Human Resource Management

This report focuses on the challenges and issues in human resource management in the case of Pinata Farms. It discusses the ethical problems highlighted in a newspaper article and analyzes them in the context of employment legislations. The report also provides recommendations for better practices.

Running head: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Human Resource Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary
The following report will focus on the different issues that have been discussed in the provided
newspaper article regarding fruit manufacturing company Pinata Farms operating in Australia.
The ethical problems that have been discussed in this article will be analyzed in the light of the
employment legislations. The need for paying extra in the overtime shifts has been discussed.
The main news story has been given a brief as well. This has served the purpose of highlighting
the ethical concerns of the company. The human resource management issues of the company
have been highlighted in this scenario. The recommendations have also been given on how better
practices can be implemented.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................3
2.0 Brief summary of the news story...............................................................................................3
3.0 Human resource management problems....................................................................................4
3.0.1 Overtime of the employees.................................................................................................5
3.0.2 Use of children and robotic technology..............................................................................5
3.0.3. Lobbying in the horticulture industry................................................................................6
4.0 Recommendations......................................................................................................................7
5.0 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................7
6.0. References.................................................................................................................................9

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1.0 Introduction
The purpose of the following business report is to identify and bring out the challenges of
the human resource management in terms of the company Pinata Farms. The investigations by
the Fair Work Commission have brought some conditions in the market that their reputation has
completely gone down. Some human resource management issues have been identified in these
circumstances.
In this paper, those HRM issues will be highlighted and proper recommendations will be
given on how the company could improve their practices. The decision of the fair Work
Commission has increased the prices of the commodities. It has also daunted the confidence of
the farmers as well (Brann & Hudson, 2019). Some very important factors have been found
within the practices of this company. The interference of the employee union in this matter and
the importance of these challenges will be discussed in this paper. The human resource
management issues in this scenario should be dealt with strict measures since the employment
legislations are very much crucial to show if the organizations are abiding by these legislations.
2.0 Brief summary of the news story
According to this news story, it has been said that the ruling of the Fair Work
Commission will be very much problematic for horticulture and the farmers will feel the ill
impacts of it. It is inevitable that the prices of the fruits and vegetables would surely go high. The
company or the fruit producers have proclaimed this to be one of the craziest decisions taken by
the Fair Work Commission. The issue in this case is the fact that fair Work Commission has
made new rules for the horticultural farms (Brann & Hudson, 2019). They have said that the
farm workers who work for more than 38 hours a week should be paid extra. The added payment

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should be made on how much time they work extra (Baddon et al., 2017). However, the main
problem is regarding the fact that the employers have seen this as jeopardy for both the
customers and the farmers. The farmers have also expressed their concern over the fact that the
employers will look to implement the robotic technology for this issue (Brann & Hudson, 2019).
The Fair Work Commission has also imposed the penalties for the employers if the workers are
forced to work for more than 12 hours a day and .in the night shifts as well.
Over this issue, the Managing Director of the Pinata Farms, Gavin Scurr had expressed
his opinion that the implementation of this thing will be a big difficulty to be precise. He has
also said that this will impact pretty largely on the workers. The farm that Gavin Scurr ran used
to grow fruits like mangoes, strawberries ad pineapples all across Australia. He expressed his
fear about the fact that the farmers will go broken and this will be problematic when the cost of
fresh fruits and vegetables go up (Brann & Hudson, 2019). In this scenario, it was quite clear that
the employers will have to pay more money to the farmers because of over time. This will be
implemented mainly on the casual workers. In this context, they have felt that it will be
profitable to employ the children and robots. The costs will be cheaper and they will receive
efficient work as well (Topolosky, 2014). The main fear that has been there among the
employers is the fact that people will not choose Australia because they will not get enough
work. Those workers will not also be permitted to work enough hours so they can earn enough
dollars under this ruling of the Fair Work Commission.
3.0 Human resource management problems

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3.0.1 Overtime of the employees
The main problem here has always been the payment of the employees while they work
very hard to meet the needs of their families. The employers do not have any right to exploit the
workers or deprive the workers of their payments. It is very crucial to note that the employees
should always be paid for their hard work (Brann & Hudson, 2019). The proper working hours
should be fixed and anyone willing to work more than that should be presented with more
money.
Otherwise, their efforts will not be appreciated. The human resource management team
should always keep a track of the employees and farmers who will work overtime (Topolosky,
2014). The incentive structures are not present in the framework of the company at all. This has
hampered the well being and employee satisfaction of the company at a large extent. The
company does not have a proper strategy how they can cope with the issues of the cost rise of the
vegetables. This is why they are facing such difficulties to manage the issues (Brann & Hudson,
2019). They yet have not been able to formulate the strategies of distributing the work pressures
and make sure they are able to retain the employees. They should never forget that they have
been successful in their business as the employees have contributed to the success. Unless they
ensure that employees are safe and they will be paid off for their hard work, they will not give
their best efforts for the company anymore (Men, 2014).
3.0.2 Use of children and robotic technology
It is a matter of great concern if the robots take up the jobs of the human employees. The
lives and families of the employees will be left in a great distress. The company Pinata Farms
should always take care of the lives and betterment of the employees (Brann & Hudson, 2019).
Also they are working in a business environment where they should contribute to the growth of

