Employee Contributions to Working Conditions

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BTEC First Diploma in Business

Employee Contributions to Working Conditions

The business organisation that I have chosen for my assignment is Argos Extra.  Argos Extra is a retail shop that was founded in 1973 and is now UK’s leading general retailer.  It supplies customers with an extra 3,500 products with the widest choice of home ware.  It is owned by GUS plc and has over 600 stores in Ireland.  Argos Extra publishes two catalogues a year, which is the spring and summer editions in January and autumn and winter in July.  Argos Extra supports one charity, which is Help the Hospices; this charity was chosen by the employees and will be partnership with Argos until July 2007.

Argos mission statement states:

“We provide our customers with best value for money through the most convenient shopping experience.”

Argos Extra is in the tertiary sector because it provides services to the general public.  It is also in the private sector, as private individuals own it.

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The reason I choose this business organisation is because of its customer needs and other reasons, which are:

  • Argos makes sure that they take great care in satisfying their customers especially when their customers are using online for buying goods.
  • Argos’ staffs make sure they are always on time with orders and making sure their customers have the best service when they are in store, through the Internet and also on the telephone.
  • Argos supply different kinds of items such as furniture for home and garden, household appliances, computing products, sports and leisure equipment, children’s toys and games etc.
  • Argos is able to offer customer value for money prices – This means that it has a low cost business model and wants to maintain its customer level.  They are making sure that customers hear about new existing offers and also by having a monthly booklet that provides the latest offers.  They do this by reducing product prices and doing offers, which maybe the customer buys a CD player and a CD ring binder for free.

The three jobs I have chosen within my organisation are Store Manager, Sales and Marketing Manager and Supervisor.  Each of these job titles has different responsibilities and duties to carryout Argos.

The Terms and Conditions of Employment

Employment terms and conditions

When a job has been obtained for employee to come and work in the organisation then employment contract would have to be signed by the employee.  The aim of signing a contract is to understand the terms and conditions that would be offered by the employer.

Furthermore, terms and conditions of employment could be the set of rules, policies and procedures written out for employers and employees for them to abide by it.  The terms set the limits and limitations for the parties if the business needs to run smoothly.

Contract of employment

A contract is a legal agreement that is oral or written agreement between two or more parties, which is enforceable by law. The agreement creates a legal relationship of rights and duties.  Some of the basic information that contracts may consist is:

  • The working hours
  • Holidays
  • Sick pay
  • Job requirements
  • Training
  • Health and safety
  • Company rules and regulations
  • Disciplinary rules and grievance procedures
  • Codes of behaviour and other company policy
  • It is required that a written contract be issued to an employee within eight weeks (two months) of starting work at the latest, that is, if the job is a month and above.

There are a lot of rights of employees and some of them are as follows:

  • To be provided with a safe working conditions.
  • They should be paid on other benefits, such as, maternity leave, sick leave.
  • The right not to be forced to work more that 48 hours a week.
  • The right to be paid a salary at/above the minimum wage rate if the employee is over 18.
  • Employees meet the terms of their contracts, that is, the work hours stated in their contract

Job descriptions provide a summary of what a job is all about.  Job descriptions are required for recruitment so that the role can be understood.  Job descriptions are necessary for all people in work in a business in order for them to know what kind of job he/she is focusing on so he/she wouldn’t be confused.  A job description clearly defines what the job is about and what can be expected from the job and it benefits both the employer and the employee to be clear as to what the job will entail.  A job description defines a person's role and accountability and it is not about the person but about the job.  As an employee, the person is given or has the opportunity to take responsibility for the job description.

The purpose of a job description allows an employer to account for all aspects of the job it offers.  Details that are written in a job description would be:

  • The job title
  • Who is accountable for the employee
  • The location of the job
  • A brief description of what the job requires.
  • A list of duties and responsibilities
  • Hours of work
  • Working conditions
  • Salary
  • External and internal contacts
  • Date of the job description was written/reviewed

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These are the terms and conditions for the three job roles I have provided and its description for each of them in detail.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Job 1

The job description for the Store Manager is different from other terms of employments because their responsibility is to be charge of the store and be able to manage the staff in an appropriate way.  The salary for the Store Manager is £28k - £32k.  Every Argos & Argos Extra has got a Store Manager to run the store properly.

The Store Manager will be responsible for anything that happens to the employee and also needs to take account of the employees’ general behaviour in the Argos Extra.  The Manager deals with the running of the store according to the company’s rules and regulation.  Managers motivate the staff in the organisation to work hard and do their best, balancing the needs of staff with ensuring that jobs are completed on time and to the right standard.  Managers have the right about making sure the staff or customers are kept pleased and satisfied, as this is part of their role.  The manager set goals, set up rules of operating, communicating and decision-making.

Store Managers manages the stores and may plan advertising campaigns and sales promotion, hire and train personnel.  Store Managers may also oversee the re-modelling of the store, plan the layout of the store and the design display of the store as well and also decide on the selling strategies.  There is a possibility that Store Managers do supervise employees or do sales work.  The Store Managers would be there to represent the store in negotiating with manufacturers.  Within small stores, Store Managers are likely to perform most of the duties while in a large store like Argos Extra; they may direct others in their duty.

In Argos Extra, the Store Managers’ working conditions could include a considerable amount of walking and standing in the store since their duties may take them every part of the store.  The Store Manager frequently involve with a variety of people, both staff and the purchasers because this is a part of managers’ job.


Job 1 – Main Terms of Employment

Name: Lucy Smith

Job Title: Store Manager

Type: Permanent

Company: Argos Extra

Place of work: Romford

Date of commencement of employment: 23 August 2002

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 + package

Date paid: 27th day of each month

Hours of work: 37.5 hours each week over 5 days, Monday to Friday

Holiday pay: Normal rate for all holidays including bank and public holidays

Sick pay entitlement: You be entitled to be paid to sick leave or injury under the company’s sick pay scheme.

Health and safety at work: All employees must comply with the health and safety policy and also the rules laid down by the Health and Safety at Work Act and any other relevant regulations that regards to the health and safety at work.

Disciplinary rules and procedures: The disciplinary rules and procedures are fully explained in the employee handbook.

Date of issue of this document: 24 July 2002

Signed ………………………. (Employee)

Signed ………………………. (Employer)


Job 1 – Job Description

Retail Store Manager

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Job 2

The job description for the Sales and Marketing Manager will be the responsibility and accountability of all the employees in Argos Extra.  Sales assistant operate cash registers and accept payment, or prepare finance documents, such as, invoices, delivery notes, etc.  Their duties mostly include packaging goods for customers, working within the till.

Sales and Marketing Managers organises a team of sales representatives and come up with a strategies for the team to sell their company’s products or services.  It is possible that Sales and Marketing Managers could be responsible for selling any kind of products or ...

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