement by the employee in a discipline
procedure. Some organizations also implement a peer resolution system. In this type of system, a committee of
management and employees is formed to review employee complaints or discipline issues. In this situation, the
peer review system normally involves the peer group reviewing the documentation and rendering a decision.
Another type of ADR is called the ombudsman system. In this system, a person is selected (or elected) to be the
designated individual for employees to go to should they have a complaint or an issue with a discipline procedure.
In this situation, the ombudsman utilizes problem-solving approaches to resolve the issue. For example, at
National Geographic Traveler Magazine an ombudsman handles employee complaints and issues and also
customer complaints about travel companies.
Example of Mediation in ActionExample of Mediation in Action
(click to see video)
This longer video shows an example of dispute mediation between two employees.
Employee SeparationEmployee Separation
Employee separation can occur in any of these scenarios. First, the employee resigns and decides to leave the
organization. Second, the employee is terminated for one or more of the performance issues listed previously.
Lastly, absconding is when the employee decides to leave the organization without resigning and following the
normal process. For example, if an employee simply stops showing up to work without notifying anyone of his
or her departure, this would be considered absconding. Let’s discuss each of these in detail. Employee separation
costs can be expensive, as we learned in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”. In the second quarter in 2011, for
example, Halliburton reported $8 million in employee separation costs (Lemaire, 2011).
Employee Separations and LayoffsEmployee Separations and Layoffs
(click to see video)
This video shows the progressive discipline process and the termination of an employee when he continually
failed to meet expectations.
Resignation means the employee chooses to leave the organization. First, if an employee resigns, normally he or
she will provide the manager with a formal resignation e-mail. Then the HR professional usually schedules an
exit interview, which can consist of an informal confidential discussion as to why the employee is leaving the
organization. If HR thinks the issue or reasons for leaving can be fixed, he or she may discuss with the manager if
the resignation will be accepted. Assuming the resignation is accepted, the employee will work with the manager
1 0 . 1 H A N D L I N G P E R F O R M A N C E • 3 0 3
to determine a plan for his or her workload. Some managers may prefer the employee leave right away and will
redistribute the workload. For some jobs, it may make sense for the employee to finish the current project and
then depart. This will vary from job to job, but two weeks’ notice is normally the standard time for resignations.
If it is determined an employee should be terminated, different steps would be taken than in a resignation.
First, documentation is necessary, which should have occurred in the progressive discipline process. Performance
appraisals, performance improvement plans, and any other performance warnings the employee received should
be readily available before meeting with the employee. It should be noted that the reliability and validity
of performance appraisals should be checked before dismissing an employee based upon them. Questionable
performance appraisals come from the real-world conditions common to rating situations, particularly because
of limitations in the abilities of the raters (Weekley, 1989). Reliability and validity of performance appraisals are
discussed in detail in Chapter 11 “Employee Assessment”.
Remember that if the discipline process is followed as outlined prior, a termination for nonperformance should
never be a surprise to an employee. Normally, the manager and HR manager would meet with the employee to
deliver the news. It should be delivered with compassion but be direct and to the point. Depending on previous
contracts, the employee may be entitled to a severance package. A severance package can include pay, benefits,
or other compensation for which an employee is entitled when they leave the organization. The purpose of a
severance plan is to assist the employee while he or she seeks other employment. The HR professional normally
develops this type of package in conjunction with the manager. Some considerations in developing a severance
package (preferably before anyone is terminated) might include the following:
1. How the severance will be paid (i.e., lump sum or in x equal increments)
2. Which situations will pay a severance and which will not. For example, if an employee is terminated for
violation of a sexual harassment policy, is a severance still paid?
3. A formula for how severance will be paid, based on work group, years with the organization, etc.
4. Legal documents, such as legal releases and noncompete agreements
5. How accrued vacation and/or sick leave will be paid, if at all
The last topic that we should discuss in this section is the case of an absconded employee. If an employee stops
showing up to work, a good effort to contact this person should be the first priority. If after three days this person
has not been reachable and has not contacted the company, it would be prudent to stop pay and seek legal help to
recover any company items he or she has, such as laptops or parking passes.
Sometimes rather than dealing with individual performance issues and/or terminations, we find ourselves having
to perform layoffs of several to hundreds of employees. Let’s address your role in this process next.
Rightsizing and LayoffsRightsizing and Layoffs
Rightsizing refers to the process of reducing the total size of employees, to ultimately save on costs. Downsizing
ultimately means the same thing as rightsizing, but the usage of the word has changed in that rightsizing seems to
define the organization’s goals better, which would be to reduce staff to save money, or rightsize. When a company
decides to rightsize and, ultimately, engage in layoffs, some aspects should be considered.
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First, is the downturn temporary? There is nothing worse than laying people off, only to find that as business
increases, you need to hire again. Second, has the organization looked at other ways to cut expenses? Perhaps
cutting expenses in other areas would be advisable before choosing to lay people off. Finally, consideration should
be given to offering temporary sabbaticals, voluntary retirement, or changing from a full- to part-time position.
Some employees may even be willing to take a temporary pay cut to reduce costs. Organizations find they can
still keep good people by looking at some alternatives that may work for the employee and the organization, even
on a temporary basis.
If the company has decided the only way to reduce costs is to cut full-time employees, this is often where HR
should be directly involved to ensure legal and ethical guidelines are met. Articulating the reasons for layoffs
and establishing a formalized approach to layoffs is the first consideration. Before it is decided who should get
cut, criteria should be developed on how these decisions will be made. Similar to how selection criteria might
be developed, the development of criteria that determines which jobs will be cut makes the process of cutting
more fair, albeit still difficult. Establishing the criteria ahead of time can also help avoid managers’ trying to
“save” certain people from their own departments. After development of criteria, the next phase would be to sit
down with management and decide who does or doesn’t meet the criteria and who will be laid off. At this point,
before the layoffs happen, it makes sense to discuss severance packages. Usually, when an employee signs for a
severance package, the employee should also sign a form (the legal department can help with this) that releases
the organization from all future claims made by the employee.
After criteria have been developed, people selected, and severance packages determined, it’s key to have a
solid communication plan as to how the layoffs will be announced. Usually, this involve an initial e-mail to all
employees, letting them know of impending layoffs. Speak with each employee separately, then announce which
positions were eliminated. The important thing to remember during layoffs is keeping your employees’ dignity;
they did not do anything wrong to lose their job—it was just a result of circumstances.
Announcing LayoffsAnnouncing Layoffs
(click to see video)
We know that communicating a layoff announcement is important. This video, starring Kermit the Frog, is a good
example of how not to announce layoffs—even on Sesame Street.
Key Takeaways
• Performance issues in the workplace are common. Examples of performance issues might includeconstant tardiness, too much time at work handling personal issues, mishandling of proprietaryinformation, family issues, drug and alcohol problems, nonperformance, theft, or conflicts in theworkplace.
• Employees choose to leave organizations for internal and external reasons. Some of these mayinclude a mismatch of career goals, conflict, too high expectations, time-management issues, andmismatch of job and skills.
• HR professionals should develop a set of policies that deal with performance issues in the
1 0 . 1 H A N D L I N G P E R F O R M A N C E • 3 0 5
workplace. The advantage of having such a policy is that it can eliminate wrongful termination legalaction.
• A mandated issue is usually one that deals with safety or legal issues that go beyond the workplace.An infringement of this type of issue requires immediate attention.
• A single incident may include a misstep of the employee, and he or she should immediately bespoken with to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
• A behavior pattern occurs when an employee consistently exhibits a performance issue. This type ofissue should be discussed with the employee and plans taken, such as more training, to ensure it doesnot continue. A persistent pattern occurs when an employee consistently exhibits a performanceissue and does not improve, despite HR’s talking with him or her.
• At some point during the persistent pattern, disciplinary action will likely need to be taken. It isimportant to develop consistent procedures on how to record and handle disciplinary issues. Mostemployers use a progressive discipline process to accomplish this goal.
• Employee separation occurs in one of three ways. First, the employee resigns from the organization.Second, the employee is terminated for performance issues, and third, an employee absconds.Absconds means the employee abandons his or her job without submitting a formal resignation.
• In some cases, a severance package may be offered to the employee upon his or her departure fromthe organization.
• Rightsizing is a term used when an organization must cut costs through layoffs of employees.Development of criteria for layoffs, communication, and severance package discussion are all partsof this process.
Exercises
1. What are some considerations before developing a severance package? What are the advantagesof offering a severance package to your departing employees?
2. What are some common performance issues? What is HR’s role in handling these issues?
3. What process should you use to initiate layoffs?
1“Employee Theft and Legal Aspects,” Net Industries, accessed March 8, 2011, http://law.jrank.org/pages/1084/
Employee-Theft-Legal-Aspects-Estimates-cost.html.
2“Careers By the Numbers,” InfoWorld, October 2, 2000, accessed August 1, 2011, http://books.google.com/
books?id=ST0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=Careers+By+the+Numbers
+InfoWorld+October+2,+2000&source=bl&ots=KU2eMTa3C3&sig=rU3s8ywYcc0Z
kUbuydMO3wrO1Rc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yoVsT6PfGYSw0QH11u3TBg&ved=0CCIQ6
AEwAA#v=onepage&q= Careers%20By%20the%20Numbers%20InfoWorld%20October
%202%2C%202000&f=false.
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ReferencesReferences
Chandler, R., “Ex-Colts Cheerleader Sues Team Over Dismissal for Playboy Pics,” NBC Sports, May 11, 2011,
accessed August 1, 2011, http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/05/11/ex-colts-cheerleader-sues-team-over-
dismissal-for-playboy-pics/.
Evans, J., “EEOC Finds Fault with Company’s No Fault Attendance Plan,” Zanesville Times, July 17, 2011,
accessed August 1, 2011, http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/19860/eeoc-finds-fault-with-no-fault-
attendance-policies.
Fisher, B., “Targeting Prescription Drug Abuse,” Ventura County Star, March 6, 2011, accessed March 8, 2011,
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/06/targeting-prescription-drug-abuse/.
Lemaire, B., “Halliburton Posts 54% Q2 Growth,” Proactive Investors, July 18, 2011, accessed August 1, 2011,
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/16404/halliburton-posts-54-q2-profit-growth-16404.html.
National Labor Relations Board website, “Administrative Law Judge Orders San Juan Company to Respect
Employee Weingarten Rights,” March 28, 2011, accessed August 17, 2011.
Smith, C., “Fired Over Facebook,” Huffington Post, July 2010, accessed August 1, 2011,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/26/fired-over-facebook-
posts_n_659170.html#s115752&title=13_Virgin_Atlantic.
United States Department of Labor, “General Workplace Impact,” 2011, accessed March 8, 2011,
http://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/2011/08/12/studies-show-drugs-in-workplace-cost-employers-billions- and-
small-businesses-employ-more-drug-users-but-drug-test-less/.
Weekley, J., Academy of Management Journal 32, no. 1 (1989): 213–22.
1 0 . 1 H A N D L I N G P E R F O R M A N C E • 3 0 7
10.2 Employee Rights
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain employee rights.
2. Define unions and explain their relation to the HRM function.
Employee rights is defined as the ability to receive fair treatment from employers. This section will discuss
employee rights surrounding job protection, privacy, and unionization.
Job Protection RightsJob Protection Rights
If HR doesn’t understand or properly manage employee rights, lawsuits are sure to follow. It is the HR
professional’s job to understand and protect the rights of employees. In the United States, the employment-at-will
principle (EAW) is the right of an employer to fire an employee or an employee to leave an organization at any
time, without any specific cause. The EAW principle gives both the employee and employer freedom to terminate
the relationship at any time. There are three main exceptions to this principle, and whether they are accepted is up
to the various states:
1. Public policy exception. With a public policy exception, an employer may not fire an employee if it
would violate the individual state’s doctrine or statute. For example, in Borse v. Piece Goods Shop in
Pennsylvania, a federal circuit court of appeals ruled that Pennsylvania law may protect at-will employees
from being fired for refusing to take part in drug test programs if the employee’s privacy is invaded. Borse
contended that the free speech provisions of the state and of the First Amendment protected the refusal to
participate. Some public policy exceptions occur when an employee is fired for refusing to violate state or
federal law.
2. Implied contract exception. In a breach of an implied contract, the discharged employee can prove that
the employer indicated that the employee has job security. The indication does not need to be formally
written, only implied. In Wright v. Honda, an Ohio employee was terminated but argued that the implied
contract exception was relevant to the employment-at-will doctrine. She was able to prove that in
orientation, Honda stressed to employees the importance of attendance and quality work. She was also able
308
to prove that the language in the associate handbook implied job security: “the job security of each
employee depends upon doing your best on your job with the spirit of cooperation.” Progress reports
showing professional development further solidified her case, as she had an implied contract that Honda
had altered the employment-at-will doctrine through its policies and actions.
3. Good faith and fair dealing exception. In the good faith and fair dealing exception, the discharged
employee contends that he was not treated fairly. This exception to the employment-at-will doctrine is less
common than the first two. Examples might include firing or transferring of employees to prevent them
from collecting commissions, misleading employees about promotions and pay increases, and taking
extreme actions that would force the employee to quit.
Table 10.1 State’s Acceptance of Employment-at-Will Exceptions
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State Public-Policy Exception Implied-Contract Exception Good Faith and Fair Dealing Exception
Alabama no yes yes
Alaska yes yes yes
Arizona yes yes yes
Arkansas yes yes no
California yes yes yes
Colorado yes yes no
Connecticut yes yes no
Delaware yes no yes
District of Columbia yes yes no
Florida no no no
Georgia no no no
Hawaii yes yes no
Idaho yes yes yes
Illinois yes yes no
Indiana yes no no
Iowa yes yes no
Kansas yes yes no
Kentucky yes yes no
Louisiana no no no
Maine no yes no
Maryland yes yes no
Massachusetts yes no yes
Michigan yes yes no
Minnesota yes yes no
Mississippi yes yes no
Missouri yes no no
Montana yes no no
Nebraska no yes no
Nevada yes yes yes
New Hampshire yes yes no
New Jersey yes yes no
New Mexico yes yes no
New York no yes no
North Carolina yes no no
North Dakota yes yes no
Bold text indicates a state with all three exceptions.
Italic text indicates a state with none of the three exceptions.
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State Public-Policy Exception Implied-Contract Exception Good Faith and Fair Dealing Exception
Ohio yes yes no
Oklahoma yes yes no
Oregon yes yes no
Pennsylvania yes no no
Rhode Island no no no
South Carolina yes yes No
South Dakota yes yes no
Tennessee yes yes no
Texas yes no no
Utah yes yes yes
Vermont yes yes no
Virginia yes no no
Washington yes yes no
West Virginia yes yes no
Wisconsin yes yes no
Wyoming yes yes yes
Bold text indicates a state with all three exceptions.
Italic text indicates a state with none of the three exceptions.
When one of the exceptions can be proven, wrongful discharge accusations may occur. The United States is one of
the few major industrial powers that utilize an employment-at-will philosophy. Most countries, including France
and the UK, require employers to show just cause for termination of a person’s employment (USLegal, 2011).
The advantage of employment at will allows for freedom of employment; the possibility of wrongful discharge
tells us that we must be prepared to defend the termination of an employee, as to not be charged with a wrongful
discharge case.
Employees also have job protection if they engage in whistleblowing. Whistleblowing refers to an employee’s
telling the public about ethical or legal violations of his or her organization. This protection was granted in 1989
and extended through the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Many organizations create whistleblowing policies and a
mechanism to report illegal or unethical practices within the organization (Ravishankar, 2011).
Another consideration for employee job protection is that of an implied contract. It is in the best interest of
HR professionals and managers alike to avoid implying an employee has a contract with the organization. In
fact, many organizations develop employment-at-will policies and ask their employees to sign these policies as a
disclaimer for the organization.
A constructive discharge means the employee resigned, but only because the work conditions were so intolerable
that he or she had no choice. For example, if James is being sexually harassed at work, and it is so bad he quits,
he would need to prove not only the sexual harassment but that it was so bad it required him to quit. This type of
situation is important to note; should James’s case go to court and sexual harassment and constructive discharge
are found, James may be entitled to back pay and other compensation.
1 0 . 2 E M P L O Y E E R I G H T S • 3 1 1
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) requires organizations with more than one
hundred employees to give employees and their communities at least sixty days’ notice of closure or layoff
affecting fifty or more full-time employees. This law does not apply in the case of unforeseeable business
circumstances. If an employer violates this law, it can be subject to back pay for employees (US Department
of Labor, 2011). This does not include workers who have been with the organization for less than six months,
however.
Retaliatory discharge means punishment of an employee for engaging in a protected activity, such as filing a
discrimination charge or opposing illegal employer practices. For example, it might include poor treatment of an
employee because he or she filed a workers’ compensation claim. Employees should not be harassed or mistreated
should they file a claim against the organization.
Privacy RightsPrivacy Rights
Technology makes it possible to more easily monitor aspects of employees’ jobs, although a policy on this subject
should be considered before implementing it. In regard to privacy, a question exists whether an employer should
be allowed to monitor an employee’s online activities. This may include work e-mail, websites visited using
company property, and also personal activity online.
Digital Footprints, Inc. is a company that specializes in tracking the digital movements of employees and can
provide reports to the organization by tracking these footprints. This type of technology might look for patterns,
word usage, and other communication patterns between individuals. This monitoring can be useful in determining
violations of workplace policies, such as sexual harassment. This type of software and management can be
expensive, so before launching it, it’s imperative to address its value in the workplace.
Another privacy concern can include monitoring of employee postings on external websites. Companies such
as Social Sentry, under contract, monitor employee postings on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and
YouTube (Teneros Corporation, 2011). Lawyers warn, however, that this type of monitoring should only be done if
the employee has consented (People Management, 2011). A monitoring company isn’t always needed to monitor
employees’ movements on social networking. And sometimes employees don’t even have to tweet something
negative about their own company to lose their job. A case in point is when Chadd Scott, who does Atlanta sports
updates for 680/The Fan, was fired for tweeting about Delta Airlines. In his tweet, he complained about a Delta
delay and said they did not have enough de-icing fluid. Within a few hours, he was fired from his job, because
Delta was a sponsor of 680/The Fan (Ho, 2011).
The US Patriot Act also includes caveats to privacy when investigating possible terrorist activity. The Patriot Act
requires organizations to provide private employee information when requested. Overall, it is a good idea to have
a clear company policy and perhaps even a signed waiver from employees stating they understand their activities
may be monitored and information shared with the US government under the Patriot Act.
Depending on the state in which you live, employees may be given to see their personnel files and the right
to see and correct any incorrect information within their files. Medical or disability information should be kept
separate from the employee’s work file, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that health information should be private, and therefore it
is good practice to keep health information in a separate file as well.
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Finally, drug testing and the right to privacy is a delicate balancing act. Organizations that implement drug
testing often do so for insurance or safety reasons. Because of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, some
federal contractors and all federal grantees must agree they will provide a drug-free workplace, as a condition
of obtaining the contract. The ADA does not view testing for illegal drug use as a medical examination (making
them legal), and people using illegal drugs are not protected under the ADA (US Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, 2011); however, people covered under ADA laws are allowed to take medications directly related
to their disability. In a recent case, Bates v. Dura Automotive Systems, an auto parts manufacturer had a high
accident rate and decided to implement drug testing to increase safety. Several prescription drugs were banned
because they were known to cause impairment. The plaintiffs in the case had been dismissed from their jobs
because of prescription drug use, and they sued, claiming the drug-testing program violated ADA laws (Lewis,
2010). However, the Sixth Circuit Court reversed the case because the plaintiffs were not protected under ADA
laws (they did not have a documented disability).
In organizations where heavy machinery is operated, a monthly drug test may be a job requirement. In fact,
under the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, employers are legally required to test for drugs
in transportation-related businesses such as airlines, railroads, trucking, and public transportation, such as bus
systems. Medical marijuana is a relatively new issue that is still being addressed in states that allow its use. For
example, if the company requires a drug test and the employee shows positive for marijuana use, does asking the
employee to prove it is being used for medical purposes violate HIPAA privacy laws? This issue is certainly one
to watch over the coming years.
Figure 10.3 Sample Policies on Privacy Relating to Technology
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Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What does the term retaliatory discharge mean?
Labor UnionsLabor Unions
A union is an organization of employees formed to bargain with an employer. We discuss labor unions in greater
detail in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”. It is important to mention unions here, since labor contracts
often guide the process for layoffs and discipline. Labor unions have been a part of the US workplace landscape
since the late 1920s, but the Wagner Act of 1935 significantly impacted labor and management relations by
addressing several unfair labor practices. The National Labor Relations Board is responsible for administering and
enforcing the provisions outlined in the Wagner Act. The act made acts such as interfering with the formation of
3 1 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
unions and discriminating on the basis of union membership illegal for employers. By the 1940s, 9 million people
were members of a union, which spurred the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act. This act set a new set of standards
for fair practices by the unions, within a unionized environment.
The purpose of a union is to give collective bargaining power to a group of individuals. For example, instead
of one person negotiating salary, a union gives people the power to bargain as a group, creating a shift from the
traditional power model. Issues to negotiate can include pay, health benefits, working hours, and other aspects
relating to a job. People often decide to form a union if they perceive the organization or management of the
organization is treating them unfairly. Some people also believe that belonging to a union means higher wages
and better benefits.
Many employers feel it is not in the best interest of the organization to unionize, so they will engage in strategies
to prevent unionization. This is discussed further in Chapter 12 “Working with Labor Unions”. However, the Taft-
Hartley Act says that employers can express their views about unions but may not threaten employees with loss
of job or other benefits if they unionize. Some of the talking points an organization might express about unions
include the following:
1. Less ability to deal more informally with the organization
2. Possibility of strikes
3. Payment of union dues by employees
4. Emphasis on what positive aspects the employer has provided
If employees still unionize, managers and HR professionals alike will engage in the bargaining process. The
collective bargaining process is the process of negotiating an agreement between management and employees.
This process ultimately defines the contract terms for employees. In negotiating with the union, being prepared
is important. Gathering data of what worked with the old contract and what didn’t can be a good starting
point. Understanding the union’s likely requests and preparing a counteraction to these requests and possible
compromises should be done before even sitting down to the bargaining table. One of the better strategies for
negotiating a contract is called interest-based bargaining. In this type of bargaining, mutual interests are brought
up and discussed, rather than each party coming to the table with a list of demands. This can create a win-win
situation for both parties.
Once an agreement has been decided, the union members vote whether to accept the new contract. If the contract
is accepted, the next task is to look at how to administer the agreement.
First, the HR professional must know the contract well to administer it well. For example, if higher pay
is successfully negotiated, obviously it would be the job of HR to implement this new pay scale. The HR
professional may need to develop new sets of policies and procedures when a new agreement is in place. One such
procedure HR may have to work with occasionally is the grievance process. As we will discuss in Chapter 12
“Working with Labor Unions”, the grievance process is a formal way by which employees can submit a complaint
regarding something that is not administered correctly in the contract. Usually, the grievance process will involve
discussions with direct supervisors first, discussions with the union representative next, and then the filing of a
formal, written grievance complaint. Management is then required to provide a written response to the grievance,
and depending on the collective bargaining agreement, a formalized process is stated on how the appeals process
1 0 . 2 E M P L O Y E E R I G H T S • 3 1 5
would work, should the grievance not be solved by the management response. One such example is the dismissal
of members of the National Air Traffic Controller Association (union). In 2011, of the 140 proposed dismissals
of air traffic controllers, 58 had penalties rescinded, reduced, or deferred (Hughes, 2011). This is because of due-
process protections used to prevent mass firings when a new administration comes to power. Federal workers,
including controllers, can challenge disciplinary action penalties through a government panel called the Merit
Systems Protection Board. The process is described in union contracts and mentions involvement of an arbitrator,
if necessary.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
To Join or Not to Join
As the HR manager for a two-hundred-person company, you have always worked hard to ensure that workers
received competitive benefits and salaries. When you hear rumors of the workers’ wanting to form a union, you
are a little distressed, because you feel everyone is treated fairly. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360807/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360807/embed.
Key Takeaways
• The employment-at-will principle means that an employer can separate from an employee withoutcause, and vice versa.
• Even though we have employment at will, a wrongful discharge can occur when there are violationsof public policy, an employee has a contract with an employer, or an employer does somethingoutside the boundaries of good faith.
• Whistleblowing is when an employee notifies organizations of illegal or unethical activity.Whistleblowers are protected from discharge due to their activity.
• A constructive discharge means the conditions are so poor that the employee had no choice but toleave the organization.
• The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) is a law that requires companies ofone hundred or more employees to notify employees and the community if fifty or more employeesare to be laid off.
• A retaliatory discharge is one that occurs if an employer fires or lays off an employee owing to acharge the employee filed. For example, if an employee files a workers’ compensation claim andthen is let go, this could be a retaliatory discharge.
• The privacy of employees is an issue that HR must address. It is prudent to develop policiessurrounding what type of monitoring may occur within an organization. For example, someorganizations monitor e-mail, computer usage, and even postings on social network sites.
3 1 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Drug testing is also a privacy issue, although in many industries requiring safe working conditions,drug testing can be necessary to ensure the safety of all employees.
• A union is a group of workers who decide to work together toward a collective bargainingagreement. This agreement allows workers to negotiate as one, rather than as individuals.
• The Wagner Act, passed in 1935, addresses many issues related to workers’ unionization.
• The process of collective bargaining means to negotiate a contract between management andworkers. HR is generally part of this process.
• Interest based bargaining occurs when mutual interests are discussed, rather than starting with a listof demands.
• Once an agreement is reached, HR is generally responsible for knowing the agreement andimplementing any changes that should occur as a result of the agreement. One such example isunderstanding the grievance process.
Exercises
1. Perform an Internet search and find a union agreement. Discuss how the union agreement handlesterminations and grievances.
2. Compare and contrast the differences between a retaliatory discharge and a constructive discharge.
ReferencesReferences
Ho, R., “Chadd Scott Said He Was Fired for Tweets about Delta,” Access Atlanta (blog), accessed March 16, 2011,
http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2011/03/15/680the-fans-chadd-scott-said-he-was-fired-for-tweets-about-delta-
airlines/?cxntlid=thbz_hm.
Hughes, J., “You’re Fired Doesn’t Mean Fired to Four of 10 Air Traffic Controllers,” Bloomberg News, July 24,
2011, accessed August 1, 2011, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-25/-you-re-fired-doesn-t-mean-fired-
to-four-of-10-air-controllers.html.
Lewis, J., “Employees’ ADA Claims on Prescription-Drug-Use Dismissals Rejected by Federal Court,” December
1, 2010, accessed August 1, 2011, http://www.jacksonlewis.com/resources.php?NewsID=3478.
People Management, “Employers Should Have Monitoring Policy for Social Networks,” accessed March 17,
2011, http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2011/02/employers-should-have-monitoring-policy-for-
social-networks.htm.
Ravishankar, L., “Encouraging Internal Whistle Blowing,” Santa Clara University, accessed March 15, 2011,
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/whistleblowing.html.
1 0 . 2 E M P L O Y E E R I G H T S • 3 1 7
Teneros Corporation, “Social Sentry Lets Employers Track Their Workers across the Internet,” accessed March
17, 2011, http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/social_sentry_track_employees_across_the_web.php.
US Department of Labor, “WARN Fact Sheet,” accessed March 15, 2011, http://www.doleta.gov/programs/
factsht/warn.htm.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, “The ADA, Your Responsibilities as an Employer,” accessed
August 1, 2011, http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/ada17.html.
USLegal, “Employment at Will,” accessed March 15, 2011, http://employment.uslegal.com/employment-at-will/.
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10.3 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Performance issues in the workplace are common. Examples of performance issues include constanttardiness, too much time at work handling personal issues, mishandling of proprietary information,family issues, drug and alcohol problems, nonperformance, theft, and conflicts in the workplace.
• Employees choose to leave organizations for internal and external reasons. Some of these mayinclude a mismatch of career goals, conflict, too high expectations, time-management issues, and amismatch between job and skills.
• HR professionals should develop a set of policies that deal with performance issues in theworkplace. The advantage to having such policies is that they can eliminate wrongful terminationlegal action.
• A mandated issue is usually one that deals with safety or legal issues that go beyond the workplace.An infringement of this type of issue requires immediate attention.
• A single incident may include a misstep of the employee, and the employee should immediately bespoken with about it, to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
• A behavior pattern occurs when an employee consistently exhibits a performance issue. This type ofissue should be discussed with the employee and actions taken, such as providing more training, toensure it does not continue. A persistent pattern occurs when an employee consistently exhibits aperformance issue and does not improve, despite HR’s talking with him or her.
• At some point during the persistent pattern, disciplinary action will likely need to be taken. It isimportant to develop consistent procedures on how to record and handle disciplinary issues.
• Employee separation occurs in one of three ways. First, the employee resigns from the organization.Second, the employee is terminated for performance issues, and third, an employee absconds.Absconds means the employee abandons his or her job without submitting a formal resignation.
• In some cases, a severance package may be offered to the employee upon his or her departure fromthe organization.
• Rightsizing is a term used when an organization must cut costs through layoffs of employees.Development of criteria for layoffs, communication, and severance package discussion are all partsof this process.
• Employment at will means that an employer can separate from an employee without cause, and vice
319
versa.
• Even though we have employment at will, a wrongful discharge can occur when there are violationsof public policy, an employee has a contract with an employer, or an employer does somethingoutside the boundaries of good faith.
• Whistleblowing is when an employee notifies organizations of illegal or unethical activity.Whistleblowers are protected from discharge due to their activity.
• A constructive discharge means the conditions are so poor that the employee has no choice but toleave the organization.
• The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) is a law that requires companies ofone hundred or more employees to notify employees and the community if fifty or more employeesare to be laid off.
• A retaliatory discharge is one that occurs if an employer fires or lays off an employee because of acharge the employee filed. For example, if an employee files a workers’ compensation claim andthen is let go, this could be a retaliatory discharge.
• The privacy of employees is an issue that HR must address. It is prudent to develop policiessurrounding what type of monitoring may occur within an organization. For example, someorganizations monitor e-mail, computer usage, and even postings on social network sites.
• Drug testing is also a privacy issue, although in many industries requiring safe working conditions,drug testing can be necessary to ensure the safety of all employees.
• A union is a group of workers who decide to work together toward a collective bargainingagreement. This agreement allows workers to negotiate as one, rather than as individuals.
• The Wagner Act, passed in 1935, addresses many issues related to workers’ unionization.
• The process of collective bargaining means to negotiate a contract between management andworkers. HR is generally part of this process.
• Interest based bargaining occurs when mutual interests are discussed, rather than starting with a listof demands.
• Once an agreement is reached, HR is generally responsible for knowing the agreement andimplementing any changes that should occur as a result of the agreement. One such example isunderstanding the grievance process.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of this chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Who Goes, Who Stays?
The consulting firm you have worked for over the last year is having some financial troubles. The largecontracts it once had are slowly going away, and as your company struggles to make payroll, it is clear that
3 2 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
layoffs must occur. The sales staff has not been meeting the sales goals set for them, resulting in incorrectbudgets.
It has been decided that at least three people in the sales department should be laid off. You create aspreadsheet with pertinent sales employee data:
Name TitleYears with thecompany
Last overall rating on performance evaluation (1–5scale, 5 being highest)
Last year’s sales goalmet?
DebWaters
SalesManager
1 3N/A as her position ismanagerial
Jeff SpiritsAccountManager
5 3 Yes, 1% over
OrlandoChang
AccountManager
3 4 Yes, 10% over goal
JakeToolmeyer
AccountManager
2 4 No, 2% under goal
AudreyBarnes
AccountManager
5 5 Yes, 15% over goal
KellyAndrews
AccountManager
1 2 No, 20% under goal
AmirSaied
AccountManager
8 5 Yes, 5% over goal
WinfreyJones
AccountManager
4 2 No, 10% under goal
1. Making reasonable assumptions, develop criteria for the layoffs in the sales department.
2. Develop a plan as to how layoffs will be communicated with the individual as well as within thecompany.
3. Discuss strategies to motivate those sales employees who stay with the organization.
Team ActivitiesTeam Activities
1.In a team of three to four people, discuss each of the situations and determine if you think theemployee should receive immediate termination or a progressive discipline process, and providejustification for your responses:
a. The employee stole one pack of office paper, stating he would be using it at home to performhis job.
b. An employee posted how boring her job is on a Facebook status update. You know she isFacebook friends with several clients.
c. The employee groped a colleague in the break room.
d. You saw the employee’s résumé posted on LinkedIn, stating she was looking for a new job.
