HRM in Practice: Employee Engagement and HR Functions Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within the context of a small retail organization, "Say it with Chocolate." The report explores the purpose of HR functions, the roles and responsibilities of an HR officer, and evaluates the current selection methods, proposing improvements. It includes a detailed job specification for a receptionist, discusses appropriate selection mediums, and outlines interview questions. The report also examines the benefits of apprenticeships, the developmental opportunities for staff, and the advantages of flexible working practices, drawing on Microsoft's practices as a case study. Furthermore, the report defines employee engagement, its importance in employee relations, and explores key approaches to engaging workers and their role in communication. Finally, the report identifies key employment legislation in the UK and explains its influence on HR decision-making, concluding with a summary of the findings.

HRM IN PRACTICE

Table of Contents
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................4
TASK 1.................................................................................................................................................4
A) Purpose of HR function ...........................................................................................................4
b) Roles and responsibilities of HR officer....................................................................................5
c) Pros and cons of current method of selection..............................................................................5
d) Improvements required................................................................................................................5
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................6
a) job specification for receptionist.................................................................................................6
b ) medium of selection ..................................................................................................................7
d) 6 questions which could be asked at the interview for the Receptionist....................................9
TASK 3 ..............................................................................................................................................11
( FIND THE ANSWERS HERE:..................................................................................................11
3a....................................................................................................................................................11
https://partner.microsoft.com/en-gb/Training/apprenticeships......................................................11
https://partner.microsoft.com/en-gb/training/apprenticeships-candidates.....................................11
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/wemachprogram...................................................................11
3b...................................................................................................................................................11
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en...............................................................................................11
3c....................................................................................................................................................11
https://enterprise.microsoft.com/en-gb/articles/digital-transformation/striking-the-right-balance-
for-successful-remote-working/.....................................................................................................11
a) Evaluate the benefits to both the organization and employee of apprenticeship.......................12
b) what are the developmental opportunities available to staff once they get permanent job.....12
C) Benefits of flexible working practise........................................................................................13
d) How Microsoft motivates its workers.......................................................................................14
Task 4 ................................................................................................................................................15
a) What is meant by the term employee engagement?..................................................................15
b) Why is employee engagement an integral strategy of employee relations?..............................16
c) key approaches to engaging workers and their importance in improving communication .....16
d) Identify the main pieces of employment legislation in the UK and explain how they influence
HR decision making.......................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................18

References .........................................................................................................................................19

Introduction:
The management of human resources is, in all companies, the most precious and
useful asset, as it precisely manages and therefore makes grow, motivating and
developing, the staff of which companies benefit. HR helps in recruiting employees by
guaranteeing and developing the company culture, offering benefits and managing payroll,
mediating in corporate conflicts and ensuring that staff, improving their skills, provide
services suitable for achieving company objectives. . Other tasks are to consult the
management to find the required and most appropriate qualifications, question, inform, hire
the new candidates and find out who, among the employees, to promote and reward.
TASK 1
A) Purpose of HR function
Those who work in human resources do so because they aim to develop the
performance, skills and professional succession of employees. (Bratton and Gold, 2017).
Given the size of the business, the position of human resources manager is important in
many ways and one example can be found in the guarantee that the rules that influence
relations with the workforce are respected.
Say it with Chocolate is a small organisation that provides tailor made chocolate in
UK. It is a company in which small number of employees are working. The nature of
business is retail sector. But in recent times business is facing high employee turnover
ratio. This is because there is no experience human resource manager to hire staff. Also,
employees hired are having no experience in working in this field.
There are many functions of HRM that is described below :
Problem solving- HRM is responsible for maintaining a positive environment in
organisation. It ensures that policies developed by them are properly implemented.
Further, it solves conflicts that arises between work force ad management.
Forecasting- It means to make plans in case of emergency. A future prospectus is
prepared to develop and improve employees productivity.
Orientation- HR hires people and provides them all information about employer (Breukink,
2017). It is done to make employee familiar with his new job. Orientation means providing
a brief overview about the job and company to employee and goals and objectives. This
program helps in giving introduction about duties and roles of employees.

