The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context

Introduction The following essay is on the need for flexibility of labour in the Australian context. This essay will discuss the role of flexibility in the Australian context. There will be evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of flexible work arrangements from the perspective of the employer as well as employee. The essay will look into the Equal employment Act in Australia, and its role in the flexible work conditions. The essay will also include the perspective of the work conditions in the country.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Background Flexibility of work is a major labour relation issue that has effect on both the labour and the management. Flexibility comes from the need for the management to adjust with the dynamism of the labour market that results from the development of the company and the way in which empl oyees want to work. The survey results released by the Australian Bureau of statistics show that fifty percent of the workers do not have choice over their work start time and finish time (Fagan, 2009). Twenty eight per cent of the employees had incomes that varied from one pay period to the next. Thirty-seven percent had hours that varied per week and they had to stay alert to work on call. This form of uncertainty and unpredictability of work makes it necessary for both the employer and the employees to have flexible working mentality to allow them work harmoniously. Currently, 1.4 million workers in Australia work in shifts, which are organized by the management. This especially applies to the mining industry and service industries such as hotels (Fagan, 2009). Flexible work conditions take the pluralist approach of industrial relations where the view recognizes that entities in an industry both the employee and the employer are powerful with different goals and objectives. The m anagement role is to coordinate and persuade employees to work whereas the labour unions are the legitimate representatives of employees and they represent them through collective bargaining. With this perspective employees are able to negotiate the number of hours collectively as well as the working conditions (Hyman, 1975). However, with most of the companies employing non-unionized workers to meet their labour needs and the employees opting for flexible rather than fixed working conditions it is becoming necessary to institute mechanisms to tackle flexibility of work to suit both the employer and the employee. The government of Australia instituted Equal Employment Act that spell out flexible work arrangements that are legally recognized. They help the employees to choose arrangement such as the number of hours to work, modes of work and when to enjoy benefits such as holidays (Atkinson Meager, 1986).Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The most popular kind of work arrangements is the part time work or the job sharing where workers work part time or they share the work with another person such that each work two days a week. The other common arrangement is the shifts, where employees work in shifts especially in the mining industry where the work may go on for twenty-four hours every day. The other popular arrangement is the telecommuting where workers may perform some of their duties away from office or at home such as making calls. The other work arrangements is the compressed work hours where an employee may work continuously for forty hours in five days a week rather than in two weeks (Bhave Budd, 2008). Numerical flexibility The notion of numerical flexibility is becoming common than it was before as the modern worker is no longer encouraged to work through adjustments in labour prices. They are encouraged by the working conditions and terms of work. With the functioning markets of goods and services, company must also adapt to the high season and low demands on labour. When the company is in low season, it may lay off some workers due to reduced tasks and responsibilities. During the high season, the company may have to bring in external workers or hire additional labour to meet the demand of the products or services (Befort Budd, 2009). Numerical flexibility has two aspects with the first one being external flexibility. This is where the company outsource workers when it is in need of extra labour. This is through short-term contractual workers who work for a given season. The second aspect of numerical flexibility involves adjustment in the number of hours or days worked by the employees such that they may work for extra hours or overtime in high seasons and few hours during low seasons (Morrell, 2011). The company applying the internal numerical flexibility usually adjusts the labour within the company such that it does not lay off workers or hire extra workers from outside. The fewer hours done in low season compensate the additional hours done during the high season. This type of numerical flexibility applies in many companies, as they avoid repeated layoffs and recruiting procedures that are tedious and expensive. The internal numerical flexibility is also considered advantageous to the employees due to the job security and the employee does not have to keep on changing jobs (Budd, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Functional flexibility This refers to the extent in which the employee can transfer to another work. It is how the employees can perform different tasks within the company. Functional flexibility refers to the number of tasks an employee