Introduction to Human Resource Management & Learning and Talent

This report provides an introduction to human resource management and learning and talent. It covers the importance of proactively managing high levels of absence, the content theories of motivation, and their role in the workplace. The report focuses on Tesco, a British multinational grocery retailer, and its strategies for managing absence and motivating employees.

Introduction to Human
Resource Management &
Learning and Talent

Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................................................2
1. Some companies have exceptionally high levels of absence..................................................................................2
a) Why is it significant to proactively manage high level of absence?.......................................................................2
b) What might be included in a procedural document?..............................................................................................3
2. Content Theories of Motivation..................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is defined as a strategic approach of managing all the
functions of company associated with its staff members. HRM plays vital role in every
organisation as it involve functions such as Training & development, recruitment and selection,
rewards and recognition, maintaining working relationship, performance management and so on
(Bailey, 2018). In addition to this, it is important for an entity to manage to its employees in an
effective manner and maintain good relationship with them that has positive impact on the
performance level of company. In the present report, Tesco is taken into consideration. It is a
British multinational grocery retailer that offer quality product in market. The company was
founded in the year 1919 and its head office is situated in England, United Kingdom. One of the
main reason of its success is high market presence as Tesco has around 6,900 shops globally.
The report will cover high level of absence and importance of proactively manage absence. In
addition to this, three content motivational theories is describe in context to respective company.
MAIN BODY
1. Some companies have exceptionally high levels of absence.
a) Why is it significant to proactively manage high level of absence?
In any organisations, there are high degree of absence of employees and it is important
for companies to manage it as it has direct influence on the performance level of an organisation.
there are various reason of absence of employees and it is significant for human resource
manager to identify it and resolve it timely. The reasons are unsatisfied salary, no recognition
and appreciation, no healthy working culture, no professional development and many more.
Herein, Absence management plays vital role in order to control the level of absence and to find
out the reason of absence. Sometimes the cause of absence is illness, urgent work, family issues,
child issues or any form of injury. Increase in the absenteeism rate of employees is consider as a
major issue that is non-recoverable cost for company and it can be resolve by adopting
appropriate strategy at workplace. It is determine that enhancement in the rate of absenteeism
decline the productivity level of company and also occur cost to company as for completion of
work, organisation is required to hire part-time employees. Human resource is undertaken as ley
asset of an organisation that help in reaching higher growth and attain success at marketplace. It
is only the service provide by employees which satisfy customers and develop loyal customer for

organisation. Employees implement all the activities in a systematic and proper manner which
help an entity to achieve competitive advantage at marketplace (Bratton and Gold, 2017). If the
human resource is not appropriately managed by company. It is the responsibility of higher
authorities and human resource manager of organisation to evaluate the reason behind
absenteeism by adopting various measures in an effective manner. In relation to Tesco, its HR
manager make use of various tools as well as techniques in order to gain knowledge about reason
of absenteeism and decline its rate. It is determine that company make use of electronic records
in order to get all data associated with decline of employee interest. It is significant for
employers to make use of proactive approach that assist in analysing the root cause of
absenteeism issue. In addition to this, it is analysed that if an employee get dissatisfied with its
working it is difficult for company to again generate interest of implementing activities in an
effective manner. This directly has negative influence on companies productivity and
performance level as well. In context to this, providing proper training and development session
to staff members assist in gaining the perception of staff members and also help them to motivate
employees to put their best in implementing activities properly. It is analysed that if Tesco
enables to proactively manage absenteeism then it may lose productivity and competent staff
which is the reason of its higher growth in market. In order to resolve issue, it is essential to take
proactive action so that there is improvement of productivity and performance level which has
direct influence on profitability and revenue level of company. For managing such kind of issues,
Tesco develop different kinds of rules as well as policies which is associated with benefits of
employees that encourage them to give their full potential for staff members. The company also
focuses on fulfilling requirements of staff members that is providing positive working culture,
ensure security and safety, give benefits and compensation, providing rewards for good
performance. All this motivate staff members to retain with company for longer time period and
attain competitive edge at marketplace. It is important for both employer and employees to
undertake proactive actions that help in improving performance in an effective manner.
b) What might be included in a procedural document?
Procedural document is defined as a physical document which showcase the actual
process take place in order to gain desirable outcomes. Herein, it is important for an entity to
keep on update essential attributes and information associated with their duties and rights as
well. In addition to this, such procedure determine as beneficial in order to maintain good

