McDonalds Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

McDonalds - Case Study Example The changing patterns battling for a superior comprehension of one’s wellbeing is by a wide margin a key driver. Plainly McDonalds thought of a Balanced Active way of life that in itself urged and elevated answers for its clients to carry on with a long and sound life. In one example, the Corporate Executive Vice President Mary Dillon said that her organization thought about the wellbeing of its clients around the world. By this, it had created adjusted, dynamic ways of life that McDonalds would consolidate into its every day exercises to improve their wellbeing and ways of life (Barnes, 2007). The vast majority of the achievement that McDonald’s appreciates is profoundly established in their item improvement procedure. The perpetual advancement methodology conveyed by McDonalds is to include a variety of items on their lasting menus that don't experience any changes. A genuine case of this advancement technique is the place they incorporate the Quarter Pounder and the Big Mac, their cheeseburger, and their essential burger. Upon their first turn of events, the above things are left to remain on the menu for a broad period without the incorporation of any huge changes. The above advancement technique makes sure that the buyers don't miss on something that they are well acquainted with on the menu (Clark, 2015). The other development methodology conveyed by the significant natural way of life is a brief item procedure. This methodology involves the advancement of transitory items that are intended to enhance the lasting item contributions. A case of items that were defined for momentary reasons for existing are, for example, the Big Ocean burger. The significance of the transitory advancement methodology conveyed by McDonalds is that it gives clients another thing to appreciate whenever they visit the evolved way of life (Adams, 2007). The third advancement system that is applied by McDonalds is the nearby item improvement technique. With the proceeding with development of McDonalds all around the globe, the organization

The Greek Dark Ages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Greek Dark Ages - Essay Example Society included gatherings of little settlements who made due on cultivating, which was viewed as a fundamental financial asset. This article will talk about crafted by three authors who examine the way of life and social orders of the Greek Dark Ages. Hooper said that the intruders that came into Greece entered the state in marvelous numbers. These individuals had a type of Greek drop since they could talk comparative lingos. Be that as it may, these trespassers were far less better than their Greek partners. Likewise, these trespassers utilized iron weapons rather than the bronze ones utilized by the Greek pilgrims: simply because iron was increasingly abundant in their areas (Desborough 1972). The Greek zones which had the most improvement started to show an adjustment in the nature of their work. Archeologists finding stoneware and different things from this age locate a gigantic decrease in the creation of these merchandise. Prior society appeared to be compelled to move in reverse as any advancement made in those times was evacuated. This was supplanted by an uneducated and confused gathering of individuals whose characteristics would keep on existing for quite a long time. This kept on deteriorating as society was not, at this point partitioned into explicit gatherings. It turned into an extraordinary wreckage of misshaped gatherings. Greeks before the Dark Ages were isolated into explicit classes: the rich lived in the royal residences having agreeable existences, they could do battle and would return back to their lavish lives and the poor would make merchandise and specialties that would serve and aid the lives of the excessive few. The royal residences, gems, ceramics and tombs were completely expelled and most were did not make anymore. All types of workmanship and earthenware were separated and their creation became non-existent in this New Greek period. At the point when the intrusions started, each individual from Greek society endured. Composing had vanished during the Greek Dark Ages (Andrews 1967). Archeologists feel that the best evidence of this messed up society was the absence of any sort of composing during this period. It was simply after the general public moved to the ninth century that a letters in order started to show up. This too had constrained use. Notwithstanding, the new material that was presently utilized in saving the types of works could store whole stories and accounts. The imperfection in this however was nobody was composing whatever would change the lives of the normal resident. There was an absence of work done about regular daily existences. Not many individuals talked about the manipulative forces of the rich and their endeavors to destroy the lives of the poor Greek resident. Hesoid, a rancher was among one of the not very many who decided to denounce the pitiless system. He is known to be probably the best observer to depict the ways of life of the last time of the Greek Dark Ages. Th e composing is of the standard human, not courageous warriors. In his work, Hesoid likewise discussed the notion that had been a fundamental piece of Greek life for quite a long time. Coins were an indispensable piece of Greek life (Hooper 1978). Individuals from the network understood the incredible estimation of coins: as a simple trade for merchandise. Education assumed no job in the utilization of these coins since it was a language that could be comprehended by anybody. This utilization of cash was seriously mishandled via landowners and the wealthy who might surrender it as advances and

Where Should I put my Quotation Marks Slate Magazine and the Rise of Logical Punctuation.

