Human Resource Management at Sainsbury's: A Comprehensive Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices at Sainsbury's, a globally recognized supermarket chain. The report begins with an introduction to the crucial role of HRM in enhancing a company's profitability and efficiency, followed by an overview of Sainsbury's HRM objectives, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and training and development. It then delves into the strengths and weaknesses of Sainsbury's recruitment and selection approaches, examining both internal and external methods. The report also explores the benefits of HRM practices for both employers and employees, emphasizing the importance of a healthy working environment, training programs, and employee motivation. Furthermore, it highlights the effectiveness of HRM practices in raising productivity and profits, discussing how these practices contribute to employee engagement and satisfaction. The report concludes by referencing Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory to provide a theoretical framework for understanding employee motivation within the context of HRM. This report offers valuable insights into how HRM strategies contribute to Sainsbury's overall success and provides a framework for understanding HRM principles.

Human Resource
Management

INTRODUCTION
A crucial role is played by human resource management within firm. Various activities
and functions are associated with this department which helps the company in increasing its
profitability and profits. Its main objective is to recruit right number of employees within firm
who are enough skilled and knowledgable to attain goals and objectives of company in an
effective and better manner (Armstrong and Taylor., 2014). Selection, orientation, performance
appraisal, compensation, induction, training and development, health and safety, maintaining
good employee relation etc. are the functions that are performed by human resource department.
In the present assignment, chosen organisation is Sainsbury's which is a globally renowned
supermarket chain. This report includes human resource management purposes and functions as
well as strengths & weaknesses of approaches used by firm for recruiting and selecting
employees. Apart form this, it also includes advantages of HRM practices for employer and
employee and its significance. Key components of employment legislation and application of
human resource practices are also discussed in this project.
TASK 1
P1 Key purpose and function of human resource management
Human resource management is viewed as one of the most important and crucial function
of a business enterprise. It aid in enhancing employee performance which results in yielding
higher profits and revenues. The HR division of any firm is responsible for handling and
managing human resource in a structured and thorough manner. It is a kind of employee-centred
approach that emphasize more satisfying diverse desire of personnel and retain them for longer
period with the firm. It can also be defined as a process of employing competent candidate,
formulating strategies and policies to retain them, train them and provide compensate and benefit
to them. From last 20 years, Human Resource Management has undergone many changes as
contributing more effectively towards attaining business goals and objectives (Berman and et.
al., 2012).

The main purpose of HRM is to ensure that the company is able to attain higher growth
and success through its workforce. HR Managers of Sainsbury systematically manage and
control human capital and laid stress on implementing various process and policies related with
the same. It is important to put right people on right job at right time and this can be properly
done by HR manager. With the help of HRM function, human resource can be utilized in an
optimum manner. Apart from managing people, HR professional is also co-ordinating firm's
people with an aim of achieving specific objectives within its given time frame. Satisfying
employee and providing them healthy working condition is another major purpose this
department. Some of the important function of HRM department of Sainsbury are discussed
below:
Recruitment: The main goal of any company is to hire most competent and skilled
candidate for the company who contributes significantly towards achieving business pre-defined
goals and objectives. The overall success of any company depend upon how productive and
effective is their workforce (Boella and Goss-Turner, 2013). There are two sources of
recruitment namely internal and external. Framework of HRM aid managers in hiring and
selecting right candidate by wasting minimum efforts and time. In addition to that, with its
talented and educated candidate, Sainsbury can gain high competitive edge in the market place.
Employee Relation: In today's competitive environment, it is chiefly important to
maintain healthy and good relationship with workforce. Better employee relationship promote
positive and healthy working environment flourish in the company. Also there is good
understanding among employees. It has been believed that if task is carried out in a team,
possibility of achieving it enormously increases. For maintaining stronger and effective
relationship with its employees, Sainsbury is conducting meeting on weekly basis. They even go
for after office dinner or lunch that aid in establishing good rapport among them.
Compensation and Benefit: For motivating workers and retaining them for longer
period, it is necessary to provide them fair and equal wages based on their performance.
Incentives and reward must be given to workers on the ground of contribution made by them in
achieving organizational gaols and objectives within stipulated time frame. Sainsbury is
providing attractive salary to its workforce that help in retaining them for longer period (Boselie,
2010).