relationship at workplace. It also include different polices & practices which assist in promoting
positive culture at workplace. In the procedural document, all the roles as well as responsibilities
is stated in an appropriate manner. It is analysed that with the proper and right procedure, the
company will get positive and desirable outcomes (Kirwan, 2016). It is determine that it is
helpful and effective for managers and higher authorities to have knowledge about reason of
absence at workplace. In the procedural document, the reason of taking absence & reporting
procedure must be involved. Along with this, return to work interview is also involved within it.
The process also consist of information gathered for reason being absent of employees and what
measures are taken to decline absent rate within the organisation. It is important for a company
to develop rules and regulations associated to short term is recorded which relate with odd days
from the work due to minor ailments that not required medical statements from doctor so that all
activities is coordinated in a proper manner. After this, the reason of long-term absence is
undertaken and all the arrangements is put in the place to get supportive work. Moreover, the
main phrase to return at work in order to provide required environment & work activities to the
particular individual. In this, the staff members get full salary by giving contribution for short
time frame. The procedural document also involved provisions associated with extension of sick
leave if any of the work is not able to give services in present so that higher authorities approved
leaves in this exceptional conditions. In the las, it involved capabilities related to the dismissal of
the grounds of health and the reason is to recover employee frequently so that they can give their
best towards working. In relation to Tesco, it follows all significant procedure in order to gain
positive results.
By analysing the above data, it is conclude that taking proactive actions is significant for
a company and participation of staff members in order to deal in an appropriate manner. In
addition to this, it is significant to analyse the root cause of absenteeism as increase in absent rate
decline the productivity level of an organisation. It is important for an entity to focus on retaining
its employees and satisfying them that can take place if an organisation fulfils its commitment
and provide positive working culture to all staff members in an ethical manner. Following all the
steps of procedural document help in gaining insight about reason of absenteeism and also
include leaves that is necessary to give to staff members of company.

2. Content Theories of Motivation
Motivation is defined as the capability of a person to encourage and inspire other individual to
achieve their desired goals. There are mainly two types of motivational theories that is process
theory and content theory that is used by organisations to motivate its employees so that they can
work with full potential that has positive influence on productivity and performance level of
company. Content theories of motivation is consider as a earliest theory which aim to explain
what encourage an individual, employee and analyse factors that results into positive outcomes.
In addition to this, it determines both extrinsic and intrinsic factor that stimulate behaviour of
people (McDonald and Hite, 2015). In addition to this, content theories of motivation assist
management team to gain an understanding about behaviour of staff members that help in
maintaining coordination with employees and managing human resource in an appropriate
manner. In the present essay, there is analysis of content theory of motivation and its role at
workplace. The three content theory of motivation is discuss that is Herzberg two factor theory,
Maslow’s theory of motivation and ERG motivation theory. Such theories has direct impact on
productivity and performance of company and is given below:
Maslow’s Need Hierarchy Theory:
This theory was proposed by Abraham Maslow and state that needs of an individual is
arise if one need is satisfied in an effective manner. This theory involves five needs that is
consist in a hierarchical order that is starting from physiological need and end with self
actualization need of a person. According to this theory, a person make attempt to satisfy need of
higher level only after lower level requirement is fulfilled. The five needs of Maslow’s
hierarchical theory is given below:
Physiological needs: It is consider as the basic needs of a person without which an
individual cannot survive and properly function. These needs are food, clothing, shelter, water
and many more. This needs is undertaken as primary and all other need is put on secondary that
is required to be satisfied in a proper manner.
Safety needs: This need is mainly arise after the fulfilment of basic needs of a person and
consist of needs such as health and safety, job security, financial security and many more. it is
determine that a person make attempts in order to ensure that it fulfils physiological need in long
run which give birth to security and safety need of a person.

Social needs: It is analysed that fulfilment of social needs is significant for an individual
and is associated with social status, sense of belongingness and love and so on. satisfaction of
such needs develop trust, faith in a person that is significant for a person.
Self-esteem needs: This need take place after the fulfilment of social needs which
represent desire of a person to get recognition, respect, appreciation and many more. In addition
to this it is related with self-image of a person.
Self-actualisation needs: It is the highest level of need in Maslow’s hierarchy that shows
the desire of a person to make use of self-potential and confidence as well. In addition to this, it
is concerned with grabbing of opportunities and experiences for both personal and professional
growth.
Role at Workplace:
Maslow’s hierarchal motivational theory play vital role in every organisation. It help an entity to
gain an understanding about requirements of employees which is important to satisfy in order to
motivate them in an effective manner. In addition to this, such theory developed a highly
motivated workforce that has positive influence on the productivity and profitability of a
company. It is analysed that fulfilment of such needs by an entity assist in retaining employees
for longer time period and also help in attaining competitive advantage at marketplace (Rees and
Smith, 2017). In relation to Tesco, it is determine that company emphasis on fulfilling
requirements of customer and provide salary to employees that can fulfil their needs. It decline
the mental pressure of staff members due to which they put their mind set in meeting with targets
that directly leads to increase in market performance and profitability of company. The company
also provide rewards and benefits to the deserving employees as it boost their morale and
develop confidence that motivate them to work more with full potential in implementing
activities and attainment of organisational objectives and goals within given time period.
Therefore, this theory plays an important role at workplace in satisfying requirements of
employees and attain objectives in an effective and timely manner.
ERG Theory of Motivation:
This theory was formulated by Clayton P. Aldefer and is represent as an extension of
Maslow’s theory of motivation. This theory consist of three needs that is existence, relatedness &
growth as well. The existence need is clearly identified and is associated with basic requirement
of a person for survival and proper functioning that is food, water, clothing and many more. In

