chapter 12 The World of Work
Work-anything that requires effort to achieve a result.
work is divided into 3 categories
Employment
Volunteerism
Unpaid work
any work undertaken for no financial gain e.g. being a stay-at-home parent, doing homework.
features: no payment is received for the work. The work benefits the individual. It does not have to be done for a set time, or in a certain place.
benefits:learning new information and skills. Doing something to enjoy. The satisfaction of achieving a goal.
Employment is work carried out in return for payment
an employee is a person who works for someone else in return for payment.
an employer is a person who pays people to work for them.
features: a wage/salary is received in return for the work, employees have certain rights and responsibilities.
benefits: regular payment and possible benefits-in-kind (e.g. health insurance or a company car)
Self-employment-working for yourself
features: full responsibility for all aspects of the business, no regulated work hours, there is a risk of losing money if the business fails.
benefits: being your own boss, doing something you enjoy, making all the decisions, choosing your own working hours and keeping all the profits.
**Volunteerism is the practice of volunteering time and energy without payment, in order to benefit society.
features: voluntary work is a choice, there is no payment for the work, the work benefits other people within the local community or wider society, voluntary work is not a substitute for paid employment.
benefits: learning new skills, the opportunity to have different experiences, the satisfaction of helping others, playing an active role in the community.
employment in Ireland splits into 3 areas
Industry
Services
Agriculture
farming, fishing, forestry and mining.
builders, bakers and factory workers.
doctors, hairdressers, accountants, solicitors and teachers.
The Labour Force
all the people in the country who are available for work.
people not in the labour force: those in full-time education, retired people, people who cannot work due to illness.
Unemployment
when people who are available for work cannot find a suitable job.
Reasons: a downturn in the economy, businesses closing down or relocating to another country, workers are replaced with new technology e.g. computers&machines.
Help for the unemployed: Jobseeker's allowance/benefit, Jobseeking advice, Government-run schemes.
Public and Private sectors
people who are employed by the state/government e.g. garda, teachers
people who are not employed by the state/government e.g. pilots, bankers, plumbers
Industrial Relations
the relationship between employers and the employees in a workplace.
Trade Union
an organisation of workers set up to protect its members' rights and interests
aim to increase members' pay, improve their working conditions, offer advice&information, protect the members' jobs
Shop Steward
the worker who has been elected by trade union members to represent them in the workplace.
Organisational structure
the position of every employee in a workplace shown
main roles of the shop steward: to pass on union information to union members, encourage non-member workers to join the trade union, to help resolve industrial relations issues in tne workplace.
Strike
when employees stop working as a form of protest against their employer.
Industrial Disputes mar arise if:
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