Human Resource Management Practices - Arcadia Group

Human Resource Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
1.Functions of HR and current issues faced Arcadia Group.......................................................1
2.Recruitment and selection approach and suggestion for Arcadia Group.................................2
3. Analysis of HR practices.........................................................................................................3
4. Recommendation ....................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management in the organisation manages the human capital in the
company which are employees (Cheng and Hackett, 2019). The functions that are performed by
HRM are staffing, giving benefits and compensation to employees to motivate them to work
effectively in the company. Arcadia Group is the company which is situated in UK . The
company is known for share in big clothing companies like Topman, Dorothy Parkin, Wallis,
miss Selfridge, Evans,etc. The report will study the about different HRM practices followed in
by he company. The study will be based on purpose of HRM and retaining the skilled and
talented employee in the company. Further the discussion will be based on analysing of internal
and external factors that affects HRM decision making.
MAIN BODY
1.Functions of HR and current issues faced Arcadia Group
Labour Laws: The function of HR in the Arcadia Group is to legally accomplish the laws the
laws related to the management of the employee. The laws include as the number of breaks given
in between the working hours of the employees in the company.
Recruitment and Training: This is very important tool to develop the organisation to work
effectively and efficient in the organisation. Recruitment of highly skilled and talented employee
helps the organisation to retain the employee for more time. Training given to the employee
increases the knowledge of the employees to understand the working environment of the Arcadia
Group. As it make the employee to understand the importance of their roles and responsibility of
job position in the company(Jannesari, Akhavan and Hosseini, 2018).
Benefits and Payroll: HR handle the responsibility for giving payrolls and incentive earned by
the employee. The main function of HR is to give benefits to the employee in the company so
that the employee get motivated to work hard for the organisation.
Maintaining Employee Relations: The most important function performed by the HR of
Arcadia Group is to maintain employee relations. When the conflicts or dispute arises in the
employee and the managers of the company HR will help to resolve the conflict by providing
satisfactory solution to both of them.
The issues that are currently faced by Arcadia Group is that allegations some times true
and some times are false in relation to bullying at the work place, sexual harassment and
1

discrimination against the women. The issues related to race and sexuality are major issues faced
by the Arcadia Group currently (Lima And et.al., 2019). Due to which the reputation of the
company is falling very fast and people outside the company does not want to get involved in the
company. as with this reason the company started movement #MeToo which helps to discuss the
issues related to sexual harassment at the work place and discrimination against women. With
the help of movement the company is able to provide the platform for the employee to discuss
the issue and increase the reputation of the company by taking corrective action.
2.Recruitment and selection approach and suggestion for Arcadia Group
Recruitment is choosing right person for the right job. Recruitment process are of two
types Internal recruitment and external recruitment. In internal recruitment the candidates are
recruited from within the company weather it can be transfer, promotion, etc. of the employee as
from this the company can motivate the talented employee to be retain in the company by giving
promotion or transfer from one job position to higher job position(Paauwe and Boon, 2018). In
the external recruitment the company hire the candidate from outside of the company which
enhance the company to get more talented and creative employee in the company. As the
candidate hired from outside of the company have knowledge of dynamic environment able to
work with different and creative ideas for the company.
Selection means get best out of huge pools of application which suited to the job position
of the company. Selection in the company can be done by following proper procedures to
analyse and understand the ability of the candidate to deal with the working environment in the
company. The traditional approach in selection process in application forms which can be online
or hard copy given in the company it includes all the qualification and details of the candidate.
Then screening and shortlisting is done by the employee. Then interview is taken to see the
personality of the candidate with body language of the employee (Silva and et.al., 2019). Then
certain testes are taken to understand the intelligence level of the employee like aptitude and
ability test. Then personality matches according to the job position then final offer letter is given
to candidate if candidate fulfils all the criteria in the selection process.
The company is suggested to select best recruitment policy as external recruitment which
will help the company to get skilled and talented employee and can give creative ideas which
will help the company to solve the issue of the company. The issues that company is facing at
work place are bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination which impact to reduce reputation
2

of the company by introducing #MeToo champaign with the help of this HR practices the
company will able to make the stability in the business and introduces different policies which
like #MeToo will able to creates the awareness among the employee to stand against the
discrimination faced by the employees of the company (Cheng and Hackett, 2019). As the HR in
the company able to provide employee if any violation of legislation has been taken place in the
company against the employee of the company. The HR in the company are suggested to analyse
the situation and identify the culprit in the company and take corrective action for the victim with
full support.
3. Analysis of HR practices
The HR department of Arcadia group has set up various HR policies in order to ensure
that the working environment is safe and comfortable for their employees. In order to ensure and
monitor practices related to sexual harassment, discrimination and workplace bullying the HR
department of Arcadia group has set following HR related practices such as:
Employer perspective:
Eradicate discrimination: Arcadia group has a strict policy through which company ensure that in
recruitment process the ratio of men as well as women should be 1:1. Also the other policy states
that there should be no discrimination in work place during performance appraisal,
compensation, recruitment and selection related to gender, age, race or origin, and disability.
The HR policies of Arcadia group prohibits harassment of any king including sexual harassment
and the top authorities take quick response to such complains. In order to deal with such
problems a physical conduct as well as verbal conduct has been designed in order to threaten or
coerce an employee or any person who is working for the Arcadia group (Jacobson and
Lambright, 2018.).
The HR policies of Arcadia group help their manager to resolve any type of conflict
which arises in workplace. It also helps the manager to resolve matters related to poor attitude,
disrespectful workplace behaviour.
Employee perspective
Trade union: Arcadia group has an trade union which ensures that the its members get an fair
pay, and negotiate on its members working hours and conditions. The area on which they
negotiate may also include holidays, health and safety, promotion, etc. Also the trade union
ensures work place safety and improving worker's right.
3