Where Should I put my Quotation Marks Slate Magazine and the Rise of Logical Punctuation. On May 12, 2011, not one, but TWO of my friends and colleagues pointed me toward an article in Slate Magazine entitled, “The Rise of Logical Punctuation”. In the article, author Ben Yagoda explores the nuances of where to place periods and commas within quotations (inside or outside the quotation marks?).   Not long ago, I wrote an article touching upon much the same topic:   The Quandary of Quotation Marks (“ “).   My conclusion was that the British are much more logical than we are in the U.S., following the rule that punctuation goes inside the quotation marks only when it is part of the quotation.   How simple is that?   And yet I continue to follow the U.S. protocol. Slate Magazine itself, as well as The New York Times and the Washington Post, follow AP guidelines and put periods and commas inside the quotation marks.   But Yagoda references a Twitter post by Conan O’Brien, a Wikipedia entry on Frank Sinatra, and the website Pitchfork, all of which follow the British way, with periods and commas lying outside the quotation marks.   He also relates that his students largely refuse to follow the traditional U.S. rules even when they know they will be penalized for doing so.   I highly recommend taking a look at his article for an interesting exploration of why we choose to punctuate the way we do. Last week my blog explored the distinction between grammar purists and progressives in Steven Sawyer’s guest article, Top 10 Obsolete Grammar Rules.   It looks like we can add number 11.   According to Yagoda, despite the Chicago Manual of Style’s adherence to the traditional style, we may be fast on our way to an obsolete punctuation rule â€" another feast for progressives.   As Yagoda claims, “A punctuation paradigm is shifting.”   Note:   even under the “new” rules, or the “new normal,” the period belongs inside those quotation marks because it was indeed part of the original sentence in Yagoda’s article.   Crystal clear, right? By the way, “new normal” was the phrase chosen as “Cliche of the Week” last week by Chris Pash in his blog. Do you choose to follow the progressive “new normal” when it comes to quotation marks?   Or will you remain a purist?   So far I’m sticking with the old fashioned way, but I feel a possible change erupting.

Technical Areas in Stem Cell Patenting and Ownership

Technical areas in Stem cell Patenting and ownership Stem cells in fast emerging scenario act as the best biotechnological application in both therapeutic and cellular therapeutics. With recent advancement in medical and genetic manipulations, its profound applicability in novel therapeutics have put a question its efficiency as a cell based product and of intellectual property rights and technology transfer. In recent times, academic Institutes and Corporations account to over 85% of both published patent applications and granted stem cell patents where corporation are in the priority list. (www.ipo.gov.uk/informatic-stemcells.pdf or report from UK IPO Patent Informatics Team, June 2012). Analysis of published patent applications suggest recent research to be mainly focused on mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells and artificially induced pluripotent cells where, ESCs, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs) appear to be successfully used respectively in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological diseas e and tissue and organ stem cell therapy. Stem cell patenting activity is mainly concentrated in the United States (21%), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (PCT) (19%), EPO (14%), Australia (12%), Canada and Japan (7%), Germany (3%), and China and the United Kingdom (2%). In the year 2012, PCT, EPO and Republic Korea were the main countries with most IPC where Shin, Dong Wook had 7 patents on their name. In view of currentShow MoreRelatedCompetitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance65536 Words   |  263 PagesThe bigger question are: 1. Why do firms outperform one another? 2. What is the process is by which firms discover unique strategies, put them in place, and modify them when conditions change. The failure of many firms strategy stems from an inability to translate a broad competitive strategy in to the specific action steps required to gain competitive advantage. The objective of this book is to build a bridge between strategy formulation and implementation rather than treatingRead MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 PagesGrowth of Horlicks in India in 2010. 10 10 new compounds and vaccines starting phase III clinical trials since the start of 2010. 14% We are committed to improving returns in RD, aiming to increase our estimated return on investment in this area to 14%. c.1bn Units of Lucozade, Ribena and Horlicks manufactured in the UK every year. 2 New Consumer Healthcare Research and Innovation centres opened in China and India. Vaccines Emerging markets 1.4bn Doses of our vaccines suppliedRead MoreGeneral Electric60506 Words   |  243 Pagesperformance cannot reach full potential unless each area of the organization does its part and contributes directly to the desired companywide outcomes and results. This means setting performance targets for each organization unit that support, rather than conflict with or negate, the achievement of companywide strategic and financial objectives. The ideal situation is a team effort in which each organizational unit strives to produce results in its area of responsibility that contributes to the achievementRead MoreDamodaran Book on Investment Valuation, 2nd Edition398423 Words   |  1594 Pageswhich implies that the price paid for any asset should reflect the cashflows that it is expected to generate. The models of valuation described in this book attempt to relate value to the level and expected growth in these cashflows. There are many areas in valuation where there is room for disagreement, inc luding how to estimate true value and how long it will take for prices to adjust to true value. But there is one point on which there can be no disagreement. Asset prices cannot be justified by

Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3051 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/02/14 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: GMO Essay Did you like this example? Genetically Modified Organisms. Just the name sounds like something out of a science fiction novel. There was a time when it was. Modified or altered DNA has always been a favorite subject in various novels, movies, and tv shows from the likes of Spiderman to the clone army of Star Wars. However thanks to modern technology, we have been able to copy and even edit the DNA of plants and animals. Possibly the most significant example of this is the Biotech industry; responsible for the creation of GMO crops. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms" essay for you Create order At first glance, it seems to be the ideal solution for many problems in agriculture. Corn is modified to be toxic to harmful insects that eat up the farmer’s hard worked fields, a potato can be made to be more resistant to bruising than its natural counterpart, and crops can be edited to be bigger and therefore more appealing to customers. It also has been a long-standing claim that GMOs could be the key in solving world hunger. It sounds enticing, reasonable, and in a word ideal. However, are we entirely certain about the safety of the food we eat? To this day the DNA remains to be a subject we have hardly scratched the surface on, and are we really fully aware of the possible consequences of altering the basic building blocks of life? It is the answers to these questions that will reveal that we should stop producing GMO crops in America since they are an endangerment to our health, and to farming communities at home and abroad. Thesis Thesis: We should stop producing GMO crops in America since they are an endangerment to our health, and to farming communities at home and abroad. History and Terms In the past, humans had a hand in controlling what desired traits should be passed on through â€Å"artificial selection.† These terms, coined by Charles Darwin, describe the process of choosing the organisms with the most desired traits and allowing them to reproduce with others with the same desired traits. This process would result in the production of offspring that have the desired traits. While artificial selection is not what we typically consider GMO technology as we know it today, it contributes to the inspiration of modern biotech in the agricultural industry and the earliest example of humans tampering with genetics. It is through this process that what we know as corn today exists as well as the multiple variations of apples. In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen engineered the first successful genetically engineered organism. These two scientists developed a way to cut out a gene from one organism and insert it into another. A method that’s now used to create GMO crops. After this discovery, the question of whether or not genetic engineering should be made legal in America was heavily debated and discussed by scientists, government officials, and lawyers in the Asilomar Conference of 1975 for three days. It was concluded at the end of those three days that the GE projects should be allowed to continue with certain guidelines in place. Since 1975, genetic modification remained in the medical field for making medicines as well as experimentation only until 1987. In this year, Calgene’s Flavr Savr tomato became the first food crop to be approved for commercial production by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These modified tomatoes were inserted with a DNA sequence that inhibited production of a certain natural tomato protein that causes a tomato to go soft or show bruising, thus increasing its firmness and extending its shelf life in comparison to its natural counterpart. In 1995 the first pesticide-producing crop was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A year later, Bt corn was approved, and now the majority of corn in the U.S. has the Bt toxin gene which makes the corn secrete its own toxins and thus makes the corn poisonous to various insects. All of these products of genetic engineering were created using the same basic steps: identifying a trait of interest, isolating that genetic trait, inserting that trait into the genome of the desired organism, and then growing the engineered organism. However, there are also several different ways to change the DNA such as Protoplast Fusion; when two plant cells have their hard cell walls removed (Protoplasts) and a chemical called polyethylene is added which sticks the two cells together. Once stuck, chemicals are added to help the two cells combine and exchange genetic information to create a hybridized plant cell. Another is by Mutation Breeding which involves exposing plants or seeds to mutagenic agents, whether by ionization radiation or chemical components, to cause random changes in the DNA sequence. The most commonly used tactic is replacing or inserting genes within seed cells using â€Å"molecular scissors† called nucleases—enzymes which can to loosen, remove and add nucleotides. These nucleases are artificially engineered to insert desired genes into the genome of a crop. It is through this process that the Bt corn, which makes up the vast majority of America’s corn production, was created by slicing a gene from a bacteria that had the desired pesticide effect for insects and inserted into corn genes. Proof #1 GMO crops are a threat to our physiological health. Hippocrates states Each of the substances of a mans diet acts upon his body and changes it in some way and upon these changes his whole life depends. Whatever we eat, may it be ice cream from Marble Slab or French cuisine, affects the body whether good or bad. The immune and excretory system prevent and treat foreign toxins and bacteria that enter the human body. While the immune system neutralizes viruses and harmful bacteria, the excretory system sorts through the food we consume and removes the toxins or waste that enters the human system. The kidneys are a key organ in this system. They constantly filter and clean the bloodstream, thereby preventing waste build up or toxins from interfering with the natural functions of the body. But what happens if there are too many toxins for the kidneys to handle? Unfortunately, this can cause the kidneys to become overwhelmed to the point that they no longer function as they should. The Bt gene that is inserted into a crop such as corn may decrease the need for pesticides, however, the cost is the fact that now the genetically modified corn secretes its own toxins. It is these toxins that are harming primary organs like the kidney. According to an Austrian study, mice fed genetically modified corn had lower birth rates, fewer offspring that were also notably smaller, but most importantly was that it degraded how well their kidney and liver function and therefore make them more susceptible to disease. Even Monsanto, a biotech seed company, found that about 10% of rats fed their M0N89034 corn developed kidney damage and bladder stones, and one even died after two weeks. If these effects can be found in rats after only a few weeks of tests, it can be assumed that the same will happen in humans who consume a consistent diet of these GMO based foods. As more toxins are able to enter the bloodstream due to the kidney weakening, this will then harm the body’s immune system. This can cause allergic reactions as the body tries to rid the body of the alien toxin. In fact, it has been found that allergens have increased by more than 50% in the last 20 years: a statistic that follows the trend of the growing use of GMOs.This could be passed off as a coincidence, but the parallels are too significant to ignore. There are also other chemicals that cause adverse health effects such as Aperture, (a common artificial sweetener, that increases lipids in the bloodstream and decreases biomolecules needed for essential functions in the cells. In particular, this creates dysfunction in the endothelial cells, cells that make up the skin and important for various secretion glands in the body, and about 40% of Americans consume Aspartame on a daily basis. While the immune and excretory systems are designed to keep the body healthy, the constant consumption of these foreign toxins only weaken these key systems and makes the other vital organs more susceptible to being infected. In recent years, scientists have studied the organ, known as the Gut Microbiota, which plays such a significant role in the well being of our bodies that it has been dubbed the â€Å"2nd Brain† by various experts in microbiome research. Gut Microbiota is positive bacteria that thrive in the intestinal system and play a key part in the endocrine system at the molecular level. These bacteria control what hormones are created and secreted, which in turn impact changes and functions throughout the entire bodily system. If there are too few of these, the negative consequences of this can be extreme. Because the Gut Microbiota is in the intestines, this makes the microbiota exposed to toxins that enter the digestive system. Once enough Bt toxins have been run through the system, this can create a â€Å"leaky gut†. This is a condition ulcer from that act as â€Å"holes† in the intestines and allows waste and toxins into the bloodstream as well as kill off these vital m icrobiotas. If genetically engineered crops can wreak this much damage to the body, what could it be doing to our minds? Proof 2 Consuming GMO products negatively influences and degrades our mental health. You may have heard idioms such as â€Å"hating someone’s guts†, or perhaps having a â€Å"gut reaction†. Or maybe you recall moments where you have had â€Å"butterflies in your stomach†. These idioms derive from the old idea that the gut houses the intuition or the innermost being of a person. According to modern research, this is actually true. Not only does the gut microbiota create and regulate hormones within the body, but it also influences the body’s neurons, of which 90% of these said neurons are located within the gut. It is here that the microbes interact with the neurons to create neurotransmitters including serotonin, acetylcholine, and histamine. Serotonin helps regulate sleep, appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain while acetylcholine controls the actual neural functions of the brain and histamine affects metabolism as well as controlling the body’s sleep/wake cycle. In order for neurotransmitters such as these to be produced, the body requires microbiota as well as a sufficient amount of nutrients. Once created, about 90% of these neurotransmitters are housed in the gut while the rest is sent to the brain. On the flip side, the brain can send signals to the gut through the vagus nerve which connects the two organs together. That is why if one feels something like anxiety, the â€Å"butterflies in my stomach† sensation arise from the brain releasing these negative signals to the gut. The brain is an organ that hardly needs an introduction. It plays a vital role as the â€Å"control center† for the human body and is where we store our memories and knowledge we accumulate over the years. However, just like any other organ, the brain can get sick. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, about 44.7 million adults in America suffer some form of mental disease, while 10.4 million of the adults suffer a severe form of mental disorders. These statistics are significant when we consider the fact that we live in a country rich in medical research and facilities. A key factor that has played into this high number of mental disorders are GMOs. When the toxins from GMO foods like Bt kill off gut microbiota, this cuts off the brain’s key supplier of neurotransmitters and the decreased amount of neurotransmitters can disrupt or halt different brain functions. This can also kill off or make the neurotransmitters housed their ineffective once they are sent to the brain. Some of the immediate effects can be irregular sleep patterns, mood swings, and aggression. On the other hand, this can become severe enough to result in depression, anxiety disorders, and Parkinsons