Learning Reflection

Part of the class we talked about different ways to approach reducing surplus. One that most everyone in the class talked about was downsizing. It is scary to be in an organization where they are planning on downsizing because that could mean either you or someone else would lose their job. For other employees it means they keep their jobs, which also means they need to work extra hard and be a better employee to be able to keep working in the organization.

Another way is pay reduction. As I was thinking in this term, I thought that pay reduction was better than downsizing because in this way you are not being fired, but just working fewer hours, which means less money. But, at least the employee has a job. With this economy that we are living right now, it is hard to lose your job because trying to get another just get harder and harder. There are not jobs available. It is really hard, but one must keeps trying to survive in one way or another.

CH 5 Recruitment Sources

Concept and Brief Description

Internal Sources refers to the employees who are currently working in the organizations and that are applying for another position in the same organization. There are few advantages for recruiting this way. First, they are people whom the organization already knows, they also know how the organization runs, and it is cheaper and faster than finding someone outside the organization.

External Sources refers to finding applicants outside the organization. This will help the organization to get new and fresh ideas. This type of sourcing has two types of categories, direct applicants and referrals. Direct applicants refer to a person who applies without any referral to the organization. A referral means that the person has someone in the organization told them to apply.

Emotional Hook

The percentage of employees getting hired through referrals is bigger than any other type of recruitment.

Key Points to Elicit in Discussion

There have been many occasions where I hear friends telling other friends of some opening in their place of work, and that they should apply. Many of them do apply, and I think it is great because they believe they could have a chance working there. Helping other people about job openings that are available is a nice thing to do, especially right now in this economy.

Facilitative Questions

Have you found jobs because someone in the organization told you about?

Learning Reflection

Today in class we discussed a little bit more legal issues especially preventing sexual harassment. To show what not to do at a job situation, thus we saw a small clip from the show “The Office.” It is very interesting to see in that show specifically all the things that we are not supposed to do, but they are funny at the same time, because they do happen. It is sad at the same time because it is not right.

As the book mentions, it is important to have a very clear policy statement where everybody can read and understand that sexual harassment would not be tolerated in the workplace. It is really sad to hear in the news people trying to take advantage of people. It is also very interesting to read that many complains come from women being sexual harassed from men, but it also happens that men get sexual harassed from women.

We are living in a world where the work force is changing, people are changing. Many of those changes are good and some others not so good. I believe sexual harassment was a topic no one will dare to talk about, but now it is important that people know about it because it happens and we all have rights to be respected.

CH 4 Flexible Work Schedules

Concept and Brief Description

Flexible work schedule is part of designing a job that motivates. Companies have to find ways to be on the top and have their employees keep and be satisfied with their jobs. This main concept has two parts: flextime and job sharing. Flextime is when employees choose their work schedule according to specified guidelines from the organization. Job sharing is two individuals who work a single job. Companies give flexible work schedules to the employees so they can perform better and give them the ability to make other necessary appointments.

Emotional Hook

How hard it would be if a member of your family needs you to take them to the doctor but you just can't because your work schedule does not permits it? Or when you have to plan way in advance your personal appointments?

Key Points to Elicit in Discussion

I have many friends that are very grateful for their jobs because they give them the ability to work around their schedules for personal time to be with their families. Having flexibility at your job helps the employee to give better performance at the job. The employees are more motivated to work since they have time to do other things that they need not only in the organization but also outside the work. I think it is very important to have this kind of flexibility because it is not all about work, work, work, but family and friends.

Facilitative Questions

How much flexibility a company can have to make their employees happy?

Learning Reflection

We have been talking about legal issues in class and we cover major EEO Laws and Regulations. I was thinking in one these laws and how it was before and now. The law of Equal Pay Act of 1963 which requires that men and women should receive equal pay if they are performing the same job.

It is interesting to know how back in the 1960’s the men were the ones who had to maintain the family and therefore they needed to get paid more. Now, in today’s society this mentality of men being the bread winner has change. Women are more independent, they get higher education, and many of them are not raising a family yet, and have a good job. On the other hand, there are some men who now they are the ones taking care of the family while the mothers are the bread winners.

This legal act protects both men and women. They both ca have the same capacity, education, and experience to perform any job. It is interesting to know how the mentality before was that men are better, they are stronger, well they are men, but now we can see that women are like me, better, stronger in their own characteristics.

Legal Issue

Concept and Brief Description

I found an article in the internet about issues that employers need to be aware for this year 2010. The issue is Social networking and electronic media. Social media refers to the application and websites such as Facebook, instant messaging, and Twitter.I believe almost every job has a computer with internet connection. Almost everyone can have some access to these sites while working. This social media contain personal information that an employer cannot access the employee's sites to check on them or to screen them before hiring them.

Emotional Hook

For employers it is a legal risk to use social networking technologies. It is off limits since it contain information such as photographs and personal data relating to age, sexual orientation, political beliefs or religious affiliations.