can engage in the organisation. In functional flexibility when there is high season, the employee may do additional tasks. For instance, an employee may work as a technician and a receptionist in the company, which allows flexibility within the organisation. It involves having the labour force appropriately positioned to use different technologies. However, for this to be done the company must focus its resources on training the employees to perform different tasks (Fagan, 2009). Role of flexibility in Australian context With the Australian Equal Employment opportunity Act of 1984, the companies had to adjust their regulations and layoff activities as the law discriminated against layoffs based on conditions such as pregnancy or sickness. The companies had to adjust their schedules to fit the need of workers such as maternity leaves, parental leave and other needs of the workers. The first role played by the work arrangement flexibility is reducing employee absenteeism. The absenteeism was usually because of stresses and sickness that made workers redundant. However, with flexib ility the employees can adjust their work to fit them such that they can balance their work and other activities (Reilly, 2001). Flexibility in work arrangements has enhanced morale and job satisfaction resulting to increased and improved efficiency in the work. When working hours fit the employees, it results in increased motivation to work. With increased morale, the productivity goes high and the company benefits from increased revenue (Wallace, 2003). With the increased morale resulting from the increased productivity, the employees are more energetic and creative. This is because they have the choice to work during the time when they are most productive and effective in the job. The flexibility allows the employees to concentrate on the work they are doing unlike in scenarios where time of working is inflexible and they are unable to attend other issues thereby affecting productivity as well as morale. With the increased productivity, the organisation and the employee benefit ( Hyman, 1975).Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The flexibility in work arrangements reduces work stress and burn out because the flexibility allows the employee to relax and recuperate energies unlike in scenarios where the work timelines are fixed and do not have time for employee to relax (Kaufman, 2004). The other contribution of the work flexibility is that it has reduced the role and the influence of labour organisations. This is because with the numerical flexibility where workers work on contract, it is very hard for the workers join unions. Most of the contracts state that they do not want anyone who is unionised. This challenge makes most of the workers who work on contact basis not to be members of labour unions. Functional flexibility allows the employees to start the work in many aspects of the job and cannot complain of overworking, as it is part of the in-house arrangements to shift the working of the employees (Salamon, 2000). The companies in Australia on the other hand have benefited from the development of the work and they can now develop their work as well as increase their responsibilities on the development of the company. The companies have experienced low levels of industrial actions such as low employee turnover and strikes. This is because of the flexible work arrangement measures that suit both the employer and the employee (Webb Webb, 1897). Employer’s perspective on the flexibility â€Å" The work arrangements are advantageous to the employees as they result in increased productivity. The productivity comes from the need to reduce stress in the workplace and motivation that comes from working when it is appropriate (Nichols, 1997). The other advantage of the work arrangements procedures is that it reduces costs such as hiring and recruiting when the company is in need of extra labour as well as freeing the company from compensation obligations when an employee is fired. This is because the employees’ can work under flexible work arrangements offering the employe e a chance to determine the appropriate time of work such that the employer can hire workers to work during the time when the labour is needed most. This prevents the employer from paying redundant workers (Kaufman, 2004). The work arrangement flexibility has reduced the influence and the bargaining power of the trade unions significantly such that they cannot be influential as they were previously. With reduced bargaining power, the employers can negotiate better terms with the employees. Most of the companies that adopt numerical flexibility employ workers on short-term contracts, which make it hard for the employees to unionise. The flexible work conditions can be attributed to the reduced levels of strikes and industrial actions in the companies (Kelly, 1998). The work arrangements are costly to the company especially in instances where the company has to outsource to meet the demand for labour. It is also disadvantageous to the company as it has to retrain the staff on the vari ous aspects of the work to make them flexible such that they are deployable to do different tasks and duties (Mullins, 2005). The flexibility especially the numerical flexibility where the company employs on short term contracts result in reduced employee loyalty as many employees are influenced by job security and they may not be loyal to the companies that do not offer job security to them (Salamon, 2000). The other aspect of management is that the work