Human Resource Management Practices in British Airways: An Analysis

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Human Resource Management for Service
Industries
1

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................4
LO-1.................................................................................................................................................4
An analysis of the role and purpose of human resource management in a selected service
industry with reference to British Airways (AC 1.1)...................................................................4
The creation of an HR plan, based on an analysis of supply and demand, with a justification of
the staff roles and numbers of staff and hours of work required to deliver the new flight service
to Madeira. (AC 1.2)....................................................................................................................6
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................8
LO-2.................................................................................................................................................8
Assesses the current state of employment relations in the airline industry (AC 2.1)..................8
Discusses how employment law affects the management of human resources within British
Airways. (AC 2.2)......................................................................................................................10
Task 3.............................................................................................................................................12
LO-3...............................................................................................................................................12
A discussion of the job description and personal specification for Cabin Crew, BA (AC 3.1).12
A comparison of the selection processes of British Airways (Cabin Crew) and Transport for
London (e.g. the role of Customer Services Assistant in Victoria Coach Station). (AC 3.2)....14
LO4................................................................................................................................................16
You are required to write a set of guidance notes to be given to trainee manager’s which
assesses the contribution of training and development activities to the effective operation of
either British Airways or Transport for London. (AC 4.1)........................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................19
References......................................................................................................................................20
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Introduction
Human resource management is being considered as the strategic approach for the effective
administration of the individuals in an organisation so that they can support the company in
gaining competitive advantage. It is developed to increase the performance of the employees in
service as per the goals and objectives of an organisation. In this study, there will be a discussion
in relation to the ‘British Airways’, the second largest airline based in the UK. The company got
recent success in having various agreements for different flights. In this research, there will be
discussion regarding human resource management and its various factors which are supportive in
the growth of the company. Apart from this impact of employee relation as well as employment
law on services industry will also be considered in addition to the selection and recruitment
process. Understanding of training and development in the service sector will also be analysed so
as to know its significance.
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Task 1
LO-1
Introduction
As a line manager, in this report analysis will be there in regards to the purpose and roles of
human resource management in the airline industry in regards to the selected organisation that is
British Airways. An HR plan will also be developed on the basis of demand and supply by
justifying roles of staff members.
An analysis of the role and purpose of human resource management in a selected service
industry with reference to British Airways (AC 1.1)
The purpose of Human Resource Management is to manage the staffing needs, benefits, law
compliance and compensation to maximise the efficiency of the organisation. In “British
Airways” department of human resource management focuses on various functions such as
recruitment, selection, training & development, compensation, and labour employee relation
(Olischer and Dörrenbächer, 2013).
Role of human resource management
Recruiter – HR manager plays an important role in the organisation for recruiting and
counselling of employees. It is a duty of HR manager to recruit and select the right employees on
each of the designations.
Contract developer – Human Resource department is a link between management and
employees. HR manager helps to solve the differences of opinion and misunderstanding between
management and employees by developing a valid and legal contract.
The Change Agent– Human Resource department helps to implement the new changes in the
organisation. It helps to introduce the new system and changes in the existing system of work
(Etemad, et. al., 2016).
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The problem solver –It is the responsibility of the Human Resource department to solve the
queries and problems of employees. It solves the concerns related to all types of issues in an
organisation.
Purpose of human resource management
Staffing Needs – It is the responsibility of the human resource department to recruit employees
for an organisation. It determines the requirement of job position including duties and skills. It
performs the function of reference checks, administering tests and interviewing of applicants
(Lange, et. al., 2015).
Compensation - Human Resource department make changes in the pay structure of the
organisation. It researches the trends of compensation to provide employees with the best pay in
the industry. It follows the minimum wages and payment of overtime according to the Fair
Labour Standard Act.
Performance Appraisal– It is an important function of the human resource department to
evaluate the performance of employees. Human resource department creates the appraisal
process according to the performance of employees.
Law Compliance – Human resource department takes care of safety and equal treatment to
employees. Laws are made to protect the interest of employees in different areas. It helps to
maintain the balance between management and employees (Babic, et. al., 2017).
Benefits - Organisation use recruitment and retention tool for effective management of
employees and development of administration. It provides benefits to employees such as dental
insurance, health insurance, and retirement plan. Human resource department provides the best
benefits to workers and minimizes the cost of an employer.
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The creation of an HR plan, based on an analysis of supply and demand, with a
justification of the staff roles and numbers of staff and hours of work required to deliver
the new flight service to Madeira. (AC 1.2)
Human Resource planning is the process of identifying future requirements, determines the gaps
and implements the plans to fulfil the gaps. Human resource planning is done to meet the goals
and objectives of “British Airways”. It requires skills, searching, recruiting and training.
Analyse the organisational objective– Human Resource department directly connected with
Top level managers they have clearly know the objective of the organisation. The focus of the
human resource department to fulfil the capital needs of an organisation.
Assess the skill set –Human resource department assess the skill set of the organisation. This
planning helps to determine the gaps and fulfil target of the company. It helps to face the
upcoming challenges of business.
Review organisational design –Human resource plan includes the design of an organisation
which includes a job description, reporting, and compensation. Human resource department
ensures that employees are doing value-added work to give benefits to customers (Etemad, et.
al., 2016).
Motivation and retention to employees –Human resource department make plans to motivate
the employees of the organisation. It makes strategies to retain employees and maintain loyalty
among employees.
Succession plans –succession planning strategies help to make an HR plan. Human resource
department makes plans to handle critical activities of an organisation. It is the key function to
ensure all operational activities.
Get External help – HR plan is making to clarify vision, direct from choices and determination
of work. This helps to fulfil the goals and monitor the progress of the organisation (Bhatia,
2012).