Key Points to Elicit Discussion

It is very interesting to hear stories about employees using social network, which is fine, but there is a limit. Somebody told me a story about an employee who was fired because this person was spending most of the time at work in the internet either shopping online or using a social media.

Facilitative Questions

How do we set a limit or should we block entirely the site so the employers cannot get access?

Learning Reflection

Today in class, we talked about the changes in the Labor Force. One in particular was aging work force; many baby boomers are still working hard because the economy is not giving them the change to retired with good money in their pockets. Many of them are still working in the same job for many years. In today's age, technology has been changing dramatically that jobs require being up to date with technology. Many baby boomers do not know how to send an email or use any other type of program. My mother is a great example; she does not know how to send an email. I have taught her multiple times how to do it, but still seems that she does not get it.

It is impressive to see baby boomers knowing how to manage and work a computer efficiently. They do want to learn this new technology because that is a great advantage to them to be able to keep their jobs a little while longer. Many employees that are part of the baby boomers keep their jobs because many of them want to have something to do. They feel good if they feel needed.

Knowing how labor force is changing can open many doors to the job that we currently have or will want to have. Even if we are the managers of own company, we need to be aware how as little as the age of one person can change either the training, looking out for the older employees. The baby boomers have extremely life time knowledge than can benefit the company. We just need to know how to use that kind of knowledge in a quick and faster way.

CH 3 Enforcement of the OSH Act

Concept and brief description

The OSH Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act,to be enforced, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducts unannounced inspections to the companies. This is due to see if the companies are following the regulations that are necessary to protect any person involve in the company. Once the person representing the OSH shows he or she is there to inspect the company, there are four different components to take in consideration. First, the compliance officer looks at the company's records of deaths, injuries, and illnesses. Second, the officer and someone representing the company go around and take a tour. While doing the tour, the officer makes notes about the conditions that may violate regulations. Third, the officer makes employee interviews to see if anyone is aware of any violation that needs to be taken care of. Fourth, the officer has a conference with the employer and talks about the findings about any violation. If any violation found, the officer gives a time frame to the employer to fix the violation. If the violations are fixed, there are still fines that the employer may have to pay.

Emotional Hook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 there were 5,071 fatal injuries in the United States, and in 2007 there were 5,657.

Key Points to Elicit in Discussion

There have been instances were on hears in the news places where a company had a number of violations but there were never fixed and that caused many fatalities. It is very important to follow regulations that pertain to the company, especially about safety and health of the employees. Without the safety regulations nobody will be able to work and be safe at the same time.

Facilitative Questions

How can we, as employees of a company, help maintain a safe environment in the company?

Learning Reflection

In today’s class, we watched a video about the way how a fish market can become world famous place. In the video the manager talked about how at the beginning he was a very different manager. His employees knew he was the boss. But this fish market had to turn around and make new changes in order to survive. I think that in any type of company, every manager needs to look at the way his or her strategy is working and make any necessary changes. In the video, they talked about how changes take time to see the results. Some of the key factors that the fish market’s manager applied in his management skills are to trust his employees, treat them as people and not as numbers, and have every employee coach everyone.

This video made me think on the previous jobs I have had before. The place where I worked were good places to work and my coworkers liked to work there. Why? Because of the way my bosses worked with us. He or she trusted us with the job, we had a fun and friendly environment where we worked and we respected each other. Being in a friendly environment, I believe every employee will give it their best at what they do, and the company can become one of the top.

It is hard to work in a place where the boss of the company is very strict and he or she is always right. Nobody would want to work in a place like that. Taking a change, making a shift in the management style, and doing it with a purpose can make a great difference in the way people work. I think that believing in what you are doing with your company and knowing that you want your company to succeed it takes hard work, but in the end it will be worth it.

CH 2 High Performance Work Systems

Concept and Brief Description

High Performance Work Systems: The way companies try to make their employees and technical systems better. This helps the companies to be on top of the other companies. The high performance work system consists of Knowledge Workers, Employee Empowerment, and Teamwork. First, Knowledge Worker is the employees who have focused their studies and careers in one type of specialization. Second, Employee Empowerment is giving responsibility and authority to make decisions. Last but not least, Teamwork, which a group of employees are assigned to work together for a particular product or service.

Emotional Hook

It will take forever to train an employee if he or she does not have the right qualities to help the organization. Many times that employee will learn fast. For a company to be on the top, it needs to have the best knowledge on what they do, high top quality equipment, and great people.

Key Points to Elicit in Discussion

We all go to school to get an education and get a good job. We all try to be different from other people to help the company, to find new ideas, to get promoted, etc. Companies are looking for that person who has the right skills, who can add value to the company.

Facilitative Questions

In what situations will you choose to hire someone who does not have the right skills to someone who does?