HRM Report: Exploring HR Practices, Employee Engagement, and Law

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, focusing on the John Lewis Partnership as a case study. It begins by outlining the purpose, key roles, and responsibilities of the HR function, emphasizing its impact on employee performance and organizational productivity. The report then examines different approaches to HRM, including recruitment and selection methods (internal vs. external), and evaluates the effectiveness of various HRM practices, such as fair compensation and reward systems. It explores employee relations, employee engagement using the Zinger model, and flexible working arrangements. Additionally, the report discusses key aspects of employment legislation and its application in a work-related context. The analysis highlights how John Lewis utilizes various HRM strategies to enhance employee motivation, improve working conditions, and achieve its business objectives. Finally, the report offers insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different HRM approaches, providing a balanced perspective on the subject.

HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................1
P1. Purpose of Hr function, key roles and responsibilities of Hr function.............................1
P2. Approaches of Hr functions.............................................................................................2
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................4
P3. Examine the different methods used in HR practices in employers and employees context.
................................................................................................................................................4
P4 Evaluate effectiveness of different HRM practices...........................................................6
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................6
P5. Approaches of employee relation, employee engagement and flexible working............6
P6. Key aspects of employment legislation............................................................................9
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................10
P7. The application of HRM practices in a work-related context........................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Human resource management is the process of managing and controlling employees in
the company. It involves the recruiting and selecting, training and motivating to employees. It is
the way by company hire new candidates and give training to those new workers (Albrecht and
et.al., 2015.). Present study is based on “John lewis partnership” is established in 1929 at
London. John lewis company world's largest group in UK private company. The chain image is
good and upmarket. It appeals strongly with any shoppers. Study lays emphasis on the purpose
of human resource management function in organisation. Report will highlight the effectiveness
of the key element of HRM practices. Study will analysis internal and external factors how affect
to decision making of Hr manager. Report will also include the employment law how effective
for organisation to maintain discipline in firm. It is also highlighted human resource
management practices in organization work environment.
LO 1
P1. Purpose of Hr function, key roles and responsibilities of Hr function.
Hr functions are plays an important role in the organization. It is help to increase
performance of employees (Functions of HRM, 2017). The main purpose of human resource
management is to increase the productivity of organisation by utilizing the effectiveness of
employees.
Functions of human resource management
Training and development: it is an important function of hrm. It is helpful for improving
performance of present and future employees. It is responsibility of John lewis to provide
effective trainings to improve employees skills for their job roles. Training and development
program help to employee for make them more professional. This help to increase profit and
productivity of employee and employer.
Maintaining good working condition: Maintaining good working condition is very important
function of Hr practices. Effective and good working environment help to motivate the
employees. It is give positive effect on employee performance (Alexander and Haley‐Lock,
2015). The main responsibility of managers of John lewis to make good and healthy work
condition in organisation. Good work environment help to motivate the employees towards the
goal of firm.
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Recruitment and selection: It is most important function of HRM. It is the process of screening
and selecting candidate for the vacant post in the organisation. Roles and responsibility of John
lewis manger is to hire right candidate for the vacant post. This is help to improve productivity of
firm. Effective recruitment and selection process help to hire eligible person for organisation.
Significance of Hr function
HRM system of the John lewis has significantly impact on peoples and organizational
effectiveness (Bailey and et.al., 2018). This help meet with talent of employees to achieve
business objective. It is help to bring consistency in hrm practices and improve people relation at
John lewis. It is also helped to analysis the factors are affect to business through that they are
able to achieve goal of company.
P2. Approaches of Hr functions.
A systematic approaches are beneficial in that it prioritizes the company's objectives and
goals.
Approaches of recruitment and selection
Recruitment and selection process help to identify the best candidate for the organisation.
There are two approaches of recruitment and selection process which is internal and external
sources. John lewis can use the both approaches to hire eligible person for the vacant post. This
is effective and good for the organisation. Internal process includes the promotion, transfer of
employee to another post. This is easy and simple process of selection method. External process
includes the direct recruitment, employment exchange, advertisement and campus recruitment.