The human resource policies plays an important role in creating a good relation between
employers and employees in organization. The HR department of Arcadia group ensures that
such policies should be introduced in organization which benefits employees and make the work
place comfortable which is free from any kind of discrimination, bullying or any type of
harassment(Zugelder, Crosgrove and Champagne, 2018).
The external parties such as ACAS ( Advisory, conciliation and Arbitration service) provide free
information to employees and employer regarding all the aspects of employment law and
workplace relation.
The various human resource practices which is used by Arcadia group helps company to
increase productivity and profitability. The external parties as well as legislation plays an
important role in building HR policies of company as well as it also affects the HR policies of
company.
Legislation and its impact on HR decision-making
The discrimination and harassment in workplace in governed by equality act 2010. As per
equality act 2010 and unwanted conduct which cause harm or effect individual dignity or create
a humiliating and offensive environment for an individual (Equality act, 2019). And bullying in
workplace in governed by health and safety law 1995.
Sex discrimination act 1975: the sex discrimination act of UK protects men and women from
any kind of discrimination. The act regulates the various activities related to education, training,
provision of goods and services, harassment.
The HR department of Arcadia group tries to make its HR policies and practices as per
the employment law. There are also laws which is related to recruitment and selection process
such as
Equal pay act (1963): As per this law any kind of discrimination on the grounds of gender is
governed.
Civil right act 1964 : This act prohibits compensation, terms and conditions, hiring or any kind
of privileges based on colour, sex, religion, race and national origin (Civil right act of 1964,
2019).
These are some of the legislations which makes the HR department of Arcadia to make
their HR policies and take decision as per the law.
4

4. Recommendation
1. HR should focus more on gender identity and sexual orientation. The HR department
should conduct an strategic and progressive training. Training should be provided to
employees regarding how to respond on harassment, discrimination and related incidents.
2. As employees have related platforms for filing complains regarding any kind of
harassment which is complaining to supervisors. HR should try to increase the platform
for filing complains such as web platforms and hotlines.
3. In order to make its brand image clear the HR department of Arcadia group should
review their recruitment and selection process. The company should create a authentic
message which tones correct message to its employees. Hotlines should offer various
services such as email, live chat options and telephone etc.
4. As employees use various social media platforms such as Facebook, Glassdoor in order
to share experience. Therefore Arcadia group can make use of social media platform in
order to improve their image in front of audience.
5. In order to built a healthy relation between employees in the organization, the HR
department can conduct an activities which will boost employee relation. The HR
department should try to create stress free environment. For which team building
activities and new events can be organised.
6. In order to make all employees of organization about their rights. The HR department
should place workplace policies related to discrimination, harassment and bullying on
employees bulleting boars and should be sent to their staff periodically.
7. The HR department should take immediate actions on misconduct within the organization
such as HR department can collect physical evidence like emails, memoranda and notes.
8. The employee assistance programme should also be used in order to deal with a
complaint related to discrimination.
CONCLUSION
HR department plays an important role in organization as they help the organization in
getting talented and skilled people with good knowledge in the organization. However the HR
practices which the companies perform have both negative as well as positive side. The report
has give understanding of various benefits of company's HRM practices to the employees as well
as employer. The HR practices not only helps organization in recruitment and selection process
5

but it also help organization to increase profitability as well as productivity. The HR practices are
so made by companies which helps in creating good relation between employees as well as
employer. However the various employment related legislation helps the HR department to make
policies as per the law and ensure benefit to the organization, employer and employees.
6

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cheng, M.M. and Hackett, R.D., 2019. A critical review of algorithms in HRM: Definition,
theory, and practice. Human Resource Management Review, p.100698.
Jacobson, W.S. and Lambright, K.T., 2018. The Development of County HR Policies: The
Perspectives of Counties in Two States. Public Personnel Management, 47(4). pp.398-
418.
Jannesari, M., Akhavan, O. and Hosseini, H.R.M., 2018. Graphene oxide in generation of
nanobubbles using controllable microvortices of jet flows. Carbon.138. pp.8-17.
Lima, R.A.A. And et.al., 2019. Effect of surface treatments on interfacial properties of natural
intralaminar hybrid composites. Polym Compos.
Paauwe, J. and Boon, C., 2018. Strategic HRM: A critical review. In Human Resource
Management (pp. 49-73). Routledge.
Silva, H.R.and et.al., 2019. Investigation on the formation of highly luminescent β-diketone-Ln
(III)-EDTA water-soluble complexes. Journal of Luminescence.207. pp.182-187.
Zugelder, M.T., Crosgrove, D.M. and Champagne, P.J., 2018. Sexual Harassment Prevention
after# MeToo: Employers’ need to Reevaluate. American Journal of Management, 18(3).
ONLINE
Civil right act of 1964. 2019. [Online] Available through
<https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act>
Equality act. 2019. [Online] Available through
<https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act-2010/what-equality-act>
7