Training and Development: By providing adequate training and development to its
employees, Sainsbury can gain high competitiveness level in the marketplace over other
competitors. It also help in improving the productivity and performance of employees. Chances
of attaining higher profits and growth tremendously increases when trained employee carry out
he work. In addition to that, it also helps in providing long term sustainability to the firm.
P2 Strengths and Weaknesses of recruitment & selection approach
The procedure of recruitment and selection deals in maximizing interest of people
towards filling job application. It helps in pulling attention of large pool of talented candidates
towards vacant position. Different methods are utilized by an organization for recruiting and
selecting employees (Boxall and Purcell, 2011). In order to publish advertisement, various tools
are used by firm such as social sites, print media etc. Recruitment is concerned with inviting
application in order to hire skilled candidate for vacant job position and selection is related to
selecting best individual who meets the set criteria appropriately. Both these are viewed as key
part of human resource management. An organisation's growth and success largely relies on its
manpower so it is essential for manager to hire skilled and competent candidates for firm that
have ability to attain targets of company. Sainsbury's use internal and external approaches of
recruitment for recruiting employees. These are defined below:
Internal method: In this, candidates are chosen from inside the company. The basic
method for choosing people are transfers and promotion. Strengths and weaknesses of internal
approach are as follows:
Strengths:
 It is a quick procedure and devours less cost.
 It builds the motivation level of workforce.
 This procedure is less risky.
 Promotes commitment of workforce. Assists in reducing turnover of employees.
Weaknesses:
 Create clashes or conflicts among workforce.
 Restricts entry of new talent within company.
 Individual sometimes may not be respected by their colleagues. It creates another vacancy.

External method: In this, managers recruit employees from outside the company.
Candidates are selected externally within firm by job portals, direct recruitment, employment
exchange etc (Daley, 2012).
Strengths:
 Workers are more skilled & qualified.
 Administer competitive advantage to company as new talent is entered within firm.
 Brings creativity as well as innovation within business enterprise. Encourage new talent.
Weaknesses:
 It is one of the expensive process as it consumes more time and high cost as well.
 It lowers down the morale of existing employees of company.
 It sometimes promotes unhealthy work surroundings.
Above mentioned are all the strengths and weaknesses of internal and external approach
of recruitment. These needs to be required by manager of Sainsbury before planning for
recruitment and selection.
P3 Benefits of human resource practices for employer & employee
HRM practices involve recruitment and selection, performance management, training and
development, employee relation etc. Each and every practice play vital role in achieving goals
and objectives of respective company. HR manager of Sainsbury is required to use human
resource in an economical manner (Gospel and Sako, 2010). In addition to that it also provide
various benefits to both employee and employer which are discussed below: Help in making planned decision: It is important for top manager of a company to
manage activities of employees and their actions in a systematic manner. This assist
management in formulating better plans and strategies for them that satisfies their need
properly. Additionally, if future actions are planned properly business operation and
activities can be carried out in a structured and thorough manner. Creates good and healthy working environment: Sainsbury is promoting healthy
working condition which indirectly motivates their employees to work incredibly hard.
Behaviour and performance of worker depend upon the working environment of business
enterprise. If the workers are satisfied, then chances of earning higher profitability ratio
increases. In addition to that, it also help in retaining them for longer period. Moreover