b) Roles and responsibilities of HR officer
The company is not too big there is not so much work for a human resources
manager, but given the effect that the individual worker can have on the company is not
so. The main role is therefore to help in the management of the activity.
As a HR manager I will analyse the requirements of business then write roles and
responsibilities of performing job role. After this I will develop a systematic process of
hiring and then policies and laws so that it becomes easy to solve conflicts. This policies
should be implemented in proper way so that organisation culture is maintained. My role
will also be develop standards for salaries.
c) Pros and cons of current method of selection
Finding appropriate staff is always a challenge ( Hee and Jing, 2018). Using the
online site to complete the test accelerates recruitment, but can be discriminatory for an
elderly pastry chef who does not use the computer.
Pros of home made assessment
 It helps in building effective and simple test for hiring employees.
 It is cost effective method and takes less time to develop home made assessment
Cons
 The test can not be made proper as per requirements of business
 sometimes it is difficult to find out answers of questions
d) Improvements required
Having a long-term business strategy clearly shows the type of employee we are
looking at and the best way to find it is to provide a detailed description of the vacancy
(Marchington and et.al., 2016). To this will be added the other positions with which we will
work in a more narrow way and therefore the qualifications we are looking at.
The main point is to take time for a good analysis of the candidate and have a long-
term employee. Not having a human resource department would be better to plan regular
meetings with employees to answer questions and get tips on work and get an
environment where you feel comfortable.
Disadvantages :

 The major disadvantage of this selection process is that it don't provide a clear
insight about the core skills and knowledge of an individuals skills and knowledge
about the requirements of their job.
 Also, it is not a reliable process as in this there is chance of getting misinterpretation
of data. This will also impact the results .
TASK 2
a) job specification for receptionist
If a person specified by the role of receptionist, it is important that person should
have good communication, customer focus, self-motivation and friendly persona .
Although keep direct experience and knowledge requirements to a minimum a person
specification excellent time keeping is important because a person who specified for job
punctuality is basic need expectation are required (Oppong, 2018). A person who
specialised receptionist for an experience ,it involves that of greeting guest and visitors
and making them feel welcome in a positive and friendly manner.
Role of person who specified in receptionist-
1. Customer focus - If a person who specified in receptionist it is important that focus on
costumer are requirements on any hotels. It helps that how focusing you are in your
working fields.
2. Friendly persona - Friendly persona is important to expand abilities of specified person.
In a manner of friendly behaviour. It is required that how its controlling behaviour top
Handel the situation and relates a specific problems (Abdul Ghani Azmi, 2015). Also it
helps to creating good environment with other employees.
3. Communication - In any organization, industries, individual or MNC it is very much
important a specific person who qualified his behaviour of communicating are good to
others.
4. Time keeping behaviour - a time keeping behaviour are important to a person who
specified for his role on the jobs .
Job title – Receptionist
Job roles-
 communicating with customers and treating them with respect and dignity
 Determining their needs and providing them accommodation
 Reporting to top management about any problems or in case of conflict

Job specifications-
 Should have effective communication skills and ability to work in a team.
 Should possess strong listening skills.
 Having experience of 2-3 years as a Receptionist.
Skills –
 Strong and effective communication
 Active listening
 Friendliness
Qualification –
 Must have high school diploma.
 He/she should have basic knowledge of computers and must posses good typing
skill.
Characteristics-
 He/she should have excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
 Should posses multi tasking skills.
 An ability to express tolerance, patience and a caring attitude
b ) medium of selection
For any new start-ups, entrepreneurs or business it is important that how you expand your
business. Advertising medium is helps to knowing organization company in front of
costumers (Singh and Jain, 2014). Advertising of correcting place is required for any
organization.
For the position of receptionist the best method for recruitment is giving
advertisement in newspaper. This is because it will help in getting large number of
applications. Also, it will be beneficial to hire highly experienced person for job title. The
cost required for this will be high but it will be suitable to hire for particular job profile.
These are the following medium for placing the advertising:
1.Advertisements in newspaper – Advertisement in newspaper is strong way to promoting
company, organizations. It helps to keep in mind capture costumer effective thinking.
Newspaper is a strong way of getting information about all worldwide news.
Advantages-
 in this large number of applications are received for particular vacancies.

 it is very affordable and flexible as a target specific demographics for advertising
 Disadvantage-
 it has very short shelf life because newspaper are printed in daily
2. Using Internet – This can be a very good option for putting advertisement. There are
various options available in internet, such as, they can use their own website or can use
social media platform, for example, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Advantage-
 There are huge advantage of this method, as it will help in attracting more people.
 It is easy to implement and time saving as well.
Disadvantage-
 This process is very costly.
3 Through media advertisement– This can also be considered as an important medium to
advertise their ad. There are various options available, for example, television, radio, etc.
Advantages-
 This will help in
Disadvantage-
 It will be costly to implement.
 There is less chance that people will see there advertisement all the time.
C) Advantages and disadvantage of previous methods
Previously organization was publishing their advertisements on board which was
place outside the main site. From this method it was unable for them to reach maximum
number of applicants. There are numerous advantages and disadvantage of this method,
such as,
Advantages:
 it is very simple method in which candidates can be hired in short time
 It requires less cost and time as walk in interviews are taken quickly.
 This method helps in interacting with the candidates directly which can be very
helpful in analysing them effectively whether they are capable or not.
 They usually achieve a high response rate
 They usually achieve a high response rate
Disadvantage:
 Candidates may bring in counter culture people that can harm organisation
environment.

 Walk in interview are time consuming which takes a lot of energy and time.
 Different interviewers may understand and transcribe interviews in different ways.
 They can be very costly.
d) 6 questions which could be asked at the interview for the Receptionist
 How will you work with manager to resolve any problem?
 Describe a situation where you need to deal between manager and customer?
 How would you deal with an angry or dissatisfied customer?
 Do you have a knowledge of Microsoft office?
 Will you be able to work overtime if needed?
 Why we should hire you as a receptionist?
TASK 3
a) Evaluate the benefits to both the organization and employee of
apprenticeship
Microsoft has launched an Apprenticeship programme nationally in 2010 to give promising,
motivated young people a vital first step in their ICT careers. This is a very great step in
helping people to create their bright future. From this initiation of Microsoft it has given job
to approx 7,000 apprentices. There are three types of training that is provided by Microsoft
that is in sales, project management and technical streams. It will beneficial for both
employee and organisation.
Benefit to organisation
Foremost advantage for Microsoft is that they will get new talent to work with. They will
work with experienced people and provide them creative ideas on how goals must be
achieved. This will bring creativity in Microsoft. Another important benefit is that they will
have diversity in their management system. Every workforce will have a diverse skill set
and experience people.
Corporate culture- The hiring of new candidates in organisation brings in new talent and
way of working. It helps in developing a creative environment and attaining goals and
objectives in specified time. In this way corporate culture is build and developed (Selke
and Latiff, 2017).

Benefit to Employees
There are various benefits which can be very helpful for the candidates who are taking part
in this Apprenticeship programme, which is explained,
1. Apprentices become lifelong learners- If apprentices become lifelong learner who lack a
high school diploma, associates degree or bachelor’s degree they are few coupled of well-
paying areas to ensures that employments.
2. Apprentice creates leaders within the organization- An apprentice program improves
both organization and employee it encourage employees to lead by example of individual
participate and ongoing organizational; personal and cultural development
3. Development of skills- through apprenticeship candidates skills are developed. They
gain knowledge about various subjects and how it can be used in the future. Also, they
learn about communication, managing work, working in team, etc. thus, there is overall
development of candidate through apprenticeship.
4. Career development- by gaining knowledge and skills candidates can use it in their
career development. They know about how to work in such a big company. Training also
helps them to apply knowledge and skills in different areas.
All these factors has helped them in getting the best qualification and training which is very
useful for them in achieving their targets and objectives.
b) what are the developmental opportunities available to staff once they get
permanent job
Once an employee is selected in Microsoft it gives them a permanent job offer.
From this they can apply in job position of his or her choice. It will enable them to gain
knowledge and skills. Also, it will provide them an opportunity to work for such a big MNC.
Apart from this, candidate will work with experience people.
1. Experience- experience is one of the most strong opportunity for permanent job to
working experience counts for reliable opportunities and correcting a salacious process
of variable construing nature or effective experience (Ellis, Skidmore and Combs, 2017).
If an employee is placed then he or she will get an experience of working in Microsoft. This
will be a major benefit to him or her in career development.