Plan implementation– Human resource department makes plans to achieve the short term and
long term goal of the organisation. It allocates the budget for staffing and recruitment of skilled
candidates. It provides training to employees for future development strategies.
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Conclusion
In the above report, role & purpose of human resource management and HR plan based on
analysis of supply and demand discussed. Human resource management helps to recruit,
selection, compensation, benefits, and motivation to employees of British Airways. Human
resource planning helps to achieve the goals of an organisation.
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Task 2
LO-2
Introduction
The report will make its focus on the inter-relations of employees and employer, employment
law and acts in the context of British Airways. It will include the present condition of relation in
employer and employees in the airline industry. Human resource management takes care of
employee compensation, staffing, motivation and recruitment of employees.
Assesses the current state of employment relations in the airline industry (AC 2.1)
Employee relation is the connection between employer and employees of the organisation.
Company with a good employee and employer relation provide fair and equal treatment to
employees. This gives motivation to employees to stay committed to the job and loyal to the
organisation.
The current state of employment relations in the airline industry
British Airways is one of the biggest companies in the airline industry which recruits thousands
of employees in the world. The company develops the employment relation plan by consulting,
communicating with managers of the organisation. Cost cutting applies to the employees of
cabin crew to reduce the cost of airlines. The company reduces the wages of employees in an
economic crisis. The pay scale is very high for a staff of long distance flights. New technology
and capital are used to improve the existing performance of employees (Babic, et.al., 2017).
Human resource department develops the strategies to ensure optimum utilisation of employees
for achieving the goal of an organisation. Human resource strategies are helpful to deal with
competitors of the market. Employee relation program provides benefits to employees which
includes salary benefits, good working conditions, and safety of employees. Strategies are made
by human resource department affects the stakeholder of business. Stakeholders are the people
who dedicated to the failure or success of an organisation. If employees of the organisation are
treated as stakeholders more than paid labourers, it gives more value which gives a good
outcome in business. Effective relation of employee maintains by the written clear policies. In
British Airways the employee relations will be explained through theories and theoretical
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perspective. Employee Relations helps to maintain the relationship between employee and
employer which increase productivity and motivation of employees. An organisation must make
feel to their employees as they are an asset of the organisation. It gives confidence and self-worth
to employees of an organisation. An employee should be treated equally and give respect in
order to create a positive environment in the organisation. To establish teamwork in the
organisation, an employer provides employee handbook, policy manuals, suggestion
programmes, performance appraisal, employee assistance program, wage survey, performance
incentives, and social activities to employees of an organisation.
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Discusses how employment law affects the management of human resources within British
Airways. (AC 2.2)
Human resource laws govern human resource management and employment-related issues.
Human resource management includes compensation, recruitment, development and placement.
Employment law affects the management of human resources within British Airways
Employment rights and duties – Employment Rights Act is taking care of the rights and duties
of employees in the organisation. It includes employment rights, free to contract, minimum
wages, safe work system and mutual trust etc. free to contract states that employee and
employers contract as per their wish complying under labour laws. Minimum wages includes
employee is getting a minimum amount of money from an employer. A safe system of work
provided to employees of an organisation (Bhatia, 2012).
Contract of employment –Contract of employment includes terms and conditions which
includes specific rights and regulations. This contract is made for the protection of the interest of
employees of the organisation. This contract includes details of a formation to termination of
employment in the organisation.
Health and safety –safe work system is provided by an employer to the employees of an
organisation. Factories act is made for the required clearance in workplace, ventilation and
proper equipment. Child labour is restricted in the country. Health and safety act ensure the
proper health and safety of employees of an organisation.
Wage Regulation– There are national minimum wages fixed for the employees of the UK. This
regulation is made for the right wages provided for the right delivery of work. The minimum
wages set according to the different sector and working needs of different sectors.
Working time and childcare –Working time Act set the basic requirement of employer and
working time in an organisation. It includes paid holidays in this regulation. This law ensures
that balance of working life and personal life is maintained (Babic, et. al., 2017).
Occupational pensions – This regulation is made to ensure the dignity of employees and fair
income is given at the time of retirement. National insurance contributors contributed to a state
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pension. The right of occupational pension is applied automatically on job holder whether they
want to choose or not (Etemad, et. al., 2016).
Conclusion
The above report is clearly indicating that employment law and relations are affecting the human
resource management of British Airways. Many of the laws are drafted and enacted for
protecting the rights of the employer and employees by providing a framework.
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Task 3
LO-3
Introduction
Job description (JD) is a documented paper that describes the duties, responsibilities and general
tasks that person needs to perform during his/her job duration, the qualification or skills required
by the person and a salary range. Prior to the job description, another process called job analysis
should be conducted. In job analysis, it is the analysis, gathering, and documentation of facts of
jobs including what the employee does, the requirement of the job and the context of the job.
A discussion of the job description and personal specification for Cabin Crew, BA (AC 3.1)
Below is the job description for Cabin Crew in British Airways. This job description will cover
the cabin crew requirements, salary, other benefits, and responsibilities. In 2018, British Airways
got 31,000 Cabin Crew applications and only 2000 candidates were chosen. In 2019, British
Airways is welcoming both type of applicants (fresher and experienced both). There is a fast-
track scheme for experienced candidates with an EASA attestation (European Aviation Safety
Agency).
Cabin Crew Requirements:
 Candidate should be between 5’2” and 6’1” tall.
 Age should be more than 18 years.
 Be fluent in written and spoken English.
 Have a valid passport. That passport should allow the candidate to live and work in the
UK and allows unrestricted global travel.
 Be able to work 24*7*365 days in a year for the whole career.
 Have no tattoos or body piercing (visible).
 Have the stamina to swim 55 yards.
Salary:
 Salary will be between £21,000 & £25,000 per annum.
Other benefits:
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