arrangement involves the management relinquishing its supervisory powers. This is because some of the arrangements such as telecommuting where the employees work from home or away from the office make it hard for the employer to supervise them. The employer’s must consider whether an employee is appropriate to the work arrangement as individuals who need close supervision in their work cannot be fit for telecommuting arrangements (Nichols, 1997). Employee’s perspective The work arrangement flexibility is disadvantageo us to the employees because it enables them to live a balanced life where they manage family and work. This is an important achievement for many people to balance their attention to both the work and the family (Reilly, 2001). The other advantage is that it enables the employees to work at the optimum time, and relax when tired. It allows the employees to choose when to go for holidays and when not to. With this kind of flexibility, the employees manage to be productive in their work and achieve results (Budd, 2004). The arrangements are however disadvantageous to most of the employees because they involve short term jobs that end after the season is over, which makes the employees insecure (Wallace, 2003). The other disadvantage is that the work arrangements makes collective bargaining less effective as the employee can only negotiate conditions that suit him or her personally not collectively. This means that bargains with the employer are usually personal and not collective, whic h is a disadvantage to the employee. The company may flout the previous working arrangement agreed upon and the individual employee may not manage to initiate a legal proceeding against the company. The other disadvantage is that in some instances employees are forced to work for many hours to compensate for the hours they were not working (Morrell, 2011). The last disadvantage of the work arrangements is that most of the times employers do not consult the employees when designing the flexible work arrangements to determine the best kind of flexible work arrangements to suit the employees (Salamon, 2000). Conclusion Discourse on work arrangements is significant to the development of the work conditions. The development of appropriate work conditions allows the employees to work towards the development of their own company as well as their life. For the work arrangement flexibility have effect both the employer and the employee must be in the planning stage such that the arrangement will meet the personal need of the employee as well as benefit the company. Assessing the work flexibility arrangements helps to determine whether the arrangements are effective or not. Evaluating the arrangements is important in ensuring that the arrangement achieves the set objectives. References Atkinson, J. Meager, N. (1986). Changing working patterns: How companies achieve flexibility to meet new needs. London: Institute of Manpower Studies. Befort, F. Budd, W. (2009). Invisible hands, invisible objectives: Bringing workplace law and public policy into focus. New York: Stanford University Press. Bhave, D. Budd, W. (2008). Values, Ideologies, and frames of reference in industrial relations. New York: Sage. Budd, W. (2004). Employment with a human face: Balancing efficiency, equity, and voice. California: Cornell University Press. Fagan, C. (2009). Out of time: Why Australia needs a new approach to working-time flexibility. Sidney: Trade Union Congress. Hyman, R. (1975). Indus trial relations: A Marxist introduction. New York: Macmillan. Kaufman, E. (2004). Theoretical perspectives on work and the employment relationship. Ohio: Industrial Relations Research Association. Kelly, J. (1998). Rethinking industrial relations: Mobilization, collectivism and long waves. New York: Rutledge. Morrell, F. (2011). 90 steps to employee engagement staff motivation. Cincinnati: Forest Gate Publishing. Mullins, L. (2005). Management and organisational behaviour. London: Prentice Hall. Nichols, T. (1997). The sociology of industrial injury. London: Mansell Publishing Limited. Reilly, P. (2001) Flexibility at work: Balancing the interests of employers and employee. Hampshire: Gower Publishing Limited Salamon, M. (2000). Industrial relations: Theory and practice. London: Prentice Hall. Wallace, C. (2003). Work flexibility in eight European countries: A cross-national comparison: Sociological series. Vienna: Institute for Advanced Studies. Webb, B. Webb, s. (1897). Industri al democracy. Chicago: Longmans. This essay on The Role of Flexibility in the Australian Context was written and submitted by user Denise Mckee to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Frances and Americas Health Care Systems Comparison