2. Career development- this will be a great opportunity for employee if he or she get a
permanent offer in Microsoft by this candidate can develop a bright future of themselves.
Candidates can apply for further opportunities for growth in Microsoft once he or she is
placed. This will provide a path to fulfil their as well as organisational goals.
3. Opportunity in multinational companies- If employee have experience of any permanent
jobs in long time so employee have opportunity to do apply in MNC and upgraded for
efferent and get job opportunists in organization and also to get a chance change working
environments (Breukink, 2017). Candidates can apply for better opportunities in other
MNC for future growth. They may work for reputed companies in other countries.
C) Benefits of flexible working practise
Microsoft provides flexibility in working to their employees. This has enabled them to
work in creative way with each other so that goals and objectives are achieved in specified
time period. Also, it has allowed them to take their own decision in solving a problem.
1.Development policy – developing leading the way in working gender equalities have in
place a policy that special supports flexible working arrangements for all employees. This
briefing role provides guidance on the key feature on reliable developing policy. Microsoft's
is having a proper and effective policies and procedures that allow employees to work with
each other and in team. They can communicate with superiors easily that leads to creating
a flexible environment.
2.Communicating structure – Microsoft is having a proper and systematic communication
structure (Bratton and Gold, 2017).This allows employees and management to work each
other with ease. Moreover, there is a proper method of reporting problems to management
and solving it. This helps in providing flexible working practice and achieving goals in
effective manner
3.Organization culture – Microsoft' corporate culture is very positive and better. In their
campus they have provided different facilities such as library, gym, garden, etc. so that
employees can relax for sometime and get refreshed.
This helps in maintaining the company culture, communication, reliability, management
and accountability, productivity, etc. which plays an important role in the organization.
There are various benefits of flexible working practices, which is explained below:

 It will help in increasing the morale of their customers which is very helpful in
enhancing their performances.
 It helps in reducing turnover of their valued staff.
 Increased ability to recruit outstanding employees.
 It also helps in increasing their productivity and creativity.
d) How Microsoft motivates its workers
motivation methods – there are several motivation method that is used by Microsoft that
is as follows:-
Creating positive working environment- in this organisation develops a motivational
environment. They involve employees in decision making process. Also, they allow them
to work freely by sharing ideas. This motivates them and they put more efforts in achieving
goals. In Microsoft this helps in bringing together employees of different departments. With
this employees are also benefited as they discuss personal problem with colleagues.
Setting goals- in this organisation allows employees to set their own professional goals.
This encourages them and they discuss with manager in setting goals. It helps in building
strong relations. Employees are also motivated as they know what they have to achieve. In
Microsoft employees set own goals. In this they define job roles. It benefits them as assign
roles according to their skills and abilities.
Providing incentives – Microsoft provides incentives to employees by measuring their
performance with set goals (Selke and Latiff, 2017). This encourages employees as they
are appreciated for their hard work. Besides this, other colleagues are also motivated. By
this it becomes easy to set future goals.
Recognizing achievements – it is the most popular method in through which employees
are motivated in Microsoft. In this achievements are given by providing various awards
such as star performer, best employee, etc. it motivates employees as are recognised in
all over department. Microsoft usually conduct this activity in each quarter in a meeting. It
creates a motivational feeling in entire campus.
Providing benefits – this is major source through which employees can be motivated. In
this there are various types of benefits such as fringe, tour package, etc. are given to
employees who has performed well. Microsoft is has developed standards on which basis