disease. Various GMO derived ingredients can also directly alter the already existing neurotransmitters, such as high fructose corn syrup which can disrupt the functions of the neurotransmitter dopamine: an essential neurotransmitter that controls movement as well as mood and the ability to learn. In the long term, disrupting dopamine can cause Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Of course, the brain has its own defenses against possible damage. One, for example, is the blood-brain barrier, which acts as a sort of gateway into the brain. It follows a strict system of ensuring which and what chemicals are allowed and blocked from entering the brain. However, a leaky gut causes antibodies to be released that attack the blood-brain barrier, thus allowing dangerous substances and chemicals to enter the brain. These chemicals also include the toxins from GMOs that can now directly harm and alter the brain. If GMOs were to be removed from the market, we could see a significant change in the number of people with mental disorders in America. Proof #3 Growing genetically modified crops in America endanger neighboring farms and small farming communities around the world. Modern technology enables us to not only create GMOs but also track the DNA. This ensures that the GMO seed created by a biotech industry such as Monsanto is not stolen and planted by another farm or company. If this were to happen, the company has the right to sue for copyright infringement. Unfortunately, this has created several problems for farms with no intention to steal seed property. In the present time at least, GMO seed is not sterile and can pollinate just like its natural counterpart once grown, whether through being carried by bees or by the wind. This is a problem for organic farmers or even other GMO farmers. If the pollen lands in their fields, they could grow the GMO seed illegally without realizing it. Once it discovered, they are susceptible to be sued or at the very least remove a large portion of their crop to rid the GMO in their field. This results in money and crop loss for the farmer for something that was not even their fault. Two solutions have been proposed for this problem. One suggestion is to increase the distance between farms to prevent cross-pollination. However, pollen has been found to be able to spread for miles and even in some cases about 2-3 thousand miles. This indicates that protecting farms from unintentional piracy would be near impossible since it can also be safely concluded that no farmers are too eager to start trying to move their farmland. It demands too much time and money that none of them can afford. The second idea is the possibility of the use of GURT (Genetic Use Restriction Technology), otherwise known as â€Å"Terminator† or â€Å"Suicide† seeds. First developed in the 1980s, these types of seeds are designed to turn off or on a certain trait within the DNA. This technology was later used by the USDA and a small seed company called Delta who had sought a â€Å"genetic switch† in order to protect copyright on GMO seeds. At first glance, it seemed to be th e ideal solution; The GMO crops would be edited using GURT to stop them from reproducing and thus allow farms to be able to coexist safely with a lesser likelihood of copyright issues. However, this had been counter argued with the fact that it would force farmers to get new seed every year as well and in turn make them heavily dependant on the seed corporations; something that can easily be taken advantage of as then the seed corporations could raise the seed price as much as they want to since the demand for seed would constantly be high. This reasoning banned the use of this technology in countries such as India and Monsanto pledged to not use terminator seeds in 1999. The legal implications of GMOs, as well as the regulation process, are also questionable. Just like their natural counterparts, GMO crops or derived food must be approved by the FDA before being legally allowed to be grown and sold in the food market. According to the FDA, the process follows through three main steps; first, the GMO plant developers introduce their product to the FDA and the FDA, in turn, provides feedback for kinds of data that should be considered for the safety assessment. Second, the developers independently complete the safety assessment and submit a summary to the FDA. Finally, the FDA evaluates the information and ask questions such as â€Å"Does food from the GE plant contain a new toxin or allergen?† or â€Å"Is food from the GE plant as nutritious as that from its traditionally bred counterpart?†. Once all of the data can â€Å"logically support the conclusion that food from the new plant variety will be as safe as food from conventionally br ed varieties† it is allowed by the FDA and dubbed as safe. However, there is a key flaw in this regulation system that’s too large to overlook. According to the regulation process, it’s the developer that assesses the safety of the product and the FDA merely evaluates the information given and decide based on it. Meaning, they would have to trust that the developers are telling the truth. Suppose the developers did happen to find a new toxin or allergen in their product but lied and told the FDA that their product was completely free of any new toxins or allergens? Because the FDA relies on their word, they could release this product and not know the actual data that the developers found that would have impacted the product being permitted. Counter-Arguments It has often been argued that the USDA and FDA along with multiple scientific studies have had and continue to assure that GMOs are safe. More often than not, the case has been made that GMOs could solve world hunger. That with the already existing impoverished areas in the world combined with the foreseen global population increase, GMOs provide a way to feed everyone. Sadly, however, this is a falsehood. First, it is crucial to understand that seed companies and industries are just that; companies and industries. Not charities. We also have to consider; Does the poor only deserve the cheapest quality of necessities?