Frances and Americas Health Care Systems Comparison Introduction The America spends around 15% of its GDP on the costs of health care, and this percentage exceeds the OECDs spending being 8.8% almost twice and the French costs, which constitute 11.2% of its GDP, in 40%. France health care spending is 11% of the national output, matched up to 15% used in America in health issues, such as infant mortality (Skinner Garber, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on France’s and America’s Health Care Systems Comparison specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Health care system in the United States has received a criticism due to the absence of universal medical coverage in contrast to the universal health coverage in France. Since French insurance coverage is basically obligatory, medical expenses are more largely allocated to the whole population. Even though laws in America permit particular kinds of health care offered to the uninsured patients, they inc rease health expenses for the insured; and these greater health care expenses are borne by the people looking for health care instead of society in general. Exclusive of the situation of greatly communicable diseases, the treatment, which offers a huge social advantage, is debatable in regard to an extra earning or income. This paper discusses and compares France and the U.S. health care systems. Health Care System in the United States Health care system in the United States has brought about more polarizing discussion. Some critics state that the U.S. provides the best health care structure in the world due to directly accessible health care technology and high-tech facilities that have been the point of reference in medical care. Others criticize the system of health care in America as being ineffective and uneven due to the point that it spends more money on medical care than any other country, and there are still a lot of uncovered people, managerial waste, and unreliable qualit y. Health care providers are mainly owned and controlled by the private operators, and health coverage offered by the government in the public health care system ensures around 62% of the total, and provision is provided by programs, such as Veterans Health Administration, TRICARE, and Medicare (Himmelstein Woolhandler, 2004). Most people under the age of 65 are covered by their employers; some purchase coverage on their own, while others are uncovered.Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the United States, 49.8 million people, 16.2 percent of the population, were uncovered in 2010, which showed an increase from 16 percent in 2009. In line with WHO, the U.S. allocates more on health care per capita, being $7,145; moreover, it raised the figure on health care as ratio of its GDP became 15.1 percent that was greater than of any other country surveyed in 2009. America was ranked the fourth highest level of public medical care expenditure per capita of $3, 430, following other nations with higher level of health care spending per capital, which were Monaco, Norway, and Luxembourg. In 2009, research in five states reported that health care debt made up to 46.2 percent of entire individual bankruptcies. In 2010, 62.2 percent of filers for bankruptcies declared an increased health care spending. Since then, medical expenses and the number of uncovered and underinsured became greater than before. Government Implication In 2010, President Obama passed a law, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which supported phased implementation over four years of an inclusive arrangement of authorized health coverage with reforms intended to remove different undesirable activities of the insurance providers. These activities address the areas, such as yearly and life coverage gaps, premium loadings, and necessary screening. It also establishes a least ratio of direct health care expenditure to premium income, and price competition strengthened by the formation of three standard insurance coverage stages, to allow open assessment by end users, and online health coverage services that enable consumers to assess prices and other service plans. Health care system offers subsidy to allow the low income earners to purchase insurance and conserve private health facilities and private insurance. The law enacted by President Obama includes provision related to the health care that is to be executed over seven years, and extending Medicaid eligibility for the public translating to 135 percent of the FDL (Federal Poverty Level), offering incentives to firms to allow medical benefits, forbidding refusal of coverage and denial of claims derived from the present situations. This law also creates health care insurance exchanges and supports subsidization of coverage premiums for the public, representing 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in order for their highest spending for yearly premiums to descend from 2% to 10% of earnings (Skinner Garber, 2008). It also disallows the insurers from instituting annual insurance or coverage caps and focuses more on the establishment of medical research. Commencing in 2014, the law will disallow insurers to refuse insurance to sick candidates, or demand certain conditions, for instance, advanced payments or premiums. The 2010 Acts entail coverage providers to cover more expenses, requiring that not less than 80% of premiums should be used in health care or ‘quality upgrading’ and complete medical coverage for immunizations and screenings through disallowing annual and lifetime caps that provide uneven distribution. Pros and Cons Medical researches in the United States, which are carried out in some institutions, such as Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, and Harvard Medical School, are among the best in the world, and well-known due to the developments they do in medicine, mainly, because of the latest free-market structure.