Recommendations for 3 Different Categories of Employees - Research Paper Example

Abstract This proposal will provide flexible work for the employees at AirAsia airline. AirAsia is now the third largest airline in terms of passengers in the world and also the most profitable airline in the world. They are providing lowest fares while not compromising the highest standards but with minimizing cost. In this paper some specific recommendations are given for three different categories of employees (a) pilots and flight attendants (b) call center operators and office workers (c) maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers. Cost and benefit analysis are provided for each of the recommendations. Some recommendations are also given for flexible work and leave arrangements to help manage work life balance for every employee at AirAsia airline. Introduction AirAsia is the flat structured organization in which employees are allowed to perform multiple roles. This flatter hierarchy improves communication which results in effective and focused workforce. However salaries offered to employees are below to its rivals but all employees are offered a lot of incentives such as performance based rewards, share offers and stock options which give every employee a sense of ownership (‘Strengths’, 2012). In this hierarchy all employees want different flexible work and leave arrangements to help manage work life balance. To attract and retain good staff, we have to make some arrangements while considering the low cost policy of AirAsia. In this paper some recommendations are presented for different categories of employees. 1. Pilots and flight attendants 2. call centre operators and office worker 3. Maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers 1. Pilots and flight attendants The job of the pilot comes with heavy responsibilities and personal commitment. There is more to the role than just flying the plane. They have to ensure all information on the route, weather, passengers and aircraft is received (Buhalis, 2002). They have to supervise the loading and fueling of the aircraft. They have to brief the cabin crew before the flight and also have to maintain regular contact throughout the flight. They have to communicate with air traffic control before take off, during flight and landing. They have to ensure that noise control regulations are followed during take off and landing. They have to understand and interpret data from instruments and controls and have to communicate with passengers using public address system. They have to react quickly and appropriately to environment changes and emergencies. They have to update the aircraft logbook and to write a report at the end of the flight noting any incidents or problems with the aircraft. The primary responsibility of flight attendant is to make sure safety regulations on airplanes are followed. They also do what they can to make sure passengers are comfortable during their flights. They are briefed by the captain on emergency evacuation procedures, coordination of the crew, the length of the flight, expected weather conditions, and special issues having to do with passengers (‘Swot’, 2009). They have to make sure the first aid kits and other emergency equipment are board and in working order. They have to make sure the adequate supplies of foods, beverages, and blankets for the passengers. They have to supervise and help the passengers in case of emergency. They have to help who need assistance, e.g. small children, or elderly or disabled passengers. They have to answer the questions about flights and have to report the passenger’s medical problems, lost and found articles, and conditions of cabin equipment. With all these responsibilities and primary goals of pilots and flight attendants, we have to make sure the ease and comfort for these two with work life balance. There are many examples of air crashes that are caused because of the stress on the mind of pilots. And there are also so many examples of flight attendants that they are not fulfilling the requirements of their jobs properly. For flight attendants and pilots we can give some sort of benefits in terms of leave arrangements and work flexibility. As we have discussed above the duties and responsibilities of pilots and flight attendants are really very tough and they have to live far away from their homes for so many days. So they should have some special leave arrangements, work hours etc (Noria, 2011). 1. Work Hours. Now it is accepted that nine hours are the minimum rest time for pilots before every flight. So it must be ensured that every pilot must take rest of nine hours before every flight as he/she is responsible for so many lives. 2. Flexible leave. This facility should be available for pilots and flight attendants that they can get leaves whenever they want. But for achieving the goal of low cost we can put some checks on these leave arrangements. As they have to work for more hours after their vacation period in terms of job sharing. AirAsia operates a single type of aircraft, the Boeing 737-300, regarded as the workhorse of the industry (McKay, 2009). So it should be not difficult for them to understand work of other employees for job sharing. 