This encourage the new opportunities for job seekers and increase the organisation branding.
External process is more effective and good for the organisation because through this company
able to find the best candidate. John lewis includes interview and IQ test in their recruitment and
selection process.
The different methods of internal recruitment are :
Career ladders : It is the kind of promotion of workers which is based on their performance in
an organization. The main advantage of the career ladders as an internal recruitment method is
that it helps management in positively influencing other people to increase their participation and
improve their performance at workplace. Biggest drawback of internal recruitment is that it
might lead to high level of demotivation in other workers.
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Transfer : It is the method of internal recruitment where company transfer some of their talented
as well a skilled worker to other branch. The main advantage is that it is less costly method of
filling the job vacancy. Major drawback is that it might lead to the high level of dissatisfaction
among workers.
Different methods of external recruitment :
Advertisement : Management in John lewis company can be given job advert in the newspaper.
The main advantages of the advertisement is that it will help an organization in getting the pool
of candidate out of which they can select the talented candidates. The main drawback of
advertisement is that it can be quite time as well as cost consuming procedure.
Employment exchange : In relation to John lewis company, management in an organisation can
seek support from placement agency in order to hire talented as well as skilled employees. The
main advantage of seeking support from employment exchange is that companies will not have
to bear additional expenses in hiring the candidate. In addition to this, by seeking support from
the employment exchange, management in John lewis organization can save time which can be
utilised for performing other core tasks.
Strength and weakness of different approaches of recruitment and selection process
Selection process
Interview Strength
 it is useful and effective to obtain
detailed information about the personal
feelings
 this can be achieve high response rate.
Weakness
 it is very time consuming process
 it can be more costly
Group discussion Strength
 it is interactive method of taking
decision of selecting new employees.
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 It enables students are pay attention and
it involved.
Weakness
 it is easy to tack side.
 Insecure students are take more time in
speaking up.
LO 2
P3. Examine the different methods used in HR practices in employers and employees context.
Hr practices those which is improved their employees skill through better leadership
quality. It is focus on needs of organization as well as needs of employees.
Recruitment and selection
It is the process of searching and hiring candidate for organization. There is two methods
of this process which is help to fill vacant post.
 Internal method: This method refers to hiring employees within the organization
internally. This method is the best way of selecting the employee's performance of work
is known to organization (Hosseini Imani and et.al., 2018). That includes promotion,
transfer, internal job positing and previous applicants.
 External method: under this method employees hired by the outside from company.
External employees have fresh and innovative thoughts which is helpful for the
organization growth and help to become more innovations. This method includes direct
recruitment, advertisement, employment agencies and campus recruitment.
For example: Travelogue is best tour and travel company and to filled vacant post by uses of
internal method of recruitment process. Whereas, John lewis uses the external recruitment
method to hire new employee within the company which is best for improve productivity and
increase innovation in company.
This approaches have more beneficial for the employer and employees perspective.
Benefit of recruitment and selection procedure to employer
In this recruitment process employer is more beneficial for because with the help of this
recruitment process employer got highly educated and qualified employee for the vacant post.
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Selection process is more beneficial for the employer because with the help of this they
can get idea of employees ability and aptitude skills
Benefit of recruitment and selection to employees
Employee got best and effective job. In context of selection procedure, employee have
opportunity to show their skill and talent to employers.
Rewards system
Effective rewards system help to company is more competitive and retain key employees
and help to reduce turnover (Kavanagh and et.al., 2017). That can also raise employees
motivating and reward image of an organization front of existing and future employees. There
are two type of reward system these are as follows:
 Financial reward system: This rewards are monetary incentives that employee get as the
result of their performance. Pay increase, bounce, cash prize and gifts are a great way to
rewards employees.
 Non-financial rewards system: Non-financial rewards are help to inspire and engage the
employee. Through these rewards, employees are highly motivated and give their hard
contribution to achieve goal of company. Promotion, feedback, appreciation this includes
in non-financial rewards system.