1 0 . 3 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 3 2 1
e. The manager has told you the employee is difficult to work with and not liked by hiscolleagues.
2. In teams of three to four, discuss the following situation: Your marketing manager has just toldyou she plans to dismiss her administrative assistant for nonperformance and needs help designing aseverance package. The administrative assistant was with the organization for two-and-a-half yearsand his current salary is $35,670. What would you suggest he be offered? Discuss and be prepared toshare your ideas with the class.
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Chapter 11: Employee Assessment
A Tough ConversationA Tough Conversation
As you wake up this morning, you think about the performance evaluation you will give one of your employees,
Sean, later this morning. Sean has been with your company for two years, and over the last six months his
performance has begun to slide. As the manager, it is your responsibility to talk with him about performance,
which you have done on several occasions. However, the performance evaluation will make his nonperformance
more formalized. You know that Sean has had some personal troubles that can account for some of the
performance issues, but despite this, you really need to get his performance up to par. Your goal in the performance
evaluation interview today is to create an improvement plan for Sean, while documenting his nonperformance.
When you arrive at work, you look over the essay rating part of Sean’s evaluation. It details two client project
deadlines that were missed, as well as the over-budget amounts of the two client projects. It was Sean’s
responsibility to oversee both aspects of this project. When Sean arrives at your office, you greet him, ask him to
take a seat, and begin to discuss the evaluation with him.
“Sean, while you have always been a high performer, these last few months have been lackluster. On two of your
projects, you were over budget and late. The client commented on both of these aspects when it filled out the
client evaluation. As a result, you can see this is documented in your performance evaluation.”
Using defensive nonverbal language, Sean says, “Missing the project deadlines and budget wasn’t my fault. Emily
said everything was under control, and I trusted her. She is the one who should have a bad performance review.”
You say, “Ultimately, as the account director, you are responsible, as outlined in your job description. As you
know, it is important to manage the accountability within your team, and in this case, you didn’t perform. In fact,
in your 360 reviews, several of your colleagues suggested you were not putting in enough time on the projects and
seemed distracted.”
“I really dislike those 360 reviews. It really is just a popularity contest, anyway,” Sean says. “So, am I fired for
these two mistakes?” You have worked with people who exhibited this type of defensive behavior before, and you
know it is natural for people to feel like they need to defend themselves when having this type of conversation.
You decide to move the conversation ahead and focus on future behavior rather than past behavior.
You say, “Sean, you normally add a lot of value to the organization. Although these issues will be documented
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in your performance evaluation, I believe you can produce high-quality work. As a result, let’s work together
to develop an improvement plan so you can continue to add value to the organization. The improvement plan
addresses project deadlines and budgets, and I think you will find it helpful for your career development.”
Sean agrees begrudgingly and you begin to show him the improvement plan document the company uses, so you
can fill it out together.
When you head home after work, you think about the day’s events and about Sean. As you had suspected, he was
defensive at first but seemed enthusiastic to work on the improvement plan after you showed him the document.
You feel positive that this performance evaluation was a step in the right direction to ensure Sean continues to be
a high producer in the company, despite these mistakes.
Employee Assessment IntroductionEmployee Assessment Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on employee assessment.
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11.1 Performance Evaluation Systems
Learning Objectives
1. Define the reasons for a formal performance evaluation system.
2. Explain the process to develop a performance review system.
A performance evaluation system is a systematic way to examine how well an employee is performing in his or
her job. If you notice, the word systematic implies the performance evaluation process should be a planned system
that allows feedback to be given in a formal—as opposed to informal—sense. Performance evaluations can also
be called performance appraisals, performance assessments, or employee appraisals.
There are four reasons why a systematic performance evaluation system should be implemented. First, the
evaluation process should encourage positive performance and behavior. Second, it is a way to satisfy employee
curiosity as to how well they are performing in their job. It can also be used as a tool to develop employees. Lastly,
it can provide a basis for pay raises, promotions, and legal disciplinary actions.
Designing a Performance Appraisal SystemDesigning a Performance Appraisal System
There are a number of things to consider before designing or revising an existing performance appraisal system.
Some researchers suggest that the performance appraisal system is perhaps one of the most important parts of
the organization (Lawrie, 1990), while others suggest that performance appraisal systems are ultimately flawed
(Derven, 1990), making them worthless. For the purpose of this chapter, let’s assume we can create a performance
appraisal system that will provide value to the organization and the employee. When designing this process, we
should recognize that any process has its limitations, but if we plan it correctly, we can minimize some of these.
The first step in the process is to determine how often performance appraisals should be given. Please keep in
mind that managers should constantly be giving feedback to employees, and this process is a more formal way
of doing so. Some organizations choose to give performance evaluations once per year, while others give them
twice per year, or more. The advantage to giving an evaluation twice per year, of course, is more feedback and
opportunity for employee development. The downside is the time it takes for the manager to write the evaluation
and discuss it with the employee. If done well, it could take several hours for just one employee. Depending
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on your organization’s structure, you may choose one or the other. For example, if most of your managers
have five or ten people to manage (this is called span of control), it might be worthwhile to give performance
evaluations more than once per year, since the time cost isn’t high. If most of your managers have twenty or more
employees, it may not be feasible to perform this process more than once per year. To determine costs of your
performance evaluations, see Table 11.1 “Estimating the Costs of Performance Evaluations”. Asking for feedback
from managers and employees is also a good way to determine how often performance evaluations should be
given.
Table 11.1 Estimating the Costs of Performance Evaluations
Narrow Span of Control
Average span of control 8
Average time to complete one written review 1 hour
Average time to discuss with employee 1 hour
Administrative time to set up meetings with employees 1/2 hour
8 employees × 2 hours per employee + 1/2 hour administrative time to set up times to meet with employees = 16.5
hours of time for one manager to complete all performance reviews
Wider Span of Control
Average span of control 25
Average time to complete one written review 1 hour
Average time to discuss with employee 1 hour
Administrative time to set up meetings with employees 1 hour
25 employees × 2 hours per employee + 1 hour administrative time to set up times to meet with employees = 51
hours
Once you have the number of hours it takes, you can multiply that by your manager’s hourly pay to get an
estimated cost to the organization
16 hours × $50 per hour = $850
51 hours × $50 per hour = $2550
Should pay increases be tied to performance evaluations? This might be the second consideration before
development of a performance evaluation process. There is research that shows employees have a greater
acceptance of performance reviews if the review is linked to rewards (Bannister & Balkin, 1990).
The third consideration should include goal setting. In other words, what goals does the organization hope to
achieve with the performance appraisal process?
Once the frequency, rewards, and goals have been determined, it is time to begin to formalize the process. First,
we will need to develop the actual forms that will be used to evaluate each job within the organization. Every
performance evaluation should be directly tied with that employee’s job description.
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Determining who should evaluate the performance of the employee is the next decision. It could be their direct
manager (most common method), subordinates, customers or clients, self, and/or peers. Table 11.2 “Advantages
and Disadvantages of Each Source for Performance Evaluations” shows some of the advantages and
disadvantages for each source of information for performance evaluations. Ultimately, using a variety of sources
might garner the best results.
A 360-degree performance appraisal method is a way to appraise performance by using several sources to measure
the employee’s effectiveness. Organizations must be careful when using peer-reviewed information. For example,
in the Mathewson v. Aloha Airlines case, peer evaluations were found to be retaliatory against a pilot who had
crossed picket lines during the pilot’s union strike against a different airline.
Management of this process can be time-consuming for the HR professional. That’s why there are many software
programs available to help administer and assess 360 review feedback. Halogen 360, for example, is used by
Princess Cruises and media companies such as MSNBC (Halogen Software, 2011). This type of software allows
the HR professional to set criteria and easily send links to customers, peers, or managers, who provide the
information requested. Then the data are gathered and a report is automatically generated, which an employee can
use for quick feedback. Other similar types of software include Carbon360 and Argos.
Performance Appraisal System ErrorsPerformance Appraisal System Errors
Before we begin to develop our performance review process, it is important to note some of the errors that
can occur during this process. First, halo effects can occur when the source or the rater feels one aspect of the
performance is high and therefore rates all areas high. A mistake in rating can also occur when we compare one
employee to another, as opposed to the job description’s standards. Sometimes halo effects will occur because
the rater is uncomfortable rating someone low on a performance assessment item. Of course, when this occurs,
it makes the performance evaluation less valuable for employee development. Proper training on how to manage
a performance appraisal interview is a good way to avoid this. We discuss this in Section 11.3.4 “Performance
Appraisal Interviews”.
Validity issues are the extent to which the tool measures the relevant aspects of performance. The aspects of
performance should be based on the key skills and responsibilities of the job, and these should be reviewed often
to make sure they are still applicable to the job analysis and description.
Reliability refers to how consistent the same measuring tool works throughout the organization (or job title).
When we look at reliability in performance appraisals, we ask ourselves if two raters were to rate an employee,
how close would the ratings be? If the ratings would be far apart from one another, the method may have reliability
issues. To prevent this kind of issue, we can make sure that performance standards are written in a way that will
make them measurable. For example, instead of “increase sales” as a performance standard, we may want to say,
“increase sales by 10 percent from last year.” This performance standard is easily measured and allows us to
ensure the accuracy of our performance methods.
Acceptability refers to how well members of the organization, manager and employees, accept the performance
evaluation tool as a valid measure of performance. For example, let’s assume the current measurement tools of
Blewett Gravel, Inc. are in place and show validity for each job function. However, managers don’t think the tool
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is useful because they take too much time. As a result, they spend minimal time on the evaluation. This could
mean the current process is flawed because of acceptability error.
Another consideration is the specificity, which tells employees the job expectations and how they can be met. If
they are not specific enough, the tool is not useful to the employee for development or to the manager to ensure
the employee is meeting expectations. Finally, after we have developed our process, we need to create a time line
and educate managers and employees on the process. This can be done through formal training and communicated
through company blogs or e-mails. According to Robert Kent (Kent, 2011), teaching people how to receive benefit
from the feedback they receive can be an important part of the process as well.
Performance Appraisal Legal ConsiderationsPerformance Appraisal Legal Considerations
The legality of performance appraisals was questioned in 1973 in Brito v. Zia, in which an employee was
terminated based on a subjective performance evaluation. Following this important case, employers began to
rethink their performance evaluation system and the legality of it.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 set new standards for performance evaluation. Although these standards
related only to public sector employees, the Reform Act began an important trend toward making certain
performance evaluations were legal. The Reform Act created the following criteria for performance appraisals in
government agencies:
1. All agencies were required to create performance review systems.
2. Appraisal systems would encourage employee participation in establishing the performance standards
they will be rated against.
3. The critical elements of the job must be in writing.
4. Employees must be advised of the critical elements when hired.
5. The system must be based exclusively on the actual performance and critical elements of the job. They
cannot be based on a curve, for example.
6. They must be conducted and recorded at least once per year.
7. Training must be offered for all persons giving performance evaluations.
8. The appraisals must provide information that can be used for decision making, such as pay decisions and
promotion decisions.
Early performance appraisal research can provide us a good example as to why we should be concerned with
the legality of the performance appraisal process (Field & Holley, 1982). Holley and Field analyzed sixty-six
legal cases that involved discrimination and performance evaluation. Of the cases, defendants won thirty-five
of the cases. The authors of the study determined that the cases that were won by the defendant had similar
characteristics:
1. Appraisers were given written instructions on how to complete the appraisal for employees.
2. Job analysis was used to develop the performance measures of the evaluation.
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3. The focus of the appraisal was actual behaviors instead of personality traits.
4. Upper management reviewed the ratings before the performance appraisal interview was conducted.
This tells us that the following considerations should be met when developing our performance appraisal process:
1. Performance standards should be developed using the job analysis and should change as the job changes.
2. Provide the employees with a copy of the evaluation when they begin working for the organization, and
even consider having the employees sign off, saying they have received it.
3. All raters and appraisers should be trained.
4. When rating, examples of observable behavior (rather than personality characteristics) should be given.
5. A formal process should be developed in the event an employee disagrees with a performance review.
Now that we have discussed some of the pitfalls of performance appraisals, we can begin to discuss how to
develop the process of performance evaluations.
Table 11.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Source for Performance Evaluations
Source Advantages Disadvantages
Usually has extensive knowledge of the employee’sperformance and abilitiesManager/
SupervisorFavoritism
Bias
Self Self-analysis can help with employee growth In the employee’s interest to inflate his or her own ratings
Works well when the supervisor doesn’t always directlyobserve the employee
Relationships can create bias in the review
Can bring a different perspective, since peers know the jobwell
Peer
If confidential, may create mistrust within the organization
If evaluations are tied to pay, this can put both the employeeand the peer in an awkward situation
Customers often have the best view of employee behavior Can be expensive to obtain this feedbackCustomer/Client Can enhance long-term relationships with the customer by
asking for feedbackPossible bias
Data garnered can include how well the manager treatsemployees
Possible retaliation if results are not favorable
Can determine if employees feel there is favoritism withintheir department
Subordinates may not understand the “big picture” andrate low as a result
Rating inflation
Can be used as a self-development tool for managers
Subordinate
If nothing changes despite the evaluation, could createmotivational issues among employees
If confidential, may create mistrust within the organization
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Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What are the steps we should take when developing a performance review process?
Key Takeaways
• A performance evaluation system is a systematic way to examine how well an employee isperforming in his or her job.
• The use of the term systematic implies the process should be planned.
• Depending on which research you read, some believe the performance evaluation system is one ofthe most important to consider in HRM, but others view it as a flawed process, which makes it lessvaluable and therefore ineffective.
• The first step in designing a performance appraisal process is to determine how often the appraisalswill be given. Consideration of time and effort to administer the evaluation should be a decidingfactor.
• Many companies offer pay increases as part of the system, while some companies prefer to separatethe process. Determine how this will be handled in the next step in the performance appraisaldevelopment process.
• Goals of the performance evaluation should be discussed before the process is developed. In otherwords, what does the company hope to gain from this process? Asking managers and employees fortheir feedback on this is an important part of this consideration.
• After determining how often the evaluations should be given, if pay will be tied to the evaluationsand goals, you can now sit down and develop the process. First, determine what forms will be usedto administer the process.
• After you have determined what forms will be used (or developed), determine who will be thesource for the information. Perhaps managers, peers, or customers would be an option. A 360 reviewprocess combines several sources for a more thorough review.
• There are some errors that can occur in the process. These include halo effects or comparing anemployee to another as opposed to rating employees only on the objectives. Other errors mightinclude validity, reliability, acceptability, and specificity.
• Performance evaluations should always be based on the actual job description.
• Our last step in development of this process is to communicate the process and train employees andmanagers on the process. Also, training on how best to use feedback is the final and perhaps mostimportant step of the process.
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Exercises
1. Perform an Internet search on 360 review software. Compare at least two types of software anddiscuss advantages and disadvantages of each.
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of performance evaluation source.
ReferencesReferences
Bannister, B. and David Balkin, “Performance Evaluation and Compensation Feedback Messages: An Integrated
Model,” Journal of Occupational Psychology 63 (June 1990): 97–111.
Derven, M., “The Paradox of Performance Appraisals,” Personnel Journal 69 (February 1990): 107–11.
Field, H. and William Holley, “The Relationship of Performance Appraisal System Characteristics to Verdicts in
Selected Employment Discrimination Cases,” Academy of Management Journal 25, no. 2 (1982): 392–406.
Halogen Software, accessed March 22, 2011, http://www.halogensoftware.com.
Kent, R., “Why You Should Think Twice about 360 Performance Reviews,” ManagerWise, accessed March 22,
2011, http://www.managerwise.com/article.phtml?id=128.
Lawrie, J., “Prepare for a Performance Appraisal,” Personnel Journal 69 (April 1990): 132–36.
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11.2 Appraisal Methods
Learning Objective
1. Be able to describe the various appraisal methods.
It probably goes without saying that different industries and jobs need different kinds of appraisal methods. For
our purposes, we will discuss some of the main ways to assess performance in a performance evaluation form.
Of course, these will change based upon the job specifications for each position within the company. In addition
to industry-specific and job-specific methods, many organizations will use these methods in combination, as
opposed to just one method. There are three main methods of determining performance. The first is the trait
method, in which managers look at an employee’s specific traits in relation to the job, such as friendliness to the
customer. The behavioral method looks at individual actions within a specific job. Comparative methods compare
one employee with other employees. Results methods are focused on employee accomplishments, such as whether
or not employees met a quota.
Within the categories of performance appraisals, there are two main aspects to appraisal methods. First, the criteria
are the aspects the employee is actually being evaluated on, which should be tied directly to the employee᾿s
job description. Second, the rating is the type of scale that will be used to rate each criterion in a performance
evaluation: for example, scales of 1–5, essay ratings, or yes/no ratings. Tied to the rating and criteria is the
weighting each item will be given. For example, if “communication” and “interaction with client” are two criteria,
the interaction with the client may be weighted more than communication, depending on the job type. We will
discuss the types of criteria and rating methods next.
Graphic Rating ScaleGraphic Rating Scale
The graphic rating scale, a behavioral method, is perhaps the most popular choice for performance evaluations.
This type of evaluation lists traits required for the job and asks the source to rate the individual on each attribute.
A discrete scale is one that shows a number of different points. The ratings can include a scale of 1–10; excellent,
average, or poor; or meets, exceeds, or doesn’t meet expectations, for example. A continuous scale shows a
scale and the manager puts a mark on the continuum scale that best represents the employee’s performance. For
example:
332
Poor — — — — — — — — Excellent
The disadvantage of this type of scale is the subjectivity that can occur. This type of scale focuses on behavioral
traits and is not specific enough to some jobs. Development of specific criteria can save an organization in legal
costs. For example, in Thomas v. IBM, IBM was able to successfully defend accusations of age discrimination
because of the objective criteria the employee (Thomas) had been rated on.
Many organizations use a graphic rating scale in conjunction with other appraisal methods to further solidify the
tool’s validity. For example, some organizations use a mixed standard scale, which is similar to a graphic rating
scale. This scale includes a series of mixed statements representing excellent, average, and poor performance, and
the manager is asked to rate a “+” (performance is better than stated), “0” (performance is at stated level), or “−”
(performance is below stated level). Mixed standard statements might include the following:
• The employee gets along with most coworkers and has had only a few interpersonal issues.
• This employee takes initiative.
• The employee consistently turns in below-average work.
• The employee always meets established deadlines.
An example of a graphic rating scale is shown in Figure 11.1 “Example of Graphic Rating Scale”.
Essay AppraisalEssay Appraisal
In an essay appraisal, the source answers a series of questions about the employee’s performance in essay form.
This can be a trait method and/or a behavioral method, depending on how the manager writes the essay. These
statements may include strengths and weaknesses about the employee or statements about past performance. They
can also include specific examples of past performance. The disadvantage of this type of method (when not
combined with other rating systems) is that the manager’s writing ability can contribute to the effectiveness of the
evaluation. Also, managers may write less or more, which means less consistency between performance appraisals
by various managers.
Checklist ScaleChecklist Scale
A checklist method for performance evaluations lessens the subjectivity, although subjectivity will still be present
in this type of rating system. With a checklist scale, a series of questions is asked and the manager simply responds
yes or no to the questions, which can fall into either the behavioral or the trait method, or both. Another variation
to this scale is a check mark in the criteria the employee meets, and a blank in the areas the employee does not
meet. The challenge with this format is that it doesn’t allow more detailed answers and analysis of the performance
criteria, unless combined with another method, such as essay ratings. A sample of a checklist scale is provided in
Figure 11.3 “Example of Checklist Scale”.
Figure 11.1 Example of Graphic Rating Scale
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Figure 11.2 Example of Essay Rating
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Figure 11.3 Example of Checklist Scale
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Critical Incident AppraisalsCritical Incident Appraisals
This method of appraisal, while more time-consuming for the manager, can be effective at providing specific
examples of behavior. With a critical incident appraisal, the manager records examples of the employee’s effective
and ineffective behavior during the time period between evaluations, which is in the behavioral category. When it
is time for the employee to be reviewed, the manager will pull out this file and formally record the incidents that
occurred over the time period. The disadvantage of this method is the tendency to record only negative incidents
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instead of postive ones. However, this method can work well if the manager has the proper training to record
incidents (perhaps by keeping a weekly diary) in a fair manner. This approach can also work well when specific
jobs vary greatly from week to week, unlike, for example, a factory worker who routinely performs the same
weekly tasks.
Work Standards ApproachWork Standards Approach
For certain jobs in which productivity is most important, a work standards approach could be the more effective
way of evaluating employees. With this results-focused approach, a minimum level is set and the employee’s
performance evaluation is based on this level. For example, if a sales person does not meet a quota of $1
million, this would be recorded as nonperforming. The downside is that this method does not allow for reasonable
deviations. For example, if the quota isn’t made, perhaps the employee just had a bad month but normally
performs well. This approach works best in long-term situations, in which a reasonable measure of performance
can be over a certain period of time. This method is also used in manufacuring situations where production is
extremely important. For example, in an automotive assembly line, the focus is on how many cars are built in a
specified period, and therefore, employee performance is measured this way, too. Since this approach is centered
on production, it doesn’t allow for rating of other factors, such as ability to work on a team or communication
skills, which can be an important part of the job, too.
Ranking MethodsRanking Methods
In a ranking method system (also called stack ranking), employees in a particular department are ranked based on
their value to the manager or supervisor. This system is a comparative method for performance evaluations.The
manager will have a list of all employees and will first choose the most valuable employee and put that name at
the top. Then he or she will choose the least valuable employee and put that name at the bottom of the list. With
the remaining employees, this process would be repeated. Obviously, there is room for bias with this method, and
it may not work well in a larger organization, where managers may not interact with each employee on a day-to-
day basis.
To make this type of evaluation most valuable (and legal), each supervisor should use the same criteria to rank
each individual. Otherwise, if criteria are not clearly developed, validity and halo effects could be present. The
Roper v. Exxon Corp case illustrates the need for clear guidelines when using a ranking system. At Exxon, the
legal department attorneys were annually evaluated and then ranked based on input from attorneys, supervisors,
and clients. Based on the feedback, each attorney for Exxon was ranked based on their relative contribution and
performance. Each attorney was given a group percentile rank (i.e., 99 percent was the best-performing attorney).
When Roper was in the bottom 10 percent for three years and was informed of his separation with the company,
he filed an age discrimination lawsuit. The courts found no correlation between age and the lowest-ranking
individuals, and because Exxon had a set of established ranking criteria, they won the case (Grote, 2005).
Another consideration is the effect on employee morale should the rankings be made public. If they are not made
public, morale issues may still exist, as the perception might be that management has “secret” documents.
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FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
Critics have long said that a forced ranking system can be detrimental to morale; it focuses too much onindividual performance as opposed to team performance. Some say a forced ranking system promotes toomuch competition in the workplace. However, many Fortune 500 companies use this system and havefound it works for their culture. General Electric (GE) used perhaps one of the most well-known forcedranking systems. In this system, every year managers placed their employees into one of three categories:“A” employees are the top 20 percent, “B” employees are the middle 70 percent, and “C” performersare the bottom 10 percent. In GE’s system, the bottom 10 percent are usually either let go or put on aperformance plan. The top 20 percent are given more responsibility and perhaps even promoted. However,even GE has reinvented this stringent forced ranking system. In 2006, it changed the system to removereferences to the 20/70/10 split, and GE now presents the curve as a guideline. This gives more freedomfor managers to distribute employees in a less stringent manner1.
The advantages of a forced ranking system include that it creates a high-performance work culture andestablishes well-defined consequences for not meeting performance standards. In recent research, a forcedranking system seems to correlate well with return on investment to shareholders. For example, the study(Sprenkel, 2011) shows that companies who use individual criteria (as opposed to overall performance)to measure performance outperform those who measure performance based on overall company success.To make a ranking system work, it is key to ensure managers have a firm grasp on the criteria onwhich employees will be ranked. Companies using forced rankings without set criteria open themselvesto lawsuits, because it would appear the rankings happen based on favoritism rather than quantifiableperformance data. For example, Ford in the past used forced ranking systems but eliminated the systemafter settling class action lawsuits that claimed discrimination (Lowery, 2011). Conoco also has settledlawsuits over its forced ranking systems, as domestic employees claimed the system favored foreignworkers (Lowery, 2011). To avoid these issues, the best way to develop and maintain a forced rankingsystem is to provide each employee with specific and measurable objectives, and also provide managementtraining so the system is executed in a fair, quantifiable manner.
In a forced distribution system, like the one used by GE, employees are ranked in groups based onhigh performers, average performers, and nonperformers. The trouble with this system is that it does notconsider that all employees could be in the top two categories, high or average performers, and requiresthat some employees be put in the nonperforming category.
In a paired comparison system, the manager must compare every employee with every other employeewithin the department or work group. Each employee is compared with another, and out of the two, thehigher performer is given a score of 1. Once all the pairs are compared, the scores are added. This methodtakes a lot of time and, again, must have specific criteria attached to it when comparing employees.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
How can you make sure the performance appraisal ties into a specific job description?
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Management by Objectives (MBO)Management by Objectives (MBO)
Management by objectives (MBOs) is a concept developed by Peter Drucker in his 1954 book The Practice of
Management (Drucker, 2006). This method is results oriented and similar to the work standards approach, with
a few differences. First, the manager and employee sit down together and develop objectives for the time period.
Then when it is time for the performance evaluation, the manager and employee sit down to review the goals
that were set and determine whether they were met. The advantage of this is the open communication between
the manager and the employee. The employee also has “buy-in” since he or she helped set the goals, and the
evaluation can be used as a method for further skill development. This method is best applied for positions that are
not routine and require a higher level of thinking to perform the job. To be efficient at MBOs, the managers and
employee should be able to write strong objectives. To write objectives, they should be SMART (Doran, 1981):
1. Specific. There should be one key result for each MBO. What is the result that should be achieved?
2. Measurable. At the end of the time period, it should be clear if the goal was met or not. Usually a
number can be attached to an objective to make it measurable, for example “sell $1,000,000 of new
business in the third quarter.”
3. Attainable. The objective should not be impossible to attain. It should be challenging, but not
impossible.
4. Result oriented. The objective should be tied to the company’s mission and values. Once the objective is
made, it should make a difference in the organization as a whole.
5. Time limited. The objective should have a reasonable time to be accomplished, but not too much time.
Setting MBOs with EmployeesSetting MBOs with Employees
(click to see video)
An example of how to work with an employee to set MBOs.
To make MBOs an effective performance evaluation tool, it is a good idea to train managers and determine which
job positions could benefit most from this type of method. You may find that for some more routine positions,
such as administrative assistants, another method could work better.
Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS)Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS)
A BARS method first determines the main performance dimensions of the job, for example, interpersonal
relationships. Then the tool utilizes narrative information, such as from a critical incidents file, and assigns
quantified ranks to each expected behavior. In this system, there is a specific narrative outlining what exemplifies
a “good” and “poor” behavior for each category. The advantage of this type of system is that it focuses on the
desired behaviors that are important to complete a task or perform a specific job. This method combines a graphic
rating scale with a critical incidents system. The US Army Research Institute (Phillips, et. al., 2006) developed a
BARS scale to measure the abilities of tactical thinking skills for combat leaders. Figure 11.4 “Example of BARS”
provides an example of how the Army measures these skills.
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Figure 11.4 Example of BARS
Figure 11.5 More Examples of Performance Appraisal Types
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How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Playing Favorites
You were just promoted to manager of a high-end retail store. As you are sorting through your responsibilities,
you receive an e-mail from HR outlining the process for performance evaluations. You are also notified that you
must give two performance evaluations within the next two weeks. This concerns you, because you don’t know
any of the employees and their abilities yet. You aren’t sure if you should base their performance on what you see
in a short time period or if you should ask other employees for their thoughts on their peers’ performance. As you
go through the files on the computer, you find a critical incident file left from the previous manager, and you think
this might help. As you look through it, it is obvious the past manager had “favorite” employees and you aren’t
sure if you should base the evaluations on this information. How would you handle this?
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How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360849/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360849/embed.
Table 11.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Performance Appraisal Method
Type of PerformanceAppraisal Method Advantages Disadvantages
Inexpensive to develop Subjectivity
Graphic Rating ScaleEasily understood by employees and managers
Can be difficult to use in making compensation andpromotion decisions
Subjectivity
Writing ability of reviewer impacts validityEssayCan easily provide feedback on the positiveabilities of the employee
Time consuming (if not combined with other methods)
Checklist scaleMeasurable traits can point out specificbehavioral expectations
Does not allow for detailed answers or explanations(unless combined with another method)
Provides specific examplesCritical Incidents
Time consuming for managerTendency to report negative incidents
Work Standards Approach Ability to measure specific components of the job Does not allow for deviations
Can create a high-performance work culture
Validity depends on the amount of interactionbetween employees and manager
Ranking
Can negatively affect teamwork
Possible bias
Open communicationMBOs
Employee may have more “buy-in”Many only work for some types of job titles
Focus is on desired behaviors
Scale is for each specific jobBARS
Desired behaviors are clearly outlined
Time consuming to set up
No one performance appraisal is best, so most companies use a variety of methods to ensure the best results.
Key Takeaways
• When developing performance appraisal criteria, it is important to remember the criteria should bejob specific and industry specific.
• The performance appraisal criteria should be based on the job specifications of each specific job.General performance criteria are not an effective way to evaluate an employee.
• The rating is the scale that will be used to evaluate each criteria item. There are a number of differentrating methods, including scales of 1–5, yes or no questions, and essay.
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• In a graphic rating performance evaluation, employees are rated on certain desirable attributes. Avariety of rating scales can be used with this method. The disadvantage is possible subjectivity.
• An essay performance evaluation will ask the manager to provide commentary on specific aspects ofthe employee’s job performance.
• A checklist utilizes a yes or no rating selection, and the criteria are focused on components of theemployee’s job.
• Some managers keep a critical incidents file. These incidents serve as specific examples to bewritten about in a performance appraisal. The downside is the tendency to record only negativeincidents and the time it can take to record this.
• The work standards performance appraisal approach looks at minimum standards of productivityand rates the employee performance based on minimum expectations. This method is often used forsales forces or manufacturing settings where productivity is an important aspect.
• In a ranking performance evaluation system, the manager ranks each employee from most valuableto least valuable. This can create morale issues within the workplace.
• An MBO or management by objectives system is where the manager and employee sit downtogether, determine objectives, then after a period of time, the manager assesses whether thoseobjectives have been met. This can create great development opportunities for the employee and agood working relationship between the employee and manager.
• An MBO’s objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented, and timelimited.
• A BARS approach uses a rating scale but provides specific narratives on what constitutes good orpoor performance.
Exercise
1.Review each of the appraisal methods and discuss which one you might use for the following typesof jobs, and discuss your choices.
a. Administrative Assistant
b. Chief Executive Officer
c. Human Resource Manager
d. Retail Store Assistant Manager
1“The Struggle to Measure Performance,” BusinessWeek, January 9, 2006, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_02/b3966060.htm.
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ReferencesReferences
Doran, G. T., “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management’s Goals and Objectives,” Management Review
70, no. 11 (1981): 35.
Drucker, P., The Practice of Management (New York: Harper, 2006).
Grote, R., Forced Ranking: Making Performance Management Work (Boston: Harvard Business School Press,
2005).
Lowery, M., “Forcing the Issue,” Human Resource Executive Online, n.d., accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.hrexecutive.com/HRE/story.jsp?storyId=4222111&query=ranks.
Phillips, J., Jennifer Shafter, Karol Ross, Donald Cox, and Scott Shadrick, Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales
for the Assessment of Tactical Thinking Mental Models (Research Report 1854), June 2006, US Army Research
Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, accessed August 15, 2011, http://www.hqda.army.mil/ari/pdf/
RR1854.pdf.
Sprenkel, L., “Forced Ranking: A Good Thing for Business?” Workforce Management, n.d., accessed August 15,
2011, http://homepages.uwp.edu/crooker/790-iep-pm/Articles/meth-fd-workforce.pdf.