3. Policies about women. There should be some special arrangement for women employees who are pregnant or giving feed to their child. For feeding mothers we have to give some sort of corner for privacy also giving them the facility of day care. Day care centre must be secured and well organized that every mother can left her child in it without any fear and doubt. In this way mother can work comfortably and it increase their productivity that is good for AirAsia. Some compensation should be given to the pregnant women in the sense of work hour or work flexibility. This will retain good and hard working employees in the organization and it will also increase the loyalty of the employees (Norton, 2010). Cost and benefit analysis. The recommendations that are given for pilots and flight attendants for flexible work will not increase cost for AirAsia. After the deadly experience of 49 killings in air crash in United Kingdom, it is now accepted by everyone that minimum rest for pilots before every flight must be of nine hours. Flexible leave will be compensated by the employees by doing extra work after their vacation period and women policies will increase the confidence and loyalty of employees that will increase productivity. (Man, 2009) Here we can measure cost for making day care centers and also for making some private rooms for women but we can not measure the benefits as it will be in terms of increasing productivity and confidence of employees. 2. Call center operators and office workers Call center operators are the persons who handle incoming and outgoing calls. In AirAsia call centre customer service team is trained to quickly assess the current seat availabilities and fare information (Boland, Morrison & O’Neill, 2009). Call waiting and phone conversations are continuously monitored by the management to ensure the superior techniques that are in compliance with the policies of AirAsia (David, 2000). The timing of call center is daily from 8a.m to 9p.m.. And ratio of men to women is 4 to 6. With all the above information we have concluded that duties and responsibilities of operators are very tough and also ratio of women is more than men. 1. Women friendly policies. Should be applied for call centre operators and office workers. 2. Work at home. The facility of work at home can be given to the office workers. I t will give them some relaxation to complete their work more comfortably (‘Flexible’, 2009). So they can get early departure from office and take their office work at home. 3. Flexible leave. It should also be available for office workers and call center operators with a check to compensate their vacation with doing extra work after vacations. (Heathfield, 2012). Cost and benefit analysis. The recommendations of work at home and flexible leave have no cost for the organization and women friendly policies are explained above that it will have benefits for the organization in the long run. 3. Maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers Maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers have to perform many duties and responsibilities. Skilled maintenance workers are responsible for maintenance within the airport grounds. Duties range from forecourt servicing to keeping the runways in good condition. Maintenance job titles include electrician, heating, lighting and ventilation fitter, carpenter, communications fitter and painter. Cleaners are responsible for fulfilling the duties of cleaning airport, cabin etc. Baggage handlers are the persons who loads and unloads (suitcases or luggage), and other cargo for transport via aircraft. In these days many people are criticizing the baggage handlers of AirAsia, because of the footage at Kuala Lumpur airport where baggage handlers are throwing bags from the cargo area to the trailer below without any care. Administration of AirAsia has to put some attention on the training of the baggage handlers so that this should not to be done in the future. Maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers work on shift system covering about 39 hours a week including weekend and holidays. The duties and responsibilities of maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers are also very tough but we can give them ease with these recommendations. 1. Part time jobs. Part time jobs can be offered to maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers. It can increase their incomes and they will be able to spend a prosperous life. 2. Flexible working time. Flexible working time can give the employees the freedom to choose working time according to their choice. It will help them to help proper time to their families as well as to work. It will increase their productivity. 3. Flexible leave. Maintenance workers, cleaners and baggage handlers should have freedom of flexible leave but they have to complete their working hours after their vacation period by working on holidays or working on extra hours. It will also reduce unplanned absences and employment related cost. It will increase productivity by reducing stress on the minds of employees. Cost and benefit analysis. There is no extra cost of the given recommendations but have so many benefits that can not be measured. The recommendations of flexible work timings, flexible leave and vacations are positively linked to the health benefits of employees. Those benefits included lower blood pressure and heart rate, and better quality sleep and less fatigue. Some common recommendations Here we present some common recommendations for all three categories of employees. 1. Family friendly policies. For making the policies that should be family friendly for the employees. We have to discuss it openly with employees and ask for recommendations that should be beneficial for employees as well as for the organization. After these surveys from employees we can make policies that will be family friendly and also beneficial for the organization. This will increase a sense of ownership in the employees and it will have positive impact on the productivity of employees. 