Employee Relations Pair Report Free Essays

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to examine the impact of employee relations in the workplace. An American furniture company – Furniture-Co is planning on opening six new stores across the South West of London, employing 800 people. In order to write this report for the Chief Executive it is necessary to investigate the employee relations system in Britain and to make recommendations about which system of employee voice should be used in the new stores. We will write a custom essay sample on Employee Relations Pair Report or any similar topic only for you Order Now As per the policy in their American stores, it will be necessary for Furniture-Co to set up an employee forum which each of the stores will send two employees to represent the store. Any issues of concern can be raised on a monthly basis. There will also be weekly team meetings in each of the stored to keep paths of communication open, so that employees can be kept up to date on business performance as well as allowing an open forum for views, questions and concerns. The main reason why the Chief Executive wishes this report to be carried out is to make recommendations as to an appropriate and effective system of employee voice to be implemented as this is key to employee relations within the UK. Introduction In order to complete this report it is necessary to investigate a number of factors and issues which will be raised in part one which will give an overview into the British employee relations system. This will include the historical role of the system and how trade unions have come to have such important in the employee relations system. It is important to the rest of the report that these issues be investigated and evaluated as this is the information which needs to be disseminated before the discussion can take place in part two. Part two of the report will take the form of a discussion and evaluation of any proposed arrangements would work. It will be here that recommendations for implementation will be made to the Chief Executive of Furniture-Co. There will be a discussion with regards to any proposed employment policies and how employee voice can be used to appropriately communicate any concerns, views and questions about the organisation and its strategy. It would also be necessary to evaluate how well trade unionisation would work in the new stores and to make recommendations according to these. Part one: Overview of the British employee relations system Part one of this report gives an overview of the British employee relations system and how it affects organisations through the trade unionisation of the employee. The main topic which will be discussed is employee voice and how this affects all of those involved in the employee relations process. However, before this can be discussed it is necessary to provide a background to the historical role of trade unions and how they manage the employee relations system. It is also vital to discuss the trends in union density and collective agreement as well as evaluating the key causes and influences which account for the trends in union density. Once this has been completed, it will be required to have a discussion of the evaluation and to make recommendations to how Furniture-Co can take this process forward. Historical role of trade unions in the management of employee relations Employee relations is a term which replaced the term industrial relations. It is the relationship between employers and employees and has become extremely important in the non-industrial employment relationships within the field of human resource management. Theory would dictate two distinct concepts – the definition of human resource management which includes employee relations and the concept that employee relations deals with non-unionised workers. Kaufman (2008) believes that many academics regard trade unionism as a core subject in the field of employee relations. The concept of employee relations as field of study began as being rooted in the industrial revolution thus the name – industrial relations. . It has created the modern day global employment relationship which has initiated the free labour market. Many labour problems arose at the period of time due to social and economic changes, long hours and low wages with dangerous working conditions led to high work er turnover, social instability and strikes. The study of industrial relations was born out of a problem solving generation which rejected the theories of the time. Kaufman (2008) believes that the field of employee relations is in decline and that there are numerous reasons for this decline. The most important reason can be seen as steady erosion in the union density of many countries. The study of employee relations is important to how trade union and labour relations are examined. Industrial relations in the 1960’s and 1970’s was notorious for disputes and walkouts, so much so that it was a problem which had been identified as weakening the UK’s economic power. The economic situation in the 1980’s and 1990’s changed the field of employee relations with recession, restrictive legislation and organisational restructuring. Trends in union density and collective agreement It is important to investigate the trends which have been prevalent in union density and collective agreement before a discussion can take place into Furniture-Co and the employee voice. It is important to investigate the long term trends in trade union membership. According to Brownlie (2011) in 2011 there were around 6.4 million employees who were members of trade unions in