CHAPTER FIVE THE ROLE OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS

Objectives of this chapter Explain the role of the employee in the employment relationship, both as an individual and as part of a group Evaluate the impact of the different personalities of employees Explore the different factors that impact on the motivation of employees Explore the impact of the search for a work–life balance Explain how groups develop Consider why employees conform within a group Outline how prejudice develops.

Subordinate styles Receptive Self-reliant Collaborative Informative Reciprocating

Personality Extroversion–introversion dimension Neuroticism–stability dimension

Motivation theories Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Herzberg’s two-factor model Adam’s equity theory Vroom’s expectancy theory Latham and Locke’s goal theory

Work–life balance Changing workforce Remain in education to a later age Retiring at an earlier age Mothers with young children increasingly returning to work Growth of immigration Generation Y

Work–life balance Clutterbuck (2003) Being aware of different demands on time and energy Having the ability to make choices in the allocation of time and energy Knowing what values to apply to choices Making choices

Flexible working Part-time Variable hours Job sharing Working from home Term-time only working Annualised hours Nine-day fortnight

Flexibility Career breaks for carers Sabbaticals Study leave Secondments

Benefits of a good work–life balance Increased productivity Improved recruitment and retention Lower rates of absenteeism Reduced overheads An improved customer experience More motivated, satisfied and equitable workforce

Group development Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

Team roles Plant Co-ordinator Monitor/evaluator Implementer Completer/finisher Resource investigator Shaper Teamworker Specialist

Conformity Studies of Asch (1955) Study of Zimbardo et al (1973) Groupthink

Prejudice Loyalty to a group (Sherif 1956) Categorisation as a group (Tajfel 1970) Lack of understanding of other group Contact with other group Institutionalised racism

How does institutionalised racism occur? Instrumental conditioning Classical conditioning Observational conditioning

Diversity within groups Negative and positive effects Can lead to reduced group cohesion and greater levels of conflict Can also lead to enhanced creativity Lack psychological safety