Benefit of reward system to employer
 Reward system is more effective and valuable for employer, because with the help of this
employer makes their employees feel motivated. In addition to this, by implementing the
reward system management can positively influence people to make their significant
contribution in accomplishment of business goals. It is the reward system which has
assisted John lewis company in reducing the employees turnover rate.
For example: Travelogue uses bounce and cash prize as in it reward system and John lewis uses
promotion and feedback rewards system to motivate the employees.
Benefit of reward system to employees
It is the reward system which help employees in getting the high level of satisfaction
from their job. The reward system makes employees feel valuable.
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P4 Evaluate effectiveness of different HRM practices.
The effectiveness of different HRM practices in terms of rising profit and productivity of
organisation.
 Fair and performance based compensation : It is considered to be as one of good
practice performed by HRM in John lewis company which has assisted an organization
in increasing productivity as well as profitability. It is the extra pay which positively
influence people to make increase their participation in business activities. Fair and
performance based compensation is effective as it has assisted management in providing
the high level of motivation as well as job satisfaction to workers.
 Rewards system is effective and valuable for the growth of company. Company manager
is use for motivating employees towards giving hard contribution for achieving goals and
objective of company. With the help of motivation employees are highly motivated and
ready to give hard contribution for improve productivity and profit of firm.
LO 3
P5. Approaches of employee relation, employee engagement and flexible working.
Approaches are help to John lewis for improving their productivity and profit of
employees relationship and engagement.
Zinger model of employment engagement
Employee engagement is very important in the organization. This model give
organisation with 12 keys a manager have to follow for achieve goal of the company.
1. Achieve results: Higher level of employment engagement is the aim of this model for
achieve desired result of company (Zinger model of employee engagement, 2017). John
lewis manager need to work on self as well as the employees by making effective
strategies of employee engagement that is help to achieve goal.
2. Craft strategies: Create effective strategies to achieve higher level of employee
engagement is best task of managers. In that manager of John lewis involves lots of
planning. This help to manager to make professional management in order to create
effective strategies.
3. Enliven roles: Employees do their work more effectively when it is interesting to them.
Manager of John lewis try to make friendly work their task and responsibilities. This will
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help to reduce the elements of weariness from the job to keep them interested in their
work (Lee and et.al., 2019).
4. Excel at work: Motivate the employees to perform work best. John lewis uses this system
for encouraging and rewarding employees for their best performance.
5. Get connected: Communication is best for every managerial process. Manager of John
lewis must connected with their employees that is help to solve the problems and give
advice to perform their task.
6. Be authentic: Employees are always expected to their leaders they are authentic and
genuine. John lewis, top management and Hr team as well as manager shows their
genuine concern to solve problems of employees. They give hard efforts to help them.
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Illustration 1: Zinger model
(Source : Zinger model of employee engagement, 2017)

7. Live recognition: John lewis recognize efforts of employees in front of every for boost
their moral and also to encourage them to keep with organization.
8. Fully engage: It's simply means is that when employees are fully engaged with the
organisation and other employees, then it is help to achieve desired result of John lewis.
9. Identify organization: Employees are act with organization for lengthy then they feel
more connected to organization (Makhecha and et.al., 2018). Management of John lewis
understand that employees are most important assets of organisation.
10. Serve customer: Engaged employees are able to serve customers in the best manner. John
lewis provide effective knowledge according to tradition and culture to their employees.
That is help to give best services to their customer.
11. Develop personally: organization must focus on overall development of an employee.
Employee who grow with John lewis are deep connected to their work which help to
improve productivity and profit of company.
12. Attain happiness: Happy and satisfied employees are more loyal for the John lewis to
achieve their goal. The success of highly productive business is come for their happy
employee.
Employee engagement consider all important aspects that impact the involvement or employees
within the organization (Manroop, 2015).
