Human Resource Management Practices in British Airways

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HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR SERVICE INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION
HRM is an essential part of the organization that is responsible for hiring capable
employees for work. HRM is a broad concept which includes training and development of
employees who are working in the organization (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014).
Recruitment, training, and selection are the main activities of HRM that is helpful in
managing the workforce in the organization. There are different welfare programs and
appraisal sessions are conducted by the HR manager in order to enhance the motivation
level of the employees. There are different responsibility of a HR manage which needs to be
fulfilled for maintaining healthy working environment at the workplace.
This assignment will be discussing about different HRM practices and concepts that are
helpful in managing the business successfully (Bailey et al., 2018). This assignment is
choosing British Airways to understand the value of HRM for an organization. This
assignment will be focusing on enhancing the potential, efficiency and performance of the
employees of British Airways. Long term strategic plans will be presented in the report
which is helpful in enhancing the brand image of the organization in the industry. British
Airways is a popular second largest airline company of UK which provides travelling
services to the customers. Headquarter of the company is situated in Waterside,
Harmondsworth, UK. The company serves their services in more than 75 countries.

TASK 1
1.1
There are different roles of HRM department which are helpful in managing healthy
working environment at the work place (Barros and Couto, 2013). Business activities need
to be controlled by the HR manager of the company it will be helpful in attaining the long
term goals of the organization successfully. HRM department provide essential training to
the employees so that they will be able to manage the difficult situations of the business.
The different characters and accountabilities of HRM in the success of British Airways are
described as under:
 The HR manager needs to maintain training and development sessions in order to
enhance the potential and efficiency of the employees (Belobaba et al., 2015).
For example: In BA the training is provided by the HR manager and he maintains regular
communication with them so that they will get to know about their performance
accurately.
 HR manager needs to create effective and creative strategies and plans for the
organization.
For example: The HR manager of British Airways create effective strategies like cost
control or customer centric approach in order to maintain efficiency and profitability of the
organization (Boxall and Purcell, 2011).
 Encourage the employees and motivate them for their work by using different
techniques and approaches can be helpful in improving their current performance.
For example: The HR manager of BA uses different approaches and strategies of
motivation to enhance the motivation level of employees and they work more efficiently.
 Planning for collecting the capable labour (Bratton and Gold, 2017).
 Selection and recruitment of appropriate candidate according to the job profile.

FUNCTIONS OF HRM
 PLANNING OF WORKFORCE
This is one of the most important functions of HRM in which the HRM manager need to
plan for workforce. Strategic planning process is adopted by the HR of BA. Accurate
workforce planning will be beneficial for the business.
 HIRING AND RECRUITMENT OF STAFF
Hiring and recruitment process is the main function of HRM that is helpful in selecting
appropriate candidate for the job profile (Burke, 2017). HR manager of BA select an
appropriate process to select the candidates according to the policies and need of the
business.
 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Training and development is a major part of HRM that is helpful in trains the employees for
enhancing their potential. Training and development is beneficial for improvising current
skills and abilities of the organization. It is also helpful in developing self-confidence in the
employees (Felstiner, 2011).
 COMPENSATION AND REWARD
Compensation and rewards are also important in managing the performance of the
employees. Rewards are helpful in appreciating and motivating the employees for work
(Flin and Patey, 2011). Rewards are generally provided by the HR manager of BA in order
to encourage the employees for their efforts and work.
Thus, it can be said that the strategies and functions of HRM can be really beneficial for the
growth and development of the organization. With the help of these functions an
organization can maintain their business activities and attain the organizational goals
successfully.

1.2
The HRM planning is helpful in knowing the needs and requirements of the organization so
that the recruitment and selection process can be done accordingly (Geppert et al., 2016).
The HR plan can be helpful for the HR manager to take effective and right decisions for the
organization. The demands and supply got changes in the Airline industry. There are some
stages of HRM planning which are described as under:
Figure: Human Resource Planning Process
[source: Eaton, 2017]

Analyzing organizational objectives
This is the first stage of HRM planning in which the HR manager analyzes the objectives of
the organization (Greenland and Irwin, 2014). The HR manager of BA plans the strategies
according to the objectives so that the goals can be attained successfully.
Inventory of current human resources
The HR manager should know the number of employees and their working abilities. It will
be helpful in meeting with the requirements of internal and external sources.
Forecasting Demand
Forecasting is the most crucial stage of HRM planning (Griffin, 2012). In this stage the HR
manager analyses the demand of the employees and customer to provide them accurate
services and facilities accordingly.
Estimating Gaps
This stage involves the analysis of needs and requirements of current employees. The HR
manager needs to provide the accurate services so that the objectives of the company can
be attained successfully.
Formulating Action Plan
The action plan is a format in which the HR manger forms all the actions and activities that
needs to conducted to attain the goals (Grundy and Moxon, 2013). This also involves the
process of recruitment and selection.
Integrating the plan
This is the last stage in which the HR manager evaluates the whole planning process to
reduce any kind of risk in future actions.