the UK. This figure was down by 143 thousand in 2010 and was the fourth annual consecutive fall. This has followed stability in trade union membership levels between the years of 1995 and 2007. The trade union density in the UK for employees had fallen in 2011 by 0.6 percentage to 26% in comparison to 2010. This meant that the total number of employees in the UK fell by a percentage of 0.3 down to 24.9 million. There had been a downward trend from the years 1995 to 2011, identifying a decline in 1995 from 32.4% to 29.8% in 2000 to 28.6% in 2005. In comparison to the long term trends it is necessary to identify trade union members in the public and private sectors. This membership showed a rise in 2011 by 450 thousand to 2.5 million. This figure had sharply fallen in the previous three years. Public sector memberships had fallen in 2011 by 186 thousand to 3.9 million. This figure had been stable over the previous six years. The membership density of the trade union rose in 2011 by 0.2% points to 56.5% but those non-members fell at a sharper rate than union members. It is also necessary to understand the personal characteristics of union density. It would seem, according to Brownlie (2011) that there is a higher density of female members for the tenth successive year. Most professional occupations are higher than those who come under the category of managers, directors and senior officials. In the UK those employees of UK nationality is higher than non-UK nationals. Evaluation of key cause or influence accounting for these trends Brownlie (2011) identifies that the membership of trade unions peaked in 1979 and declined quickly throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s. A stabilisation of the figure was identified in the mid 1990’s and this trend continued. There is evidence, according to Brownlie (2011), that there has been a decline in the last couple of years. The identification of falling trade union membership in the UK from 1989 to 2011, can account for these trends is the churn of the workforce as older employees retire and younger employees enter the workforce. This can be seen in the figures from the 1990’s to 2007 were particularly stable levels of trade union membership amongst the employees and those in employment. Another cause can be seen as the effects of recession on the membership of trade unions. The recession of 1989 – 1992 and the current recession shows that membership has fallen but figures fell significantly more in 1989 – 1992. Figures which have been identified by Brownlie (2011) show that the decline in membership between 1989 – 1992 was 1.7 million while the current recession (2008 – 2011) has shown a fall of 7% with 482 thousand. Current levels of union density in London It is important to discuss the current levels of union density in London. This is important to this report as Furniture-Co wish to expand their business in London by six retail units so there would be a need to cover this in the report to the Chief Executive. Region wise, London has one of the smallest density in the UK. London and the South West have the lowest density (London – 20.6%, South West, 20.7%). Within the UK membership levels have declined in England by 535 thousand, while Scotland (95 thousand), Northern Ireland (17 thousand) and Wales (8 thousand). London has density levels of under 25%. Overall trade union presence has fallen, with Wales having the largest percentage of employees with a trade union presence. London also had the smallest collective agreement coverage at 24.2%. Part two: Discussion and evaluation of how well the proposed arrangements would work This part of the report will look at the evidence which has been presented and to evaluate and discuss the proposed arrangements. Within this context it is necessary to understand the concept of employee voice and how this impacts on the performance of the organisation as a whole. There has been numerous studies undertaken on union and non-union voice, these can be seen in the academic work of Benson (2000), Dundon et al (2002), Gollan (2001), Lloyd (2001) and Pettinger (1999). The voice of the employee has been challenged through recognition and representation from the unions. There is a massive gap between the actual and desired level of employee representation and the gap has been narrowed due to the growth of non-union as well as the direct forms of employee representation. Freeman Medoff (1984) state that the union is a mechanism which is key to the improvement of performance of the employee, that it has the ability to stabilise the workforce and reduces inequality in the economy. However, through the focus of human resources management and its successful emergence has placed more emphasis on the sharing of information, employee participation and collective decision making, according to Benson (2000). In addition, Guest (1987) believes that the role of unions is unnecessary and ambiguous with the emergence of human resource management practices. In this context, Furniture-Co need to make recommendations through the use of employee voice but it is dependent on the representation which it wishes to use. The necessary identification of a union or non-unionised employee voice is applicable and should be further investigated. There would be benefits to both voices but these should be managed according to the business environment. Employee voice should be defined as the ability to express complaints/ grievances and the ability for the employee to participate in the organisational decision making process. The ability of the voice to take a joint role in consultation allows both the employer