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on France’s and America’s Health Care Systems Comparison specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For the people with employment and great benefits, or those who can pay for it, various American insurance programs are ranked among the best programs in the globe. Another benefit of the latest American medical care program is that taxpayers are not responsible for the cost related to giving health care insurance to all the people (Skinner Garber, 2008). Medical care expenses in the United States are more than in any country all over the globe, and its system where every person should be covered just serves to raise these expenses at the cost of the taxpayers. Most people assert that tax contributions would carry funds away from national security and education to finance newly established medical care sys tem. The noticeable drawback of the health care system in the United States is that though the taxpayers have used more of their income in the American health care, most researches report that Americans have not become healthier than people in other countries that spend less on health care than the US. There is huge amount of money used in American health care, and the government pays out more of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on medical system than any other nation. In 2008, the United States allocated almost 15% of its total GDP on health care (Skinner Garber, 2008). Another noticeable drawback of the health care system is that most people are either underinsured or uninsured, and the United States Census Bureau reported that in 2003, 65% of people were insured by health insurance controlled by the government while 15% of the population were uninsured. Health Care System in France The French government offers some series of varied and all-inclusive health care programs. For ove r 95% of the people, health care is either completely free or fully compensated (Snchez-Serrano, 2011, p. 30). The people also have the privilege to select among health care facilities, irrespective of their earning levels. Additionally, the waiting lists for surgeries, just like in the United States, are not found in France health care system. Medical care coverage in France is a section of the Social Security structure which is financed by income of the employees (60% of the accounts), imposed taxes from tobacco and alcohol, and payment provided by the revenue related to earning that composes capital revenues and retirement pensions.Advertising Looking for critical writing on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apparently, it seems that medical insurances repay health care facilities more in the United States than in France. However, above 80% of French citizens have supplemental medical coverage, usually offered by their employers. Government Implications In the mid 2001, a law was enacted by the government enabling the health care system to offer more support to people in need in their every day tasks. In March 2002, the government also enacted a policy creating reimbursement for every accident related to health issue, regardless whether it is their own fault or not. These new policies were added to the previous confirmed policies, such as reimbursement rights in instances of illness prevention or pregnancy, health costs for employees and students, organized screening of particular disorder, and family planning. The ‘2012 Hospital Plan’ allocated with  £10 million is to allow the implementation of fresh investments with some major concerns, such as the reinforcing compleme ntarities among health care providers situated in certain area, the improvement of security system, and the automation of health care system (Snchez-Serrano, 2011, p. 30). In 2002, a law passed by the government addressed the rights of the patients on pain relief, in line with reimbursement for severe medical accidents, patient consent, availability of communication to the patient, and dignity of the patient. Pros and Cons People benefit from the ability to choose personal medical providers or doctors, and patients with long-term disorders or illnesses are allocated with more funds or 100 percent medical insurance coverage. The less income earners are provided with universal healthcare that is funded by taxes. Moreover, the medical expenses for the people suffering from the long-term illness are fully compensated, and they can confer with different practitioners or select university, private, public, general, or private health care providers. Health care systems have a loose edition of universal health care, denoting that the government made a controlled system that enabled medical care facilities and insurance providers to insure everybody (Snchez-Serrano, 2011, p. 30). Health care system in France also allows more funds to be used in medical costs due to the structure where the patients need to consult the doctor first, which adds more expenses. Comparison of Health Care Systems France health care spending of 11 percent of the national output is lower as compared to 15% used in America in health issues, such as infant mortality. Health care systems of both France and the U.S. allow patients to have different selections when looking for medical care or providers (Budrys, 2011, p. 135). In France, patients commonly get interventions directly from a professional or consultant, while in the United States, the expansion of HMO signifies that most patients should receive the consent of a ‘primary care physician’ before looking for specific interventio ns. The U.S. system can be annoying to patients, but also preserve the spending directed to health care costs when the primary care physician considers it unimportant. Like France, America provides both the public and the private insurers, and the issue that especially concerns the system of the United States is the control of the private component over the public one. In France, being jobless signifies reduced tax funds going into Assurance Maladie’s