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the society. This is only possible when the company employs the people of the society and
engages them in work (Kaufman & Taras, 2016). This will reduce the unemployment rates in the
country. So, it will contribute to the growth of GDP in the country as well.
On the other hand, the human resource department of the company must understand the
fact that indulging in child labor is completely a criminal offence. It is especially very crucial
when the international organizations like UNICEF are raising its voice for the safe future of
children across the world (Brann & Hudson, 2019). Workforce diversity is a very crucial model
to follow for the organization but they also should not indulge in unethical means like using the
robots to get their jobs done. It might be profitable for them since they do not have to give any
added amounts every month apart from their maintenance charges. However, this will impact
negatively on the minds of the human workers. This is also destroying the overall work culture
of the country as well (Men, 2014). Technological changes should not be used by depriving
workers of their basic rights of employment.
3.0.3. Lobbying in the horticulture industry
It must be said in this regard that the human resource management of the company should
always look after the issues of the facts how they can progress in the horticulture industry
without any problems or use of unethical means (Brann & Hudson, 2019). This should be
achieved at any cost because lobbying for gaining better facilities might not work. This has not
worked in this case as well. The representative of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
has opined that it has been quite a good decision by the Fair Work Commission.
He has also said that this increase in the wages of the farm workers will definitely be a
good sign for the overall development of business and ensure all the farm workers can run their

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livelihoods in a better manner (Men, 2014). The impact of lobbying has been negative for the
organization. Rather, it can be said that the HRM practices of the organization had focused more
on lobbying than giving their workers proper wages leading to the employees satisfaction
(Kaufman & Taras, 2016). This decision of the Fair work Commission will surely increase the
ethical behaviors of the company.
4.0 Recommendations
 It can be recommended that the employees should be given the proper wages so they can
live a better life. Overtime should be permissible but only in exchange o extra payments.
The fears of the farmers should not be there at all. They should be ensured that their
efforts will not go in vain and they should be paid with enough money for their efforts.
 The company should not indulge in the child labor practices. This might result in the
cancellation of their registration. This is not all a good practice at all. They should
arrange for educational camps for these children. This will keep up their good image in
the society with the corporate social responsibility.
 The company and HR department of the company should refrain from using the robotic
technology and make human workers jobless. This will impede the GDP growth of the
country in different ways. Human workers can be given more responsibilities and their
efforts should be acknowledged with extra monetary benefits.
5.0 Conclusion
On a concluding note, it can be said that the case of the Pinata Farms o Australia should
be dealt with perfect measure. It is because organizations like those tend to exploit their workers.

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These employees have not been given proper money for their efforts. The ruling of the Fair
Work Commission has been a huge problem for an organization like this. The employees have
been deprived of their opportunities regarding the monetary benefits. This situation must be
solved if the organization has to retain its good image and reputation. Apart from that, this ruling
of the Fair Work Commission will impact positively on the lives of the workers to be precise. If
the organization and their HR team do not care for their employees and workers, they will feel
larger implications. They should not use the robotic technology to complete their works. The
child labor should not be implemented in the case of this organization as well. Therefore, Pinata
Farms should implement the ruling that has been given by fair Work Commission to manage the
difficulties properly. Thus the organization will be able to keep up their position in the
manufacturing industry.

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6.0. References
Baddon, L., Ramsay, H., Hunter, L., Hyman, J., & Leopold, J. (2017). People's capitalism?: a
critical analysis of profit-sharing and employee share ownership. Routledge.
Borland, J., & Coelli, M. (2017). Are robots taking our jobs?. Australian Economic
Review, 50(4), 377-397.
Brann, M., & Hudson, R. (2019). Farmers say Fair Work Commission ruling on casual workers
will increase cost of fresh fruit and vegetables. Retrieved from
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-04-05/fair-work-commission-ruling-on-casual-
rates-in-horticulture/10974670
Davis, P. J., Frolova, Y., & Callahan, W. (2016). Workplace diversity management in Australia:
what do managers think and what are organisations doing?. Equality, Diversity and
Inclusion: An International Journal, 35(2), 81-98.
Forsyth, A. (2016). Industrial legislation in Australia in 2015. Journal of Industrial
Relations, 58(3), 372-387.
Graetz, G., & Michaels, G. (2018). Robots at work. Review of Economics and Statistics, 100(5),
753-768.
Hindman, H. D., & Hindman, H. (2014). The world of child labor: An historical and regional
survey. Routledge.
Kaufman, B. E., & Taras, D. G. (2016). Nonunion employee representation: history,
contemporary practice and policy. Routledge.

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Men, L. R. (2014). Strategic internal communication: Transformational leadership,
communication channels, and employee satisfaction. Management Communication
Quarterly, 28(2), 264-284.
Riccucci, N. (2018). Managing Diversity In Public Sector Workforces: Essentials Of Public
Policy And Administration Series. Routledge.
Sarkar, J., & Sarkar, D. (2016). Why does child labor persist with declining poverty?. Economic
Inquiry, 54(1), 139-158.
Saxena, A. (2014). Workforce diversity: A key to improve productivity. Procedia Economics
and Finance, 11, 76-85.
Topolosky, P. S. (2014). Linking employee satisfaction to business results. Routledge.
Vänni, K. J., & Korpela, A. K. (2015, October). Role of social robotics in supporting employees
and advancing productivity. In International Conference on Social Robotics (pp. 674-
683). Springer, Cham.