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11.3 Completing and Conducting the Appraisal
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to discuss best practices in performance review planning.
2. Be able to write an improvement plan for an employee.
So far, we have discussed the necessity of providing formal feedback to employees through a systematic
performance evaluation system. We have stressed the importance of making sure the HR professional knows how
often performance evaluations should be given and if they are tied to pay increases.
The next step is to make sure you know the goals of the performance evaluation; for example, is the goal to
improve performance and also identify people for succession planning? You will then determine the source for the
performance evaluation data, and then create criteria and rating scales that relate directly to the employee’s job
description. Once this is done, the successful functioning of the performance evaluation system largely depends
on the HR professional to implement and communicate the system to managers and employees. This will be the
primary focus of our next section.
Best Practices in Performance AppraisalsBest Practices in Performance Appraisals
The most important things to remember when developing a performance evaluation system include the following:
1. Make sure the evaluation has a direct relationship to the job. Consider developing specific criteria for
each job, based on the individual job specifications and description.
2. Involve managers when developing the process. Garner their feedback to obtain “buy-in” for the process.
3. Consider involving the employee in the process by asking the employee to fill out a self-evaluation.
4. Use a variety of methods to rate and evaluate the employee.
5. Avoid bias by standardizing performance evaluations systems for each job.
6. Give feedback on performance throughout the year, not just during performance review times.
7. Make sure the goals of the performance evaluation tie into the organizational and department goals.
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8. Ensure the performance appraisal criteria also tie into the goals of the organization, for a strategic HRM
approach.
9. Review the evaluation for each job title often, since jobs and expectations change.
Figure 11.6 Best Practices in Performance Appraisal Systems
As you can see from Figure 11.7 “Performance Review System”, the performance appraisal aspect is just one part
of the total process. We can call this a performance review system. The first step of the process is goal setting with
the employee. This could mean showing the employee his or her performance appraisal criteria or sitting down
with the employee to develop MBOs. The basic idea here is that the employee should know the expectations and
how his or her job performance will be rated.
Constant monitoring, feedback, and coaching are the next step. Ensuring the employee knows what he or she is
doing well and is not doing well in a more informal manner will allow for a more productive employee.
Next, of course, is the formal performance evaluation process. Choosing the criteria, rating scale, and source
of the evaluation are steps we have already discussed. The next step is to work with the employee to develop
improvement plans (if necessary) and offer any rewards as a result of excellent performance. The process then
begins again, setting new goals with the employee.
Figure 11.7 Performance Review System
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Training Managers and EmployeesTraining Managers and Employees
As HR professionals, we know the importance of performance evaluation systems in developing employees, but
this may not always be apparent to the managers we work with on a daily basis. It is our job to educate managers
and employees on the standards for completing performance evaluation forms as well as train them on how to
complete the necessary documents (criteria and ratings), how to develop improvement plans when necessary, and
how to deliver the performance appraisal interview.
Employee FeedbackEmployee Feedback
(click to see video)
This video gives excellent tips on providing feedback to employees during the performance appraisal process.
First, after you have developed the new performance appraisal system (or adjusted an old one), consider offering
training on how to effectively use it. The training, if required, can save time later and make the process more
valuable. What we want to avoid is making it seem as if the performance appraisal process is “just one more thing”
for managers to do. Show the value of the system in your training or, better yet, involve managers in developing
the process to begin with.
Set standards should be developed for managers filling out the performance ratings and criteria. The advantage
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of this is accuracy of data and limiting possible bias. Consider these “ground rules” to ensure that information is
similar no matter which manager is writing the evaluation:
1. Use only factual information and avoid opinion or perception.
2. For each section, comments should be at least two sentences in length, and examples of employee
behavior should be provided.
3. Reviews must be complete and shared with the employee before the deadline.
4. Make messages clear and direct.
5. Focus on observable behaviors.
Once your managers are trained, understand how to fill out the forms, and are comfortable with the ground rules
associated with the process, we can coach them on how to prepare for performance evaluations. For example, here
are the steps you may want to discuss with your managers who provide performance evaluations:
1. Review the employee’s last performance evaluation. Note goals from the previous evaluation period.
2. Review the employee’s file and speak with other managers who interface with this person. In other
words, gather data about performance.
3. Fill out the necessary forms for this employee’s appraisal. Note which areas you want to address in the
appraisal interview with the employee.
4. If your organization bases pay increases on the performance evaluation, know the pay increase you are
able to offer the employee.
5. Write any improvement plans as necessary.
6. Schedule a time and date with the employee.
Most people feel nervous about giving and receiving performance evaluations. One way to limit this is to show the
employee the written evaluation before the interview, so the employee knows what to expect. To keep it a two-way
conversation, many organizations have the employee fill out the same evaluation, and answers from the employee
and manager are compared and discussed in the interview. When the manager meets with the employee to discuss
the performance evaluation, the manager should be clear, direct, and to the point about positives and weaknesses.
The manager should also discuss goals for the upcoming period, as well as any pay increases or improvement
plans as a result of the evaluation. The manager should also be prepared for questions, concerns, and reasons for
an employee’s not being able to meet performance standards.
Improvement plans should not be punitive, but the goal of an improvement plan should be to help the employee
succeed. Improvement plans are discussed in Chapter 7 “Retention and Motivation”. Coaching and development
should occur throughout the employee’s tenure, and he or she should know before the performance evaluation
whether expectations are not being met. This way, the introduction of an improvement plan is not a surprise. There
are six main components to an employee improvement plan:
1. Define the problem.
2. Discuss the behaviors that should be modified, based on the problem.
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3. List specific strategies to modify the behavior.
4. Develop long- and short-term goals.
5. Define a reasonable time line for improvements.
6. Schedule “check-in” dates to discuss the improvement plan.
An employee improvement plan works best if it is written with the employee, to obtain maximum buy-in. Once
you have developed the process and your managers are comfortable with it, the process must be managed. This is
addressed in Section 11.3.3 “Organizing the Performance Appraisal Process”.
Figure 11.8
Just the thought of a performance review can make even the most confident person stressed out.
Giuseppe Savo – stress – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Organizing the Performance Appraisal ProcessOrganizing the Performance Appraisal Process
While it will be up to the individual manager to give performance appraisals to employees, as an HR professional,
it will be up to you to develop the process (which we have already discussed) and to manage the process. Here are
some things to consider to effectively manage the process:
1. Provide each manager with a job description for each employee. The job description should highlight the
expectations of each job title and provide a sound basis for review.
2. Provide each manager with necessary documents, such as the criteria and rating sheets for each job
description.
3. Give the manager instructions and ground rules for filling out the documents.
4. Work with the manager on pay increases for each employee, if your organization has decided to tie
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performance evaluations with pay increases.
5. Provide coaching assistance on objectives development and improvement plans, if necessary.
6. Give time lines to the manager for each performance review he or she is responsible for writing.
Most HR professionals will keep a spreadsheet or other document that lists all employees, their manager, and
time lines for completion of performance evaluations. This makes it easier to keep track of when performance
evaluations should be given.
Of course, the above process assumes the organization is not using software to manage performance evaluations.
Numerous types of software are available that allow the HR professional to manage key job responsibilities and
goals for every employee in the organization. This software tracks progress on those goals and allows the manager
to enter notes (critical incidents files) online. The software can track 360 reviews and send e-mail reminders
when it is time for an employee or manager to complete evaluations. This type of software can allow for a
smoother, more streamlined process. Of course, as with any new system, it can be time-consuming to set up and
train managers and employees on how to use the system. However, many organizations find the initial time to
set up software or web-based performance evaluation systems well worth the easier recording and tracking of
performance goals.
No matter how the system is managed, it must be managed and continually developed to meet the ultimate
goal—continuing development of employees.
The Performance AppraisalThe Performance Appraisal
(click to see video)
This role-play highlights some of the things NOT to do when discussing a performance evaluation with an
employee.
Performance Appraisal InterviewsPerformance Appraisal Interviews
Once a good understanding of the process is developed, it is time to think about the actual meeting with the
employee. A performance review process could be intricately detailed and organized, but if the meeting with the
employee doesn’t go well, the overall strategic objective of performance reviews may not be met. In Norman
R. F. Maier’s famous book The Appraisal Interview, he addressed three types of appraisal interview styles. The
first is the tell and sell interview. In this type of interview, the manager does most of the talking and passes his
or her view to the employee. In the tell and listen type of interview, the manager communicates feedback and
then addresses the employee’s thoughts about the interview. In the problem-solving interview, the employee and
the manager discuss the things that are going well and those that are not going well, which can make for a more
productive discussion. To provide the best feedback to the employee, consider the following:
1. Be direct and specific. Use examples to show where the employee has room for improvement and where
the employee exceeds expectations, such as, “The expectation is zero accidents, and you have not had any
accidents this year.”
2. Do not be personal; always compare the performance to the standard. For example, instead of
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saying, “You are too slow on the production line,” say, the “expectations are ten units per hour, and
currently you are at eight units.”
3. Remember, it is a development opportunity. As a result, encourage the employee to talk. Understand
what the employee feels he does well and what he thinks he needs to improve.
4. Thank the employee and avoid criticism. Instead of the interview being a list of things the employee
doesn’t do well (which may give the feeling of criticizing), thank the employee for what the employee does
well, and work on action plans together to fix anything the employee isn’t doing well. Think of it as a team
effort to get the performance to the standard it needs to be.
The result of a completed performance evaluation usually means there are a variety of ramifications that can occur
after evaluating employee performance:
1. The employee now has written, documented feedback on his or her performance.
2. The organization has documented information on low performance, in case the employee needs to be
dismissed.
3. The employee has performed well and is eligible for a raise.
4. The employee has performed well and could be promoted.
5. Performance is not up to expectations, so an improvement plan should be put into place.
6. The employee hasn’t done well, improvement plans have not worked (the employee has been warned
before), and the employee should be dismissed.
In each of these cases, planning in advance of the performance appraisal interview is important, so all information
is available to communicate to the employee. Consider Robin, an employee at Blewett Gravel who was told she
was doing an excellent job. Robin was happy with the performance appraisal and when asked about promotion
opportunities, the manager said none was available. This can devalue a positive review and impact employee
motivation. The point, of course, is to use performance evaluations as a development tool, which will positively
impact employee motivation.
Preparing and Giving the Performance AppraisalPreparing and Giving the Performance Appraisal
(click to see video)
Some great tips on preparing for the performance appraisal meeting, and how to handle the meeting.
Key Takeaways
• There are many best practices to consider when developing, implementing, and managing aperformance appraisal system. First, the appraisal system must always tie into organization goals andthe individual employee’s job description.
• Involvement of managers in the process can initiate buy-in.
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• Consider using self-evaluation tools as a method to create a two-way conversation between themanager and the employee.
• Use a variety of rating methods to ensure a more unbiased result. For example, using peerevaluations in conjunction with self- and manager evaluations can create a clearer picture ofemployee performance.
• Be aware of bias that can occur with performance appraisal systems.
• Feedback should be given throughout the year, not just at performance appraisal time.
• The goals of a performance evaluation system should tie into the organization’s strategic plan, andthe goals for employees should tie into the organization’s strategic plan as well.
• The process for managing performance evaluations should include goal setting, monitoring andcoaching, and doing the formal evaluation process. The evaluation process should involve rewardsor improvement plans where necessary. At the end of the evaluation period, new goals should bedeveloped and the process started over again.
• It is the HR professional’s job to make sure managers and employees are trained on the performanceevaluation process.
• Standards should be developed for filling out employee evaluations, to ensure consistency and avoidbias.
• The HR professional can assist managers by providing best practices information on how to discussthe evaluation with the employee.
• Sometimes when performance is not up to standard, an improvement plan may be necessary. Theimprovement plan identifies the problem, the expected behavior, and the strategies needed to meetthe expected behavior. The improvement plan should also address goals, time lines to meet the goals,and check-in dates for status on the goals.
• It is the job of the HR professional to organize the process for the organization. HR should providethe manager with training, necessary documents (such as criteria and job descriptions), instructions,pay increase information, and coaching, should the manager have to develop improvement plans.
• Some HR professionals organize the performance evaluation information in an Excel spreadsheetthat lists all employees, job descriptions, and due dates for performance evaluations.
• There are many types of software programs available to manage the process. This software canmanage complicated 360 review processes, self-evaluations, and manager’s evaluations. Somesoftware can also provide time line information and even send out e-mail reminders.
• The performance evaluation process should be constantly updated and managed to ensure the resultscontribute to the success of the organization.
• A variety of ramifications can occur, from the employee’s earning a raise to possible dismissal, all ofwhich should be determined ahead of the performance appraisal interview.
Exercises
1. What are the important aspects of an improvement plan? Why are these so important?
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2. Name and describe three best practices for a performance evaluation system.
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11.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• A performance evaluation system is a systematic way to examine how well an employee isperforming in his or her job.
• The use of the term systematic implies the process should be planned.
• Depending on which research you read, some believe the performance evaluation system is one ofthe most important to consider in HRM, but others view it as a flawed process, which makes it lessvaluable and therefore ineffective.
• The first step in designing a performance appraisal process is to determine how often the appraisalswill be given. Consideration of time and effort to administer the evaluation should be a decidingfactor.
• Many companies offer pay increases as part of the system, while some companies prefer to separatethe process. Determining how this will be handled is the next step in the performance appraisaldevelopment process.
• Goals of the performance evaluation should be discussed before the process is developed. In otherwords, what does the company hope to gain from this process? Asking managers and employees fortheir feedback on this is an important part of this consideration.
• After determining how often the evaluations should be given, and if pay will be tied to theevaluations and goals, you can now sit down and develop the process. First, determine what formswill be used to administer the process.
• After you have determined what forms will be used (or developed), determine who will be thesource for the information. Managers, peers, and customers are options. A 360 review processcombines several sources for a more thorough review.
• There are some errors that can occur in the process. These include halo effects or comparing anemployee to another as opposed to rating them only on the objectives.
• Performance evaluations should always be based on the actual job description.
• Our last step in the development of this process is to communicate the process and train ouremployees and managers on the process. Also, training on how best to use feedback is the final andperhaps most important step of the process.
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• When developing performance appraisal criteria, it is important to remember the criteria should bejob specific and industry specific.
• The performance appraisal criteria should be based on the job specifications of each specific job.General performance criteria are not an effective way to evaluate an employee.
• The rating is the scale that will be used to evaluate each criteria item. There are a number of differentrating methods, including scales of 1–5, yes or no questions, and essay.
• In a graphic rating performance evaluation, employees are rated on certain desirable attributes. Avariety of rating scales can be used with this method. The disadvantage is possible subjectivity.
• An essay performance evaluation will ask the manager to provide commentary on specific aspects ofthe employee’s job performance.
• A checklist utilizes a yes or no rating selection, and the criteria are focused on components of theemployee’s job.
• Some managers keep a critical incidents file. These incidents serve as specific examples to bewritten about in a performance appraisal. The downside is the tendency to record only negativeincidents and the time it can take to record this.
• The work standards performance appraisal approach looks at minimum standards of productivityand rates the employee performance based on minimum expectations. This method is often used forsales forces or manufacturing settings where productivity is an important aspect.
• In a ranking performance evaluation system, the manager ranks each employee from most valuableto least valuable. This can create morale issues within the workplace.
• An MBO or management by objectives system is where the manager and employee sit downtogether, determine objectives, then after a period of time, the manager assesses whether thoseobjectives have been met. This can create great development opportunities for the employee and agood working relationship between the employee and manager.
• An MBO’s objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented, and timelimited.
• A BARS approach uses a rating scale but provides specific narratives on what constitutes good orpoor performance.
• There are many best practices to consider when developing, implementing, and managing aperformance appraisal system. First, the appraisal system must always tie into organization goals andthe individual employee’s job description.
• Involvement of managers in the process can initiate buy-in for the process.
• Consider using self-evaluation tools as a method to create a two-way conversation between themanager and the employee.
• Use a variety of rating methods to ensure a more unbiased result. For example, using peerevaluations in conjunction with self and manager evaluations can create a clearer picture ofemployee performance.
• Be aware of bias that can occur with performance appraisal systems.
• Feedback should be given throughout the year, not just at performance appraisal time.
• The goals of a performance evaluation system should tie into the organization’s strategic plan, and
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the goals for employees should tie into the organization’s strategic plan as well.
• The process for managing performance evaluations should include goal setting, monitoring andcoaching, and doing the formal evaluation process. The evaluation process should involve rewardsor improvement plans where necessary. At the end of the evaluation period, new goals should bedeveloped and the process started over again.
• It is the HR professional’s job to make sure managers and employees are trained on the performanceevaluation process.
• Standards should be developed for filling out employee evaluations, to ensure consistency and avoidbias.
• The HR professional can assist managers by providing best practices information on how to discussthe evaluation with the employee.
• Sometimes when performance is not up to standard, an improvement plan may be necessary. Theimprovement plan identifies the problem, the expected behavior, and the strategies needed to meetthe expected behavior. The improvement plan should also address goals, time lines to meet the goals,and check-in dates for status on the goals.
• It is the job of the HR professional to organize the process for the organization. HR should providethe manager with training, necessary documents (such as criteria and job descriptions), instructions,pay increase information, and coaching, should the manager have to develop improvement plans.
• Some HR professionals organize the performance evaluation information in an Excel spreadsheetthat lists all employees, job descriptions, and due dates for performance evaluations.
• There are many types of software available to manage the process. This software can managecomplicated 360 review processes, self-evaluations, and manager’s evaluations. Some software canalso provide time line information and even send out e-mail reminders.
• The performance evaluation process should be constantly updated and managed to ensure the resultscontribute to the success of the organization.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Revamping the System
It is your first six months at your new job as an HR assistant at Groceries for You, a home delivery groceryservice. When you ask the HR director, Chang, about performance evaluations, he just rolls his eyes andtells you to schedule a meeting in his Outlook calendar to discuss them. In the meantime, you gather somedata that might be helpful in your discussion with Chang.
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Number of managers 4
Number of employees 82
Delivery—38
Warehouse—24Average span of control
Marketing/technology—16
11—customer service
1—delivery manager
1—warehouse manager
1—marketing and technology manager
38—delivery drivers
24—warehouse workers
1—tech support
Job types
5—marketing and website design
When you meet, Chang is very forward with you about the current process. “Right now, managers groanwhen they are told they need to complete evaluations. The evaluations are general—we use the same formfor all jobs in the organization. It appears that promotion decisions are not based on the evaluations butinstead tend to be based on subjective criteria, such as how well the manager likes the individual. We reallyneed to get a handle on this system, but I haven’t had the time to do it. I am hoping you can make somerecommendations for our system and present them to me and then to the managers during next month’smeeting. Can you do this?”
1. Detail each step you will take as you develop a new performance evaluation system.
2. Identify specifics such as source, type of rating system, and criteria plans for each job category.Discuss budget for each performance evaluation. Address how you will obtain management buy-infor the new process.
3. Develop PowerPoint slides for your presentation to management about your proposed process andforms.
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. In a group of three to four, develop a performance evaluation sheet, using at least two methods,for the following job description, and present to the class:
Job Class Specification for:
ACCOUNTANT, City of Seattle
Class Specification Schematic Number: 2000504
Class Summary:
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Performs a variety of professional accounting functions and tasks for a city department or utility. Audits,monitors, researches, and recommends revisions to accounting procedures and operations. Performs andcoordinates the maintenance and production of accounting reports and records and ensures compliancewith established accounting procedures and practices.
Distinguishing Characteristics of the Class:
The accountant class is capable of performing a range of professional accounting functions and taskswithin the established guidelines of the department/city and according to generally accepted accountingpractices, procedures, and methods. This class is supervised by a higher level accountant or manager andsupervises accounting support personnel as required.
Assignments are performed under moderate supervision within established guidelines, generally acceptedaccounting principles, standards, and methods. Receives direction on special projects or where guidelinesand rules are unclear. Knowledge of accounting practices, methods, laws, rules, ordinances, and regulationsis required to determine the most appropriate accounting methods and procedures to apply and to ensureappropriate compliance.
Personal contacts are with department employees, other departments, agencies, or the public to provideinformation, coordinate work activities, and resolve problems.
Examples of Work:
• Analyzes and prepares cash flow forecasts and updates forecasts based on actual revenues andexpenditures.
• Prepares financial reports, statements, and schedules.
• Audits and reconciles assigned accounts in the general ledger.
• Monitors and controls accounting activities in the recording of financial transactions, that is,accounts receivables, accounts payables, collections, and fixed assets.
• Verifies and reviews accounting transactions. Makes appropriate corrections, entries, andadjustments to ensure accuracy of reports.
• Researches, analyzes, and prepares journals for financial transactions.
• Analyzes and maintains subsidiary ledgers (i.e., investments). Monitors and maintains investmentledger entries and investment schedules.
• Prepares variance reports required by outside auditors and program summaries explaining variances.
• Coordinates, trains, and monitors the work of accounting support personnel to ensure proper workoperations.
• Assists in development and modification of internal accounting control policies, procedures, andpractices.
• Assists in special projects such as research and analysis of financial information, long-term debtschedules, investment security reports, and reports for special information requested by departmentalpersonnel.
• Performs other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.
Work Environment/Physical Demands:
Work is performed in an office environment.
Minimum Qualifications:
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Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience thatprovides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).
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Chapter 12: Working with Labor Unions
Unhappy Employees Could Equal UnionizationUnhappy Employees Could Equal Unionization
As the HR manager for a two-hundred-person company, you tend to have a pretty good sense of employee morale.
Recently, you are concerned because it seems that morale is low, because of pay and the increasing health benefit
costs to employees. You discuss these concerns with upper-level management, but owing to financial pressures,
the company is not able to give pay raises this year.
One afternoon, the manager of the marketing department comes to you with this concern, but also with some news.
She tells you that she has heard talk of employees unionizing if they do not receive pay raises within the next
few months. She expresses that the employees are very unhappy and productivity is suffering as a result. She says
that employees have already started the unionization process by contacting the National Labor Relations Board
and are in the process of proving 30 percent worker interest in unionization. As you mull over this news, you
are concerned because the organization has always had a family atmosphere, and a union might change this. You
are also concerned about the financial pressures to the organization should the employees unionize and negotiate
higher pay. You know you must take action to see that this doesn’t happen. However, you know you and all
managers are legally bound by rules relating to unionization, and you need a refresher on what these rules are.
You decide to call a meeting first with the CEO and then with managers to discuss strategy and inform them of the
legal implications of this process. You feel confident that a resolution can be developed before the unionization
happens.
Working with Labor Unions IntroductionWorking with Labor Unions Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on labor unions.
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12.1 The Nature of Unions
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to discuss the history of labor unions.
2. Explain some of the reasons for a decline in union membership over the past sixty years.
3. Be able to explain the process of unionization and laws that relate to unionization.
A labor union, or union, is defined as workers banding together to meet common goals, such as better pay,
benefits, or promotion rules. In the United States, 11.9 percent of American workers belong to a union, down
from 20.1 percent in 19831. In this section, we will discuss the history of unions, reasons for decline in union
membership, union labor laws, and the process employees go through to form a union. First, however, we should
discuss some of the reasons why people join unions.
People may feel their economic needs are not being met with their current wages and benefits and believe that a
union can help them receive better economic prospects. Fairness in the workplace is another reason why people
join unions. They may feel that scheduling, vacation time, transfers, and promotions are not given fairly and feel
that a union can help eliminate some of the unfairness associated with these processes. Let’s discuss some basic
information about unions before we discuss the unionization process.
History and Organization of UnionsHistory and Organization of Unions
Trade unions were developed in Europe during the Industrial Revolution, when employees had little skill and thus
the entirety of power was shifted to the employer. When this power shifted, many employees were treated unfairly
and underpaid. In the United States, unionization increased with the building of railroads in the late 1860s. Wages
in the railroad industry were low and the threat of injury or death was high, as was the case in many manufacturing
facilities with little or no safety laws and regulations in place. As a result, the Bortherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and several other brotherhoods (focused on specific tasks only, such as conductors and brakemen) were
formed to protect workers’ rights, although many workers were fired because of their membership.
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Labor Union AFL-CIO PerspectiveLabor Union AFL-CIO Perspective
(click to see video)
A video from the AFL-CIO shows a history of labor unions, from its perspective.
The first local unions in the United States were formed in the eighteenth century, in the form of the National Labor
Union (NLU).
The National Labor Union, formed in 1866, paved the way for other labor organizations. The goal of the NLU
was to form a national labor federation that could lobby government for labor reforms on behalf of the labor
organizations. Its main focus was to limit the workday to eight hours. While the NLU garnered many supporters,
it excluded Chinese workers and only made some attempts to defend the rights of African-Americans and female
workers. The NLU can be credited with the eight-hour workday, which was passed in 1862. Because of a focus
on government reform rather than collective bargaining, many workers joined the Knights of Labor in the 1880s.
The Knights of Labor started as a fraternal organization, and when the NLU dissolved, the Knights grew in
popularity as the labor union of choice. The Knights promoted the social and cultural spirit of the worker
better than the NLU had. It originally grew as a labor union for coal miners but also covered several other
types of industries. The Knights of Labor initiated strikes that were successful in increasing pay and benefits.
When this occurred, membership increased. After only a few years, though, membership declined because of
unsuccessful strikes, which were a result of a too autocratic structure, lack of organization, and poor management.
Disagreements between members within the organization also caused its demise.
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) was formed in 1886, mostly by people who wanted to see a change
from the Knights of Labor. The focus was on higher wages and job security. Infighting among union members
was minimized, creating a strong organization that still exists today. In the 1930s, the Congress of Industrial
Organizations (CIO) was formed as a result of political differences in the AFL. In 1955, the two unions joined
together to form the AFL-CIO.
Currently, the AFL-CIO is the largest federation of unions in the United States and is made up of fifty-six national
and international unions. The goal of the AFL-CIO isn’t to negotiate specific contracts for employees but rather
to support the efforts of local unions throughout the country.
Currently in the United States, there are two main national labor unions that oversee several industry-specific local
unions. There are also numerous independent national and international unions that are not affiliated with either
national union:
1. AFL-CIO: local unions include Airline Pilots Association, American Federation of Government
Employees, Associated Actors of America, and Federation of Professional Athletes
2. CTW (Change to Win Federation): includes the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union,
United Farm Workers of America, and United Food and Commercial Workers
3. Independent unions: Directors Guild of America, Fraternal Order of Police, Independent Pilots
Association, Major League Baseball Players Association
The national union plays an important role in legislative changes, while the local unions focus on collective
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bargaining agreements and other labor concerns specific to the area. Every local union has a union steward who
represents the interests of union members. Normally, union stewards are elected by their peers.
A national union, besides focusing on legislative changes, also does the following:
1. Lobbies in government for worker rights laws
2. Resolves disputes between unions
3. Helps organize national protests
4. Works with allied organizations and sponsors various programs for the support of unions
For example, in 2011, the national Teamsters union organized demonstrations in eleven states to protest the
closing of an Ontario, California, parts distribution center. Meanwhile, Teamster Local 495 protested at the
Ontario plant2.
Figure 12.1 The Complicated Structure of AFL-CIO
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Source: AFL-CIO.
Current Union ChallengesCurrent Union Challenges
The labor movement is currently experiencing several challenges, including a decrease in union membership,
globalization, and employers’ focus on maintaining nonunion status. As mentioned in the opening of this section,
the United States has seen a steady decline of union membership since the 1950s. In the 1950s, 36 percent of all
workers were unionized (Friedman, 2010), as opposed to just over 11 percent today.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
When you are hired for your first job or your next job, do you think you would prefer to be part of a unionor not?
Claude Fischer, a researcher from University of California Berkeley, believes the shift is cultural. His research
says the decline is a result of American workers preferring individualism as opposed to collectivism (Fischer,
2010). Other research says the decline of unions is a result of globalization, and the fact that many jobs that used
to be unionized in the manufacturing arena have now moved overseas. Other reasoning points to management, and
that its unwillingness to work with unions has caused the decline in membership. Others suggest that unions are
on the decline because of themselves. Past corruption, negative publicity, and hard-line tactics have made joining
a union less favorable.
To fully understand unions, it is important to recognize the global aspect of unions. Statistics on a worldwide scale
show unions in all countries declining but still healthy in some countries. For example, in eight of the twenty-
seven European Union member states, more than half the working population is part of a union. In fact, in the most
populated countries, unionization rates are still at three times the unionization rate of the United States (Federation
of European Employers, 2011). Italy has a unionization rate of 30 percent of all workers, while the UK has 29
percent, and Germany has a unionization rate of 27 percent.
In March 2011, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker proposed limiting the collective bargaining rights of state
workers to save a flailing budget. Some called this move “union busting” and said this type of act is illegal, as
it takes away the basic rights of workers. The governor defended his position by saying there is no other choice,
since the state is in a budget crisis. Other states such as Ohio are considering similar measures. Whatever happens,
there is a clear shift for unions today.
Globalization is also a challenge in labor organizations today. As more and more goods and services are
produced overseas, unions lose not only membership but union values in the stronghold of worker culture. As
globalization has increased, unions have continued to demand more governmental control but have been only
somewhat successful in these attempts. For example, free trade agreements such as the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have made it easier and more lucrative for companies to manufacture goods overseas.
This is discussed in Chapter 14 “International HRM”. For example, La-Z-Boy and Whirlpool closed production
facilities in Dayton and Cleveland, Ohio, and built new factories in Mexico to take advantage of cheaper labor and
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less stringent environmental standards. Globalization creates options for companies to produce goods wherever
they think is best to produce them. As a result, unions are fighting the globalization trend to try and keep jobs in
the United States.
There are a number of reasons why companies do not want unions in their organizations, which we will discuss in
greater detail later. One of the main reasons, however, is increased cost and less management control. As a result,
companies are on a quest to maintain a union-free work environment. In doing so, they try to provide higher wages
and benefits so workers do not feel compelled to join a union. Companies that want to stay union free constantly
monitor their retention strategies and policies.
Labor Union LawsLabor Union Laws
The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 originally applied to railroads and in 1936 was amended to cover airlines.
The act received support from both management and unions. The goal of the act is to ensure no disruption of
interstate commerce. The main provisions of the act include alternate dispute resolution, arbitration, and mediation
to resolve labor disputes. Any dispute must be resolved in this manner before a strike can happen. The RLA is
administered by the National Mediation Board (NMB), a federal agency, and outlines very specific and detailed
processes for dispute resolution in these industries.
The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 (also known as the anti-injunction bill), barred federal courts from issuing
injunctions (a court order that requires a party to do something or refrain from doing something) against
nonviolent labor disputes and barred employers from interfering with workers joining a union. The act was a result
of common yellow-dog contracts, in which a worker agreed not to join a union before accepting a job. The Norris-
LaGuardia Act made yellow-dog contracts unenforceable in courts and established that employees were free to
join unions without employer interference.
In 1935, the Wagner Act (sometimes called the National Labor Relations Act) was passed, changing the way
employers can react to several aspects of unions. The Wagner Act had a few main aspects:
1. Employers must allow freedom of association and organization and cannot interfere with, restrain, or
coerce employees who form a union.
2. Employers may not discriminate against employees who form or are part of a union, or those who file
charges.
3. An employer must bargain collectively with representation of a union.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversees this act, handling any complaints that may arise from the
act. For example, in April 2011, the NLRB worked with employees at Ozburn-Hessey Logistics in Tennessee
after they had been fired because of their involvement in forming a union. The company was also accused of
interrogating employees about their union activities and threatened employees with loss of benefits should they
form a union. The NLRB utilized their attorney to fight on behalf of the employees, and a federal judge ordered
the company to rehire the fired employees and also to desist in other antiunion activities3.
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Figure 12.2
The Taft-Hartley Act prevents certain types of strikes, even in unionized companies.
Michael Fleshman – fastfoodstrike! – CC BY-NC 2.0.
