Caf Next - Selection of Applicants and Remuneration of Employees - Essay Example

?Question Cafe Next requires all coffee bar managers to interview applicants who were shortlisted for jobs in the coffee bar. Examine the reliability and validity of the interview and explain how the selection process can be made more objective. The main requirement of Cafe Next in this situation is to interview the short listed applicants for jobs in the coffee bars. The interviewers have to be more determined and careful in this stage. They have to make sure that all shortlisted applicants have their CV forms with them as this would help the managers to make sure that they are spending time on appropriate candidates. Various types of interviews can be made in order to select the appropriate candidates such as online interviews, direct interviews, telephonic interviews etc. The interview could be made more objective by using any of the different types. For instance, “Panel interviews, in Panel interviews there may be a mixture of personnel specialists, technical experts and line managers” (Panel Interviews: How to Face More than One Interviewer, 2011). The panel interviews help the employer or line managers to save their precious time because more than one candidate is involved in this process. However, this system may be uncomfortable for the candidates unlike the members in the panel. In “it’s often a good idea to have more than one person doing the interviewing” (Managing Age: A Guide to Good Employment Practice, 2007, p. 18). The members in the interview panel must take notes as they need to make sure that they have a record of what is happening during the course of the interview. So this kind of steps could be used in the interviewing process. In order to make the interviews more objective, training could be provided to the interviewers, since this would help them to acquire the needed information, knowledge and patterns to conduct the interview. So ultimately, the interviewers can perform their job well. The process of recruitment and selection also has a major role. Recruitment can be defined as “a process of having the right person, in the right place, at the right time” (Recruitment: An Overview: Resource Summary, 2011). Cafe Next Coffee managers could use various selection instruments such as written examinations, group discussions and direct interviews for the selection process. This process is done prior to the recruitment process. Some of the management experts say that direct interview is more reliable and valid. But another group of the experts says that such type of an interview is extremely personal tool and so it is not highly reliable and valid when compared with the other selection instruments. In direct interviews, the interviewer can ask relevant questions and can identify whether the candidate is capable of fulfilling the tasks given to him or her. The interviewer can observe the mannerisms and gestures of the candidate, which would, in a way, help them to decide the selection of befitting candidates. In this case, Cafe Next coffee managers could use the appropriate selection techniques. Not only direct interviews but also written tests and group discussions along with other tools for identifying their talents can be put to use. “The process of selecting candidates involves two main processes: short listing, and assessing applicants to decide who should be made a job offer” (Selection Method: Resource Summary, 2011). 2 Examine how the company could use EITHER performance related pay OR Total Reward within the coffee bar and what would be the pros and cons of rewarding employees in this way? The company could use Performance Related Pay within the coffee bar. It would be more appropriate method for rewarding the employees. “Performance Related Pay (PRP) is a method of remuneration that links pay progression to an assessment of individual performance, usually measured against pre-agreed objectives (‘classic’ PRP, also known as individual PRP or merit pay)” (Performance- Related Pay, 2008). Performance Related Pay actually pays a person or a group of employees according to their performance. This method would help to increase the level of performance in the organization. The employees would try their best to achieve the organizational goals as they are getting paid according to their performance. The Next Coffee authority could use this system to illuminate their mission and vision and appoint employees according to the organization’s goals. The advantages and disadvantages of Performance Related Pay are: Advantages or Pros: “It provides a direct incentive for employees to achieve defined work targets. The contribution an employee makes is recognized with a tangible reward” (Performance- Related Pay, 2008). Excellent Performance Related Pay method would help to increase the incentives and finally give rise to the finest performances. This would motivate others to perform more efficiently. PRP could be used as a tool for reducing bad performance. Disadvantages or Cons: “PRP reduces pay equity and can make an authority liable to costly equal pay challenges if not operated fairly. Employees can be de-motivated if the goals set are too hard to achieve” (Performance- Related Pay, 2008). The PRP method could become a negative aspect when employees start to think that they are being paid by the organization illegally or unlawfully. 3. In this particular sector absenteeism is typically quite high. What approach to the management of absence would you suggest that the company may use and what drawbacks might be experienced in practicing such an approach? Absenteeism means consistent avoidance of work or the regular absence of a worker or an employee for their job. According to CIPD’s studies, employee absence is an important cost to businesses. “Effective absence management involves finding a balance between providing support to help employees with health problems stay in and return to work and taking consistent and firm action against employees who try to take advantage of organizations’ occupational sick pay schemes” (Absence Measurement and Management: Resource Summary, 2011). The best approach to use in this situation is punitive approach. “Punitive Approach is the most widely used by organizations in the UK” (Hayton, 2009, para. 7). Punitive approach includes various corrective measures that are reliable and legally recognized in dealing with the workers who do not come for work. Various kinds of strict measures are taken in this approach. It could be used in Next coffee shops because it would control the rate of absenteeism. This would in turn lead to the successful running of business. One of the advantages of punitive approach is “it acts as a deterrent” (Absence at Work: Costs and Causes of Absence Health, n.d.). Other advantages are that it would help to clarify what the organization looks forward from the employees’ side. Employees would not simply take leave in the name of being ill and it means that somebody really needs help. There are certain limitations for this approach, such as: the core causes of the absence are not explored. When the employees truly need a day off because of disease, it is not necessary that they may take leave. Some employees usually find this approach to be a little ruthless. These are the some among the important limitations and disadvantages of punitive approach. 