and employee to recognise the necessity of the performance of the employee. If Furniture-Co is to be successful it is implicit that the voice of the employee cannot and should not be ignored. Furniture-Co has already acknowledged the need for employee voice but it is how this voice will be best perceived within the organisation and how it can be taken forward. The recognition of the voice of the employee can affect the performance of the employee through their quality of production and it could also help counter problems which may arise. Dissatisfaction which can arise in the organisation could be directly resolved through employee voice. It has been established that dissatisfaction and employee turnover (Spencer, 1986) has been directly related to how the employee is empowered by their voice. If an employee can voice their opinion they are more likely to remain in their current position. Recommendations which can be made to the Chief Executive in relation to employee voice would be the suggestion that they attempt to keep it non-unionised. Once unions are involved there can be complex issues with HR policies and wages etc. Such issues which could be made are the pay rates, the pension scheme, hours of work, and training. However, with these issues there a generous package which includes a higher than average starting wage of ?8.50 an hour (?2 more than the average), all staff having access to the pension scheme, a standard 37.5 hours per week working hours and all staff will be provided with training at the start of their employee with further opportunities. As far as non-unionised employee voice can be identified, this seems to be the approach which would be favoured by the organisation as it is already set up in their American stores. Joint Consultative Committees are one form of this process which would be beneficial to the organisation due to the fact that the stores would send two representatives to the monthly meeting to air any grievances or successes which they have identified. This also allows for collective bargaining within the organisational context. Conclusion: It is important that any suggestion for employee voice can allow the employee to voice their opinion in a transparent environment. In order to use this effectively within Furniture-Co, it is necessary that trade unions are kept out of the organisational process. As this organisation is private sector, there is no obligation in the UK for the organisation or its employees to join a union. If the organisation adopts the policy of non-unionisation one major flaw may be that there is no outside authority to lend their advice to any internal disputes. These disputes may be handled appropriately within the organisation it may sometimes be better to have an outside body to help control any disputes which may break out. The Chief Executive has expressed that the model they wish to follow would send two employees from each store to a monthly meeting and this could be better operated through non-unionised employee voice. References Abbott, B., (2004) Worker Representation through the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux, in Healy, G., Heery, E., Taylor, P., Brown, W., (eds.) The Future of Worker Representation, Palgrave Benson, J., (2000) Employee Voice in Unions and Non-Union Australian Workplaces, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 453 – 459 Brownlie, N., (2011) Trade Union Membership, Available online http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/t/12-p77-trade-union-membership-2011.pdf, [Assessed on 4 December 2012] Daniels, K., (2006) Employee Relations in an Organisational Context, CIPD Diamond, W., Freeman, R., (2003) Young Workers and their Willingness to Join Trade Unions in Gospel, H., Wood, S., (eds.) Representing Workers: Trade Union Membership and Recognition in Britain, Routledge Dundon, T., Wilkinson, A., Marchington, M., Ackers, P., (2002) The Meaning and Purpose of Employee Voice, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 1149 – 1170 Freeman, R.B., Medoff, J.L., (1984) What Do Unions DoBasic Books Guest, D.E., (1987) Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 503 – 521 Kaufman, B.E., (2008) The Original Industrial Relations Paradigm: Foundation for Revitalising the Field, in Whalen, C.J., (ed.) New Directions in the Study of Work and Employment: Revitalising Industrial Relations as an Academic Enterprise, Edward Elgar Publishing Kersley, B., Alpin, C., Forth, J., Bryson, A., Bewley, H., Dix, G. Oxenbridge, S. (2006) Inside the Workplace: Findings from the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey, Routledge Lloyd, C., (2001) What do Employee Councils DoThe Impact of Non-Union Forms of Representation on Trade Union Organisation, Industrial Relations Journal, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 313 – 327 Noon, M., Blyton, P., (2007) The Realities of Work, Palgrave Pettinger, R., (1999) Effective Employee Relations: A Guide to Policy Practice in the Workplace, Kogan Page Spencer, D.G., (1986) Employee Voice and Employee Retention, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 488 – 502 Appendices Appendix One: Meeting Log Appendix One: Meeting Log Team NumberDate of Meeting (Monthly/ Day) Meeting LocationNo of Group Members All Members Must Sign off to Verify Attendance. Each Delegate Should Sign in the Boxes Below Month One/ Date Sign BelowMonth Two/ Date Sign Below Month Three/ Date Sign BelowMonth Four/ Date Sign Below Month Five/ Date Sign BelowMonth Six/ Date Sign Below How to cite Employee Relations Pair Report, Essay examples

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