The Taft-Hartley Act also had major implications for unions. Passed in 1947, Taft-Hartley amended the Wagner
Act. The act was introduced because of the upsurge of strikes during this time period. While the Wagner Act
addressed unfair labor practices on the part of the company, the Taft-Hartley Act focused on unfair acts by the
unions. For example, it outlawed strikes that were not authorized by the union, called wildcat strikes. It also
prohibited secondary actions (or secondary boycotts) in which one union goes on strike in sympathy for another
union. The act allowed the executive branch of the federal government to disallow a strike should the strike affect
national health or security. One of the most famous injunctions was made by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Air traffic controllers had been off the job for two days despite their no-strike oath, and Reagan ordered all of
them (over eleven thousand) discharged because they violated this federal law.
The Landrum Griffin Act, also known as the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure (LMRDA) Act, was
passed in 1959. This act required unions to hold secret elections, required unions to submit their annual financial
reports to the U.S. Department of Labor, and created standards governing expulsion of a member from a union.
This act was created because of racketeering charges and corruptions charges by unions. In fact, investigations of
the Teamsters Union found they were linked to organized crime, and the Teamsters were banned from the AFL-
CIO. The goal of this act was to regulate the internal functioning of unions and to combat abuse of union members
by union leaders.
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Figure 12.3 Major Acts Regarding Unions, at a Glance
Railway Labor Act
• Covers railroad and airlines
• Alternate dispute resolution methods instead of striking for these two industries
Norris-LaGuardia Act
• As a result of yellow-dog contracts
• Barred federal courts from issuing injunctions against nonviolent labor disputes
Wagner Act
• Allowed for freedom to join a union without interference
• May not discriminate against union employees
• Set collective bargaining rules
Taft-Hartley Act
• Amended Wagner Act
• Focus was on unfair practices by the union
Landrum-Friffing Act
• Required unions to hold secret elections
• Financial reporting of unions required
The Unionization ProcessThe Unionization Process
There are one of two ways in which a unionization process can begin. First, the union may contact several
employees and discuss the possibility of a union, or employees may contact a union on their own. The union will
then help employees gather signatures to show that the employees want to be part of a union. To hold an election,
the union must show signatures from over 30 percent of the employees of the organization.
Figure 12.4 The Unionization Process
Employee Dissatisfaction• Union contacts employees or employees contact union
Initial Organization Meeting• Initial meeting with union to gather employee support.
Signatures• Must have 30% of employee signatures to move forward with unionization process.
Secret Ballot Election or CardCheck Method
• Once 30% of signatures are gathered, a secret ballot election is administered by the National Labor Relations Board (if thecompany does not accept the card check method).
Voting and Contract
• If the vote is “yes” (51% majority), the National Labor Relations Board certifies the union as the legal bargaining representative ofthe employees.
Once the signatures are gathered, the National Labor Relations Board is petitioned to move forward with a secret-
ballot election. An alternative to the secret-ballot election is the card check method, in which the union organizer
provides the company with authorization cards signed by a simple majority (half plus one). The employer can
accept the cards as proof that the employees desire a union in their organization. The NLRB then certifies the
union as the employees’ collective bargaining representative.
If the organization does not accept the card check method as authorization for a union, the second option is via a
secret ballot. Before this method is used, a petition must be filed by the NLRB, and an election is usually held two
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months after the petition is filed. In essence, the employees vote whether to unionize or not, and there must be a
simple majority (half plus one). The NLRB is responsible for election logistics and counting of ballots. Observers
from all parties can be present during the counting of votes. Once votes are counted, a decision on unionization
occurs, and at that time, the collective bargaining process begins.
Once the NLRB is involved, there are many limits as to what the employer can say or do during the process
to prevent unionization of the organization. It is advisable for HR and management to be educated on what
can legally and illegally be said during this process. It is illegal to threaten or intimidate employees if they are
discussing a union. You cannot threaten job, pay, or benefits loss as a result of forming a union. Figure 12.5
“Things That Shouldn’t Be Said to Employees during a Unionization Process” includes information on what
should legally be avoided if employees are considering unionization.
Figure 12.5 Things That Shouldn’t Be Said to Employees during a Unionization Process
Obviously, it is in the best interest of the union to have as many members as possible. Because of this, unions
may use many tactics during the organizing process. For example, many unions are also politically involved
and support candidates who they feel best represent labor. They provide training to organizers and sometimes
even encourage union supporters to apply for jobs in nonunion environments to actively work to unionize other
employees when they are hired. This practice is called union salting. Unions, especially on the national level, can
be involved in corporate campaigns that boycott certain products or companies because of their labor practices.
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), for example, has a “Wake Up Walmart Campaign” that
targets the labor practices of this organization.
Strategies Companies Use to Avoid UnionizationStrategies Companies Use to Avoid Unionization
Most organizations feel the constraints of having a union organization are too great. It affects the cost to
the organization and operation efficiency. Collective bargaining at times can put management at odds with
its employees and cost more to produce products and services. Ideally, companies will provide safe working
conditions, fair pay, and benefits so the employees do not feel they need to form a union. There are three main
phases of unionization:
1. Phase 1: Your organization is union free and there is little or no interest in unionizing.
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2. Phase 2: You learn that some employees are discussing unionization or you learn about specific attempts
by the union to recruit employees.
3. Phase 3: You receive a petition from the National Labor Relations Board filed by a union requesting a
unionization vote.
Because of increased costs and operational efficiency, it is normally in a company’s best interest to avoid
unionization. While in phase 1, it is important to review employee relations programs including pay, benefits, and
other compensation. Ensure the compensation plans are fair so employees feel fairly treated and have no reason
to seek the representation of a union.
Despite your best efforts, you could hear of unionization in your organization. The goal here is to prevent the
union from gaining support to ask for a National Labor Relations Board election. Since only 30 percent of
employees need to sign union cards for a vote to take place, this phase to avoid unionization is very important.
During this time, HR professionals and managers should respond to the issues the employees have and also
develop a specific strategy on how to handle the union vote, should it get that far.
In phase 3, familiarization with all the National Labor Relations Board rules around elections and communications
is important. With this information, you can organize meetings to inform managers on these rules. At this time,
you will likely want to draw up an antiunion campaign and communicate that to managers, but also make sure it
does not violate laws. To this end, develop specific strategies to encourage employees to vote “no” for the union.
Some of the arguments that might be used include talking with the employee and mentioning the following:
1. Union dues are costly.
2. Employees could be forced to go on strike.
3. Employees and management may no longer be able to discuss matters informally and individually.
4. Unionization can create more bureaucracy within the company.
5. Individual issues may not be discussed.
6. Many decisions within a union, such as vacation time, are based on seniority only.
With unionization in decline, it is likely you may never need to handle a new union in your organization. However,
organizations such as Change to Win are in the process of trying to increase union membership. This organization
has four affiliated unions, with a goal to strengthen the labor movement. Teamsters, United Food and Commercial
Workers, United Farm Workers, and Service Employees International Union are all unions affiliated with this
organization (Change to Win, 2011). The next few years will be telling as to the fate of unions in today’s
organizations.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
Perhaps no organization is better known for its antiunion stance than Walmart. Walmart has over 3,800stores in the United States and over 4,800 internationally with $419 billion in sales4. Walmart employsmore than 2 million associates worldwide4. The billions of dollars Walmart earns do not immunize the
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company to trouble. In 2005, the company’s vice president, Tom Coughlin, was forced to resign afteradmitting that between $100,000 and $500,000 was spent for undeclared purposes, but it was eventuallyfound that the money was spent to keep the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) out ofWalmart (Los Angeles Times Wire Services, 2011) (he was found guilty and sentenced to two years ofhouse arrest).
Other claims surrounding union busting are the closing of stores, such as the Walmart Tire and LubeExpress in Gatineau, Quebec (UFCW Canada, 2011), when discussions of unionization occurred. Otherreports of union busting include the accusation that company policy requires store managers to reportrumors of unionizing to corporate headquarters. Once the report is made, all labor decisions for thatstore are handled by the corporate offices instead of the store manager. According to labor unions in theUnited States, Walmart is willing to work with international labor unions but continues to fiercely opposeunionization in the United States. In one example, after butchers at a Jacksonville, Texas, Walmart votedto unionize, Walmart eliminated all US meat-cutting departments.
A group called OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect), financed by the United Food andCommercial Workers* (UFCW) union, has stemmed from the accusations of union busting. Walmartspokesperson David Tovar says he sees the group as a Trojan horse assembled by labor organizations tolay the groundwork for full-fledged unionization and seek media attention to fulfill their agenda. Whilethe organization’s activities may walk a fine line between legal and illegal union practices under the Taft-Hartley Act, this new group will certainly affect the future of unionization at Walmart in its US stores.
*Note: UFCW was part of the AFL-CIO until 2005 and now is an independent national union.
The Impact of Unions on OrganizationsThe Impact of Unions on Organizations
You may wonder why organizations are opposed to unions. As we have mentioned, since union workers do receive
higher wages, this can be a negative impact on the organization. Unionization also impacts the ability of managers
to make certain decisions and limits their freedom when working with employees. For example, if an employee
is constantly late to work, the union contract will specify how to discipline in this situation, resulting in little
management freedom to handle this situation on a case-by-case basis. In 2010, for example, the Art Institute of
Seattle faculty filed signatures and voted on unionization5. Some of the major issues were scheduling issues and
office space, not necessarily pay and benefits. While the particular National Labor Relations Board vote was no
to unionization, a yes vote could have given less freedom to management in scheduling, since scheduling would
be based on collective bargaining contracts. Another concern about unionization for management is the ability to
promote workers. A union contract may stipulate certain terms (such as seniority) for promotion, which means the
manager has less control over the employees he or she can promote.
Section 12.2 “Collective Bargaining” and Section 12.3 “Administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement”
discuss the collective bargaining and grievance processes.
Key Takeaways
• Union membership in the United States has been slowly declining. Today, union membershipconsists of about 11.9 percent of the workforce, while in 1983 it consisted of 20 percent of the
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workforce.
• The reasons for decline are varied, depending on whom you ask. Some say the moving of jobsoverseas is the reason for the decline, while others say unions’ hard-line tactics put them out offavor.
• Besides declining membership, union challenges today include globalization and companies’wanting a union-free workplace.
• The United States began its first labor movement in the 1800s. This was a result of low wages, novacation time, safety issues, and other issues.
• Many labor organizations have disappeared, but the American Federation of Labor (AFL) still existstoday, although it merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and is now known asthe AFL-CIO. It is the largest labor union and represents local labor unions in a variety of industries.
• The United States has a low number of union members compared with other countries. Much ofEurope, for example, has over 30 percent of their workforce in labor unions, while in some countriesas much as 50 percent of the workforce are members of a labor union.
• Legislation has been created over time to support both labor unions and the companies who havelabor unions. The Railway Labor Act applies to airlines and railroads and stipulates that employeesmay not strike until they have gone through an extensive dispute resolution process. The Norris-LaGuardia Act made yellow-dog contracts illegal and barred courts from issuing injunctions.
• The Wagner Act was created to protect employees from retaliation should they join a union. TheTaft-Hartley Act was developed to protect companies from unfair labor practices by unions.
• The National Labor Relations Board is the overseeing body for labor unions, and it handles disputesbetween companies as well as facilitates the process of new labor unions in the developing stages. Itsjob is to enforce both the Wagner Act and the Taft-Hartley Act.
• The Landrum Griffin Act was created in 1959 to combat corruption in labor unions during this timeperiod.
• To form a union, the organizer must have signatures from 30 percent of the employees. If thisoccurs, the National Labor Relations Board will facilitate a card check to determine more than 50percent of the workforce at that company is in agreement with union representation. If the companydoes not accept this, then the NLRB holds secret elections to determine if the employees will beunionized. A collective bargaining agreement is put into place if the vote is yes.
• Companies prefer to not have unions in their organizations because it affects costs and operationalproductivity. Companies will usually try to prevent a union from organizing in their workplace.
• Managers are impacted when a company does unionize. For example, management rights areaffected, and everything must be guided by the contract instead of management prerogative.
Exercises
1. Visit the National Labor Relations Board website. View the “weekly case summary” and discuss itin at least two paragraphs, stating your opinion on this case.
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2. Do you agree with unionization within organizations? Why or why not? List the advantages anddisadvantages of unions to the employee and the company.
1“Union Members: 2010,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, news release, January 21, 2011,
accessed April 4, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf.
2“Teamsters Escalate BMW Protests across America,” PR Newswire, August 2, 2011, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-escalate-bmw-protests-across-america.
3“Federal Judge Orders Employer to Reinstate Three Memphis Warehouse Workers and Stop Threatening
Union Supporters While Case Proceeds at NLRB,” Office of Public Affairs, National Labor Relations Board,
news release, April 7, 2011, accessed April 7, 2011, http://www.nlrb.gov/news/federal-judge-orders-employer-
reinstate-three-memphis-warehouse-workers- and-stop-threatening-un.
4“Investors,” Walmart Corporate, 2011, accessed August 15, 2011, http://investors.walmartstores.com/
phoenix.zhtml?c=112761&p=irol-irhome.
5“Union Push in For-Profit Higher Ed,” Inside Higher Ed, May 24, 2010, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/05/24/union.
ReferencesReferences
Change to Win website, accessed April 7, 2011, http://www.changetowin.org.
Federation of European Employers, “Trade Unions across Europe,” accessed April 4, 2011,
http://www.fedee.com/tradeunions.html.
Fischer, C., “Why Has Union Membership Declined?” Economist’s View, September 11, 2010, accessed April 11,
2011, http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2010/09/why-has-union-membership-declined.html.
Friedman, G., “Labor Unions in the United States,” Economic History Association, February 2, 2010, accessed
April 4, 2011, http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/friedman.unions.us.
Los Angeles Times Wire Services, “Wal-Mart Accused of Unfair Labor Practices,” accessed September 15, 2011,
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/13/business/fi-walmart13.
UFCW Canada, “Want a Union? You’re Fired,” n.d., accessed August 15, 2011, http://www.ufcw.ca/
index.php?option=com_multicategories&view=article&id=1935&Itemid=98&lang=en.
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12.2 Collective Bargaining
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to describe the process of collective bargaining.
2. Understand the types of bargaining issues and the rights of management.
3. Discuss some strategies when working with unions.
When employees of an organization vote to unionize, the process for collective bargaining begins. Collective
bargaining is the process of negotiations between the company and representatives of the union. The goal is for
management and the union to reach a contract agreement, which is put into place for a specified period of time.
Once this time is up, a new contract is negotiated. In this section, we will discuss the components of the collective
bargaining agreement.
The Process of Collective BargainingThe Process of Collective Bargaining
In any bargaining agreement, certain management rights are not negotiable, including the right to manage and
operate the business, hire, promote, or discharge employees. However, in the negotiated agreement there may
be a process outlined by the union for how these processes should work. Management rights also include the
ability of the organization to direct the work of the employees and to establish operational policies. As an HR
professional sits at the bargaining table, it is important to be strategic in the process and tie the strategic plan with
the concessions the organization is willing to make and the concessions the organization will not make.
Another important point in the collective bargaining process is the aspect of union security. Obviously, it is in
the union’s best interest to collect dues from members and recruit as many new members as possible. In the
contract, a checkoff provision may be negotiated. This provision occurs when the employer, on behalf of the
union, automatically deducts dues from union members’ paychecks. This ensures that a steady stream of dues is
paid to the union.
To recruit new members, the union may require something called a union shop. A union shop requires a person to
join the union within a certain time period of joining the organization. In right-to-work states a union shop may
be illegal. Twenty-two states have passed right-to-work laws, as you can see in Figure 12.6 “Map of Right-to-
373
Work States”. These laws prohibit a requirement to join a union or pay dues and fees to a union. To get around
these laws, agency shops were created. An agency shop is similar to a union shop in that workers do not have
to join the union but still must pay union dues. Agency shop union fees are known as agency fees and may be
illegal in right-to-work states. A closed shop used to be a mechanism for a steady flow of membership. In this
arrangement, a person must be a union member to be hired. This, however, was made illegal under the Taft-
Hartley Act. According to a study by CNBC, all twenty-two right-to-work states are in the top twenty-five states
for having the best workforces1. However, according to the AFL-CIO, the average worker in a right-to-work state
makes $5,333 less per year than other workers2.
Figure 12.6 Map of Right-to-Work States
In a collective bargaining process, both parties are legally bound to bargain in good faith. This means they have
a mutual obligation to participate actively in the deliberations and indicate a desire to find a basis for agreement.
There are three main classification of bargaining topics: mandatory, permissive, and illegal. Wages, health and
safety, management rights, work conditions, and benefits fall into the mandatory category. Permissive topics are
those that are not required but may be brought up during the process. An example might include the requirement
of drug testing for candidates or the required tools that must be provided to the employee to perform the job, such
as a cellular phone or computer. It is important to note that while management is not required by labor laws to
bargain on these issues, refusing to do so could affect employee morale. We can also classify bargaining issues
as illegal topics, which obviously cannot be discussed. These types of illegal issues may be of a discriminatory
nature or anything that would be considered illegal outside the agreement.
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Examples of Bargaining TopicsExamples of Bargaining Topics
• Pay rate and structure
• Health benefits
• Incentive programs
• Job classification
• Performance assessment procedure
• Vacation time and sick leave
• Health plans
• Layoff procedures
• Seniority
• Training process
• Severance pay
• Tools provided to employees
• Process for new applicants
The collective bargaining process has five main steps; we will discuss each of these steps next. The first step is the
preparation of both parties. The negotiation team should consist of individuals with knowledge of the organization
and the skills to be an effective negotiator. An understanding of the working conditions and dissatisfaction with
working conditions is an important part of this preparation step. Establishing objectives for the negotiation and
reviewing the old contract are key components to this step. The management team should also prepare and
anticipate union demands, to better prepare for compromises.
Figure 12.7 Steps in Collective Bargaining
The second step of the process involves both parties agreeing on how the time lines will be set for the negotiations.
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In addition, setting ground rules for how the negotiation will occur is an important step, as it lays the foundation
for the work to come.
In the third step, each party comes to the table with proposals. It will likely involve initial opening statements
and options that exist to resolve any situations that exist. The key to a successful proposal is to come to the table
with a “let’s make this work” attitude. An initial discussion is had and then each party generally goes back to
determine which requests it can honor and which it can’t. At this point, another meeting is generally set up to
continue further discussion.
Once the group comes to an agreement or settlement (which may take many months and proposals), a new contract
is written and the union members vote on whether to accept the agreement. If the union doesn’t agree, then the
process begins all over again.
Ramifications of a Bargaining ImpasseRamifications of a Bargaining Impasse
When the two parties are unable to reach consensus on the collective bargaining agreement, this is called a
bargaining impasse. Various kinds of strikes are used to show the displeasure of workers regarding a bargaining
impasse. An economic strike is a strike stemming from unhappiness about the economic conditions during
contract negotiations. For example, 45,000 Verizon workers rallied in the summer of 2011 when contract
negotiations failed (Goldberg, 2011). The two unions, Communications Workers of America and the International
Brotherhood of Electric Workers, claim that the new contract is unfair, as it asks Verizon workers to contribute
more to health plans, and the company is also looking to freeze pensions at the end of the year and reduce sick
time (Goldberg, 2011). Verizon says the telecommunications business is changing, and it cannot afford these
expenses. An unfair labor practices strike can happen during negotiations. The goal of an unfair labor practices
strike is to get the organization to cease committing what the union believes to be an unfair labor practice.
A bargaining impasse could mean the union goes on strike or a lockout occurs. The goal of a lockout, which
prevents workers from working, is to put pressure on the union to accept the contract. A lockout can only be
legally conducted when the existing collective bargaining agreement has expired and there is truly an impasse in
contract negotiations. In summer 2011, the National Basketball Association locked out players when the collective
bargaining agreement expired, jeopardizing the 2011–12 season (Kyler, 2011) while putting pressure on the
players to accept the agreement. Similarly, the goal of a strike is to put pressure on the organization to accept
the proposed contract. Some organizations will impose a lockout if workers engage in slowdowns, an intentional
reduction in productivity. Some unions will engage in a slowdown instead of a strike, because the workers still
earn pay, while in a strike they do not. A sick-out is when members of a union call in sick, which may be illegal
since they are using allotted time, while a walk-out is an unannounced refusal to perform work. However, this type
of tactic may be illegal if the conduct is irresponsible or indefensible, according to a judge. Jurisdictional strikes
are used to put pressure on an employer to assign work to members of one union versus another (if there are two
unions within the same organization) or to put pressure on management to recognize one union representation
when it currently recognizes another. The goal of a sick-out strike is to show the organization how unproductive
the company would be if the workers did go on strike. As mentioned under the Taft-Hartley Act, wildcat strikes are
illegal, as they are not authorized by the union and usually violate a collective bargaining agreement. Sympathy
strikes are work stoppages by other unions designed to show support for the union on strike. While they are not
illegal, they may violate the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
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Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
How would you feel about going on strike? What kinds of situations may cause you to do so?
Working with Labor UnionsWorking with Labor Unions
First and foremost, when working witih labor unions, a clear understanding of the contract is imperative for all
HR professionals and managers. The contract (also called the collective bargaining agreement) is the guiding
document for all decisions relating to employees. All HR professionals and managers should have intimate
knowledge of the document and be aware of the components of the contract that can affect dealings with
employees. The agreement outlines all requirements of managers and usually outlines how discipline, promotion,
and transfers will work.
Because as managers and HR professionals we will be working with members of the union on a daily basis, a
positive relationship can not only assist the day-to-day operations but also create an easier bargaining process.
Solicitation of input from the union before decisions are made can be one step to creating this positive relationship.
Transparent communication is another way to achieve this goal.
In HR, one of the major aspects of working with labor unions is management of the union contract. We discuss
the grievance process in Section 12.3 “Administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement”.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Union Busting
The employees in your organization are unhappy with several aspects of their job, including pay. You have tried
to solve this issue by creating new compensation plans, but with no avail. You hear talk of unionizing. When you
bring this issue to your CEO, she vehemently opposes unions and tells you to let the employees know that if they
choose to unionize, they will all lose their jobs. Knowing the CEO’s threat is illegal, and knowing you may lose
your job if the workers decide to unionize, how would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360905/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360905/embed.
Key Takeaways
• A union has two goals: to add new members and to collect dues. A check-off provision of a contract
1 2 . 2 C O L L E C T I V E B A R G A I N I N G • 3 7 7
compels the organization to take union dues out of the paycheck of union members.
• In a union shop, people must join the union within a specified time period after joining theorganization. This is illegal in right-to-work states. An agency shop is one where union membershipis not required but union dues are still required to be paid. This may also be illegal in right-to-workstates.
• Made illegal by the Taft-Hartley Act, a closed shop allows only union members to apply and behired for a job.
• Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating the contact with union representatives. Collectivebargaining, to be legal, must always be done in good faith.
• There are three categories of collective bargaining issues. Mandatory issues might include pay andbenefits. Permissive bargaining items may include things such as drug testing or the requiredequipment the organization must supply to employees. Illegal issues are those things that cannot bediscussed, which can include issues that could be considered discriminatory.
• The collective bargaining process can take time. Both parties prepare for the process by gatheringinformation and reviewing the old contract. They then set time lines for the bargaining and revealtheir wants and negotiate those wants. A bargaining impasse occurs when members cannot come toan agreement.
• When a bargaining impasse occurs, a strike or lockout of workers can occur. An economic strikeoccurs during negotiations, while an unfair labor practices strike can occur anytime, and duringnegotiations. A sick-out can also be used, when workers call in sick for the day. These strategies canbe used to encourage the other side to agree to collective bargaining terms.
• Some tips for working with unions include knowing and following the contract, involving unions incompany decisions, and communicating with transparency.
Exercises
1. Research negotiation techniques, then list and describe the options. Which do you think wouldwork best when negotiating with unions?
2. Of the list of bargaining issues, which would be most important to you and why?
1“Best Workforces Are in Right to Work States,” Redstate, June 30, 2011, accessed August 14, 2011,
http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/06/30/best-workforces-are-in-right-to-work-states-survey-finds/.
2“Right to Work for Less,” AFL-CIO, accessed August 14, 2011, http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/
stateissues/work/.
ReferencesReferences
Goldberg, D., “Verizon Strike Could Last Months,” New Jersey News, August 7, 2011, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/verizon_workers_outline_differ.html.
3 7 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Kyler, S., “Division among Owners?” HoopsWorld, August 8, 2011, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=20549.
1 2 . 2 C O L L E C T I V E B A R G A I N I N G • 3 7 9
12.3 Administration of the Collective BargainingAgreement
Learning Objective
1. Be able to explain how to manage the grievance process.
A grievance procedure or process is normally created within the collective bargaining agreement. The grievance
procedure outlines the process by which grievances over contract violations will be handled. This will be the focus
of our next section.
Procedures for GrievancesProcedures for Grievances
A violation of the contract terms or perception of violation normally results in a grievance. The process is specific
to each contract, so we will discuss the process in generalities. A grievance is normally initiated by an employee
and then handled by union representatives. Most contracts specify how the grievance is to be initiated, the steps
to complete the procedure, and identification of representatives from both sides who will hear the grievance.
Normally, the HR department is involved in most steps of this process. Since HRM has intimate knowledge of the
contract, it makes sense for them to be involved. The basic process is shown in Figure 12.8 “A Sample Grievance
Process”.
Figure 12.8 A Sample Grievance Process
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The first step is normally an informal conversation with the manager, employee, and possibly a union
representative. Many grievances never go further than this step, because often the complaint is a result of a
misunderstanding.
If the complaint is unresolved at this point, the union will normally initiate the grievance process by formally
expressing it in writing. At this time, HR and management may discuss the grievance with a union representative.
If the result is unsatisfactory to both parties, the complaint may be brought to the company’s union grievance
committee. This can be in the form of an informal meeting or a more formal hearing.
After discussion, management will then submit a formalized response to the grievance. It may decide to remedy
the grievance or may outline why the complaint does not violate the contract. At this point, the process is
escalated.
Further discussion will likely occur, and if management and the union cannot come to an agreement, the dispute
will normally be brought to a national union officer, who will work with management to try and resolve the
issue. A mediator may be called in, who acts as an impartial third party and tries to resolve the issue. Any
recommendation made by the mediator is not binding for either of the parties involved. Mediators can work
both on grievance processes and collective bargaining issues. For example, when the National Football League
(NFL) and its players failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement, they agreed to try mediation (Associated
Press, 2011). In this case, the agreement to go to mediation was a positive sign after several months of failed
negotiations. In the end, the mediation worked, and the NFL players started the 2011–12 season on time. In
Washington State (as well as most other states), a nonprofit organization is available to assist in mediations
(either grievance or collective bargaining related) and arbitrations. The goal of such an organization is to avoid
disruptions to public services and to facilitate the dispute resolution process. In Washington, the organization is
called the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). Figure 12.9 “The Mediation Process for the Public
Employment Relations Commission in Washington State” shows the typical grievance handling process utilizing
the free PERC services.
Figure 12.9 The Mediation Process for the Public Employment Relations Commission in Washington State
See Chapter 391-55 WAC. Grievance mediation resolves grievances under existing contracts. The“normal” flow is:
1 2 . 3 A D M I N I S T R A T I O N O F T H E C O L L E C T I V E B A R G A I N I N G A G R E E M E N T • 3 8 1
1. Request for Grievance Mediation (PERC Form G-1 or equivalent) is filed at PERC’s Olympiaoffice. PERC will only act on requests where the parties have agreed, in advance, to submit anyunresolved issues to final and binding arbitration.
2. A PERC staff mediator is assigned, and the mediator contacts the parties to schedule a meeting.This is accomplished informally, but may be confirmed by a letter or e-mail messages.
3. Mediation sessions are usually held in employer offices or union offices, unless the parties arrangeand pay the costs for other meeting spaces. PERC has only limited facilities for mediation in agencyoffices.
4. The mediator meets with parties to discuss the issues, explore alternatives, and arrive at anagreement to resolve the particular grievance(s) submitted.
◦ The mediator will not conduct an evidential hearing, as would be done in arbitration.
◦ The mediator will not issue a formal opinion, as would be done in arbitration, but may send aletter to confirm a settlement reached or recommendation(s) made.
◦ Mediators draw on their knowledge and experiences but do not have a power of compulsion.
5. Communications between the mediator and the parties, as well as the mediator’s notes, areconfidential. A mediator cannot be called to give testimony about the mediation in any subsequentproceeding.
If no resolution develops, an arbitrator might be asked to review the evidence and make a decision. An arbitrator
is an impartial third party who is selected by both parties and who ultimately makes a binding decision in the
situation. Thus arbitration is the final aspect of a grievance.
Some examples of grievances might include the following:
1. One employee was promoted over another, even though he had seniority.
2. An employee doesn’t have the tools needed to perform his or her job, as outlined in the contract.
3. An employee was terminated, although the termination violated the rules of the contract.
4. An employee was improperly trained on chemical handling in a department.
Figure 12.10
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Working with a union requires the HR professional to be a good communicator and to view the union-
management arrangement as a successful partnership.
The White House – Obama and Hector Cafferata shake hands – public domain.
Most grievances fall within one of four categories. There are individual/personal grievances, in which one
member of the union feels he or she has been mistreated. A group grievance occurs if several union members have
been mistreated in the same way. A principle grievance deals with basic contract issues surrounding seniority or
pay, for example. If an employee or group is not willing to formally file a grievance, the union may file a union
or policy grievance on behalf of that individual or group.
The important things to remember about a grievance are that it should not be taken personally and, if used
correctly can be a fair, clear process to solving problems within the organization.
Grievance Process for Flight AttendantsGrievance Process for Flight Attendants
(click to see video)
This video shows a philosophical perspective of the grievance process for the Association of Flight Attendants
union.
Key Takeaways
• The grievance process is a formal process to address any complaints about contract violations.
• The grievance process varies from contract to contract. It is an important part of the contract thatensures a fair process for both union members and management.
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• HR is normally involved in this process, since it has intimate knowledge of the contract and lawsthat guide the contract.
• The grievance process can consist of any number of steps. First, the complaint is discussed with themanager, employee, and union representative. If no solution occurs, the grievance is put into writingby the union. Then HR, management, and the union discuss the process, sometimes in the form of ahearing in which both sides are able to express their opinion.
• Management then expresses its decision in writing to the union.
• If the union decides to escalate the grievance, the grievance may be brought to the national union fora decision. At this point, an arbitrator may be brought in, suitable to both parties, to make the finalbinding decision.
• There are four main types of grievances. First, the individual grievance is filed when one member ofthe union feels mistreated. A group grievance occurs when several members of the union feel theyhave been mistreated and file a grievance as a group. A principle grievance may be filed on behalfof the union and is usually based on a larger issue, such as a policy or contract issue. A union orpolicy grievance may be filed if the employee does not wish to file individually.
• Grievances should not be taken personally and should be considered a fair way in which to solveproblems that can come up between the union and management.
Exercise
1. What are the advantages of a grievance process? What disadvantages do you see with aformalized grievance process?
ReferencesReferences
Associated Press, “NFL, Union Agree to Mediation,” February 17, 2011, accessed August 15, 2011,
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/NFL-players-union-agree-to-mediation-federal-for-labor-talks-CBA-021711.
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12.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Union membership in the United States has been slowly declining. Today, union membershipconsists of about 11.9 percent of the workforce, while in 1983 it consisted of 20 percent of theworkforce.
• The reasons for decline are varied, depending on who you ask. Some say the moving of jobsoverseas is the reason for the decline, while others say unions’ hard-line tactics put them out offavor.
• The United States began its first labor movement in the 1800s. This was a result of low wages, novacation time, safety issues, and other issues.
• Many labor organizations have disappeared, but the American Federation of Labor (AFL) still existstoday, although it merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and is now known asthe AFL-CIO. It is the largest labor union and represents local labor unions in a variety of industries.
• The United States has a low number of union members compared with other countries. Much ofEurope, for example, has over 30 percent of their workforce in labor unions, while in some countriesas much as 50 percent of the workforce are members of a labor union.
• Legislation has been created over time to support both labor unions and the companies who havelabor unions. The Wagner Act was created to protect employees from retaliation should they join aunion. The Taft-Hartley Act was developed to protect companies from unfair labor practices byunions.
• The National Labor Relations Board is the overseeing body for labor unions, and it handles disputesbetween companies as well as facilitates the process of certifying new labor unions. Its job is toenforce the Wagner and Taft-Hartley acts.
• The Landrum Griffin Act was created in 1959 to combat corruption in labor unions during this timeperiod.