Atkinson flexibility model
Atkinson flexible model is a managerial technique model which used to optimised
allocation of human resources according to the market flexibility and its suitability in the
organization. Atkinson has three different forms of flexibility that are as follows:
Functional area: This is associate high level skill of the worker at different task. This allow
John lewis to provide appropriate training and relocate the payment and rewards to motivate the
employees in the organization.
Numerical area: Numerical flexibility means that employer can match the demand of employee.
Manager of John lewis can achieve this by the different flexible employment method like short
term contract, outsourcing and temporary workers (Atkinson flexibility model, 2017).
Financial flexibility: This refers to capacity of organization to adjust the price of worker
according to their needs and wants of the worker within the John lewis. This related to and
supportive of numerical and functional flexibility.
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This model help to create more flexible work environment in organisation which is help to
improve productivity and profit of the organisation.
Employees relation with organisation
The success of organization is depends on relation of employer and employee. Positive
and effective relation is always helped to improve productivity of organisation. Rewards system
and best training help to create positive relation between employer and employee (Stauss and
Seidel, 2019). According to Zinger model, employee engagement is important and this provide
best keys that manger follow for achieve goal of company.
Manager of John lewis tries give the best recognition to their employee for enhance their
motivation. Boost motivation of employees is best and effective way of making strong relations
with employee. Strong relation of employer and employee help to take effective decision within
the organization according to the situation and also help meet with business objective. It is help
to improve productivity of company. John lewis make strategies to create effective relations with
the employers like communication, schedule a get together on timely basis, involve team mates
together in every task.
Impact of employee legislation
The law govern employment in the work is known as employment law. Employee
legislation safety and healthy environment, worker compensation act, anti-discrimination law.
Employment law regulate the rights between employers and employee. These rule is made and
designed for keep employee safe and also stop the discriminations at workplace and give the
equality at John lewis. These laws are help to maintain discipline in the organisation. That are
also affected to decision-making process of company. According to acts, John lewis able to take
effective and right decisions to their employees (von Bonsdorff and et.al., 2018). But sometimes
sudden changes in laws affect to company. For example: some changes in law of compensation,
that means John lewis have to make changes in their previous process. But laws are help to
improve quality of employees and productivity as well as meet with business objectives.
P6. Key aspects of employment legislation
Employment legislation is the law of employment within the organization which is
allowed by the government. This is affected to the policies of the organization. The law are as
follows:
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Anti-discrimination act 1991: This law prohibits discrimination like sex, relationship status,
parental status, family responsibility etc. John lewis must have to treat their employees same
according to their performances and also take fair decision (Mao and et.al., 2016). Company give
same right to employees as well as the female employees. This help to motivate the employees. It
is good for improving profit and productivity of John lewis.
Safety and healthy act 1974: Healthy and safe work environment is important for organization.
According to this act company have to provide safe work environment to their employees in the
organization like safe working condition, flexible working time etc. It is duty of John lewis to
provide protection to employees, specially to woman employee (Piehler and et.al., 2015).
Through this law John lewis provide health insurance protection to their employees.
Employment right act 1996: Employment right act provide some significant rights to
employees who are working in company. Employment, leaves, study or trainings are the right of
employees who are working in the John lewis. For example: John lewis employees do overtime
work in organization for complete the work fast and shortly. Against this they have to pay
overtime money to them. This is right of employees.
Worker's compensation act 1906: Workers compensation law says provide compensation,
insurance, benefits and rewards to their employees. John lewis give their employees
compensation. For example: if employee is injured at workplace, then mangers of John lewis
have to pay compensation against injuries. This will help to motivate the employee towards give
hard contribution to improve productivity of organization.
LO 4
P7. The application of HRM practices in a work-related context
HRM is an effective to manage people effectively for their performances. This HRM
practices help to achieving objectives and improve productivity in the organization.
Description of job
Title of job Human resource assistant
Reports to John lewis partnership (CEO)
Responsibilities Managing job application, scheduling interviews, assisting current
employees with their queries.
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