healthy and open working environment promotes strong employee-employer relationship.
As a result, performance and efficiency of human resources also gets increases (Heizer,
2016). Identifying training needs of workers: Before arranging adequate training session for
personnel, it is important to determine their training needs first. So that they can arrange
training and development program accordingly. Rendering training according to the
needs and requirement of workers increase the chances of improving their performance
and productivity. All these aid Sainsbury in beating market competition in an effective
and efficient manner. Also if training is providing as per individual's needs it leads to
consume less cost, energy, efficiency and time. Motivate workers and their productivity: HRM practices also play vital role in
encouraging and motivating personnel so that they can work incredibly hard towards
achieving business goals and objectives in a significant manner. Develop skills of workers: Apart from arranging various training and development
session for employees, manager of Sainsbury also help in developing skills of their
workers. They provide task to them on the basis of their skills, knowledge and capability
so that they can execute it properly. Also it ensure that utilization of human resource must
be done in an optimum manner. Skilled employees achieves business targets within its
defined time period (Hoque, 2013). Creates flexible work environment: For smooth running of business operation, it is
essential to create flexible work environment where everyone knows or must be aware of
their roles and responsibilities. Sainsbury is changing their HR plans and policies as per
its staff needs. In addition to that it also make company capable of adopting environment
changes adequately.
 Create and promote positive work surrounding: One of the main advantage of HRM
practices is it help in increasing employee morale which ultimately promotes positive
working environment. Also the company is paying them on the basis of their performance
which becomes another reason for its existence in the company for longer period.
P4 Effectiveness of human resource practices in raising productivity and profits
HRM practices is essential for executing business activities and operation smoothly. They
play essential role in bringing consistency and develop proper co-ordination among all division.

For attaining high competitive edge in the market place. However in the absence of these
practices, profits and sustainability of the firm is adversely affected. Therefore, in order to
achieve business goals and objectives, Sainsbury is following this concept in an effective
manner. Keeping in mind various HRM practices, company formulate strategies that promote
employee interest and welfare (Jiang and et. al., 2012).
Application of these practices must ensure that Sainsbury complete all its defined task in
its given time frame so that they can beat competition which is prevailing in the market. Also it
help manager in selecting most suitable and competent personnel for company. Chances of
yielding higher profitability increases when competent candidate is appointed by company.
Further, it also identify what are the strength and weakness of employees so that
Sainsbury can arrange adequate training and development session for them that help in
increasing their overall profitability and as results higher profits can be generated. Working
environment also play key role in motivating employee to work incredibly hard towards
completing task which is assigned in its respective time frame. As a result, overall profitability
and productivity of Sainsbury increases (Marchington and et. al., 2016).
Human resource practices also assists in designing healthy workplace, reward
management etc. healthy workplace contributes in increasing engagement of employees. So, it is
very essential for manager of Sainsbury to maintain a healthy work environment. Reward
management is also very essential as it helps in increasing motivation of employees. Managers
should ensure to provide intrinsic and extrensic rewards to employees for their work so that they
gets motivated and work towards attainment of goals and objectives of company. All these
human resource management practices helps manager in raising profits and productivity of
company.
Hergberg Duel factor theory:
This theory was proposed by Frederic Herzberg which states that job satisfaction rely on
two types of factors, for satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Job status, performance, growth
opportunities in terms of providing them personal and professional development etc. are fall
under satisfiers. Secondary working conditions, physical workplace etc. are fall under dis-
satisfiers. This theory claims that these factors function on same plane. Application of this theory
at workplace helps manager of Sainsbury in increasing motivation level of workforce. For
motivating team, managers are require to consider hygiene factors along with motivational

factors. This will assists in high employee motivation which in turn raises profits and
productivity of company. For example: If manager of Sainsbury provide growth opportunities to
employees by providing them appropriate training programme to develop their skills, then they
get motivate and work effectively towards attaining goals and objectives of company. Creation
of healthy workplace environment is also one of factor that assists Sainsbury's manager in
improving satisfaction level of manpower.
TASK 2
P5 Significance of good employee relation
Employee relation is characterizes as the relationship amongst administration and
employees. It is essential for firm to keep up strong relations between them. It completely relies
upon how adequately they work and perform towards achievement of objectives and targets of
the organization. Manpower are considered as critical resource of a company. Therefore, it is
crucial for firm to involve their workers in the process of making decisions.
Sustainability and growth of company depend on working of human resource. It is
essential for manager to keep maintain good relations among workforce and employer so that a
positive work environment is keep maintained at workplace. By this, workers don't hesitate to
pass on their issues to administration and furthermore helps the administrator in taking
appropriate decisions by offering their perspectives to them in regards to issues. Sainsbury's
utilize different techniques to increase commitment of workers in activities of enterprise.
Engagement of employees in activities of business concern helps in enhancing
commitment and coordination among workers. In order to increase participation of employees
within firm, managers conduct various activities & programmes. This helps in maintaining good
relation between management and workforce which ultimately increase productivity of firm.
Strong relation amongst employer and workforce assists in reducing chances of conflicts (Mok
and et. al., 2013). A healthy work environment remains maintain within company and all the
employees work coordinately with each other. It additionally helps with creating coordination
and participation among colleagues and they work viably in groups. It helps in maximizing
efficiency of company and promotes loyalty of workforce towards firm. It helps Sainsbury's in
retention of employees and declines down worker turnover ratio of organization.
Strong worker relation assists in maximizing motivation level of personnel which
encourage them to work in better manner to wards accomplishment of objectives and goal of