• To form a union, the organizer must have signatures from 30 percent of the employees. If thisoccurs, the National Labor Relations Board will facilitate a card check to determine whether morethan 50 percent of the workforce at that company is in agreement with union representation. If thecompany does not accept this, then the NLRB holds secret elections to determine if the employeeswill be unionized.
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• A union has two goals: to add new members and to collect dues. The checkoff provision of a contractcompels the organization to take union dues out of the paycheck of union members.
• In a union shop, people must join the union within a specified time period of joining theorganization. This is illegal in right-to-work states.
• Made illegal by the Taft-Hartley Act, a closed shop allows only union members to apply and behired for a job.
• Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating the contact with union representatives. Collectivebargaining, to be legal, must always be done in good faith.
• There are three categories of collective bargaining issues. Mandatory issues might include pay andbenefits. Permissive bargaining items may include things such as drug testing or the requiredequipment the organization must supply to employees. Illegal issues are those things that cannot bediscussed, which can include issues that could be considered discriminatory.
• The collective bargaining process can take time. Both parties prepare for the process by gatheringinformation and reviewing the old contract. They then set time lines for the bargaining and revealtheir wants and negotiate those wants. A bargaining impasse occurs when members cannot come toan agreement.
• When a bargaining impasse occurs, a strike or lockout of workers can occur. These are bothstrategies that can be used to encourage the other side to agree to collective bargaining terms.
• Some tips for working with unions include knowing and following the contract, involving unions incompany decisions, and communicating with transparency.
• The grievance process is a formal process that addresses any complaints about contract violations.
• The grievance process varies from contract to contract. It is an important part of the contract thatensures a fair process for both unions members and management.
• HRM is normally involved in the grievance process, since it has intimate knowledge of the contractand laws guiding the contract.
• The grievance process can consist of any number of steps. First, the complaint is discussed with themanager, employee, and union representative. If no solution occurs, the grievance is put into writingby the union. Then HR, management, and the union discuss the process, sometimes in the form of ahearing in which both sides are able to express their opinion.
• Management then expresses its decision in writing to the union.
• If the union decides to escalate the grievance, the grievance may be brought to the national union fora decision. At this point, an arbitrator may be brought in, suitable to both parties, to make the finalbinding decision.
• There are four main types of grievances. First, the individual grievance is filed when one member ofthe union feels mistreated. A group grievance occurs when several members of the union feel theyhave been mistreated and file a grievance as a group. A principle grievance may be filed on behalfof the union and is usually based on a larger issue, such as a policy or contract issue. A union orpolicy grievance may be filed if the employee does not wish to file the grievance individually.
• Grievances should not be taken personally and should be considered a fair way in which to solveproblems that can come up between the union and management.
Summary
3 8 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
But I Didn’t Know
After a meeting with the operations manager of your organization, you close the door to your office so youcan think of strategies to resolve an issue that has come up. The operations manager casually mentionedhe had just finished a performance review of one of his employees and offered the employee a large raisebecause of all the hours the employee was putting in. The raise was equal to 11 percent of the employee’ssalary. The operations manager, being new both to the company and to a union shop, wasn’t aware of thecontract agreement surrounding pay increases. An employee must receive a minimum of a 2 percent payincrease per year and a maximum of 6 percent per year based on the contract. You worry that if the uniongets wind of this, everyone at that employee’s pay level may file a grievance asking for the same pay raise.Of course, the challenge is that the manager already told this person he would be receiving the 11 percentraise. You know you need to act fast to remedy this situation.
1. As an HR professional, what should you have done initially to prevent this issue from happening?
2. Outline a specific strategy to implement stating how you will prevent this from happening in thefuture.
3. What would you do about the 11 percent pay raise that was already promised to the employee?
4. If the union files a grievance, what type of grievance do you think it would be? Provide reasoningfor your answer.
5. If the union does file a grievance, draft a response to the grievance to share with your upper-levelmanagers as a starting point for discussion on how to remedy the situation.
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1.Break into teams of four or five. Please choose the following roles for each of your team members:
◦ Mediator
◦ Manager
◦ HR professional
◦ Employee
Once roles are chosen, please determine a solution or make a recommendation for the following situation(remember, this is a role play; you may make reasonable assumptions): The employee believes theperformance evaluation the manager gave was unfair and has filed a grievance about it. The employee
1 2 . 4 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 3 8 7
shows proof of a good attendance record and three letters from colleagues stating the high quality of herwork. The manager contends the employee does not use time wisely at work, hence the 3 out of 5 rating.The manager is able to show several examples of poor time usage.
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Chapter 13: Safety and Health at Work
Training for SafetyTraining for Safety
As the HR manager of a large construction company, your workers’ health and safety is of paramount concern.
Last week, you reported an incidence rate of 7.5 accidents per 100 employees to the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA). When you compared these numbers to last year, you found the number had
significantly increased, as it was 4.2. This is concerning, because you know an unsafe workplace is not only bad
for employees and bad for business, but it could result in fines from OSHA. You ask your operations managers to
meet with you about the situation. When you bring this to his attention, he doesn’t seem at all concerned about the
almost double increase in accidents over the last year. He says the increase in accidents is a result of scaffolding
falling during a building project where several workers were hurt. He says this one accident skewed the numbers.
He mentions that the supervisor responsible for the scaffolding had been let go six months ago for other reasons,
and he assures you that there is no reason to be concerned. A few weeks after this conversation, two of your
workers spend time in the hospital because of a falling scaffolding injury. Again, you approach the operations
manager and he assures you that those employees were just new and he will implement proper procedures. You
know the incident will result in another high incident percentage, even if there isn’t another accident the rest of
the year. You consider your options.
You look back over ten years of accident reports and find there are three areas for which your company seems to
have 90 percent of all accidents. You decide you will develop a training program to address these safety issues
in your workplace. You refer to your HRM textbook for tips on how to prepare and communicate this training to
your employees. When you present this option to your operations manager, he says that employees don’t have the
time to take from their jobs to go through this training and suggests you just let it go. You are prepared for this
response, and you give him the dollar figure of money lost owing to worker injury in your organization. This gets
his attention, especially when you compare it to the small cost of doing a two-hour training for all employees.
Both of you check your Outlook schedules to find the best day of the week to schedule the training, for minimum
impact on employees’ work.
Workplace Safety and Health IntroductionWorkplace Safety and Health Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on workplace safety and health.
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13.1 Workplace Safety and Health Laws
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain OSHA laws.
2. Understand right-to-know laws.
Workplace safety is the responsibility of everyone in the organization. HR professionals and managers, however,
play a large role in developing standards, making sure safety and health laws are followed, and tracking workplace
accidents. Section 13.1.1 “Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laws” addresses workplace
laws as they relate to safety.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) LawsOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Laws
In 2009 (the most recent data available at the time of this writing), 4,340 fatalities and 3.3 million injuries were
reported1. This staggering number represents not only the cost to employees’ well-being but also financial and
time costs to the company. This is why health and safety is a key component of any human resource management
(HRM) strategic plan.
What Is OSHA About?What Is OSHA About?
(click to see video)
A short video on the purpose of OSHA.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), passed in 1970, created the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, which oversees health and safety in the workplace. The organization’s mission is to ensure
safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by
providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. For example, OSHA offers ten- and thirty-hour courses
on workplace hazards and also provides assistance to ensure companies are in compliance with standards. OSHA
is part of the US Department of Labor, with the main administrator being the assistant secretary of labor for
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occupational safety and health. This person reports to the labor secretary, who is a member of the president’s
cabinet.
Although OSHA applies to all companies, health and safety standards are specifically mentioned for the following
types of businesses:
1. Construction
2. Shipyard
3. Marine terminals
Although OSHA standards may appear to apply only to companies in production, manufacturing, or construction,
even companies with primarily an office function are required to abide by the laws set by OSHA. Examples (not
at all an exhaustive list) of the types of safety laws (for all types of businesses) that are overseen by OSHA are as
follows:
1. Regulations on walking/working surfaces. According to OSHA, slips, trips, and falls constitute the
majority of general industry accidents and 15 percent of all accidental deaths. The standards apply to all
permanent places of employment. The provision says that “all passageways, storerooms, and service rooms
shall be kept clean and orderly. Every floor and working space shall be kept free of protruding nails,
splinters, holes, or loose boards.” These are a few examples included in this provision.
2. Means of egress (exiting), which includes emergency evacuation plans. “Every building or structure
shall be arranged and maintained as to provide free and unobstructed egress from all part of the buildings.
No lock or fastening to prevent free escape from inside the building should be installed (except in penal or
corrective institutions).” The provision also says that exits shall be marked by a visible sign.
3. Occupational noise exposure. “Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when
the sound levels reach a specified level. Controls should be used to control the sound, and protective
equipment should be provided.”
4. Hazardous handling of materials. OSHA regulates exposure to four hundred substances and requires
communication about the possible chemical hazards to employees.
5. Protective equipment, such as eye, face, and respiratory protection. OSHA requires the use of
personal protective equipment to reduce employee exposure to hazards. For example, head protection is
required when workers are in an area where there is potential for falling, and eye and face protection is
required when workers are exposed to eye or face hazards such as flying particles and molten metal.
6. Sanitation. Some examples of these OSHA requirements include the following: Potable water should be
provided in all places of employment. Vermin control is required in all enclosed workplaces. Toilet facilities
must be provided, separate for each sex. The number of toilets provided depends on the number of
employees.
7. Requirement of first aid supplies on-site. First aid kits are mandatory and should include gauze pads,
bandages, gauze roller bandages, and other required items.
8. Standards for fire equipment. Fire extinguishers are required to be on-site for use by employees, unless
there is a written fire policy that requires the immediate and total evacuation of employees.
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9. Standards for machine guards and other power tools. Moving machine parts require safeguards
(depending upon the industry) to prevent crushed fingers, hands, amputations, burns, or blindness.
Safeguards might include a guard attached to the machine.
10. Electrical requirements and standards. OSHA electrical standards are designed to protect employees
from electric shock, fires, and explosions. Electrical protective devices are required to cover wiring. OSHA
also addresses the installation of electrical wiring.
11. Commercial diving operation requirements. OSHA provides information on the safety aspects of
commercial diving such as pre- and postdive procedures, mixed-gas diving, and necessary qualifications of
the dive team.
HR professionals and managers should have a good understanding of these laws and make sure, no matter which
industry, that all these standards are followed in the workplace. These standards are normally part of the overall
strategic HRM plan of any organization and are even more crucial to organizations involved in manufacturing.
There exist many examples of OSHA violations. For example, in a Queensbury, Pennsylvania, Dick’s Sporting
Goods store, OSHA found six violations, including blocked access to a fire extinguisher and workers’ entering
a trash compactor with the power supply on. Dick’s was fined $57,300 by OSHA and told it had fifteen days to
comply or contest the findings (Churchill, 2011).
The Most Frequently Violated and Cited OSHA StandardsThe Most Frequently Violated and Cited OSHA Standards
1. 1926.451—Scaffolding
2. 1926.501—Fall Protection
3. 1910.1200—Hazard Communication
4. 1910.134—Respiratory Protection
5. 1926.1053—Ladders
6. 1910.147—Lockout/Tagout
7. 1910.305—Electrical, Wiring Methods
8. 1910.178—Powered Industrial Trucks
9. 1910.303—Electrical, General Requirements
10. 1910.212—Machine Guarding
Right-to-Know LawsRight-to-Know Laws
The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) or more simply, right-to-know laws, were
established by Congress in 1986. The purpose of this act was to require local and state governments to provide
emergency response plans to respond to a chemical emergency2. The other requirement is that these plans must be
reviewed on an annual basis. Companies that handle extremely hazardous substances (EHSs) in large quantities
must develop response plans as well. In addition, any organization that manufactures, processes, or stores certain
3 9 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
hazardous chemicals must make available to local fire departments and state and local officials material data
safety sheets. The material data safety sheet should also be provided to employees, as the data lists not only the
chemical components but health risks of the substance, how to handle the material safely, and how to administer
first aid in the case of an accident. This requirement also states that inventories of all on-site chemicals must be
reported to local and state governments, but the data sheets must also be made public, too.
This law and how it will be reported should be facilitated by the HR professional. Although the HRM may not
know the chemical makeup of the materials used, he or she is responsible for facilitating the process to ensure
that reporting is done timely and accurately. For organizations that use EHSs often, it is worthwhile to include the
reporting process within the orientation training and provide ongoing training as the law changes. The A-Treat
Bottling facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was cited by OSHA for repeat violations of lacking material safety
data sheets for the chemicals it uses in manufacturing, among other infractions such as blocked exits and forklift
violations. The fines totaled $110,880, and the company had fifteen days to comply or contest the allegations3.
It is also important to note that some state standards are different from federal standards, which means the HR
professional will need to be aware of the laws in the individual state in which the company is operating.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
How do you think the OSHA requirements apply to office work settings?
OSHA EnforcementOSHA Enforcement
The record-keeping aspect of OSHA is perhaps as important as following the laws. Companies having fewer than
ten employees in some industries are not required to keep records. The purpose of the record keeping does not
imply that the employee or the company is at fault for a illness or injury. In addition, just because a record is kept
doesn’t mean the employee will be eligible for workersworker’s compensation#8217; compensation. The record-
keeping aspect normally refers to the keeping of incidence rates, or the number of illnesses or injuries per one
hundred full-time employees per year, as calculated by the following formula:
incidence rate=number of injuries and illness × 200,000total hours worked by all employees in the period
Two hundred thousand is the standard figure used, as it represents one hundred full-time employees who work
forty hours per week for fifty weeks per year. An HR professional can then use this data and compare it to
other companies in the same industry to see how its business is meeting safety standards compared with other
businesses. This calculation provides comparable information, no matter the size of the company. If the incidence
rate is higher than the average, the HR professional might consider developing training surrounding safety in the
workplace.
Knowing what should be reported and what shouldn’t be reported is an important component to OSHA. Figure
13.1 “The OSHA Decision Tree for Determining If an Injury or Illness Should Be Recorded” provides a decision
tree that explains this. Data are reported using a form called OSHA 300, which is shown in Figure 13.2 “OSHA
Reporting Form 300”.
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Figure 13.1 The OSHA Decision Tree for Determining If an Injury or Illness Should Be Recorded
Source: http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ppt1/RK1flowchart.html (accessed September 2, 2011).
Figure 13.2 OSHA Reporting Form 300
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Source: http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf (accessed September 2, 2011).
As mentioned earlier, OSHA is responsible for enforcing standards. Besides requiring reporting, OSHA also
performs inspections. OSHA is responsible for 7 million worksites across the country and so, of course, has to
prioritize which ones it visits. OSHA has five main priorities for inspecting sites. First, it will inspect imminent
danger situations. These are serious dangers that could cause death or serious harm. The second priority is
for those sites where three or more employees were harmed, suffered illness, or were killed. These events
are classified as fatalities or catastrophes and must be reported within an eight-hour time frame. The next
priority is responding to complaints, which employees are allowed to file anonymously. Organizations that have
had previous violations are prioritized next, and finally, planned programs. A planned program might be an
organization that has had safety problems in the past and is working with OSHA to remedy the problem.
Most site visits are unannounced and begin with the inspector introducing himself or herself. Prior to this, the
inspector has performed research on the organization to be inspected. Once this occurs, a representative of the
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organization is assigned to accompany the inspector and the inspector discusses the reasons for the site visit. The
HR professional is normally responsible for this task.
The inspector then walks around, pointing out any obvious violations, and then the inspector and representative
discuss the findings. Within six months a complete report is sent, along with any citations or fines based on what
the inspector found. If the organization is in disagreement with the violation or citation, a follow-up meeting with
the OSHA director is scheduled and some fines may be reduced if the organization can show how it has improved
and met the standards since the original visit.
OSHA has several penalties (per violation) it can assess on organizations, ranging from $7,000 to $70,000. The
higher penalties often are a result of very serious offenses, in which an employee could have been killed, but
also are imposed for willful offenses that the employer was aware could cause serious injury or death and did
nothing about them. This is considered blatant indifference to the law. For example, Northeastern Wisconsin Wood
Products was issued $378,620 in fines for willful violations in the summer of 2011. The violations stemmed from
repeat visits and citations to the facility, where no safety changes had been made. Some of the willful violations
included lack of guards on dangerous machine belts and band saw blades and open-sided floors without a guardrail
to prevent falls. Michael Connors, OSHA’s regional administrator in Chicago, said, “Northeastern Wisconsin
Wood Products has a history of failing to comply with OSHA standards. The company has yet to abate many
violations cited in previous inspections and are unduly placing their workers at risk4.” While any violation of
OSHA is serious, a willful violation is more serious, and the fines associated with it represent this.
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
PepsiCo is the world’s largest manufacturer, seller, and distributor of Pepsi-Cola products and generates$119 billion in sales every year5. Tropicana juice is owned by Pepsi-Co. In October of 2005, a sparktriggered an explosion at a Tropicana juice processing plant in Bradenton, Florida, causing burns to two-thirds of a worker’s body. While the worker survived, he underwent multiple surgeries to treat his burns. Inthis case, OSHA concluded that the fire could have been prevented if Tropicana had followed basic safetyrequirements such as risk evaluation, given tools to workers that did not produce sparks, and monitoredfor a buildup of flammable vapors and ventilated the area. OSHA inspectors tallied up a dozen violations,including two serious ones. Vice president of operations Mike Haycock said the plant has an incidencerate that is far lower than others in the industry, and plants around the country have immediately addressedmany of the problems and are constantly working to correct other problems (Just-drinks editorial team,2006).
The irony is that although the Tropicana factory paid $164,250 in fines to OSHA, the company was partof the VPP or Voluntary Protection Program, whose membership benefits include exemption from regularinspections. Even after the fire, in 2007, OSHA formally reapproved the plant as a “star site,” the highestlevel in VPP, meaning the plant pledged to exceed OSHA standards (Hamby, 2011). OSHA contendsthe VPP program isn’t perfect but is still a useful model to all employers of what can be achieved. Foradmission into the VPP program, workplaces must show they have fewer accidents and missed workdays than average for their industry. According to Robert Tuttle, president of the local Teamsters unionrepresenting Tropicana workers, accidents are more common when employees are shifted out of theirnormal responsibilities, which is more common as the weak economy has led to staff cuts (Gulliver, 2011).Tropicana plants have had more than eighty deaths since 2000, varying from preventable explosions tochemical releases to crane accidents (Hamby, 2011). PepsiCo and Tropicana have taken a hard stance
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on these types of accidents, as each of the plants now has a safety manager trained on OSHA standardsto prevent accidents. In addition, strict operating procedures have been implemented to prevent futureproblems.
Key Takeaways
• Every year, 4,340 fatalities and 3.3 million injuries occur in the workplace in the United States.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970, with the goal of providing a safe andhealthy work environment for all US workers.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the US Department of Labor and wascreated as a result of the act in 1970.
• OSHA applies to some specific industries, such as construction, shipyards, and marine terminals.However, some of the OSHA regulations apply to all industries.
• Some states may also have safety requirements that may be more stringent than federal laws.
• Right-to-know laws refer to a material data safety sheet, which discusses the types of chemicals,proper handling and storage, and first aid in case of an accident. These data sheets should be madeavailable to the general public and employees.
• Right-to-know laws also require specific reporting to local and state agencies on chemicals used incertain quantities for some industries.
• OSHA requires recording keeping for all workplace accidents or illness. Record keeping is usuallythe responsibility of HR, and reports are made via OSHA Form 300.
• OSHA can inspect any site without prior notification. Usually, OSHA will gather information, visitthe site, and ask for a representative. The representative is normally the HR person. The site visitwill be performed, followed by discussion with the company representative. Within six months ofthe visit, a report and any penalties will be communicated.
Exercises
1. Research the Internet for recent OSHA violations and write two paragraphs describing one.
2. Research possible strategies to reduce OSHA violations and write a paragraph on at least twomethods.
1“Workplace Injuries and Illnesses: 2009,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, news release,
October 21, 2010, accessed April 14, 2011, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/osh_10212010.pdf.
2“Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),” United States Environmental Protection
Agency, accessed April 15, 2011, http://www.epa.gov/epahome/r2k.htm.
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3“OSHA Cites Allentown Soft Drink Company,” NewsWire.com, August 4, 2011, accessed August 21, 2011,
http://www.mmdnewswire.com/us-labor-departmen-57793.html.
4“$378,620 in Fines Issued for Willful Violations,” Occupational Health and Safety, July 31, 2011, accessed
August 21, 2011, http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/07/31/378620-in-fines-issued-to-wisconsin-wood-firm-for-
willful-violations.aspx? admgarea=news.
5“PepsiCo Annual Report,” accessed September 15, 2011, http://www.pepsico.com/Download/
PepsiCo_Annual_Report_2010_Full_Annual_Report.pdf.
ReferencesReferences
Churchill, C., “OSHA Finds Violations at Queensbury Retailer,” Union Times, August 8, 2011, accessed August
21, 2011, http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/OSHA-finds-violations-at-Queensbury-
retailer-1779404.php.
Gulliver, D., “Employees Not Always Safe in Model Workplaces,” Florida Center for Investigative Reporting,
July 22, 2011, KitchenAid Mixer Review, accessed August 21, 2011, http://kitchenaidmixereview.com/2011/07/
22/employees-not-always-safe-in-model-workplaces/.
Hamby, C., “Model Workforce Not Always Safe,” Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health,
July 7, 2011, accessed August 21, 2011, http://www.masscosh.org/node/721.
Just-drinks editorial team, “US: Tropicana in Safety Hazards Payout,” just-drinks, April 18, 2006, accessed
August 21, 2011, http://www.just-drinks.com/news/tropicana-in-safety-hazards-payout_id86183.aspx.
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13.2 Health Hazards at Work
Learning Objective
1. Be able to explain health concerns that can affect employees at work.
While OSHA covers many areas relating to health and safety at work, a few other areas are also important to
mention. Stress management, office-related injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and no-fragrance areas are
all contemporary issues surrounding employee health and safety. We will discuss these issues in this section.
StressStress
In its annual survey on stress in America (American Psychological Association, 2011), the American
Psychological Association found that money (76 percent), work (70 percent), and the economy (65 percent)
remain the most oft-cited sources of stress for Americans. Job instability is on the rise as a source of stress: nearly
half (49 percent) of adults reported that job instability was a source of stress in 2010 (compared to 44 percent in
2009). At the same time, fewer Americans are satisfied with the ways their employers help them balance work
and nonwork demands (36 percent in 2010 compared to 42 percent in 2009). The implications of these findings
are obviously important for HRM professionals.
Before we discuss what HR professionals can do, let’s discuss some basic information about stress. As it is
currently used, the term stress was coined by Hans Selye in 1936, who defined it as “the nonspecific response
of the body to any demand for change” (The American Institute of Stress, 2011). In other words, we can say
that stress is the reaction we have to a stressor. A stressor is some activity, event, or other stimulus that causes
either a positive or negative reaction in the body. Despite what people may think, some stress is actually good. For
example, receiving a promotion at work may cause stress, but this kind of stress is considered to be positive. Stress
is very much a personal thing, and depending on individual personalities, people may have different opinions
about what is a stressor and what is not. For example, a professor does not normally find public speaking to be a
stressor, while someone who does not do it on a daily basis may be very stressed about having to speak in public.
399
Stress ManagementStress Management
(click to see video)
While we all feel stressed sometimes, these funny videos show what not to do to manage stress.
Selye recognized that not all stress is negative. Positive stress is called eustress. This type of stress is healthy and
gives a feeling of fulfillment and other positive feelings. Eustress can cause us to push ourselves harder to meet
an end goal. On the other hand, distress is the term used for negative stress. While eustress can push us, distress
does not produce positive feelings and can go on for a long time without relief. We can further classify distress
by chronic stress, which is prolonged exposure to stress, and acute stress, which is short-term high stress. For
example, someone who receives little or no positive result from stress and is continuously stressed may experience
chronic stress. Acute stress occurs in shorter bursts and may be experienced while someone is on a tight deadline
for a project.
Two other terms related to stress are hyperstress and hypostress. Hyperstress is a type of stress in which there are
extremes with little or no relief for a long period of time. This type of stress often results in burnout. Hypostress
is the lack of eustress or distress in someone’s life. Remember, some stress can be good and pushes us to work
harder. We see this type of stress with people who may work in a factory or other type of repetitive job. The effect
of this type of stress is usually feelings of restlessness.
Figure 13.3 The Stress Curve
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Source: Adapted from P. Nixon, 1979.
One last important thing to note is how a person goes through the cycle of stress. Figure 13.3 “The Stress Curve”
shows an example of how stress is good up to a point, but beyond that point, the person is fatigued and negatively
affected by the stress. Bear in mind, this varies from person to person based on personality type and stress-coping
mechanisms.
As you have already guessed, stress on the job creates productivity issues, which is why it concerns HR
professionals. We know that stress can cause headaches, stomach issues, and other negative effects that can result
in lost productivity but also result in less creative work. Stress can raise health insurance costs and cause employee
turnover. Because of this, according to HR Magazine (Tyler, 2011), many employers are taking the time to identify
the chief workplace stressors in employees’ lives. With this information, steps can be taken to reduce or eliminate
such stress.
PricewaterhouseCoopers, for example, implemented several strategies to reduce stress in its workplace. The firm
restructured its work teams so that rather than having one employee work with one client, teams of employees
work with groups of clients. Rather than having an employee say, “I can’t go to my son’s baseball game because
I need to wait for this client call,” this arrangement allows employees to cover for each other.
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The organization also requires employees to take vacation time and even promotes it with posters throughout the
office. In fact, even weekends are precious at PricewaterhouseCoopers. If an employee sends an e-mail on the
weekend, a popup screen reminds her or him it is the weekend and it is time to disconnect.
Being a Student Can Be StressfulBeing a Student Can Be Stressful
Here are the most common stressors for college students:
• Death of a loved one
• Relocating to a new city or state
• Divorce of parents
• Encounter with the legal system
• Transfer to a new school
• Marriage
• Lost job
• Elected to leadership position
• New romantic relationship
• Serious argument with close friend
• Increase in course load or difficulty of courses
• Change in health of family member
• First semester in college
• Failed important course
• Major personal injury or illness
• Change in living conditions
• Argument with instructor
• Outstanding achievement
• Change in social life
• Change in sleeping habits
• Lower grades than expected
• Breakup of relationship
• New job
• Financial problems
• Change in eating habits
• Chronic car trouble
• Pregnancy
• Too many missed classes
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• Long commute to work/school
• Working more than one job
• Impending graduation
• Argument with family member
• Sexual concerns
• Changes in alcohol and/or drug use
• Roommate problems
• Raising children
Offering flextime is also a way to reduce employee stress. It allows employees to arrange their work and family
schedule to one that reduces stress for them. This type of creative scheduling, according to Von Madsen, HR
manager at ARUP Laboratories (Tyler, 2011), allows employees to work around a schedule that suits them best.
Other creative ways to reduce stress might be to offer concierge services, on-site child care, wellness initiatives,
and massage therapy. All these options can garner loyalty and higher productivity from employees.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
What does your organization do to reduce stress? What should it do that it is not doing?
Cumulative Trauma DisordersCumulative Trauma Disorders
Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are injuries to the fingers, hands, arms, or shoulders that result from
repetitive motions such as typing.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, is a common cumulative disorder in which the hand and wrist is particularly
affected. CTS is a disabling syndrome that fortunately can be prevented or at least minimized. According to one
study of CTS (Matias, et. al., 1998), the percentage of a workday at a computer, posture while at the workstation,
and the individual’s body features all contribute to this workplace issue. More recently, CTD can be found in
people who text a lot or use their smartphones to type or surf the Internet.
There are a number of keyboards, chairs, and other devices that can help limit or prevent CTD issues. CTD
disorders cost companies money through higher health-care costs and workersworker’s compensation#8217;
compensation payments. CTD is a required recordable case under OSHA. OSHA has voluntary employer
guidelines for reducing CTD in specific industries such as poultry processing, shipyards, retail grocery, and
nursing homes. OSHA is currently developing standards for industry-specific and task-specific jobs1.
Microsoft is attempting to relieve CTD by developing “surface” technology. First introduced in 2007, the system
is controlled through intuitive touch rather than the traditional mouse and keyboard. Microsoft and Samsung
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in early 2011 introduced the newest consumer-ready product, which looks like a large tablet (or iPad) used to
perform the same functions as one normally would on her computer (Microsoft News Center, 2011).
Figure 13.4 Example of an OSHA Standard for Retail Grocery Stores to Avoid CTD
Source: http://www.osha.gov/ergonomics/guidelines/retailgrocery/retailgrocery.html#storewide (accessed September 2, 2011).
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
To Tell or Not?
You work for a large multinational organization as a manager on the factory floor. One of your employees was
moving large barrels of chemicals from one workstation to another, when the barrel burst and gave him mild
burns. When you talk with him about it, he says it was his own fault, and he doesn’t want to take any days off or
see a doctor. How would you handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1360951/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1360951/embed.
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Video Display Terminals (VDTs)Video Display Terminals (VDTs)
In 1984, only 25 percent of people used computers at work, and today that number is 68 percent2. Awareness of
the effects of computer monitors and other similar terminals are necessary to ensure a healthy workplace. Vision
problems; fatigue; eye strain; and neck, back, arm, and muscle pain are common for frequent users of VDTs.
OSHA recommands taking a break after every hour on a computer screen and reducing glare on screens. Proper
posture and seat adjustment also limits the amount of injuries due to VDTs.
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Figure 13.5 VDT Checklist to Reduce Workplace Injuries
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Chemical and Fragrance SensitivitiesChemical and Fragrance Sensitivities
The EEOC defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the
major life activities of individuals and the ability to provide evidence of such an impairment3. Because of this
definition, people who have multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or environmental illness (EI) are eligible for
reasonable accommodations in the workplace. MCS or EI is the inability to tolerate an environmental chemical
or class of foreign chemicals. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, inability to breathe, muscle pain, and
many more depending on the person. As a result, implementing policies surrounding MCS may be not only a legal
requirement but a best practice to keep employees safe and healthy in the workplace. Some examples of such
policies might include the following:
1. Institute a fragrance-free workplace policy (e.g., no scented lotions, hair products, or perfumes).
2. Limit use of restroom air fresheners, cleaning agents, and candles.
3. Ensure the ventilation system is in good working order.
4. Provide a workspace with windows where possible.
5. Consider providing an alternate workspace.
6. Be cautious of remodels, renovations, and other projects that may cause excessive dust and odors.
If an organization is going to implement a fragrance-free work policy, this is normally addressed under the dress
code area of the organization’s employee manual. However, many employers are reluctant to require employees to
refrain from wearing or using scented products. In this case, rather than creating a policy, it might be worthwhile
to simply request a fragrance-free zone from employees through e-mail and other means of communication. An
example of such a policy is used by Kaiser Permanente:
We recognize that exposure to strong scents and fragrances in the environment can cause discomfort, as well as directly impact
the health of some individuals. Since we hope to support a healthful environment for employees, physicians, and visitors, it
is the intent of Quality and Operations Support to strive for a fragrance-controlled workplace. Therefore, for the comfort and
health of all, use of scents and fragrant products by QOS employees, other than minimally scented personal care products, is
strongly discouraged (Kaiser Permanente Fragrance Policy, 2011).
Chemicals and SubstancesChemicals and Substances
OSHA, as we mentioned earlier, has certain standards for how chemicals should be handled and how they should
be labeled. Chemicals should be labeled in English, and employees must be able to cross-reference the chemicals
to the materials safety data sheet, which describes how the chemicals should be handled.
It is estimated that 1,200 new chemicals are developed in North America alone every year (International Labor
Organization, 2011). For many of these chemicals, little is known about their immediate or long-term effects
on the health of workers who come into contact with them. As a result, policies should be developed on how
chemicals should be handled, and proper warnings should be given as to the harmful effects of any chemicals
found in a job site.