context to Relatedness needs, it is less concrete as compare to existence needs & involve the
desire to have social interactions and relationships such as family, friends, co-worker and so on.
If it is talking about Growth needs, it is most difficult to identify and involve the desire to get
respect, recognition at the workplace and make best use of knowledge and self-potential. As per
the ERG theory, an employee or an individual may try to simultaneously achieve satisfaction of
more than one need. In relation to company, the hierarchy of needs may be different or it is based
in the cultural values and beliefs as well. This theory also consist of an attempt which an
individual acknowledge in order to fulfil lower level needs to the higher-level of need.
Role at Workplace:
This theory has an application at workplace that provide higher authorities a possibility to
account for different requirements of staff members rather than focus on single requirements of
an employee. It is determine that adoption of such multi-dimension approach for fulfilment of
more than one need raise the effectiveness of staff member motivation in the organisation. In
addition to this, it also assist in improving productivity and efficiency of staff members at
workplace. With reference to Tesco, it is determine that adoption of such approach assist in
satisfying more than one need of an employee which motivate them to work with full zeal and
attain organisation objectives within stipulated time period. Moreover, satisfying of such need
develop interest of staff members towards working that help in offering quality and appropriate
service in market by employees and has positive impact on profitability and market presence of
an organisation.
Herzberg’s two-factory theory:
This theory was proposed by Fredrick Herzberg and state that an entity has the
opportunity to focus on two factors that develop motivation at workplace. According to this
theory, there are several factors in a company that raise satisfaction for staff members and
various factors that assist in declining employee dissatisfaction level. This theory involves
hygiene factors that assist in preventing level of employee dissatisfaction and is analysed that
lack of such factors results into dissatisfaction of employees at workplace (Stewart and Brown,
2019). It include factors such as interpersonal relations, safety and security, adequate salary and
compensation, flexible organisational policies, reasonable working hours and many more. It is
determine that such factors did not assist in employee motivation but it assist in declining
demotivation at workplace. On the other side, this theory also include motivational factors that is

important for motivating employee and develop positive employee satisfaction. These factors are
growth & career opportunities, rewards and recognition, challenging work, participation of
employees and many more. It is analysed that promotional of such factors in an organisation
results into increase in productivity and performance level of company in an appropriate manner.
Role at Workplace:
This theory has an important acceptability in the organisation and help higher authorities
to develop a positive working culture where staff members feel motivated and effective
implementation of activities take place. In addition to this, it help an organisation to increase
employee retention rate by declining dissatisfaction level in an appropriate manner. In context to
Tesco, adoption of such theory for encouraging employees help in providing healthy working
culture and retain staff members for longer-time period. In addition to this, it also assist in
motivating staff members to work with full potential and meet with the targets in a timely
manner due to which there is increase in profitability and brand image of company take place
effectively.
By analysing the content theories of motivation, it is stated that it is significant to
motivate staff members so that they can retain with organisation for longer time period and
increase efficiency of company (Vance and Paik, 2015)
. Using of such theories is help an entity to raise the level of performance and improve
productivity in an effective manner.
CONCLUSION
.From the above discussion, it is concluded that in many organisations there is increase in
rate of absenteeism and the reason are illness, urgent work, not satisfied with salary and many
more. It is essential to proactively manage absent so that the productivity level remains same in
the organisation. It is determine that increase in absenteeism rate leads to increase in
employment turnover rate. This arise the cost of an entity to hire new employee and provide
training to them which has negative impact on performance and revenue level of organisation.
Following the procedural document process assist in gaining knowledge about reasons of
absence of employees in an effective manner. There are various content motivational theories
adopted by an organisation such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Herzberg two factor and so on.
This theories plays vital role at workplace and help in motivating employees to remain in

organisation and give their full potential for achieving objectives and goals in a timely and
effective manner.

REFERENCES
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