2. Job sharing. In the AirAsia there is flat organizational structure and employees are well aware of job sharing. Job sharing is really good for the organization to develop the culture of helping each other, understanding the problems of each other and treating each other as family. This kind of environment will increase the productivity of employees. 3. Communication friendly environment. There should be communication friendly environment. And quick and easy response should be given to employees for their problems. This will increase confidence and loyalty of employees to AirAsia. But for this we have to develop culture, culture of professionalism. In this way only reasonable problems will be addressed and employees are also well aware of this that they have to communicate only reasonable problems to the administration. With this we can save our time and also money. As time is money. 4. Vacations. Here vacations will be used as reward for good work. This will help to increase the productivity of employees as everyone want to get this benefit through doing good work. But for the basic mission of low cost to produce high quality, the employees with good work have to work for more hours after vacations to share the work of employees who worked during his/her vacations. 5. Flexible leave. Employees can be offered flexible annual leave, long service leave, cultural leave, purchased leave and leave without pay. Some specific days should be available for employees in terms of annual leave, cultural leave and long service leave. With all these types of leave arrangements we can reduce unplanned absences and employment related cost, respond to work load with extra energy and it will also help to retain good and hard working employees. All the data related to these leave arrangements should be available and assessable for all employees. Cost and benefit analysis. Here we will present the cost and benefit analysis of above explained recommendations. 1. Vacations. As explained in the recommendation of vacations the employees have to work more for their vacations. It will increase positive competition with employees to get the advantage of vacation as a reward for their good work. It will be beneficial for the organization because it will increase the productivity of employees. 2. Communication friendly environments. It will be beneficial for the organization because it will help in reducing the stress and will increase the confidence of employees that their problems have some value for the organization (Buhalis, 2003). But sometimes it will be difficult for the administration to give value to the problems that are not related to the work of employees or to their personal problems. Development of culture that will give employees family environment is difficult but once it is done it will help in increasing the loyalty of employees to the organization. 3. Family friendly policies. For making surveys for recommendations from employees can increase cost for the organization. Because for this we have some employees who will conduct these surveys and makes careful results against these recommendations. And it is difficult for human resource department to make policies that are accepted by all employees. After a tough work if these policies are made there will be so many benefits in the long run. It will increase a sense of ownership in the employees as well as productivity. 4. Job sharing. We can not measure the cost of job sharing in financial terms but performing multiple roles may lower the efficiency and effectiveness of such employees (i.e. too abstract job scope and not focused enough). Also, as AirAsia expands, its simple and flat organizational structure could result shallow decision-making and it will affect the airline’s productivity (‘Çheap’, 2009). To implement this recommendation we have to put check on the employees that it will not decrease their efficiency and productivity. 5. Flexible leave. There is no cost for the recommendations of purchased leave and leave without pay however it will reduced unplanned absences. But for annual leave, cultural leave and long service leave we have to make some obligations in terms of award, agreement and contract of employees. All these policies will help in retention of good and hard working staff. Conclusion AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. Some recommendations are described for the retention of good and hard working employees. The recommendations of work hours, vacations as reward, flexible work timings, women friendly policies, flexible leave arrangements, communication friendly environment and job sharing will help in increasing productivity, loyalty, confidence and will create a sense of ownership in employees for the organization (Singh, Pangarkar & Heracleous, 2010). It will also help in lowering the unplanned absenteeism and employment related costs. Cost and benefit analysis provide the cost and benefits of the given recommendations. All the recommendations described above must have positive effect on employees. Because certain work conditions that gave employees some control like flexible work timings, flexible leave and vacations were linked to the health benefits of employees. Those benefits included lower blood pressure and heart rate, and better quality sleep and less fatigue. The healthier and satisfied employees are asset for any organization. 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