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In the United States, twenty-six of the fifty states have smoking bans in enclosed public spaces. These smoking
bans are designed to protect workers’ health from the dangers of secondhand smoke. A recent report released by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Steenhuysen, 2011) says that state or local smoke-free laws cover
47.8 percent of workplaces. The report says if the trend continues, the United States will be 100 percent smoke
free by 2020. Many companies implement no-smoking policies because of health-care costs, and some companies,
such as Humana, Inc., say their no-tobacco policy is simply setting a good example (since they are a health-care
organization). Humana tests all applicants for tobacco in a preemployment screening that applies to all tobacco
products4. Most workplaces have no-smoking policies, and some even prefer not to hire smokers because of the
higher cost of health care. Policies dealing with substances and chemicals are an important part of any employee
training and orientation.
Benefits to a Smoke-Free Work Environment and Sample PolicyBenefits to a Smoke-Free Work Environment and Sample Policy
For the employees
• A smoke-free environment helps create a safer, healthier workplace.
• Workers who are bothered by smoke will not be exposed to it at work.
• Smokers who want to quit may have more of a reason to do so.
• Smokers may appreciate a clear company policy about smoking at work.
• Managers are relieved when there is a clearly defined process for dealing with smoking in theworkplace.
For the employer
• A smoke-free environment helps create a safer, healthier workplace.
• Direct health-care costs to the company may be reduced.
• A clear plan that is carefully put into action by the employer to lower employees’ exposure tosecondhand smoke shows the company cares.
• Employees may be less likely to miss work due to smoking-related illnesses.
• Maintenance costs go down when smoke, matches, and cigarette butts are taken out of workfacilities.
• Office equipment, carpets, and furniture last longer.
• The risk of fires is lower.
• It may be possible to get lower rates on health, life, and disability insurance coverage as feweremployees smoke.
Sample smoking policy
Because we recognize the hazards caused by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, it shall be the policyof ____________ to provide a smoke-free environment for all employees and visitors. This policy covers thesmoking of any tobacco product and the use of oral tobacco products or “spit” tobacco, and it applies to bothemployees and nonemployee visitors of ____________.Source: American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/Smoke-
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freeCommunities/CreateaSmoke-freeWorkplace/smoking-in-the-workplace-a-model-policy (accessed August 20,2011).
Drugs and alcohol are discussed in Chapter 10 “Managing Employee Performance” on managing performanceissues. Substance abuse in the workplace can cause many problems for the organization. Not only does itcreate impaired ability to perform a job—resulting in more accidents—but it results in more sick days and lessproductivity, and substance abusers are more likely to file workersworker’s compensation#8217; compensationclaims. Keep in mind that taking prescription drugs, if not used in the proper amounts or used long after theprescribed use, is considered substance abuse. A drug-free policy, according to OSHA5, has five parts:
1. A policy
2. Supervisor training
3. Employee education
4. Employee assistance
5. Drug testing
According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, substance abuse costs companiesover $100 billion in the United States alone (Buddy, 2011). This staggering figure alone makes it worthwhile forcompanies to implement a policy and training on substance abuse.
Workplace Substance Abuse
(click to see video)
This video provides some advice on how to deal with employee personal problems, including drug abuse.
Workplace Violence and BullyingWorkplace Violence and Bullying
According to OSHA, 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence every year6. OSHA
addresses some of the workers who are at increased risk for workplace violence:
1. Workers who exchange money with the public
2. Workers who deliver goods, passengers, or services
3. People who work alone or in small groups
4. Workers who work late at night or early in the morning
5. Workers who work in high-crime areas
It is up to the organization and human resources to implement policies to ensure the safety of workers and provide
a safe working environment. OSHA provides tips to provide a safer workplace:
1. Establish a workplace violence prevention policy, with a zero tolerance policy.
2. Provide safety education.
3. Secure the workplace with cameras, extra lighting, and alarm systems.
4. Provide a drop safe to limit the amount of cash on hand.
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5. Provide cell phones to workers.
6. Require employees to travel in groups using a “buddy system.”
Development of workplace policies surrounding these items is important. Ongoing training and development in
these areas are key to the creation of a safe workplace. While outside influences may affect employee safety,
it is also important to be aware of the employee’s safety from other employees. There are several indicators of
previolence as noted by the Workplace Violence Research Institute (Mattman, 2010):
1. Increased use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs
2. Unexplained increase in absenteeism
3. Noticeable decrease in attention to appearance and hygiene
4. Depression and withdrawal
5. Explosive outbursts of anger or rage without provocation
6. Threats or verbal abuse to coworkers and supervisors
7. Repeated comments that indicate suicidal tendencies
8. Frequent, vague physical complaints
9. Noticeably unstable emotional responses
10. Behavior indicative of paranoia
11. Preoccupation with previous incidents of violence
12. Increased mood swings
13. Has a plan to “solve all problems”
14. Resistance and overreaction to changes in procedures
15. Increase of unsolicited comments about firearms and other dangerous weapons
16. Repeated violations of company policies
17. Escalation of domestic problems
Workplace ViolenceWorkplace Violence
A video on workplace violence training.
Please view this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiuWLkdUZ5o.
Anyone exhibiting one or more of these preincident indicators should get the attention of HRM. The HR
professional should take appropriate action such as discussing the problem with the employee and offering
counseling.
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Workplace bullying is defined as a tendency of individuals or groups to use persistent or repeated aggressive or
unreasonable behavior against a coworker or subordinate. The Workplace Bullying Institute found that 35 percent
of workers have reported being bullied at work. This number is worth considering, given that workplace bullying
reduces productivity with missed work days and turnover. The Workplace Bullying Institute found that litigation
and settlement of bullying lawsuits can cost organizations $100,000 to millions of dollars, in addition to the bad
publicity that may be created. Examples of workplace bullying include the following:
1. Unwarranted or invalid criticism
2. Blame without factual information
3. Being treated differently than the rest of your work group
4. Humiliation
5. Unrealistic work deadlines
6. Spreading rumors
7. Undermining or deliberately impeding a person’s work
In an Indiana Supreme court case, a hospital employee who was repeatedly bullied by a surgeon sued for
emotional distress and won. This ruling drew national attention because it was an acknowledgment by the courts
of the existence of workplace bullying as a phenomenon (Klein, 2008). Prevention of workplace bullying means
creating a culture in which employees are comfortable speaking with HR professionals and managers (assuming
they are not the ones bullying) about these types of situations. Similar to traditional bullying, cyberbullying
is defined as use of the Internet or technology used to send text that is intended to hurt or embarrass another
person. Examples include using Facebook to post negative comments or setting up a fake e-mail account to
send out fake e-mails from that person. Comments or blogs and posts that show the victim in a bad light are
other examples of cyberbullying. Similar to workplace bullying, cyberbullying is about power and control in
workplace relationships. Elizabeth Carll’s research on cyberbullying shows that people who experience this type
of harassment are more likely to experience heightened anxiety, fear, shock, and helplessness, which can result
in lost productivity at work and retention issues (White, 2011), a major concern for the HR professional. The US
Justice Department shows that some 850,000 adults have been targets of online harassment (White, 2011). Many
states, including New York, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Maryland, have passed laws against digital harassment
as far back as 2007 (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011). In a recent cyberbullying case, a US Court
of Appeals upheld a school’s discipline of a student for engaging in off-campus cyberbullying of another student
(Solove, 2011). In the case, the victim said a MySpace profile was created that included inappropriate pictures of
her, and the page’s creator invited other people to join. The student who created the page sued the school after she
was disciplined for it, saying it violated her right to free speech, but courts found that students do not have the
right to cyberbully other students. While it seems that cyberbullying is for young people, as mentioned earlier, 35
percent of American workers feel they have been bullied. Bullying should be identified immediately and handled,
as it affects workplace productivity, customer satisfaction, and eventually, profits.
Workplace BulliesWorkplace Bullies
(click to see video)
This video provides tips on how to deal with a workplace bully.
4 1 2 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Employee PrivacyEmployee Privacy
In today’s world of identity theft, it is important that HR professionals work to achieve maximum security and
privacy for employees. When private information is exposed, it can be costly. For example, in March of 2011, the
Texas Comptroller’s office inadvertently disclosed on a public website the names, addresses, and social security
numbers of 3.5 million state workers (Hart, 2011). The state has already spent $1.8 million to remedy this problem
by sending letters to affected parties and hiring technology consultants to review office procedures. While keeping
employee information private is the responsibility of all management in an organization, ensuring privacy remains
the job of the HR professional.
Some of the things to combat employee identity theft include the following:
1. Conduct background and criminal checks on employees who will have access to sensitive data.
2. Restrict access to areas where data is stored, including computers.
3. Provide training to staff who will have access to private employee information.
4. Keep information in locked files or in password-protected files.
5. Use numbers other than social security numbers to identify employees.
Another privacy issue that comes up often is the monitoring of employee activities on devices that are provided
to them by the organization. Case law, for the most part, has decided that employees do not have privacy rights if
they are using the organization’s equipment, with a few exceptions. As a result, more than half of all companies
engage in some kind of monitoring. According to an American Management Association7 survey, 73 percent of
employers monitor e-mail messages and 66 percent monitor web surfing. If your organization finds it necessary
to implement monitoring policies, ensuring the following is important to employee buy-in of the monitoring:
1. Develop a policy for monitoring.
2. Communicate what will be monitored.
3. Provide business reasons for why e-mail and Internet must be monitored.
Working with your IT department to implement standards and protect employee data kept on computers is a must
in today’s connected world. Communication of a privacy policy is an important step as well. Agrium, a Canadian-
based supplier of agricultural products in North America, states its employee privacy policy on its website and
shares with employees the tactics used to prevent security breaches8.
At Agrium we are committed to maintaining the accuracy, confidentiality, and security of your personal information. This
Privacy Policy describes the personal information that Agrium collects from or about you, and how we use and to whom we
disclose that information.
TerrorismTerrorism
Since the 9/11 attacks, terrorism and its effect on the workplace are in the forefront of the HR professional’s
mind. Planning for evacuations is the job of everyone in an organization, but HR should initiate this discussion.
1 3 . 2 H E A L T H H A Z A R D S A T W O R K • 4 1 3
OSHA provides free assistance in implementing plans and procedures in case of a terror attack. OSHA also
provides a fill-in-the-blank system (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/expertsystem/default.htm) to
help organizations write a comprehensive report for evacuations and terrorist attacks.
Promoting a Culture of Safety and HealthPromoting a Culture of Safety and Health
Employee health and safety is a must in today’s high-stress work environments. Although some may see employee
health as something that shouldn’t concern HR, the increasing cost of health benefits makes it in the best interest
of the company to hire and maintain healthy employees. In fact, during the recession of the late 2000s, when
cutbacks were common, 50 percent of all workplaces increased or planned to increase investments in wellness
and health at their organization (Sears, 2009).
Example of Health and Safety PolicyExample of Health and Safety Policy
Cordis (A Johnson & Johnson Company) Environmental, Health, and Safety Policy
Cordis Corporation is committed to global Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) performance andleadership with respect to its associates, customers, suppliers, contractors, visitors, and communities. Tofulfill this commitment, Cordis Corporation conducts its business emphasizing regulatory compliance andcollaboration.
We strive for:
• Comprehensive risk management
• Pollution prevention
• Healthy lifestyle culture
• Continuous improvement and sustainability
• Engaging partnerships
• Possession of outstanding EHS capabilities and skill sets
We affirm that EHS is:
• A core business value and a key indicator of organizational excellence
• Considered in every task we perform and in every decision we make
We believe that:
• All incidents and injuries are preventable
• Process Excellence is the driver for continuous improvement and sustainable results in all aspects ofEHS
• Every associate is responsible and accountable for complying with all aspects of EHS, creating asafe and healthy work environment while leaving the smallest environmental footprint
A safe culture doesn’t happen by requiring training sessions every year; it occurs by creating an environment
4 1 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
in which people can recognize hazards and have the authority and ability to fix them. Instead of safety being a
management focus only, every employee should take interest by being alert to the safety issues that can exist. If
an employee is unable to handle the situation on his or her own, the manager should then take suggestions from
employees seriously; making the change and then communicating the change to the employee can be an important
component of a safe and healthy workplace.
A culture that promotes safety is one that never puts cost or production numbers ahead of safety. You do not want
to create a culture in which health and safety priorities compete with production speedup, which can lead to a
dangerous situation.
Another option to ensure health and safety is to implement an employee assistance program (EAP). This benefit is
intended to help employees with personal problems that could affect their performance at work. The EAP usually
includes covered counseling and referral services. This type of program can assist employees with drug or alcohol
addictions, emotional issues such as depression, stress management, or other personal issues. Sometimes these
programs are outsourced to organizations that can provide in-house training and referral services to employees.
For example, REI (Recreation Equipment Inc.), based in Seattle, has a comprehensive EAP for its employees in
both retail stores and corporate offices.
Possible techniques you can implement to have a safe and healthy work environment include the following:
1. Know OSHA and other safety laws.
2. Provide training to employees on OSHA and safety laws.
3. Have a written policy for how violations will be handled.
4. Commit the resources (time and money) necessary to ensure a healthy work environment.
5. Involve employees in safety and health discussions, as they may have good ideas as to how the
organization can improve.
6. Make safety part of an employee’s job description; in other words, hold employees accountable for
always practicing safety at work.
7. Understand how the health (or lack of health) of your employees contributes to or takes away from the
bottom line and implement policies and programs to assist in this effort.
Key Takeaways
• Stress is a major concern for organizations, since it can decrease productivity in the workplace.There are several types of stress.
• Eustress is a positive type of stress that can cause people to work harder toward a goal. Distress, onthe other hand, is a type of negative stress.
• Acute stress occurs in short bursts, such as when finishing a project, while chronic stress tends topersist for long periods of time.
• Hyperstress is stress that is unrelieved for long periods of time and can often result in employee
1 3 . 2 H E A L T H H A Z A R D S A T W O R K • 4 1 5
burnout. Hypostress is the lack of eustress in one’s life, which can be as damaging as other types ofstress, since stress is sometimes what pushes people harder.
• HR professionals can encourage employees to take vacation time, offer flextime, and encourageemployees to take weekends off to help reduce stress.
• Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) affects the hands, fingers, arms, or shoulders as a result ofcontinuous repetitive motions. Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a type of CTD that affects the handand wrist. People with these disorders often work in a factory or at a desk where they are doingrepetitive motions constantly, such as typing or cashiering.
• OSHA has voluntary guidelines for reducing CTD in the workplace. HR can assist by ensuringemployees are provided with proper equipment and training.
• Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or environmental illness (EI) is extreme sensitivity to chemicalsfound in products such as hairsprays or lotions. Some individuals are extremely sensitive to othertypes of chemicals, such as those used in the manufacturing of carpets.
• MCS can be considered a disability if it limits one or more life activities. In this case, reasonableaccommodations must be made, such as implementing fragrance-free zones as part of a workplacedress code.
• OSHA has specific guidelines on how to handle chemicals, but other chemicals, such as those fromsecondhand smoke, are an important consideration in workplace safety. Twenty-six states, forexample, have implemented no-smoking policies to help protect the health of workers.
• Workplace violence affects 2 million Americans every year. A number of groups, such as those whodeliver goods, people, or services, are at greatest risk. However, workplace violence can occurinternally, which is why we must be aware of the warning signs.
• Workplace bullying is when a person is aggressive and unreasonable in his or her behavior towardanother individual. Cyberbullying is similar, except technology is used to humiliate and intimidatethe employee.
• Keeping employee information private is the job of HR and IT. In addition, some organizations mayengage in web or e-mail monitoring to ensure employees are on task. Specific policies should bedeveloped and communicated to let employees know how they may be monitored.
• Some organizations have employee assistance programs (EAPs) that can provide assistance,counseling, and the like in case of personal problems or drug or alcohol abuse.
• To maintain a healthful working environment, know OSHA policies and make sure people aretrained on the policies. Also ensure that specific policies on all areas of health and safety arecommunicated and employees are trained in those areas where necessary.
Exercises
1. Visit http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/expertsystem/default.htm and create your ownevacuation plan using the tool on the OSHA website. (Note: web addresses sometimes change, soyou may have to search further for the tool.) Bring your plan to class to share.
4 1 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
2. Research examples of workplace bullying, write two paragraphs about two examples, and shareyour findings with the class.
1“OSHA Protocol for Developing Industry-Specific and Task-Specific Ergonomics Guidelines,” Occupational
Safety and Health Administration, accessed April 25, 2011, http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/
protocol.html.
2“Survey Shows Widespread Enthusiasm for High Technology,” NPR Online, n.d., accessed August 20, 2011,
http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/technology/.
3“Section 902: Definition of the Term Disability,” Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accessed April
25, 2011, http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/902cm.html#902.1.
4“Insurer Humana Inc. Won’t Hire Smokers in Arizona,” Associated Press, June 30, 2011, accessed August 20,
2011, http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Insurer-Humana-Inc-wont-hire-apf-961910618.html?x=0&.v=1.
5“Workplace Substance Abuse,” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed August 20, 2011,
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/substanceabuse/index.html.
6“Workplace Violence” (OSHA Fact Sheet), Occupational Safety and Health Administration, accessed April 25,
2011, http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf.
7“Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance Survey,” American Management Association, 2007, accessed April 27,
2011, http://press.amanet.org/press-releases/177/2007-electronic-monitoring-surveillance-survey/.
8“Employee Privacy Policy,” Agrium Inc., accessed August 21, 2011, http://www.agrium.com/
employee_privacy.jsp.
ReferencesReferences
American Institute of Stress, The, accessed September 15, 2011, http://www.stress.org/topic-definition-stress.htm.
American Psychological Association, “Key Findings,” news release, n.d., accessed April 17, 2011,
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/key-findings.aspx.
Buddy, T., “Substance Abuse in the Workplace,” About.com, November 20, 2011, accessed August 20, 2011,
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/work/a/aa990120.htm.
Hart, P., “Attorneys Seek to Question Texas Comptroller Over Exposed Info,” Houston Chronicle, April 26, 2011,
accessed April 27, 2011, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7537769.html.
International Labor Organization, “Your Safety and Health at Work: Chemicals in the Workplace,” accessed April
25, 2011, http://actrav.itcilo.org/actrav-english/telearn/osh/kemi/ciwmain.htm.
1 3 . 2 H E A L T H H A Z A R D S A T W O R K • 4 1 7
Kaiser Permanente Fragrance Policy, accessed September 15, 2011, http://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnlinx/k.htm.
Klein, K., “Employers Can’t Ignore Workplace Bullies,” Bloomberg Businessweek, May 7, 2008, accessed August
20, 2011, http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2008/sb2008057_530667.htm.
Matias, A. C., G. Salvendy, and T. Kuczek, Ergonomics Journal 41, no. 2 (1998): 213–26, accessed April 19,
2011, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9494433.
Mattman, J., “Pre-Incident Indicators,” Workplace Violence Research Institute, June 2010, accessed April 27,
2011, http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/RESPECT/pdf/RESPECT-Pre-IncidentIndicators24Jun09.pdf.
Microsoft News Center, “Microsoft and Samsung Unveil the Next Generation of Surface,” news release, January
2011, accessed August 21, 2011, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/jan11/
01-06mssurfacesamsungpr.mspx.
National Conference of State Legislatures, “State Cyberstalking, Cyberharassment, and Cyberbullying Laws,”
January 26, 2011, accessed August 20, 2011, http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=13495.
Sears, D., “Gym Memberships and Wellness Programs Remain Standard Employee Benefits,” The Ladders
Career Line, July 21, 2009, accessed April 27, 2011, http://www.career-line.com/job-search/gym-memberships-
and-wellness-programs-remain-standard-employee-benefits/.
Solove, D., “Off Campus Cyberbullying and the First Amendment,” Huffington Post, July 28, 2011, accessed
August 20, 2011, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-j-solove/offcampus-cyberbullying-a_b_911654.html.
Steenhuysen, J., “26 US States Have Comprehensive Smoking Bans,” Reuters, April 21, 2011, accessed April 25,
2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/usa-smoking-idUSN2128332820110421.
Tyler, K., “Stress Management,” HR Magazine, September 1, 2006, accessed April 19, 2011,
http://www.shrm.org/Publications/hrmagazine/EditorialContent/Pages/0906tyler.aspx.
White, M., “Are Cyber Bullies Worse for Victims than Real Bullies?” Globe and Mail, August 8, 2011, accessed
August 20, 2011, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/are-cyber-bullies-worse-for-victims-than-
real-bullies/article2122943/
4 1 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
13.3 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Every year, 4,340 fatalities and 3.3 million injuries occur in the workplace in the United States.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970, with the goal of providing a safe andhealthy work environment for all US workers.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the US Department of Labor and wascreated as a result of the act in 1970.
• OSHA applies to some specific industries such as construction, shipyards, and marine terminals.However, some of the regulations of OSHA apply to all industries.
• Some states may also have safety requirements, which may be more stringent than federal Laws.
• Right-to-know laws refer to a material data safety sheet, which discusses the types of chemicals,proper handling and storage, and first aid in case of an accident. These data sheets should be madeavailable to the general public and employees.
• Right-to-know laws also require specific reporting to local and state agencies on chemicals used incertain quantities for some industries.
• OSHA requires recording keeping for all workplace accidents or illness. The record keeping isusually the responsibility of HR; OSHA Form 300 is used for reporting purposes.
• OSHA can inspect any site without prior notification. Usually, it will gather information, visit thesite, and ask for a representative. The representative is normally the HR person. The site visit will beperformed, followed by discussion with the company representative. Within six months of the visit areport and any penalties will be communicated.
• Stress is a major concern for organizations, since it can decrease productivity in the workplace.There are several types of stress.
• Eustress is a positive type of stress that can cause people to work harder toward a goal. Distress, onthe other hand, is a type of negative stress.
• Acute stress occurs in short bursts, such as when finishing a project, while chronic stress tends topersist for long periods of time.
• Hyperstress is stress that is unrelieved for long periods of time and can often result in employeeburnout. Hypostress is the lack of eustress in one’s life, which can be as damaging as other types of
419
stress, since stress is sometimes what pushes people harder.
• HR professionals can encourage employees to take vacation time, offer flextime, and encourageemployees to take weekends off to help reduce stress.
• Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) affects the hands, fingers, arms, or shoulders as a result ofcontinuous repetitive motions. Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a type of CTD that affects the handand wrist. People with these disorders often work in a factory or at a desk where they are doingrepetitive motions constantly, such as typing or cashiering.
• OSHA has voluntary guidelines for reducing CTD in the workplace. HR can assist by ensuringemployees are provided with proper equipment and training.
• Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or environmental illness (EI) is extreme sensitivity to chemicalsfound in products such as hairsprays or lotions. Some individuals are extremely sensitive to othertypes of chemicals, such as those used in the manufacturing of carpets.
• MCS can be considered a disability if it limits one or more of life activities. In this case, reasonableaccommodations must be made, such as implementing fragrance-free zones as part of a workplacedress code.
• OSHA has specific guidelines on how to handle chemicals, but other chemicals, such as those fromsecondhand smoke, are an important consideration in workplace safety. Twenty-six states, forexample, have implemented no-smoking policies to help protect the health of workers.
• Workplace violence affects 2 million Americans every year. A number of groups, such as those thatdeliver goods, people, or services, are at greatest risk. However, workplace violence can occurinternally, which is why we must be aware of the warning signs.
• Workplace bullying is when a person is aggressive and unreasonable in his or her behavior towardanother individual. Cyberbullying is similar, except technology is used to humiliate and intimidatethe employee.
• Keeping employee information private is the job of HR and IT. In addition, some organizations mayengage in web or e-mail monitoring to ensure employees are on task. Specific policies should bedeveloped and communicated to let employees know how they may be monitored.
• Some organizations have employee assistance programs (EAPs) that can provide assistance,counseling, and the like in case of personal problems or drug or alcohol abuse.
• To maintain a healthful working environment, know OSHA policies and make sure people aretrained on the policies. Also ensure that specific policies on all areas of health and safety arecommunicated and employees are trained in those areas where necessary.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Bullying Ming
4 2 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
You just ended a meeting with Ming (one of your six employees), who gave you some disturbinginformation. She feels she is being bullied by one of her coworkers and is seeking your advice on how tohandle it. Ming said that Mindy has been saying “good morning” to everyone as she walks by their officebut doesn’t say it to Ming. Ming also said that Mindy organized a farewell lunch for one of your departingemployees last week and didn’t invite Ming. She also told you of nasty things that Mindy tells othercolleagues about her. For example, last month when Ming ran into Mindy at the grocery store, Mindy toldeveryone the next day the medications that Ming had in her cart, which included medication for irritablebowel syndrome. Ming also showed you an e-mail that Mindy had sent blaming Ming for the loss of one ofMindy’s clients. Mindy had copied the entire department on the e-mail. Ming thinks that other employeeshave been reluctant to involve her in projects as a result of this e-mail. Ming left your office quite upset,and you think you may need to take some action.
1. Do you think Ming is correct in saying Mindy is bullying her? What are the indications ofbullying?
2. What advice would you give to Ming?
3. How would you handle this situation with Mindy, without embarrassing Ming?
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1.Calculate the yearly incidence rates for Organic Foods Company:
a. 2010: 10 injuries with 300,000 hours worked
b. 2011: 5 injuries with 325,000 hours worked
c. 2012: 20 injuries with 305,000 hours worked
2. What are some of the possible causes for the increase in incidence rates?
1 3 . 3 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 4 2 1
Chapter 14: International HRM
Things Weren’t What They SeemedThings Weren’t What They Seemed
When your organization decided to go “global” two years ago, the executives didn’t know what they were getting
into. While the international market was attractive for your company’s product, the overall plan wasn’t executed
well. The organization was having great success selling its baby bath product in the domestic market, and once
that market was saturated, the organization decided to sell the product in South America. Millions of dollars’
worth of research went into product marketing, and great success was had selling the product internationally. It
was only when the organization decided to develop a sales presence in Peru and purchase a company there that
the problems started. While market research had been done on the product itself, the executives of the company
did little research to find out the cultural, economic, and legal aspects of doing business in that country. It was
assumed that the Peru office would run just like the US office in terms of benefits, compensation, and hiring
practices. This is where the strategy went wrong.
Many cultural aspects presented themselves. When executives visited the Peru office, the meeting was scheduled
for 9 a.m., and executives were annoyed that the meeting didn’t actually start until 9:45 a.m. When the annoyed
executives started in on business immediately, the Peruvian executives disapproved, but the US executives
thought they disapproved of the ideas and weren’t aware that the disapproval came from the fact that Peruvians
place a high emphasis on relationships, and it was rude to get down to business right away. When the executives
walked around the office and spoke with various employees, this blunder cost respect from the Peruvian
executives. Because Peru has a hierarchical structure, it was considered inappropriate for the executives to engage
employees in this way; they should have been speaking with management instead.
Besides the cultural misunderstandings, executives had grossly underestimated the cost of compensation in Peru.
Peru requires that all employees receive a bonus on the Peruvian Independence Day and another on Christmas.
The bonus is similar to the monthly salary. After a year of service, Peruvians are allowed to go on paid vacation
for thirty calendar days. Higher benefit costs were also an issue as well, since Peru requires workers to contribute
22 percent of their income to pension plans, and the company is required to pay 9 percent of salaries toward social
(universal) health insurance. Life insurance is also required to be paid by the employer after four years of service,
and severance payments are compulsory if the organization has a work stoppage or slowdown.
As you wade through the variety of rules and regulations, you think that this could have been avoided if research
had been performed before the buyout happened. If this had occurred, your company would have known the actual
costs to operate overseas and could have planned better.
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Source: Based on information from CIA World Factbook and PKF Business Advisors.
International HRM IntroductionInternational HRM Introduction
(click to see video)
The author introduces the chapter on international HRM.
C H A P T E R 1 4 : I N T E R N A T I O N A L H R M • 4 2 3
14.1 Offshoring, Outsourcing
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain the terminology related to international HRM.
2. Define global HRM strategies.
3. Explain the impact of culture on HRM practices.
As you already know, this chapter is all about strategic human resource management (HRM) in a global
environment. If this is an area of HRM that interests you, consider taking the WorldatWork Global Remuneration
Professional certification (GRP). The GRP consists of eight examinations ranging from global rewards strategy to
job analysis in a global setting1.
Before we begin to discuss HRM in a global environment, it is important to define a few terms, some of which
you may already know. First, offshoring is when a business relocates or moves some or part of its operations to
another country. Outsourcing involves contracting with another company (onshore or offshore) to perform some
business-related task. For example, a company may decide to outsource its accounting operations to a company
that specializes in accounting, rather than have an in-house department perform this function. Thus a company
can outsource the accounting department, and if the function operates in another country, this would also be
offshoring. The focus of this chapter will be on the HRM function when work is offshored.
The Global EnviornmentThe Global Enviornment
Although the terms international, global multinational, and transnational tend to be used interchangeably, there
are distinct differences. First, a domestic market is one in which a product or service is sold only within the
borders of that country. An international market is one in which a company may find that it has saturated
the domestic market for the product, so it seeks out international markets in which to sell its product. Since
international markets use their existing resources to expand, they do not respond to local markets as well as a
global organization. A global organization is one in which a product is being sold globally, and the organization
looks at the world as its market. The local responsiveness is high with a global organization. A multinational is
a company that produces and sells products in other markets, unlike an international market in which products
are produced domestically and then sold overseas. A transnational company is a complex organization with a
424
corporate office, but the difference is that much of the decision making, research and development, and marketing
are left up to the individual foreign market. The advantage to a transnational is the ability to respond locally to
market demands and needs. The challenge in this type of organization is the ability to integrate the international
offices. Coca-Cola, for example, engaged first in the domestic market, sold products in an international market,
and then became multinational. The organization then realized they could obtain certain production and market
efficiencies in transitioning to a transnational company, taking advantage of the local market knowledge.
Table 14.1 Differences between International, Global, Multinational, and Transnational Companies
Global Transnational
Centrally controlled operations Foreign offices have control over production, markets
No need for home office integration, since home office makes all decisions Integration with home office
Views the world as its market
Low market responsiveness, since it is centrally controlledHigh local responsiveness
International Multinational
Centrally controlled Foreign offices are viewed as subsidiaries
No need for home office integration, as home office makes all decisions Home office still has much control
Uses existing production to sell products overseas
Low market responsivenessHigh local responsiveness
Globalization has had far-reaching effects in business but also in strategic HRM planning. The signing of trade
agreements, growth of new markets such as China, education, economics, and legal implications all impact
international business.
Trade agreements have made trade easier for companies. A trade agreement is an agreement between two or
more countries to reduce barriers to trade. For example, the European Union consists of twenty-seven countries
(currently, with five additional countries as applicants) with the goal of eliminating trade barriers. The North
American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) lifts barriers to trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The
result of these trade agreements and many others is that doing business overseas is a necessity for organizations.
It can result in less expensive production and more potential customers. Because of this, along with the strategic
planning aspects of a global operation, human resources needs to be strategic as well. Part of this strategic process
can include staffing differences, compensation differences, differences in employment law, and necessary training
to prepare the workforce for a global perspective. Through the use of trade agreements and growth of new
markets, such as the Chinese market, there are more places available to sell products, which means companies
must be strategically positioned to sell the right product in the right market. High performance in these markets
requires human capital that is able to make these types of decisions.
The level of education in the countries in which business operates is very important to the HR manager. Before a
business decides to expand into a particular country, knowledge of the education, skills, and abilities of workers in
that country can mean a successful venture or an unsuccessful one if the human capital needs are not met. Much
of a country’s human capital depends on the importance of education to that particular country. In Denmark, for
example, college educations are free and therefore result in a high percentage of well-educated people. In Somalia,
with a GDP of $600 per person per year, the focus is not on education but on basic needs and survival.
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 2 5
Economics heavily influences HRM. Because there is economic incentive to work harder in capitalist societies,
individuals may be more motivated than in communist societies. The motivation comes from workers knowing
that if they work hard for something, it cannot be taken away by the government, through direct seizure or
through higher taxes. Since costs of labor are one of the most important strategic considerations, understanding of
compensation systems (often based on economics of the country) is an important topic. This is discussed in more
detail in Section 14.3.3 “Compensation and Rewards”.
The legal system practiced in a country has a great effect on the types of compensation; union issues; how people
are hired, fired, and laid off; and safety issues. Rules on discrimination, for example, are set by the country.
In China, for example, it is acceptable to ask someone their age, marital status, and other questions that would
be considered illegal in the United States. In another legal example, in Costa Rica, “aguinaldos” also known
as a thirteenth month salary, is required in December2. This is a legal requirement for all companies operating
in Costa Rica. We discuss more specifics about international laws in Section 14.3.5 “The International Labor
Environment”.