organization. Good practices regarding human resource management help in increasing team
working. Sainsbury's manager put various efforts to maintain good relation between employer
and manpower so that performance and productivity of firm as well as its workforce can
increases and goals & set targets can be achieved (Nickson, 2013).
P6 Key Employee Legislation component in HRM
Equality Act, 2010 : According to this enactment, firm is require to administer equal and
fair opportunities to all employees. They should ensure that no discrimination can takes place
within firm on the basis of religion, age, gender, colour, culture etc. Organizations are requiring
to give equal chances to its workforce for their growth and development. This will helps in
promoting positive work environment and chances of conflicts becomes reduce by this. Equality
ensures unity among workers which brings better outcomes in an effective manner.
Working Environment Act: Manpower is considered as main asset of company that
highly contributes towards accomplishing business objective. So, in order to increase retention of
employees for longer period of time, it is imperative to promote positive surroundings at
workplace. For timely completion of work, it is very necessary for manager of company to keep
encouraging their staff members and motivate them so that they feel happy and healthy
workplace keeps maintain. Healthy work surroundings promote team working and coordination
which further helps in attaining objectives and targets of company.
Data Protection act, 1998: According to this enactment, workers are not permitted to
share any confidential data or information with others. There are some circumstances when
employee for individual advantage spill out private data of enterprise. In such condition,
individual is solely responsible for its consequences (Purce, 2014).
Health and Safety Act, 1974 : This enactment expresses that organizations are required to
frame approaches after keeping in mind well being and security issues of employees. They needs
to consider health and safety of workforce first and formulate policies accordingly. For example,
Different arrangements are made for workers who health issues. Medical facilities and necessary
medicines are also provided to them.
Proper Compensation: Manpower works towards accomplishing of goals and targets of
company. Similar to that, firms are also required to satisfy their workforce by fulfilling their
requirements. So, firms are require to give recognition to their manpower for their good work
and provide them proper compensations. They should appraise them by providing financial and

non-money rewards. In addition to that, frequent reviews & appraisal motivates workforce which
results in high profitability of company (Sparrow and et. al., 2016).
P7 Application of human resource management practices
Illustration: In Sainsbury's, there is a vacancy for assistant human resource manager. In order to
fill this job position, human resource manager made a job description which detailed
information regarding job. This job description is defined below:
Job description
Job Description
Organisation Name Sainsbury's
Job Designation Assistant human resource manager
Location United Kingdom
Reporting To Human resource manager
Roles and Responsibilities  Recruit and hire skilled and knowledgable
candidates that meets set criteria.
 Conduct various activities and functions to
increases participation of workforce.
 Effective attainment of goals and objectives.
 Increase performance and productivity of firm as
well as its workforce.
 Design appropriate training and development
programmes to enhance skills and capabilities.
Working Hours 10: 00am to 7:00 pm

Salary 18000- 21000 $ per month
Working Facilities Incentives, Render flexible working hours, compensation
& benefit, Yearly holiday, breakfast etc.
Curriculum Vitae:
Name: PQR
Contact no.: 6784632467
Email: [e-mail]
Qualification:
PGDM/MBA University 87.00%
Graduation University 75.00%
Senior Secondary Education London school 88.50%
Secondary education London school 87.50%
Personalized information
Father's name: GHI
Mother's name: ABC