Examine the problems that unions have to face when work arrangements Essay

Examine the problems that unions have to face when work arrangements become more market-based and individualised. Discuss also the advantages for employers that - Essay Example ble in that trade unions and socialist parties became part of the new Labour party which pushed working class politics to national levels, with the trade union represented in the community through the political voice of the Labour Party (Savage and Miles 1987). However, in recent decades there has been a move towards de-industrialisation, with workplaces being increasingly pressured by downsizing and outsourcing, global competition and resulting changes in management. As pointed by Turok (2000), Britain as a whole lost 32% of its manufacturing jobs between 1981 and 1996. Public sector organizations in particular demonstrate a strong union presence and have traditionally been known as employee champions. However in the modern day environment, as reduced resources and outsourcing have resulted from more market based arrangements, the responsibility for the welfare of employees has shifted from the HR department the trade unions depended upon, to line managers. (Whittaker and Marchington 2003). In a market based, individualized framework, the role of trade unions has been increasingly sidelined, as white collar workers proliferate in a digital environment. Globalization and the age of the Internet has produced a surplus of white collar workers as opposed to the blue collar workers who were well represented by unions. Unions have played a significant role in the past through the organization of strikes to compel employers to provide better benefits and working conditions. Machin and Stewart (1984) undertook a study of performance measures of workers vis a vis financial performances during plant closures in 1984. Their findings showed that in the case of companies reporting a below average financial performance, closure of the plant due to strikes was likely to have occurred. Therefore a direct correlation may be said to have existed between employee productivity and union activity. With de-industrialization, some firms have also moved towards the introduction of

Graduate School Versus Work: A Post College Decision in America Essay

Education stimulates and develops human thoughts and wisdom. In many developed countries, people are responsible to receive fundamental education to secondary school by law. Students attending university after high school became a social trend in North America for decades. Universities develop and train student with advance professional skills and knowledge. Graduate school and work are ultimate options university graduated students consider after achieving their bachelor diploma. Although comparable high expectations are anticipated from work and graduate study, graduate school is a more advantage option for university students after graduation. At work and in graduate schools, university graduates are expected with high standard thinking and skill qualities. Critical reasoning is the main study component at the university level. University students scrutinize rudiment theories strategically, and correlate concepts together making extensive understanding of the studied subject. Practice in researches, experiments, and case studies formulate students’ independence to learn and anal...

Seasons of Life: Infancy and Early Childhood

The following reviews the value of understanding human development over a lifetime and highlights key theories from within the first five years of life as recognized in the Seasons of Life video series. Included is a reflection on a theory of attachment, three clocks that influence life, temperament and early memories. How these theories pertain to the individual‘s early development and effects in later years will be discussed along with the author’s personal opinion. Seasons of Life: Early Perspective What appears to be universally interesting about life is people. This is evidenced by the large amount of information, resources and theories that surround people and their development. The video series Seasons of Life: Infancy and Early Childhood (1990) highlight key elements in early development and their effects that contribute toward the individual throughout their life. One theory mentioned in Seasons of Life, is that of attachment. John Bowlby expressed that innately humans are equipped at birth to cause attachment to their caregivers. If the attachment is successful the cycle should continue, acting as the foundation for healthy, successful relationships throughout the lifespan (Bowlby, 1982). Each of the child subjects in the Seasons of Life appeared to have successful attachment to their caregiver. This was regardless of whether the child stayed primarily in the home for care and was surrounded with extended family, had few local relatives, spent time in day care or had a grandparent as a main caregiver. Also reviewed in the film were three clocks that caused influence in people’s lives. The first was a biological clock. This clock was said to have the strongest influence early on, and as early as in the womb. The second was a social clock. This clock was described as society’s age related expectations of the individual at any given time (Berk, 2010). For example that people should marry in their twenties then follow with having children, et cetera. The social clock was also described as evolving with societal changes in expectations. The psychological clock was listed third and described as the passage of time in people’s lives. This timekeeper could drive people to become themselves. Examples stated were of feeling an age rather than the actual years lived and where evidence of deep long-lasting emotional attachment could be revealed in later years. Another aspect of development highlighted was temperament. A wide range of child temperaments were represented in the film. It was discussed that these dispositions would remain with the children throughout their years. Some were seen as relaxed and easy-going and others were challenging and determined. The narrator discussed that the temperaments seen in early months and years might serve the children later on toward reaching their goals. Additionally mentioned in the video, and perhaps the most impactful for me, was that the individuals search for the meaning of self could and would be directed back to their earliest memories. Concrete memories were mentioned to be available beginning around 3 to 4 years of age. Of all the information available in Seasons of Life, that of correlating my feelings of self and my earliest memories was overwhelming. As the narrator spoke, my mind wandered over many memories that, now I understand, forged much of what I have become today. Some were bitter, others sweet, and they all held an interesting explanation of why and how I have become me. I greatly enjoyed watching Seasons of Life. With a smile, I was really happy to see Mr. Rogers one more time. I have since forwarded along the website to many in the hopes it will shed light on a current struggle or awaken an understanding, just as it has for me. I plan on employing these new resources in my interactions with family and those around me while anticipating what the next episode has to offer.

The Effects Of Substance Abuse On Children - 1364 Words

Everyone is familiar with bullying, it’s almost like a rite of passage for most Americans; we see it in movies and are all-too familiar with it. We typically don’t think about the consequences of bullying, but studies have shown that students who are bullied at school in grades 7-12 are 50% more likely to abuse substances (Promises Treatment Center). Bullying is the act of physical or verbal tormenting over a set amount of time, usually targeted at one person or a group of people. Bullying is an international issue that ruins the victim s emotional well-being. Those who are victims of bullying can turn to drugs or other substances as a form of coping; people who bully can be shown to have abusive tendencies with these substances as well.†¦show more content†¦Students who report being bullied weekly tend to be heavier drinkers compared to those who were not bullied (Tharp-Taylor). This shows that students are more vulnerable to abuse substances because they are at the age in which they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents, or want to try to deal with their own problems, so they turn to alcohol which can be easily accessible from a cabinet at home. Not only do victims of bullying abuse alcohol, but studies have shown that 30% of students who have been bullied also smoke marijuana (Promises Treatment Center). This study shows that students get high to self medicate so that they don’t have to deal with their low self-esteem. Low self-esteem due to bullying can stick with the victim throughout high school and sometimes even their whole life. Not only do victims suffer from substance abuse, but their aggressors as well. Bullies are just as likely to abuse substances as well as their victims. In a study conducted, 11.4% of middle school students who bully are reported to have used marijuana, and in high school, those numbers almost triple to 31.7%. When testing for alcohol and cigarette abuse, the numbers are almost iden tical (Besson). This suggests that bullies are just as vulnerable, if not more vulnerable, to abuse substances than their victims. It’s apparent that throughout the years bullies feel more