Table 14.2 Top Global 100 Companies
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Rank Company Revenues ($ millions) Profits ($ millions)
1 Walmart Stores 408,214 14,335
2 Royal Dutch Shell 285,129 12,518
3 Exxon Mobil 284,650 19,280
4 BP 246,138 16,578
5 Toyota Motor 204,106 2,256
6 Japan Post Holdings 202,196 4,849
7 Sinopec 187,518 5,756
8 State Grid 184,496 −343
9 AXA 175,257 5,012
10 China National Petroleum 165,496 10,272
11 Chevron 163,527 10,483
12 ING Group 163,204 −1,300
13 General Electric 156,779 11,025
14 Total 155,887 11,741
15 Bank of America Corp. 150,450 6,276
16 Volkswagen 146,205 1,334
17 ConocoPhillips 139,515 4,858
18 BNP Paribas 130,708 8,106
19 Assicurazioni Generali 126,012 1,820
20 Allianz 125,999 5,973
21 AT&T 123,018 12,535
22 Carrefour 121,452 454
23 Ford Motor 118,308 2,717
24 ENI 117,235 6,070
25 J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 115,632 11,728
26 Hewlett-Packard 114,552 7,660
27 E.ON 113,849 11,670
28 Berkshire Hathaway 112,493 8,055
29 GDF Suez 111,069 6,223
30 Daimler 109,700 −3,670
31 Nippon Telegraph & Telephone 109,656 5,302
32 Samsung Electronics 108,927 7,562
33 Citigroup 108,785 −1,606
34 McKesson 108,702 1,263
35 Verizon Communications 107,808 3,651
Source: Adapted from Fortune 500 List 2010, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/full_list/ (accessed August11, 2011).
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 2 7
Rank Company Revenues ($ millions) Profits ($ millions)
36 Crédit Agricole 106,538 1,564
37 Banco Santander 106,345 12,430
38 General Motors 104,589 —
39 HSBC Holdings 103,736 5,834
40 Siemens 103,605 3,097
41 American International Group 103,189 −10,949
42 Lloyds Banking Group 102,967 4,409
43 Cardinal Health 99,613 1,152
44 Nestlé 99,114 9,604
45 CVS Caremark 98,729 3,696
46 Wells Fargo 98,636 12,275
47 Hitachi 96,593 −1,152
48 International Business Machines 95,758 13,425
49 Dexia Group 95,144 1,404
50 Gazprom 94,472 24,556
51 Honda Motor 92,400 2,891
52 Électricité de France 92,204 5,428
53 Aviva 92,140 1,692
54 Petrobras 91,869 15,504
55 Royal Bank of Scotland 91,767 −4,167
56 PDVSA 91,182 1,608
57 Metro 91,152 532
58 Tesco 90,234 3,690
59 Deutsche Telekom 89,794 491
60 Enel 89,329 7,499
61 UnitedHealth Group 87,138 3,822
62 Société Générale 84,157 942
63 Nissan Motor 80,963 456
64 Pemex 80,722 −7,011
65 Panasonic 79,893 −1,114
66 Procter & Gamble 79,697 13,436
67 LG 78,892 1,206
68 Telefónica 78,853 10,808
69 Sony 77,696 −439
70 Kroger 76,733 70
Source: Adapted from Fortune 500 List 2010, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/full_list/ (accessed August11, 2011).
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Rank Company Revenues ($ millions) Profits ($ millions)
71 Groupe BPCE 76,464 746
72 Prudential 75,010 1,054
73 Munich Re Group 74,764 3,504
74 Statoil 74,000 2,912
75 Nippon Life Insurance 72,051 2,624
76 AmerisourceBergen 71,789 503
77 China Mobile Communications 71,749 11,656
78 Hyundai Motor 71,678 2,330
79 Costco Wholesale 71,422 1,086
80 Vodafone 70,899 13,782
81 BASF 70,461 1,960
82 BMW 70,444 284
83 Zurich Financial Services 70,272 3,215
84 Valero Energy 70,035 −1,982
85 Fiat 69,639 −1,165
86 Deutsche Post 69,427 895
87 Industrial & Commercial Bank of China 69,295 18,832
88 Archer Daniels Midland 69,207 1,707
89 Toshiba 68,731 −213
90 Legal & General Group 68,290 1,346
91 Boeing 68,281 1,312
92 US Postal Service 68,090 −3,794
93 Lukoil 68,025 7,011
94 Peugeot 67,297 −1,614
95 CNP Assurances 66,556 1,396
96 Barclays 66,533 14,648
97 Home Depot 66,176 2,661
98 Target 65,357 2,488
99 ArcelorMittal 65,110 118
100 WellPoint 65,028 4,746
Source: Adapted from Fortune 500 List 2010, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/full_list/ (accessed August11, 2011).
Global HR TrendsGlobal HR Trends
(click to see video)
Howard Wallack, director of Global Member programs for the Society for Human Resource Management
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 2 9
(SHRM), talks about some of the global HR trends and gives tips on how to deal with these trends from the HR
perspective.
HRM Global StrategiesHRM Global Strategies
When discussing HRM from the global perspective, there are many considerations. Culture, language,
management styles, and laws would all be considerations before implementing HRM strategies. (Beechler et al.,
2004) argued that for multinational companies, identifying the best HRM processes for the entire organization
isn’t the goal, but rather finding the best fit between the firm’s external environment (i.e., the law) and the
company’s overall strategy, HRM policies, and implementation of those policies. To this end, Adler and
Bartholomew developed a set of transnational competencies that are required for business to thrive in a global
business environment (Adler & Bartholomew, 1992). A transnational scope means that HRM decisions can be
made based on an international scope; that is, HRM strategic decisions can be made from the global perspective
rather than a domestic one. With this HRM strategy, decisions take into consideration the needs of all employees
in all countries in which the company operates. The concern is the ability to establish standards that are fair
for all employees, regardless of which country they operate in. A transnational representation means that the
composition of the firm’s managers and executives should be a multinational one. A transnational process, then,
refers to the extent to which ideas that contribute to the organization come from a variety of perspectives and
ideas from all countries in which the organization operates. Ideally, all company processes will be based on the
transnational approach. This approach means that multicultural understanding is taken into consideration, and
rather than trying to get international employees to fit within the scope of the domestic market, a more holistic
approach to HRM is used. Using a transnational approach means that HRM policies and practices are a crucial part
of a successful business, because they can act as mechanisms for coordination and control for the international
operations (Pudelko & Harzing, 2007). In other words, HRM can be the glue that sticks many independent
operations together.
Before we look at HRM strategy on the global level, let’s discuss some of the considerations before implementing
HRM systems.
Culture as a Major Aspect of HRM OverseasCulture as a Major Aspect of HRM Overseas
Culture is a key component to managing HRM on a global scale. Understanding culture but also appreciating
cultural differences can help the HRM strategy be successful in any country. Geert Hofstede, a researcher in
the area of culture, developed a list of five cultural dimensions that can help define how cultures are different
(Hofstede, 2011).
The first dimension of culture is individualism-collectivism. In this dimension, Hofstede describes the degree
to which individuals are integrated into groups. For example, in the United States, we are an individualist
society; that is, each person looks after him- or herself and immediate family. There is more focus on individual
accomplishments as opposed to group accomplishments. In a collective society, societies are based on cohesive
groups, whether it be family groups or work groups. As a result, the focus is on the good of the group, rather than
the individual.
4 3 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Figure 14.1
One of the factors of culture is nonverbal language, such as the use of handshakes, kissing, or bowing.
Wikimedia – CC BY 2.0.
Power distance, Hofstede’s second dimension, refers to the extent to which the less powerful members of
organizations accept that power is not distributed equally. For example, some societies may seek to eliminate
differences in power and wealth, while others prefer a higher power distance. From an HRM perspective, these
differences may become clear when employees are asked to work in cross-functional teams. A Danish manager
may have no problem taking advice from employees because of the low power distance of his culture, but a
Saudi Arabian manager may have issues with an informal relationship with employees, because of the high power
distance.
Uncertainty avoidance refers to how a society tolerates uncertainty. Countries that focus more on avoidance tend
to minimize the uncertainty and therefore have stricter laws, rules, and other safety measures. Countries that are
more tolerant of uncertainty tend to be more easygoing and relaxed. Consider the situation in which a company
in the United States decides to apply the same HRM strategy to its operations in Peru. The United States has an
uncertainty avoidance score of 46, which means the society is more comfortable with uncertainty. Peru has a high
uncertainty avoidance, with a score of 87, indicating the society’s low level of tolerance for uncertainty. Let’s
suppose a major part of the pay structure is bonuses. Would it make sense to implement this same compensation
plan in international operations? Probably not.
Masculinity and femininity refers to the distribution of emotional roles between genders, and which gender norms
are accepted by society. For example, in countries that are focused on femininity, traditional “female” values such
as caring are more important than, say, showing off. The implications to HRM are huge. For example, Sweden has
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 3 1
a more feminine culture, which is demonstrated in its management practices. A major component in managers’
performance appraisals is to provide mentoring to employees. A manager coming from a more masculine culture
may not be able to perform this aspect of the job as well, or he or she may take more practice to be able to do it.
The last dimension is long-term–short-term orientation, which refers to the society’s time horizons. A long-term
orientation would focus on future rewards for work now, persistence, and ordering of relationships by status. A
short-term orientation may focus on values related to the past and present such as national pride or fulfillment of
current obligations. We can see HRM dimensions with this orientation in succession planning, for example. In
China the person getting promoted might be the person who has been with the company the longest, whereas in
short-term orientation countries like the United States, promotion is usually based on merit. An American working
for a Chinese company may get upset to see someone promoted who doesn’t do as good of a job, just because
they have been there longer, and vice versa.
Based on Hofstede’s dimensions, you can see the importance of culture to development of an international HRM
strategy. To utilize a transnational strategy, all these components should be factored into all decisions such as
hiring, compensation, and training. Since culture is a key component in HRM, it is important now to define some
other elements of culture.
Table 14.3 Examples of Countries and Hofstede’s Dimensions
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CountryPowerDistance
Individualism/Collectivism
Masculinity/Femininity
UncertaintyAvoidance Long/Short Term Orientation
NewZealand
22 79 58 49 30
UK 35 89 66 35 25
UnitedStates
40 91 62 46 29
Japan 54 46 95 92 80
Taiwan 58 17 45 69 87
Zambia 64 27 41 52 25
India 77 48 56 40 61
China 80 20 66 40 118
Philippines 94 32 64 44 19
Chile 63 23 28 86(this dimension was only studied in 23countries)
Power distance: Refers to the comfort level of power differences among society members. A lower score shows greater equalityamong levels of society, such as New Zealand.
Individualism/collectivism: A high ranking here, such as the United States, means there is more concern for the individualisticaspects of society as opposed to collectivism. Countries with high scores on individualism means the people tend to be moreself-reliant.
Masculinity/femininity: A lower score may indicate lower levels of differentiation between genders. A lower score, such as Chile,may also indicate a more openly nurturing society.
Uncertainty avoidance: Refers to the tolerance for uncertainty. A high score, such as Japan’s, means there is lower tolerance foruncertainty, so rules, laws, policies, and regulations are implemented.
Long/short term orientation: Refers to thrift and perseverance, overcoming obstacles with time (long-term orientation), such asChina, versus tradition, social obligations.
Culture refers to the socially accepted ways of life within a society. Some of these components might include
language, norms, values, rituals, and material culture such as art, music, and tools used in that culture. Language
is perhaps one of the most obvious parts of culture. Often language can define a culture and of course is necessary
to be able to do business. HRM considerations for language might include something as simple as what language
(the home country or host country) will documents be sent in? Is there a standard language the company should
use within its communications?
FortuneFortune 500 Focus500 Focus
For anyone who has traveled, seeing a McDonald’s overseas is common, owing to the need to expandmarkets. McDonald’s is perhaps one of the best examples of using cultural sensitivity in setting up itsoperations despite criticism for aggressive globalization. Since food is usually a large part of culture,McDonald’s knew that when globalizing, it had to take culture into consideration to be successful. Forexample, when McDonald’s decided to enter the Indian market in 2009, it knew it needed a vegetarianproduct. After several hundred versions, local McDonald’s executives finally decided on the McSpicy
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 3 3
Paneer as the main menu item. The spicy Paneer is made from curd cheese and reflects the values andnorms of the culture (Lubin, 2011).
In Japan, McDonald’s developed the Teriyaki Burger and started selling green tea ice cream. WhenMcDonald’s first started competing in Japan, there really was no competition at all, but not for thereason you might think. Japanese people looked at McDonald’s as a snack rather than a meal becauseof their cultural values. Japanese people believe that meals should be shared, which can be difficult withMcDonald’s food. Second, the meal did not consist of rice, and a real Japanese meal includes rice—apart of the national identity (Ohnuki-Tierney, 1997) and values. Most recently, McDonald’s introduced theMcBaguette in France to align with French cultural values (Rappanport, 2011). The McBaguettes will beproduced in France and come with a variety of jams, a traditional French breakfast. Just like in productdevelopment, HRM must understand the differences between cultures to create the best HRM systems thatwork for the individual culture.
Norms are shared expectations about what is considered correct and normal behavior. Norms allow asociety to predict the expected behavior and be able to act in this manner. For many companies operating inthe United States, a norm might be to dress down for work, no suit required. But if doing business overseas,that country’s norm might be to wear a suit. Not understanding the norms of a culture can offend potentialclients, customers, and colleagues.
Values, another part of culture, classify things as good or bad within a society. Values can evoke strongemotional feelings from a person or a society. For example, burning of the American flag results in strongemotions because values (love of country and the symbols that represent it) are a key component of howpeople view themselves, and how a culture views society. In April 2011, a pastor in Florida burned aholy book, the Koran, which sparked outrage from the Muslim community all over the world. This is anexample of a strongly held value that when challenged can result in community rage (Drury, 2011).
Rituals are scripted ways of interacting that usually result in a specific series of events. Consider a weddingin the United States, for example. The basic wedding rituals (first dance, cutting of cake, speech from bestman and bridesmaid) are practiced throughout society. Besides the more formalized rituals within a society,such as weddings or funerals, daily rituals, such as asking someone “How are you?” (when you really don’twant to know the answer) are part of culture, too. Even bonding rituals such as how business cards areexchanged and the amount of eye contact given in a social situation can all be rituals as well.
The material items a culture holds important, such as artwork, technology, and architecture, can beconsidered material culture. Material culture can range from symbolic items, such as a crucifix, oreveryday items, such as a Crockpot or juicer. Understanding the material importance of certain items to acountry can result in a better understanding of culture overall.
Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences
(click to see video)
This funny commercial notes examples of cultural differences.
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Which component of culture do you think is the most important in HRM? Why?
4 3 4 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Key Takeaways
• Offshoring is when a business relocates or moves part of its operations to a country different fromthe one it currently operates in.
• Outsourcing is when a company contracts with another company to do some work for another. Thiscan occur domestically or in an offshoring situation.
• Domestic market means that a product is sold only within the country that the business operates in.
• An international market means that an organization is selling products in other countries, while amultinational one means that not only are products being sold in a country, but operations are set upand run in a country other than where the business began.
• The goal of any HRM strategy is to be transnational, which consists of three components. First, thetransnational scope involves the ability to make decisions on a global level rather than a domesticone. Transnational representation means that managers from all countries in which the businessoperates are involved in business decisions. Finally, a transnational process means that theorganization can involve a variety of perspectives, rather than only a domestic one.
• Part of understanding HRM internationally is to understand culture. Hofstede developed fivedimensions of culture. First, there is the individualism-collectivism aspect, which refers to thetendency of a country to focus on individuals versus the good of the group.
• The second Hofstede dimension is power distance, that is, how willing people are to accept unequaldistributions of power.
• The third is uncertainty avoidance, which means how willing the culture is to accept not knowingfuture outcomes.
• A masculine-feminine dimension refers to the acceptance of traditional male and femalecharacteristics.
• Finally, Hofstede focused on a country’s long-term orientation versus short-term orientation indecision making.
• Other aspects of culture include norms, values, rituals, and material culture. Norms are the generallyaccepted way of doing things, and values are those things the culture finds important. Every countryhas its own set of rituals for ceremonies but also for everyday interactions. Material culture refers tothe material goods, such as art, the culture finds important.
• Other HRM aspects to consider when entering a foreign market are the economics, the law, and thelevel of education and skill level of the human capital in that country.
Exercise
1. Visit http://www.geert-hofstede.com/ and view the cultural dimensions of three countries. Thenwrite a paragraph comparing and contrasting all three.
1 4 . 1 O F F S H O R I N G , O U T S O U R C I N G • 4 3 5
1“Global Remuneration Professional,” WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals, accessed August 10,
2010, http://www.worldatworksociety.org/society/certification/html/certification-grp.jsp.
2“Labor Laws and Policy,” The Real Costa Rica, accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.therealcostarica.com/
costa_rica_business/costa_rica_labor_law.html.
ReferencesReferences
Adler, N. J. and Susan Bartholomew, “Managing Globally Competent People,” Executive 6, no. 3 (1992): 52–65.
Beechler, S., Vladimir Pucik, John Stephan, and Nigel Campbell, “The Transnational Challenge: Performance and
Expatriate Presence in the Overseas Affiliates of Japanese MNCs,” in Japanese Firms in Transition: Responding
to the Globalization Challenge, Advances in International Management, vol. 17, ed. Tom Roehl and Allan Bird
(Bingley, UK: Emerald Group, 2004), 215–42.
Drury, S., “Violent Protests Over Koran Burning Spread,” ABC News, April 4, 2011, accessed April 27, 2011,
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3181541.htm.
Hofstede, G., Cultural Dimensions website, accessed April 29, 2011, http://www.geert-hofstede.com/.
Ohnuki-Tierney, E., “McDonald’s in Japan: Changing Manners and Etiquette,” in Golden Arches East:
McDonald’s in East Asia, ed. J. L. Watson (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1997), 161-82.
Pudelko, M. and Anne-Wil Harzing, “Country-of-Origin, Localization, or Dominance Effect? An Empirical
Investigation of HRM Practices in Foreign Subsidiaries,” Human Resource Management 46, no. 4 (2007):
535–59.
Rappanport, S., “McDonalds Introduces France to the McBaguette,” Business Insider Europe, July 29, 2011,
accessed August 12, 2011, http://www.businessinsider.com/mcbaguette-mcdonalds-france-2011-7.
4 3 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
14.2 Staffing Internationally
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain the three staffing strategies for international businesses and the advantages anddisadvantages for each.
2. Explain the reasons for expatriate failures.
One of the major decisions for HRM when a company decides to operate overseas is how the overseas operation
will be staffed. This is the focus of this section.
Types of Staffing StrategyTypes of Staffing Strategy
There are three main staffing strategies a company can implement when entering an overseas market, with each
having its advantages and disadvantages. The first strategy is a home-country national strategy. This staffing
strategy uses employees from the home country to live and work in the country. These individuals are called
expatriates. The second staffing strategy is a host-country national strategy, which means to employ people who
were born in the country in which the business is operating. Finally, a third-country national strategy means
to employee people from an entirely different country from the home country and host country. Table 14.4
“Advantages and Disadvantages of the Three Staffing Strategies” lists advantages and disadvantages of each type
of staffing strategy. Whichever strategy is chosen, communication with the home office and strategic alignment
with overseas operations need to occur for a successful venture.
Table 14.4 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Three Staffing Strategies
437
Home-Country National Host-Country National Third-Country National
Greater control of organization Language barrier is eliminatedThe third-country national may bebetter equipped to bring theinternational perspective to the business
Managers gain experience in localmarkets
Possible better understanding oflocal rules and laws
Possible greater understanding andimplementation of business strategy
Cultural understanding
Advantages
Morale builder for employees of hostcountry
Hiring costs such as visas areeliminated
Costs associated with hiring such asvisas may be less expensive than withhome-country nationals
Adapting to foreign environment may bedifficult for manager and family, andresult in less productivity
Host-country manager may notunderstand business objectives aswell without proper training
Must consider traditional nationalhostilities
Expatriate may not have culturalsensitivity
The host government and/or localbusiness may resent hiring athird-country national
Language barriers
Disadvantages
Cost of visa and hiring factors
May create a perception of “us”versus “them”
Can affect motivation of local workers
Human Resource RecallHuman Resource Recall
Compare and contrast a home-country versus a host-country staffing strategy.
ExpatriatesExpatriates
According to Simcha Ronen, a researcher on international assignments, there are five categories that determine
expatriate success. They include job factors, relational dimensions, motivational state, family situation, and
language skills. The likelihood the assignment will be a success depends on the attributes listed in Table 14.5
“Categories of Expatriate Success Predictors with Examples”. As a result, the appropriate selection process
and training can prevent some of these failings. Family stress, cultural inflexibility, emotional immaturity, too
much responsibility, and longer work hours (which draw the expatriate away from family, who could also be
experiencing culture shock) are some of the reasons cited for expatriate failure.
Table 14.5 Categories of Expatriate Success Predictors with Examples
4 3 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Job FactorsRelationalDimensions Motivational State Family Situation
LanguageSkills
Technical skillsTolerance forambiguity
Belief in the missionWillingness ofspouse to liveabroad
Host-countrylanguage
Familiarity with host country andheadquarters operations
Behavioral flexibility Congruence with career pathAdaptive andsupportive spouse
Managerial skills Nonjudgmentalism Interest in overseas experience
Cultural empathy andlow ethnocentrism
Interest in specific host-countryculture
Administrative competence
Interpersonal skillsWillingness to acquire new patternsof behavior and attitudes
Stable marriage
Nonverbalcommunication
Source: Adapted from Simcha Ronen, Training the International Assignee (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1989),
426–40.
Most expatriates go through four phases of adjustment when they move overseas for an assignment. They include
elation/honeymoon, resistance, adaption, and biculturalism. In the elation phase, the employee is excited about
the new surroundings and finds the culture exotic and stimulating. In the resistance phase, the employee may start
to make frequent comparisons between home and host country and may seek out reminders of home. Frustration
may occur because of everyday living, such as language and cultural differences. During the adaptation phase, the
employee gains language skills and starts to adjust to life overseas. Sometimes during this phase, expatriates may
even tend to reject their own culture. In this phase, the expatriate is embracing life overseas. In the last phase,
biculturalism, the expatriate embraces the new culture and begins to appreciate his old life at home equally as
much as his new life overseas. Many of the problems associated with expatriate failures, such as family life and
cultural stress, have diminished.
Figure 14.2 Phases of Expatriate Adjustment
Expat FailuresExpat Failures
(click to see video)
A short discussion on why international assignments fail.
Host-Country NationalHost-Country National
The advantage, as shown in Table 14.4 “Advantages and Disadvantages of the Three Staffing Strategies”, of hiring
a host-country national can be an important consideration when designing the staffing strategy. First, it is less
costly in both moving expenses and training to hire a local person. Some of the less obvious expenses, however,
may be the fact that a host-country national may be more productive from the start, as he or she does not have
1 4 . 2 S T A F F I N G I N T E R N A T I O N A L L Y • 4 3 9
many of the cultural challenges associated with an overseas assignment. The host-country national already knows
the culture and laws, for example. In Russia, 42 percent of respondents in an expatriate survey said that companies
operating there are starting to replace expatriates with local specialists. In fact, many of the respondents want the
Russian government to limit the number of expatriates working for a company to 10 percent1. When globalization
first occurred, it was more likely that expatriates would be sent to host countries, but in 2011, many global
companies are comfortable that the skills, knowledge, and abilities of managers exist in the countries in which
they operate, making the hiring of a host-country national a favorable choice. Also important are the connections
the host-country nationals may have. For example, Shiv Argawal, CEO of ABC Consultants in India, says, “An
Indian CEO helps influence policy and regulations in the host country, and this is the factor that would make a
global company consider hiring local talent as opposed to foreign talent” (Rajagorpal, 2011).
Third-Country NationalsThird-Country Nationals
One of the best examples of third-country nationals is the US military. The US military has more than seventy
thousand third-country nationals working for the military in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. For example,
a recruitment firm hired by the US military called Meridian Services Agency recruits hairstylists, construction
workers, and electricians from all over the world to fill positions on military bases (Stillman, 2011). Most
companies who utilize third-country national labor are not new to multinational businesses. The majority of
companies who use third-country national staffing have many operations already overseas. One example is a
multinational company based in the United States that also has operations in Spain and transfers a Spanish
manager to set up new operations in Argentina. This would be opposed to the company in the United States
sending an American (expatriate) manager to Argentina. In this case, the third-country national approach might
be the better approach because of the language aspect (both Spain and Argentina speak Spanish), which can
create fewer costs in the long run. In fact, many American companies are seeing the value in hiring third-
country nationals for overseas assignments. In an International Assignments Survey2, 61 percent of United
States–based companies surveyed increased the use of third-country nationals by 61 percent, and of that number,
35 percent have increased the use of third-country nationals to 50 percent of their workforce. The main reason why
companies use third-country nationals as a staffing strategy is the ability of a candidate to represent the company’s
interests and transfer corporate technology and competencies. Sometimes the best person to do this isn’t based in
the United States or in the host country.
Key Takeaways
• There are three types of staffing strategies for an international business. First, in the home-countrynational strategy, people are employed from the home country to live and work in the country.These individuals are called expatriates. One advantage of this type of strategy is easier applicationof business objectives, although an expatriate may not be culturally versed or well accepted by thehost-country employees.
• In a host-country strategy, workers are employed within that country to manage the operations of thebusiness. Visas and language barriers are advantages of this type of hiring strategy.
• A third-country national staffing strategy means someone from a country, different from home orhost country, will be employed to work overseas. There can be visa advantages to using this staffing
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strategy, although a disadvantage might be morale lost by host-country employees.
Exercises
1. Choose a country you would enjoy working in, and visit that country’s embassy page. Discuss therequirements to obtain a work visa in that country.
2. How would you personally prepare an expatriate for an international assignment? Performadditional research if necessary and outline a plan.
1“Russia Starts to Abolish Expat jobs,” Expat Daily, April 27, 2011, accessed August 11, 2011, http://www.expat-
daily.com/news/russia-starts-to-abolish-expat-jobs/.
2“More Third Country Nationals Being Used,” n.d., SHRM India, accessed August 11, 2011,
http://www.shrmindia.org/more-third-country-nationals-being-used.
ReferencesReferences
Rajagorpal, D., and MC Govardhanna Rangan, “Global Firms Prefer Local Executives to Expats to Run Indian
Operation,” Economic Times, April 20, 2011, accessed September 15, 2011,
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-04-20/news/29450955_1_global-firms-joint-ventures-
investment-banking.
Stillman, S., “The Invisible Army,” New Yorker, June 6, 2011, accessed August 11, 2011,
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/06/06/110606fa_fact_stillman.
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14.3 International HRM Considerations
Learning Objectives
1. Be able to explain how the selection process for an expatriate differs from a domestic process.
2. Explain possible expatriate training topics and the importance of each.
3. Identify the performance review and legal differences for international assignments.
4. Explain the logistical considerations for expatriate assignments.
In an international environment, as long as proper research is performed, most HRM concepts can be applied.
The important thing to consider is proper research and understanding of cultural, economic, and legal differences
between countries. This section will provide an overview of some specific considerations for an international
business, keeping in mind that with awareness, any HRM concept can be applied to the international environment.
In addition, it is important to mention again that host-country offices should be in constant communication with
home-country offices to ensure policies and practices are aligned with the organization.
Recruitment and SelectionRecruitment and Selection
As we discussed in Section 14.2 “Staffing Internationally”, understanding which staffing strategy to use is the
first aspect of hiring the right person for the overseas assignment. The ideal candidate for an overseas assignment
normally has the following characteristics:
1. Managerial competence: technical skills, leadership skills, knowledge specific to the company
operations.
2. Training: The candidate either has or is willing to be trained on the language and culture of the host
country.
3. Adaptability: The ability to deal with new, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar situations and the ability to
adjust to the culture in which the candidate will be assigned.
As we discussed earlier, when selecting an expatriate or a third-country national for the job, assuring that the
candidate has the job factors, relational dimensions, motivational state, family situation, and language skills (or
442
can learn) is a key consideration in hiring the right person. Some of the costs associated with failure of an
expatriate or third-country national might include the following:
1. Damage to host-country relationships
2. Motivation of host-country staff
3. Costs associated with recruitment and relocation
4. Possible loss of that employee once he or she returns
5. Missed opportunities to further develop the market
Because success on an overseas assignment has such complex factors, the selection process for this individual
should be different from the selection process when hiring domestically. The process should start with the job
analysis, as we discussed in Chapter 4 “Recruitment”. The job analysis and job description should be different
for the overseas assignment, since we know that certain competencies (besides technical ones) are important for
success. Most of those competencies have little to do with the person’s ability to do the job but are related to his
or her ability to do the job in a new cultural setting. These additional competencies (besides the skills needed for
the job) may be considered:
1. Experience working internationally
2. Extroverted
3. Stress tolerance
4. Language skills
5. Cultural experiences
Once the key success factors are determined, many of which can be based on previous overseas assignments
successes, we can begin to develop a pool of internal candidates who possess the additional competencies needed
for a successful overseas assignment.
To develop the pool, career development questions on the performance review can be asked to determine the
employee’s interest in an overseas assignment. Interest is an important factor; otherwise, the chance of success is
low. If there is interest, this person can be recorded as a possible applicant. An easy way to keep track of interested
people is to keep a spreadsheet of interested parties, skills, languages spoken, cultural experiences, abilities, and
how the candidates meet the competencies you have already developed.
Once an overseas assignment is open, you can view the pool of interested parties and choose the ones to interview
who meet the competencies required for the particular assignment.
Figure 14.3 Sample Selection Process for Overseas Assignments
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TrainingTraining
Much of the training may include cultural components, which were cited by 73 percent of successful expatriates
as key ingredients to success (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010).
Training isn’t always easy, though. The goal is not to help someone learn a language or cultural traditions but to
ensure they are immersed in the sociocultural aspects of the new culture they are living in. Roger N. Blakeney
(Blakeney, 2006), an international business researcher, identifies two main pathways to adapting to a new culture.
First, people adjust quickly from the psychological perspective but not the social one. Blakeney argues that
adjusting solely from the psychological perspective does not make an effective expatriate. Although it may take
more time to adjust, he says that to be fully immersed and to fully understand and be productive in a culture, the
expatriate must also have sociocultural adaption. In other words, someone who can adjust from a sociocultural
perspective ends up performing better because he or she has a deeper level of understanding of the culture.
Determining whether your candidate can gain this deeper level would figure in your selection process.
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Figure 14.4 Blakeney’s Model of Psychological versus Sociocultural Adaption
Source: Roger Blakeney, “Psychological Adjustment and Sociocultural Adaptation: Coping on
International Assignments” (paper, Annual Meeting of Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA, 2006).
One of the key decisions in any global organization is whether training should be performed in-house or an outside
company should be hired to provide the training. For example, Communicaid offers online and on-site training on
a variety of topics listed. Whether in-house or external training is performed, there are five main components of
training someone for an overseas assignment:
1. Language
2. Culture
3. Goal setting
4. Managing family and stress
5. Repatriation
Training on languages is a basic yet necessary factor to the success of the assignment. Although to many, English
is the international business language, we shouldn’t discount the ability to speak the language of the country
in which one is living. Consider Japan’s largest online retailer, Rakuten, Inc. It mandated that English will be
the standard language by March 2012 (Thregold, 2010). Other employers, such as Nissan and Sony, have made
similar mandates or have already implemented an English-only policy. Despite this, a large percentage of your
employee’s time will be spent outside work, where mastery of the language is important to enjoy living in another
country. In addition, being able to discuss and negotiate in the mother tongue of the country can give your
employee greater advantages when working on an overseas assignment. Part of language, as we discussed in
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Chapter 9, isn’t only about what you say but also includes all the nonverbal aspects of language. Consider the
following examples:
• In the United States, we place our palm upward and use one finger to call someone over. In Malaysia, this is
only used for calling animals. In much of Europe, calling someone over is done with palm down, making a
scratching motion with the fingers (as opposed to one finger in the United States). In Columbia, soft
handclaps are used.
