Flexible Working Practices

Question 1

What is a zero hours contract

Answer 1

A contract between an employer and worker where:

• the employer is not obliged to provide any minimum working hours
• the worker is not obliged to accept any work offered

Question 2

Advantages of zero hour contracts

Answer 2

• Creates a leaner and more profitable business
• Increases employment levels
• Suits certain workers eg students

Question 3

Disadvantages of zero hour contracts

Answer 3

• Creates exploitation of workers
• Keeps wages low due to lack of upward pay pressure
• Business reputation may be harmed
• Creates anxiety for some workers if they don’t know whether they can cover bills (lack of security)

Question 4

What is meant by remote working

Answer 4

Allowing employees to work away from the business premises

Question 5

Advantages of remote working

Answer 5

• Employee saves time and money from commute
• Business can increase number of staff with no increase in office space
• Less distractions are home so better concentration
• Morale increase due to trust element

Question 6

Disadvantages of remote working

Answer 6

• May have distractions at home
• Lack of social interaction
• May not have resources at home

Question 7

What is meant by term time working

Answer 7

When a worker doesn’t work in school holidays

Question 8

What is meant by time off in lieu

Answer 8

Structured and paid time off for having worked additional hours
Eg farmer

Question 9

What is meant by jab sharing

Answer 9

Splitting/dividing work load between 2 or more employees

Question 10

What is meant by compressed hours

Answer 10

Working the same number of hours in a shorter time period

Question 11

What is meant by annualised hours

Answer 11

Working a certain number of hours per year with a degree of flexibility

Question 12

Advantage of job sharing to business

Answer 12

Reduced labour turnover

Question 13

Advantage of compressed hours to business

Answer 13

Reduced cost if paying for commute

Question 14

Advantage of annualised hours to business

Answer 14

Labour can be matched with demand so more efficient

Question 15

Advantage of using term time work

Answer 15

Recruitment

Question 16

Advantage of time off lieu

Answer 16

Reduce costs

Question 17

What is meant by flexi-time

Answer 17

A system of flexible working where employees have a choice over the times they work their contracted hours, but must be present during ‘core time’, and start and finish within the flexible bands at the beginning and end of the day

Question 18

Reasons why staff like flexi-time

Answer 18

• Help with childcare
• Achieve better work/life balance at your own discretion
• Avoid rush hour traffic or expensive peak time train tickets

Question 19

Disadvantages of flexi-time

Answer 19

• Disrupted communication
• Meetings more difficult to schedule
• Employees May be unproductive during any unsupervised hours
• There may be tension if not all employees are allowed to do this
• Variable costs may increase as a result of the premises being open longer

Question 20

What is meant by part-time working

Answer 20

A form of employment with less than 35 hours worked per week

Question 21

Impacts of increased part-time working

Answer 21

• Communication is more difficult
• Match labour with demand so increase efficiency
• Increase diversity due to more workers
• Cover sickness more easily
• Manager workload increases