4. Explain how flexible working practices might help the coffee bar during busy times? Examine what the drawbacks of flexible working practices might be for the company. Flexible working hours would certainly help the employer and employees of an organization. But the important thing is that the authority of Next coffee shops should implement flexible working hours into practice, only then would it provide benefits to both the company as well as the employees. There are different kinds of flexible working hours like part time work, flexible daily hours, compressed working hours etc. In this case, the appropriate flexible practice that should be used in Next coffee shop is “Part- Time work” (Part-time Work, n.d.). It is a general type of flexible work and most of the part time employees use this method to do their other duties. It could be studying, childcare or other such job. This flexible working practice would help the employees to work efficiently and the employers or managers in Next coffee shop to fully and effectively utilize their potential. Advantages of flexible working hours: • The employees working in a company would have better freedom and choice. • Flexible working hours would make traveling easier for employees as it excludes the need to travel during the busy hours. • The self confidence level of the employees would increase because of the reduction of absence and being late to work. • The overtime will get reduced because long lunch breaks or late comings are not recorded as time spent working. It would help the employees to reduce their stress and to enjoy their work as well as they would not get bored. The Employees would get enough time to meet their personal requirements. Disadvantages of flexible working hours: • This method of managing this needs high costs. • The costs for lighting and heating may increase if the premises are open for a longer period of time. • According to this plan, employees need not work at times. This will create problems for the organizations where continuous cover is necessary, therefore this plan may not be suitable. The Next Coffee Shop managers should try to adopt the flexible working experience that is suitable for the shop ( part-time practice would be more suitable) and that would really help the working environment and business situations in the Next Coffee Shop and ultimately increase the overall productivity and profits of the organization. Next is aiming to promote its brand in United Kingdom, therefore, they have adopted the method of presence marketing. “Presence Marketing is the recognition and exposure that a person or company gets simply by being there. Where is there? It is simply anywhere that people are” (Effective Presence Marketing in Social Media, 2008, para. 2). Next Coffee Company is popular in Glendale, Arizona. But they do not have more operations outside the country. So, in order to enhance their operations, Next is aiming to promote their brand in UK. This has resulted in the opening of a number of Cafe Next coffee bars established in premium busy tourist centres such as Bath and Bristol. Bath and Bristol are very busy tourist areas in UK. In these both places the Next Coffee bars would have to compete with other existing coffee companies. In Bath, we could find coffee bars such as “Costa coffee” (Costa Coffee, n.d.). Kindling Coffee Company is another reputed company operating in Bath, UK. “The Kindling Coffee Company is an independently owned coffee shop located in Widcombe, Bath” (Kindling Coffee Company, 2011). Cafe Nero is also a competitor in Bath. In Bristol, the situation is same; there are many other coffee shops and companies. Companies such as “Baristas coffee ltd”, “Two day coffee roasters” (Freshly Roasted Ethically Sourced Coffee, n.d.). Starbucks Coffee Ltd, X-Track Coffee Roasters etc are the other coffee companies operating in Bristol, UK. To achieve the goals, the Next Coffee Bars have to perform really well in the market. The list of competitors in both Bristol and Bath shows that a tight competition would prevail. To achieve success, each coffee bar must provide the customers with unique and distinctive 3D experience, where they are treated to a stylish range of food and drink products in a warm, modern and pleasant environment. Reference List Absence Measurement and Management: Resource Summary, 2011. [Online] CIPD. Available at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/absence-measurement-management.aspx [Accessed 24 June 2011] Absence at Work: Costs and Causes of Absence Health, n.d. [Online] Scribd. Available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/41747197/Absence-at-Work [Accessed 24 June 2011] Costa Coffee, n.d. [Online] Costa. 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[Online] Target Jobs. Available at: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-techniques/panel-interviews-how-to-face-more-than-one-interviewer [Accessed 24 June 2011] Part-time Work, n.d. [Online] Directgov. Available at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Flexibleworking/DG_10027738 [Accessed 24 June 2011] Performance- Related Pay, 2008. [Online] Local Government Employers. Available at: http://www.lge.gov.uk/lge/core/page.do?pageId=119829#contents-5 [Accessed 24 June 2011] Recruitment: An Overview: Resource Summary, 2011. [Online] CIPD. Available at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/recruitment-overview.aspx [Accessed 24 June 2011] Selection Method: Resource Summary, 2011. [Online] CIPD. Available at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/selection-methods.aspx [Accessed 24 June 2011] Read More