treasury, but in the U.S., it means that a person may lose his or her coverage (Budrys, 2011, p. 135). In France, regulation also limits the medical coverage providers from appropriately pooling policies and reforms by risk group, which increases medical coverage premiums in general. Medical systems normally take advantage of reduced regulation and an inclination towards a medical arrangement where insurance assumes to a function of offering for dependent and upsetting health care emergencies among groups for which the possibili ty for these incidences is roughly the same. In the U.S. health care system, reforming the way in which practitioners and other providers are salaried is an essential aspect in providing system transition, especially, in the common payment system, and generates incentives to offer extra services, instead of improved and high-value approaches to care for conditions. Conclusion Health care systems in France and America undergo more expenses caused by the application of medical coverage for regular medical care where the key receiver does not receive the full cost of the health care. It appears that the U.S. spends more funds in health care system than any other country in the world, including France. Different measures and reforms are needed in both systems to provide satisfying services and regulate amount of the funds allocated to these systems. References Budrys, G. (2011). Our Unsystematic Health Care System. Plymouth: Rowman Littlefield. Himmelstein, D., Woolhandler, S. (2004). Administrative waste in the U.S. International Journal of Health Services, 34(1): 79–86. Snchez-Serrano, I. (2011). The World’s Health Care Crisis. Paris: Elsevier. Skinner, J., Garber, A. (2008). Is American Health Care Uniquely Inefficient? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 22(4): 34-56.

The role of the school principals in the care of gifted students Dissertation

The role of the school principals in the care of gifted students - Dissertation Example Now, there are many ways of assessing how children perform, interact with their learning and solve different problems, beyond just reading and writing, to find out who is gifted (Murray, 1994). The definition of giftedness according to Marland report (1972) as cited in Klein, et. al (2007, p. 574) is "Gifted and talented are those ... with demonstrated achievement and/or potential ability in ... (a) general intellectual ability, (b) specific academic aptitude, (c) creative or productive thinking, (d) leadership ability, (e) visual and performing arts, and (f) psychomotor ability.† This definition now include skills which are not easily manifested, and to successfully and credibly label someone as â€Å"gifted† many processes are necessary than mere parental observation. Research indicates that the gifted individuals form a diverse group and it is not something which can be associated with a single trait. The giftedness of a child is associated with the psychological well -being of a gifted child, the matching of his skills with education provided, and the personal characteristics of the child, for example, his life situations, his nature and/or self-perceptions (Niehart 1999, p. 15). 1.1 Context Saudi Arabia puts a premium on education based on their belief that one’s principal duty in life is to acquire intellectual and spiritual perfection in his thinking, perceptions and belief (Gulen 2004, p. 202). Hence, the Ministry of Education was established in 1953. It sets overall standards for the country’s educational system and assumes responsibility for policy making and planning curriculum, teacher and superintendent training and special education (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 2). The system consists of twelve years. The educational ladder begins with six years of elementary school, three years of intermediate school and three years of high school. The educational aim of schools is to develop students’ different skills, abilities and crea tivity (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 3). Gifted education is incorporated in the system stemming from two administrative branches in the Ministry of Education that are tasked to identify and serve the gifted. They consist of four units namely the programs unit; the planning, coordination and training unit; the identification unit and the administrative communication unit. Special programs are provided for the identified gifted students. These include Thursday programs, summer programs and enrichment programs for the gifted within the school day (Al-Hamdan, n.d., p. 3). As stated by Aljoghaiman (2007) one example of enrichment programs is the one developed for elementary schools. Programs include teacher training for gifted students so specialized programs can be effectively implemented through appropriate teaching methods for the enhancement of gifted abilities in all areas. One example is the grouping of gifted students for a period of time during the school day when they engage in activiti es while passing through four levels of the program. â€Å"The first level concentrated on preparation and it included basic thinking skills, such as brain storming, some of the skills in the CoRT Program for Thinking, and Scamper Strategy. The second level included teaching the Creative Problem Solving Program. The third level consisted of the Future Problem Solving Program, and in the fourth and last level, gifted students went through the research program: a comprehensive program of self regulated learning that included different thinking skills. This program