Employment

Understanding Employment: A Relationship of Labor and Pay

Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating paid labor services, usually based on a contract where one party (the employer) pays another (the employee) in return for carrying out assigned work.

The Nature of Employment

Employees can be classified as employees or independent contractors depending on factors such as payment, control over work, and the nature of their relationship with the employer. This classification is often disputed, especially in companies operating within the gig economy. Imagine employment as a complex dance where both parties must find the right rhythm to ensure harmony.

Employment Types

Employees are hired to perform specific duties and may receive benefits such as health insurance, housing, and disability insurance. The classification of workers is often disputed in companies, especially those in the gig economy. How do you decide whether a worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor? It’s like trying to determine if a puzzle piece fits perfectly into its place without any gaps.

Employer Responsibilities

Employers must balance interests such as decreasing wage constraints with maximizing labor productivity to achieve a profitable and productive employment relationship. Employers can find workers through job listings, professional recruitment consultants, or traditional methods like posting ‘Help Wanted’ signs. Finding the right employee is akin to finding the perfect match for your team – it’s crucial but not always easy.

Training and Development

Training and development refers to the employer’s effort to equip employees with necessary skills and help them grow within the organization. An appropriate level of training and development helps to improve employee job satisfaction. It’s like investing in a plant – you need to nurture it for it to flourish.

Remuneration

Remuneration includes hourly wages, piecework, yearly salary, gratuities, commissions, bonuses, shares or stock options. Employee benefits include housing, group insurance, disability income protection, retirement benefits, daycare, tuition reimbursement, sick leave, vacation, social security, profit sharing, and other specialized benefits. These are the rewards that keep employees motivated – like a gardener providing water and sunlight to ensure their plants thrive.

Organizational Justice

Organizational justice is an employee’s perception of fairness in treatment. Workforce organizing involves trade or labor unions representing the workforce to collectively bargain with management. It’s about ensuring that everyone feels valued and treated fairly – like making sure all team members get a fair share of the pie.

Ending Employment

Ending employment can occur at-will, subject to a notice period, contract requirements, tenure, layoff, or wage labor is the socioeconomic relationship between a worker and employer, where labor is sold under an employment contract, with wages determined by the market. It’s like ending a partnership – sometimes it’s amicable, but other times it can be difficult.

Global Perspectives on Employment

In Australia, employment is governed by the Fair Work Act since 2009. In Bangladesh, the Association of International Recruiting Agencies supports migrant workers. Canada handles formal complaints through different ministries and commissions. Germany has Werksvertrag and Dienstleistungsvertrag types of contracts. India offers fixed term and permanent contract options. Pakistan lacks contract labor laws but must pay minimum wage and provide facilities. The Philippines’ employment is regulated by the Department of Labor and Employment. Sweden has three types of employment: test, time-limited, and normal. There is no minimum salary law in Sweden. Instead, agreements between employer organizations and trade unions regulate employment conditions.

United States

In the US, employment contracts are categorized into fixed-term, full-time or part-time, agency staff, freelancers, consultants, contractors, and zero-hour contracts. The distinction between employees and independent contractors is often disputed, with courts ruling that independent contractors are considered employees if they work on a regular basis and have direction from the employer.

Collective Bargaining

The activity today centers on collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions for their membership, and on representing their members in disputes with management over violations of contract provisions. Larger unions also typically engage in lobbying activities and electioneering at the state and federal level. Most unions in America are aligned with one of two larger umbrella organizations: the AFL–CIO created in 1955, and the Change to Win Federation which split from the AFL–CIO in 2005.

Young Workers

Younger age workers are at higher risk for occupational injury and face certain occupational hazards at a higher rate; this is generally due to their employment in high-risk industries. Young people are injured at work at twice the rate of their older counterparts. Youth employment programs are most effective when they include both theoretical classroom training and hands-on training with work placements.

Older Workers

Those older than the statutory defined retirement age may continue to work, either out of enjoyment or necessity. Older workers are often found to be discriminated against by employers. It’s like a seasoned actor who still has much to offer but faces challenges in finding roles.

The Impact of Employment on Poverty

Employment is no guarantee of escaping poverty, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that as many as 40% of workers are poor, not earning enough to keep their families above the $2 a day poverty line. Increasing labor productivity appears to have a negative impact on job creation: in the 1960s, a 1% increase in output per worker was associated with a reduction in employment growth of 0.07%. Researchers at the Overseas Development Institute studied 24 instances of economic growth and found that 18 reduced poverty.

Models of Employment Relations

Scholars conceptualize the employment relationship in four main models: mainstream economics, human resource management (unitarism), pluralist industrial relations, and critical industrial relations. These models help explain why individuals have different perspectives on human resource management policies and labor unions.

Manufacturing and Services

Academic research suggests that growth in manufacturing and services has a positive impact on employment, while agriculture’s impact is limited. Extractives and textiles show mixed results, but agri-business and food processing generally experience positive job creation due to growth. Most literature focuses on OECD and middle-income countries, where economic growth has been shown to positively affect employment.

Illicit Activities

The balance of economic efficiency and social equity is the ultimate debate in the field of employment relations. Globalization has affected these issues by creating certain economic factors that disallow or allow various employment issues. Economist Edward Lee’s findings summarized four major points of concern affecting employment relations: international competition will cause unemployment growth and increased wage disparity for unskilled workers; economic liberalization will result in unemployment and wage inequality in developing countries; workers will be forced to accept worsening wages and conditions due to a global labor market ‘race to the bottom’; globalization reduces the autonomy of the nation state.

Alternatives to Work

The alternatives to work include subcultures (e.g., hippie subculture, punk subculture), post-secondary education, social assistance (welfare, food stamps), and volunteerism. These are like different paths in a forest – each with its own beauty and challenges.

Indentured Servitude and Slavery

Those who work under obligation or as property do not receive pay and are not considered employed. It’s a stark reminder of the dark history that shadows our modern employment practices.

Self-Employment

Local employment initiatives ensure residents of an area are offered jobs adjacent to employers’ premises. This is like creating a local ecosystem where everyone benefits from each other’s success.

Statistics and Research

The statistics paint a complex picture, with some sectors showing positive job creation while others struggle. The research highlights the need for balanced policies that consider both economic growth and social equity.

In conclusion, employment is a multifaceted relationship that involves complex dynamics between employers and employees. It’s a journey filled with challenges and opportunities, where the goal is not just about making money but also ensuring fair treatment and social equity for all.