HUMAN RESOURCE PLAN
The human resource plan can be developed as per the needs and requirements of the
business organization (Hawkins, 2017). It is important to evaluate the process for making
an effective HRM plan. There are different strategies used by the HR manager of BA in
order to manage the demands and supply of Airline industry.
Resourcing strategy The Resourcing strategy is mainly adopted for gaining
competitive advantages by sustaining long time period for
the employees. British Airways has adopted this strategy
to provide efficient services to the customers.
Scenario planning The scenario planning is helpful for British Airways to
adopt the needed changes easily.
Forecasting demand
and supply
The forecast of demand and supply can be helpful in
serving appropriate services to the customers and the HR
manager of BA will be able to create effective strategies
accordingly (Hawkins, 2017).
Analysis of labor
turnover
Analysis of labor turnover can be helpful in gaining
information about employee’s potential and performance.
Analysis of the work
environment
The working environment of the organization must be
comfortable and healthy for the employees. It will be
helpful in improving their current performance.
Operational
effectiveness
The operational effectiveness comes from the overall HR
planning process. Operational effectiveness is beneficial
for increasing the efficiency of workforce.
Flexibility Flexibility is one of the most effective elements that are
helpful in managing the business activities accurately
(Hoel, 2013). The company must provide flexible working
hours so that the coordination between the employees can
be marinated.

productivity The HR manager can use different strategies and
approaches in order to increase the output of the
organization (Griffin, 2012). BA organizes “customer fit
campaign” to fulfill the needs of the customers and it will
be helpful in enhancing the productivity of the
organization.

TASK 2
2.1
Employee relations refer to the coordination and communication between the employees
and management (Keep, 2014). The company needs to make efforts for maintaining
healthy relations with the employees it will be helpful for the development and growth of
the company. BA is having a committee for managing the employee relations. Apart from
this, BA has created a policy which is named as “Industrial Relation change Program” it
is helpful in settling down the conflicts between the employees. Following effective policies
and strategies are helpful in reducing the conflicts between the employees.
As per the given case study it has been found that the BA is facing the issue of good
employee relations which is highly impacting their business. Setting policies, norms of
discipline and performance standards will be helpful in managing healthy working
environment at the workplace (Larsen et al., 2012). There are different strategies created
by the HR manager of BA for maintaining their profitability and brand image in the
industry:
 Providing motivation and encouragement to the employees for their efforts and
work for enhance their performance.
 Improving cultural and structural dimensions so that the healthy environment can
be maintained in the organization.
 Provide proper training and development sessions to the employees in order to
provide satisfactory services to the customers (Miller and Rice, 2013).
 Analyzing the needs and demands of the customers for making accurate strategies
accordingly so that the company can maintain their brand name in the market.
There are some factors which can be helpful for maintaining healthy employee relations in
the organization.

Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining can be seen in the Airline industry because it has been identified that
the employees bargain on the policies and conditions of the organization (Moser, 2012).
There are some terms of trade unions which need to be followed by British Airways in
order to maintain collective bargaining in the organization.
Employee’s involvement
Involvement of the employees can be helpful in gaining different and innovative ideas. It is
also helpful in maintaining healthy relations with them. British Airways involve the
employees in importance decisions and essential process of the company.
Culture
Culture is the big part of the organization which present the values and ethics of a business
organization (Nadler and Nadler, 2012). The organizational culture impacts the
productivity and performance of the employees as well.
Disciplinary procedure
The disciplinary procedure is helpful in reducing the risk of conflicts which takes place in
the organization. BA is having a maintained disciplinary procedure that is helpful in solving
the issues and challenges which has been faced by the employees (Paton et al., 2014). The
HR manager punishes the employees for their inappropriate behavior and gives them
rewards for their work and efforts.
Organizational structure
The organizational structure of BA is manages and effective that is accurate to sustain in
the competitive world (Pembere, 2016). The company follows hierarchical function that is
helpful in managing the performance of the organization. It has been observed that the HR
manager of BS maintain healthy working environment by resolving conflicts between the
employees.

2.2
Employment laws and legislations play an important role in managing the human resource
in the organization. There are some rules and regulations which is created by the law and it
needs to be followed by the organization (Phillips, 2012). In Airline industry there are
some different procedures and legal laws which need to be followed by the organization.
The employment laws of airline industry are mainly focuses on termination circumstances
of lock-out or strikes, salaries, personal grievances, contract and other problems. Being in
airline industry follow up of essential laws and legal policies will be helpful in managing the
overall business process accurately.
Employment relation act (ERA)
The act provides protection to the employees and their relations with the other employees
and management. The rights and duties of an employee can be protected with the help of
employment relation act (Reilly and Williams, 2016). British Airways adopted this act for
enhancing trust and confidence of the employees.
Employees’ rights act
Employee rights act is helpful in saving and securing the rights of the employees. Minimum
wages, meals, breakfast, respect, comfortable environment for work, eleven public
holidays, similar treatment and flexible working hours are some rights of the employees
which need to be provided by British Airways (Sengupta and Sengupta, 2014).
Equal opportunities act
This act states that all the employees should get equal opportunities for career growth and
development. This act is helpful in providing similar opportunities to all the employees
according to their job profile and position (Stainback et al., 2012). It will be helpful in
reducing the chances of conflicts and the working environment can be maintained
appropriately.