• In many business situations in the United States, it is common to cross your legs, pointing the soles of your
shoes to someone. In Southeast Asia, this is an insult since the feet are the dirtiest and lowest part of the
body.
• Spatial differences are an aspect of nonverbal language as well. In the United States, we tend to stand thirty-
six inches (an arm length) from people, but in Chile, for example, the space is much smaller.
• Proper greetings of business colleagues differ from country to country.
• The amount of eye contact varies. For example, in the United States, it is normal to make constant eye
contact with the person you are speaking with, but in Japan it would be rude to make constant eye contact
with someone with more age or seniority.
The goal of cultural training is to train employees what the “norms” are in a particular culture. Many of these
norms come from history, past experience, and values. Cultural training can include any of the following topics:
1. Etiquette
2. Management styles
3. History
4. Religion
5. The arts
6. Food
7. Geography
8. Logistics aspects, such as transportation and currency
9. Politics
Cultural training is important. Although cultural implications are not often discussed openly, not understanding
the culture can harm the success of a manager when on overseas assignment. For example, when Revlon expanded
its business into Brazil, one of the first products it marketed was a Camellia flower scented perfume. What the
expatriate managers didn’t realize is that the Camellia flower is used for funerals, so of course, the product failed
in that country (Roy, 1998). Cultural implications, such as management style, are not always so obvious. Consider
the US manager who went to Mexico to manage a production line. He applied the same management style that
worked well in America, asking a lot of questions and opinions of employees. When employees started to quit, he
found out later that employees expect managers to be the authority figure, and when the manager asked questions,
they assumed he didn’t know what he was doing.
Training on the goals and expectations for the expatriate worker is important. Since most individuals take an
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overseas assignment to boost their careers, having clear expectations and understanding of what they are expected
to accomplish sets the expatriate up for success.
Because moving to a new place, especially a new country, is stressful, it is important to train the employee on
managing stress, homesickness, culture shock, and likely a larger workload than the employee may have had
at home. Some stress results from insecurity and homesickness. It is important to note that much of this stress
occurs on the family as well. The expatriate may be performing and adjusting well, but if the family isn’t, this can
cause greater stress on the employee, resulting in a failed assignment. Four stages of expatriate stress identified
in the Selyes model, the General Adaption Syndrome, are shown in Figure 14.5 “General Adaption Syndrome
to Explain Expatriate Stress”. The success of overseas employees depends greatly on their ability to adjust, and
training employees on the stages of adjustment they will feel may help ease this problem.
Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences
(click to see video)
These two videos discuss practical implications of cultural differences.
Figure 14.5 General Adaption Syndrome to Explain Expatriate Stress
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Source: Bala Koteswari and Mousumi Bhattacharya, “Managing Expatriate Stress,” Delhi Business Review 8, no. 1 (2007): 89–98.
Spouses and children of the employee may also experience much of the stress the expatriate feels. Children’s
attendance at new schools and lack of social networks, as well as possible sacrifice of a spouse’s career goal, can
negatively impact the assignment. Many companies offer training not only for the employee but for the entire
family when engaging in an overseas assignment. For example, global technology and manufacturing company
Honeywell offers employees and their families a two-day cultural orientation on the region they will be living in
(Klaff, 2002). Some of the reasons for lack of adjustment by family members might include the following:
1. Language issues
2. Social issues
3. Schooling
4. Housing
5. Medical services
The ability of the organization to meet these family needs makes for a more successful assignment. For example,
development of an overseas network to provide social outlets, activities, schooling and housing options,
assignment of mentors to the spouse, and other methods can help ease the transition.
Finally, repatriation is the process of helping employees make the transition to their home country. Many
employees experience reverse culture shock upon returning home, which is a psychological phenomenon that can
lead to feelings of fear, helplessness, irritability, and disorientation. All these factors can cause employees to leave
the organization soon after returning from an assignment, and to take their knowledge with them. One problem
with repatriation is that the expatriate and family have assumed things stayed the same at home, while in fact
friends may have moved, friends changed, or new managers may have been hired along with new employees.
Although the manager may be on the same level as other managers when he or she returns, the manager may have
less informal authority and clout than managers who have been working in the particular office for a period of
time. An effective repatriation program can cost $3,500 to $10,000 per family, but the investment is worth it given
the critical skills the managers will have gained and can share with the organization. In fact, many expatriates fill
leadership positions within organizations, leveraging the skills they gained overseas. One such example is FedEx
president and CEO David Bronczek and executive vice president Michael Drucker. Tom Mullady, the manager of
international compensation planning at FedEx, makes the case for a good repatriation program when he says, “As
we become more and more global, it shows that experience overseas is leveraged back home” (Klaff, 2002).
Repatriation planning should happen before the employee leaves on assignment and should be a continuous
process throughout the assignment and upon return. The process can include the following:
• Training and counseling on overseas assignment before leaving
• Clear understanding of goals before leaving, so the expatriate can have a clear sense as to what new skills
and knowledge he or she will bring back home
• Job guarantee upon return (Deloitte and Touche, for example, discusses which job each of the two hundred
expats will take after returning, before the person leaves, and offers a written letter of commitment (Klaff,
2002).)
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• Assigning the expatriate a mentor, ideally a former expatriate
• Keeping communication from home open, such as company newsletters and announcements
• Free return trips home to stay in touch with friends and family
• Counseling (at Honeywell, employees and families go through a repatriation program within six months of
returning (Klaff, 2002).)
• Sponsoring brown bag lunches where the expatriate can discuss what he or she learned while overseas
• Trying to place expatriates in positions where they can conduct business with employees and clients from
where they lived
It is also important to note that offering an employee an international assignment can help develop that person’s
understanding of the business, management style, and other business-related development. Working overseas can
be a crucial component to succession planning. It can also be a morale booster for other employees, who see that
the chosen expatriate is further able to develop his or her career within the organization.
While the focus of this section has been on expatriate assignments, the same information on training is true for
third-country nationals.
If it is decided that host-country nationals will be hired, different training considerations might occur. For
example, will they spend some time at your domestic corporate headquarters to learn the business, then apply what
they learned when they go home? Or, does it make more sense to send a domestic manager overseas to train the
host-country manager and staff? Training will obviously vary based on the type of business and the country, and it
may make sense to gain input from host-country managers as opposed to developing training on your own. As we
have already discussed in this chapter, an understanding of the cultural components is the first step to developing
training that can be utilized in any country.
Compensation and RewardsCompensation and Rewards
There are a few options when choosing compensation for a global business. The first option is to maintain
companywide pay scales and policies, so for example, all sales staff are paid the same no matter what country
they are in. This can reduce inequalities and simplify recording keeping, but it does not address some key issues.
First, this compensation policy does not address that it can be much more expensive to live in one place versus
another. A salesperson working in Japan has much higher living expenses than a salesperson working in Peru, for
example. As a result, the majority of organizations thus choose to use a pay banding system based on regions,
such as South America, Europe, and North America. This is called a localized compensation strategy. Microsoft
and Kraft Foods both use this approach. This method provides the best balance of cost-of-living considerations.
However, regional pay banding is not necessarily the ideal solution if the goal is to motivate expatriates to move.
For example, if the employee has been asked to move from Japan to Peru and the salary is different, by half,
for example, there is little motivation for that employee to want to take an assignment in Peru, thus limiting the
potential benefits of mobility for employees and for the company.
One possible option is to pay a similar base salary companywide or regionwide and offer expatriates an allowance
based on specific market conditions in each country (Carland, 1993). This is called the balance sheet approach.
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With this compensation approach, the idea is that the expatriate should have the same standard of living that he or
she would have had at home. Four groups of expenses are looked at in this approach:
1. Income taxes
2. Housing
3. Goods and services
4. Base salary
5. Overseas premium
The HR professional would estimate these expenses within the home country and costs for the same items in
the host country. The employer then pays differences. In addition, the base salary will normally be in the same
range as the home-country salary, and an overseas premium might be paid owing to the challenge of an overseas
assignment. An overseas premium is an additional bonus for agreeing to take an overseas assignment. There are
many companies specializing in cost-of-living data, such as Mercer Reports. It provides cost-of-living information
at a cost of $600 per year. Table 14.6 “The Balance Sheet Approach to Compensation” shows a hypothetical
example of how the balance sheet approach would work.
Table 14.6 The Balance Sheet Approach to Compensation
Chicago, IL Tokyo Allowance
Tax rate 30% 35% 5% or $288/month
Housing $1250 $1800 $550
Base salary $5400 $5,750 $350
Overseas premium 15% $810
Total allowance $1998
Total salary and allowance $5400 $7748
Other compensation issues, which will vary greatly from country to country, might include the following:
1. The cost of benefits in another country. Many countries offer universal health care (offset by higher
taxes), and therefore the employee would have health benefits covered while working and paying taxes in
that country. Canada, Finland, and Japan are examples of countries that have this type of coverage. In
countries such as Singapore, all residents receive a catastrophic policy from the government, but they need
to purchase additional insurance for routine care (Countries with Universal Healthcare, 2011). A number of
organizations offer health care for expatriates relocating to another country in which health care is not
already provided.
2. Legally mandated (or culturally accepted) amount of vacation days. For example, in Australia twenty
paid vacation days are required, ten in Canada, thirty in Finland, and five in the Philippines. The average
number of US worker vacation days is fifteen, although the number of days is not federally mandated by the
government, as with the other examples (Sahadi, 2007).
3. Legal requirements of profit sharing. For example, in France, the government heavily regulates profit
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sharing programs (Wilke, et. al., 2007).
4. Pay system that works with the country culture, such as pay systems based on seniority. For
example, Chinese culture focuses heavily on seniority, and pay scales should be developed according to
seniority. In Figure 14.6 “Hourly World Compensation Comparisons for Manufacturing Jobs”, examples of
hourly compensation for manufacturing workers are compared.
5. Thirteenth month (bonus) structures and expected (sometimes mandated) annual lump-sum
payments. Compensation issues are a major consideration in motivating overseas employees. A systematic
system should be in place to ensure fairness in compensation for all expatriates.
Figure 14.6 Hourly World Compensation Comparisons for Manufacturing Jobs
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of International Labor Comparisons, International
Comparisons of Hourly Compensation costs in Manufacturing, 2009, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/
ichcc.toc.htm (accessed September 16, 2011).
Performance EvaluationsPerformance Evaluations
The challenge in overseas performance evaluations is determining who should rate the performance of the
expatriate. While it might make sense to have the host-country employees and managers rate the expatriate,
cultural differences may make this process ineffective. Cultural challenges may make the host country rate the
expatriate more harshly, or in some cases, such as Indonesia, harmony is more important than productivity, so it
may be likely an Indonesia employee or manager rates the expatriate higher, to keep harmony in the workplace
(Whitfield, 2011).
If the home-country manager rates the performance of the expatriate, he or she may not have a clear indication of
the performance, since the manager and expatriate do not work together on a day-to-day basis. A study performed
by Gregersen, Hite, and Black suggests that a balanced set of raters from host and home countries and more
frequent appraisals relate positively to the accuracy of performance evaluations (Gregersen, et. al., 1996). They
also suggest that the use of a standardized form relates negatively to perceived accuracy. Carrie Shearer, an
international HR expert, concurs by stating that the standardized form, if used, should also include special aspects
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for the expatriate manager, such as how well the expatriate fits in with the culture and adaptation ability (Shearer,
2004).
Besides determining who should rate the expatriate’s performance, the HR professional should determine the
criteria for evaluating the expatriate. Since it is likely the expatriate’s job will be different overseas, the previous
criteria used may not be helpful in the evaluation process. The criteria used to rate the performance should be
determined ahead of time, before the expatriate leaves on assignment. This is part of the training process we
discussed earlier. Having a clear picture of the rating criteria for an overseas assignment makes it both useful
for the development of the employee and for the organization as a tool. A performance appraisal also offers a
good opportunity for the organization to obtain feedback about how well the assignment is going and to determine
whether enough support is being provided to the expatriate.
The International Labor EnvironmentThe International Labor Environment
As we have already alluded to in this chapter, understanding of laws and how they relate to host-country
employees and expatriates can vary from country to country. Because of this, individual research on laws in the
specific countries is necessary to ensure adherence:
1. Worker safety laws
2. Worker compensation laws
3. Safety requirements
4. Working age restrictions
5. Maternity/paternity leaves
6. Unionization laws
7. Vacation time requirements
8. Average work week hours
9. Privacy laws
10. Disability laws
11. Multiculturalism and diverse workplace, antidiscrimination law
12. Taxation
As you can tell from this list, the considerable HRM factors when doing business overseas should be thoroughly
researched.
One important factor worth mentioning here is labor unions. As you remember from Chapter 12 “Working
with Labor Unions”, labor unions have declined in membership in the United States. Collective bargaining is
the process of developing an employment contract between a union and management within an organization.
The process of collective bargaining can range from little government involvement to extreme government
involvement as in France, for example, where some of the labor unions are closely tied with political parties in
the country.
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Some countries, such as Germany, engage in codetermination, mandated by the government. Codetermination
is the practice of company shareholders’ and employees’ being represented in equal numbers on the boards of
organizations, for organizations with five hundred or more employees. The advantage of this system is the sharing
of power throughout all levels of the organization; however, some critics feel it is not the place of government to
tell companies how their corporation should be run. The goal of such a mandate is to reduce labor conflict issues
and increase bargaining power of workers.
Taxation of expatriates is an important aspect of international HRM. Of course, taxes are different in every
country, and it is up to the HR professional to know how taxes will affect the compensation of the expatriate. The
United States has income tax treaties with forty-two countries, meaning taxing authorities of treaty countries can
share information (such as income and foreign taxes paid) on residents living in other countries. US citizens must
file a tax return, even if they have not lived in the United States during the tax year. US taxpayers claim over
$90 billion in foreign tax credits on a yearly basis (Internal Revenue Service, 2011). Foreign tax credits allow
expatriates working abroad to claim taxes paid overseas on their US tax forms, reducing or eliminating double
taxation. Many organizations with expatriate workers choose to enlist the help of tax accountants for their workers
to ensure workers are paying the correct amount of taxes both abroad and in the United States.
Table 14.7 Examples of HRM-Related Law Differences between the United States and China
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United States China*
EmploymentContracts
Most states have at-will employmentContract employment system. All employees must have a writtencontract
No severance required
Layoffs Two years of service required to pay severance;more than five years of experience requires along service payment
Company must be on verge of bankruptcy before it can lay offemployees
Termination Employment at willEmployees can only be terminated for cause, and cause must be clearlyproved. They must be given 30 days’ notice, except in the case ofextreme circumstances, like theft
Overtime None required for salaried employees Employees who work more than 40 hours must be paid overtime
Salary Up to individual companyA 13-month bonus is customary, but not required, right before theChinese New Year
Mandated by government:
First year: no vacation
Year 2–9: 5 days
Years 10–19: 10 days
Vacation No governmental requirement
20 years or more: 15 days
Paid Holidays None required by law3 total. Chinese New Year, International Labor Day, and National Day.However, workers must “make up” the days by working a day on theprevious weekend
SocialSecurity
Required by law for employer and employee topay into social security
Greater percentages are paid by employer: 22% of salary paid byemployer, 8% paid by employee
DiscriminationLaws
Per EEOC, cannot discriminate based on race,sex, age, genetic information, or other protectedgroups
Laws are in place but not enforced
MaternityLeave
Family and Medical Leave Act allows 12weeks
90 days’ maternity leave
*In China, all employees are covered by the Labor Contract Law.
Source: Harris and Moure, pllc, “China Employment Contracts, Ten Things to Consider,” China Law Blog,
http://www.chinalawblog.com/2010/04/china_employment_contracts_ten.html (accessed August 13, 2011) and
Cindy Zhang, “Employment Law in China,” June 21, 2011, http://www.attorneycz.com/ (accessed August 13,
2011).
Logistics of International AssignmentsLogistics of International Assignments
As you learned earlier, providing training for the expatriate is an important part of a successful assignment.
However, many of the day-to-day aspects of living are important, too.
One of the most important logistical aspects is to make sure the employee can legally work in the country where
you will be sending him or her, and ensuring his or her family has appropriate documentation as well. A visa is
permission from the host country to visit, live, or work in that country. Obtaining visas is normally the job of
an HR professional. For example, the US Department of State and the majority of countries require that all US
citizens have a valid passport to travel to a foreign country. This is the first step to ensuring your host-country
national or third-country national can travel and work in that country.
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Next, understanding the different types of visas is a component to this process. For example, the United States
offers a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that allows some nationals of thirty-six participating countries to travel to
the United States for stays of less than ninety days. Iceland, Singapore, and France are examples of countries
that participate in this program. For most host-national assignments, however, this type of visa may not be long
enough, which then requires research of the individual country. It is important to mention that most countries have
several types of visas, such as the following:
1. Visas for crew members working on ships or airlines
2. Tourist visas
3. Student visas
4. Employment visas for long-term employment at a foreign company
5. Business visas
The visa process and time line can vary greatly depending on the country for which the visa is required. For
example, obtaining a visa to work in China may take six months or longer. The best place to research this topic is
on the country’s embassy website.
Besides ensuring the expatriate can legally work in the country, other considerations are worth mentioning as well:
1. Housing. Where will I live is one of the most important questions that an expatriate may ask. The HR
professional can help this process by outsourcing a leasing or rental company in the city where the
expatriate will live to find a rental that meets the expectations of the expatriate. Choosing a place to live
ahead of time can reduce stress (one of the causes of failure for assignments) for the expatriate and his or
her family. Allowances may be made for housing costs, as discussed in the compensation section.
2. Moving belongings. Determination of how belongings left behind will be stored at home or if those
items will be brought to the host country is another logistical consideration. If items will be brought,
beyond what can be carried in a suitcase, the HR professional may want to consider hiring a moving
logistics company that specializes in expatriate moves to help with this process.
3. The possibility of return trips home. As part of the initial discussion, the option of offering return trips
home can make repatriation and performance reviews with home-country managers easier. This also gives
the expatriate and his or her family the opportunity to visit with family and friends, reducing reverse culture
shock upon return.
4. Schooling. Some organizations may want to provide information on the schooling system to the
expatriate, if he or she has children. Schools begin at different times of the year, and this information can
make the registration process for school easier on the family.
5. Spousal job. We know already from earlier in this chapter that one of the biggest challenges facing
expatriates (and reasons for failure) is unhappiness of the spouse. He or she may have had a career at home
and given that up while the spouse takes an assignment. HR professionals might consider offering job
search services as part of the allowance discussed earlier in this chapter. Lockheed Martin, for example,
offers job search services to spouses moving overseas (Minehan, 2011).
1 4 . 3 I N T E R N A T I O N A L H R M C O N S I D E R A T I O N S • 4 5 5
In any situation, support from the HR professional will help make the assignment a success, which shows that
HRM practices should be aligned with company goals.
How Would You Handle This?How Would You Handle This?
Visa Blues
Your manager has just notified you that one of your marketing managers has taken an assignment in China to work
for one year. You tell your manager you will begin the visa process for employment. She disagrees and tells you
it will be quicker to just get a tourist visa. You mention this is illegal and could get the employee and company in
trouble, but she insists on your getting a tourist visa so the employee can leave within the month. How would you
handle this?
How Would You Handle This?
https://api.wistia.com/v1/medias/1361075/embed
The author discusses the How Would You Handle This situation in this chapter at: https://api.wistia.com/v1/
medias/1361075/embed.
Key Takeaways
• Personality traits are a key component to determining whether someone is a good fit for an overseasassignment. Since 73 percent of overseas assignments fail, ensuring the right match up front isimportant.
• The ideal expatriate is able to deal with change, is flexible, and has the support of his or her family.Ideal expatriates are also organized, take risks, and are good at asking for help.
• The adjustment period an expatriate goes through depends on his or her initial preparation. Blakeneysaid there are two levels of adjustment: psychological adjustment and sociocultural adjustment.Although the psychological may take less time, it is the sociocultural adjustment that will allow theassignment to be successful.
• Training is a key component in the HRM global plan, whether expatriates or host-country nationalsare to be hired. Both will require a different type of training. Training can reduce culture shock andstress.
• Consideration of the expatriate’s family and their ability to adjust can make a more successfuloverseas assignment
• Compensation is another consideration of a global business. The balance sheet approach pays theexpatriate extra allowances, such as living expenses, for taking an international assignment.
• Other considerations such as vacation days, health-care benefits, and profit-sharing programs areimportant as well.
• Laws of each country should be carefully evaluated from an HRM strategic perspective. Lawsrelating to disabilities, pregnancy, and safety, for example, should be understood before doingbusiness overseas.
4 5 6 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
• Labor unions have different levels of involvement in different parts of the world. For example,Germany has codetermination, a policy that requires companies to have employees sit on variousboards.
• The United States has treaties with forty-two countries to share information about expatriates. TheUnited States offers foreign tax credits to help expatriates avoid double taxation. However, UScitizens must file taxes every year, even if they have not lived in the United States during that year.
• Logistical help can be important to ensuring the success of an overseas assignment. Help withfinding a place to live, finding a job for a spouse, and moving can make the difference between asuccessful assignment and an unsuccessful one.
• The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program in which nationals of thirty-six countries can enter theUnited States for up to a ninety-day period. This type of visa may not work well for expatriates, so itis important to research the type of visa needed from a particular country by using that country’sembassy website.
Exercise
1. Research the country of your choice. Discuss at least five of the aspects you should know as anHRM professional about doing business in that country.
ReferencesReferences
Blakeney, R., “Psychological Adjustment and Sociocultural Adaptation: Coping on International Assignments”
(paper, Annual Meeting of Academy of Management, Atlanta, GA, 2006).
Cartland, J., “Reward Policies in a Global Corporation,” Business Quarterly, Autumn 1993, 93–96.
Countries with Universal Healthcare (no date), accessed August 11, 2011, http://truecostblog.com/2009/08/09/
countries-with-universal-healthcare-by-date/.
Economist Intelligence Unit, The, Up or Out: Next Moves for the Modern Expatriate, 2010, accessed April 28,
2011, http://graphics.eiu.com/upload/eb/LON_PL_Regus_WEB2.pdf.
Gregersen, H., Julie Hite, and Steward Black, “Expatriate Performance Appraisal in US Multinational Firms,”
Journal of International Business Studies 27, no. 4 (1996): 711–38.
Internal Revenue Service, “Foreign Tax Credit,” accessed August 13, 2011, http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/
0,,id=183263,00.html.
Klaff, L. G., “The Right Way to Bring Expats Home,” BNET, July 2002, accessed August 12, 2011,
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FXS/is_7_81/ai_89269493/.
1 4 . 3 I N T E R N A T I O N A L H R M C O N S I D E R A T I O N S • 4 5 7
Minehan, M., “Six Job Search Tips for Expatriate Spouses,” n.d., Expatica, accessed August 12, 2011,
http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/six-job-search-tips-for-expatriate-
spouses-327_9125.html.
Roy, S., “Brand Failures: A Consumer Perspective to Formulate a MNC Entry Strategy” (postgraduate diploma,
XLRI School of Business and Human Resources, 1998), accessed August 12, 2011, http://sudiptaroy.tripod.com/
dissfin.pdf.
Sahadi, J., “Who Gets the Most (and Least) Vacation” CNN Money, June 14, 2007, accessed August 11, 2011,
http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/12/pf/vacation_days_worldwide/.
Shearer, C., “Expat Performance Appraisal: A Two Tier Process?” October 8, 2004, Expatrica.com, accessed
August 12, 2011, http://www.expatica.com/hr/story/expat-performance-appraisal-a-two-tier-process-10529.html.
Thredgold, J., “English Is Increasingly the International Language of Business,” Deseret News, December
14, 2010, accessed August 11, 2011, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700091766/English-is-increasingly-the-
international-language-of-business.html.
Whitfield, G., “Do as I Say, Not as I Do: Annual Performance Appraisal and Evaluation in Indonesia” n.d., Living
in Indonesia, accessed August 11, 2011, http://www.expat.or.id/business/annualperformanceappraisal.html.
Wilke, Maack, und Partner, “Profit-Sharing,” Country Reports on Financial Participation in Europe, 2007, worker-
participation.eu, 2007, accessed August 12, 2011, http://www.worker-participation.eu/National-Industrial-
Relations/Across-Europe/Financial-Participation/Profit-sharing.
4 5 8 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
14.4 Cases and Problems
Chapter SummaryChapter Summary
• Offshoring is when a business relocates or moves part of its operations to a country different fromthe one it currently operates in.
• Outsourcing is when a company contracts with another company to do some work for another. Thiscan occur domestically or in an offshoring situation.
• Domestic market means that a product is sold only within the country that the business operates in.
• An international market means that an organization is selling products in other countries, while amultinational one means that not only are products being sold in a country, but operations are set upand run in a country other than where the business began.
• The goal of any HRM strategy is to be transnational, which consists of three components. First, thetransnational scope involves the ability to make decisions on a global level rather than a domesticone. Transnational representation means that managers from all countries in which the businessoperates are involved in business decisions. Finally, a transnational process means that theorganization can involve a variety of perspectives, rather than only a domestic one.
• Part of understanding HRM internationally is to understand culture. Hofstede developed fivedimensions of culture. First, there is the individualism-collectivism aspect, which refers to thetendency of a country to focus on individuals versus the good of the group.
• The second Hofstede dimension is power distance, that is, how willing people are to accept unequaldistributions of power.
• The third is uncertainty avoidance, which means how willing the culture is to accept not knowingfuture outcomes.
• A masculine-feminine dimension refers to the acceptance of traditional male and femalecharacteristics.
• Finally, Hofstede focused on a country’s long-term orientation versus short-term orientation indecision making.
• Other aspects of culture include norms, values, rituals, and material culture. Norms are the generallyaccepted way of doing things, and the values are those things the culture finds important. Everycountry has its own set of rituals for ceremonies but also for everyday interactions. Material culturerefers to the material goods, such as art, the culture finds important.
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• Other HRM aspects to consider when entering a foreign market are the economics, the law, and thelevel of education and skill level of the human capital in that country.
• There are three types of staffing strategies for an international business. First, in the home-countrynational strategy, people are employed from the home country to live and work in the country.These individuals are called expatriates. One advantage of this type of strategy is easier applicationof business objectives, although an expatriate may not be culturally versed or well accepted by thehost-country employees.
• In a host-country strategy, workers are employed within that country to manage the operations of thebusiness. Visas and language barriers are advantages of this type of hiring strategy.
• A third-country national staffing strategy means someone from a country, different from home orhost country, will be employed to work overseas. There can be visa advantages to using this staffingstrategy, although a disadvantage might be morale lost by host-country employees.
• Personality traits are a key component to determining whether someone is a good fit for an overseasassignment. Since 73 percent of overseas assignments fail, ensuring the right match up front isimportant.
• The ideal expatriate is able to deal with change, is flexible, and has the support of his or her family.Ideal expatriates are also organized, take risks, and are good at asking for help.
• The adjustment period an expatriate goes through depends on his or her initial preparation. Blakeneysaid there are two levels of adjustment: psychological adjustment and sociocultural adjustment.Although the psychological adjustment may take less time, it is the sociocultural adjustment that willallow the assignment to be successful.
• Training is a key component in the HRM global plan, whether expatriates or host-country nationalsare to be hired. Both will require a different type of training. The expatriate should receive extensivetraining on culture, language, and adjustment.
• Compensation is another consideration of a global business. Most companies keep a standardregional salary but may offer allowances for some expenses. Cost of living, taxes, and otherconsiderations are important.
• Performance should be evaluated by both host-country and home-country managers and employees.The criteria should be determined ahead of time.
• Laws of each country should be carefully evaluated from an HRM strategic perspective. Lawsrelating to disabilities, pregnancy, and safety, for example, should be understood before doingbusiness overseas.
• Logistical help can be important to ensuring the successful overseas assignment. Help with finding aplace to live, finding a job for a spouse, and moving can make the difference between a successfulassignment and an unsuccessful one.
• The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is a program in which nationals of thirty-six countries can enter theUnited States for up to a ninety-day period. This type of visa may not work well for expatriates, so itis important to research the type of visa needed from a particular country by using that country’sembassy website.
Summary
(click to see video)The author provides a video summary of the chapter.
4 6 0 • H U M A N R E S O U R C E M A N A G E M E N T
Chapter CaseChapter Case
Fish to Go Is Going Places
Your company, Fish to Go, is a quick service restaurant specializing in fish tacos. Your success in theUnited States has been excellent, and your company has decided to develop an international strategy tofurther develop your market share. As the vice president for human resources, you have been asked todevelop an international staffing strategy. The organization has decided that it makes the most sense tohire host-country nationals to manage the restaurants. Your current Fish to Go managers earn upwards of$45,000 per year, plus 2 percent profit sharing. The organization is also looking to you to determine anddevelop a comprehensive training program for your host-country managers. A training program is alsoneeded for employees, but you have decided to wait and develop this with input from the host-countrymanagers. Fish to Go has identified Mexico and the UK as the first two countries that will be entered.Perform the necessary research to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to the board of directors.
1. What are the advantages of choosing a host-country national staffing strategy?
2. Develop a compensation plan for each of the two countries, revising the current compensation formanagers in the United States, if necessary. The compensation plan should include salary, benefits,and any fringe benefits to attract the most qualified people. The plan should also address any legalcompensation requirements for both countries.
3. Develop an outline for a training plan, making reasonable assumptions about the information anew manager would need to know at Fish to Go.
Team ActivityTeam Activity
1. What are four major considerations for aligning the HRM strategy with an overall globalizationstrategy? Discuss each and rank them in order of importance.
2. Find a team with an even number of members. Split each team into “reasons for localizedcompensation” and “reasons for regional or global compensation.” Be prepared to debate the issuewith prepared points.
1 4 . 4 C A S E S A N D P R O B L E M S • 4 6 1
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- Human Resource Management
- Human Resource Management
- Contents
- Publisher Information
- Chapter 1: The Role of Human Resources
- 1.1 What Is Human Resources?
- 1.2 Skills Needed for HRM
- 1.3 Today’s HRM Challenges
- 1.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 2: Developing and Implementing Strategic HRM Plans
- 2.1 Strategic Planning
- 2.2 Writing the HRM Plan
- 2.3 Tips in HRM Planning
- 2.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 3: Diversity and Multiculturalism
- 3.1 Diversity and Multiculturalism
- 3.2 Diversity Plans
- 3.3 Multiculturalism and the Law
- 3.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 4: Recruitment
- 4.1 The Recruitment Process
- 4.2 The Law and Recruitment
- 4.3 Recruitment Strategies
- 4.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 5: Selection
- 5.1 The Selection Process
- 5.2 Criteria Development and Résumé Review
- 5.3 Interviewing
- 5.4 Testing and Selecting
- 5.5 Making the Offer
- 5.6 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 6: Compensation and Benefits
- 6.1 Goals of a Compensation Plan
- 6.2 Developing a Compensation Package
- 6.3 Types of Pay Systems
- 6.4 Other Types of Compensation
- 6.5 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 7: Retention and Motivation
- 7.1 The Costs of Turnover
- 7.2 Retention Plans
- 7.3 Implementing Retention Strategies
- 7.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 8: Training and Development
- 8.1 Steps to Take in Training an Employee
- 8.2 Types of Training
- 8.3 Training Delivery Methods
- 8.4 Designing a Training Program
- 8.5 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 9: Successful Employee Communication
- 9.1 Communication Strategies
- 9.2 Management Styles
- 9.3 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 10: Managing Employee Performance
- 10.1 Handling Performance
- 10.2 Employee Rights
- 10.3 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 11: Employee Assessment
- 11.1 Performance Evaluation Systems
- 11.2 Appraisal Methods
- 11.3 Completing and Conducting the Appraisal
- 11.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 12: Working with Labor Unions
- 12.1 The Nature of Unions
- 12.2 Collective Bargaining
- 12.3 Administration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
- 12.4 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 13: Safety and Health at Work
- 13.1 Workplace Safety and Health Laws
- 13.2 Health Hazards at Work
- 13.3 Cases and Problems
- Chapter 14: International HRM
- 14.1 Offshoring, Outsourcing
- 14.2 Staffing Internationally
- 14.3 International HRM Considerations
- 14.4 Cases and Problems
- Please share your supplementary material!
