The Disability Discrimination Act is also an important act which a company such as Blacks needs to consider. The working conditions need to be made suitable for people with disabilities, so that they also have the same opportunities to work. Despite Blacks being a chain with relatively small stores, it needs to address the issue of giving those with disabilities the opportunity to work within such an environment. Blacks have tried to accommodate for this by providing lifts at stores where there are two floors such as the Brent Cross branch. They also provide a ramp at the Harrow branch, where those with disabilities find it easier to use, rather than steps.
The Employment Equality Act, very much relates to the Race Relations Act, and has to do with respecting all people who work within the organisation, and treating all people as equals. This act is particularly important in that it now means that the working conditions should be exactly the same, no matter who is working. As previously mentioned, organisations need to respect the beliefs and values of individuals. One should not be discriminated against, because they do not share the same beliefs as someone else within the organisation. The employment equality act means to treat each person equally, and to go one step further in ensuring that people do actually feel happy working within the organisation, as they are respected for what they do, rather than who they are. Blacks needs to adopt this within their work practices, as it is vital that no one feels as if they are being victimised due to the colour of their skin, or their religion.
Equal opportunity also needs to be adopted, whereby all people are given the chance to apply for a promotion, or another job within the organisation. The corporate name that Blacks wishes to have, is a good company who looks after their employees, and ensure that all people are given the same opportunities, and that all are treated the same. They wish to build on that as they believe that the workforce is a core part of the success of their company, therefore keeping good relations with them is extremely important.
Part-time workers (prevention of the less favourable treatment) regulation aims to ensure that part-time workers are not treated less favourably than full-time workers. This means they receive the same rate of pay. They are also not excluded from training at Blacks but everyone is given training. They also receive entitle holidays depending on the amount of days they work.
The Fixed Term Employees (prevention of less favourable treatment) Regulation indicates that all part-time or temporary workers must be treated no less different to the full-time or permanent workers.
The temporary holiday staff and other part-time workers are treated equally to the full timers. They are given the same respect as the full timers because the part-timers all work mostly on the weekend and are relied upon. They carry out the same responsibilities that the weekday staff do and are paid the same.
The same type of contract is given to both full-timers and part-timers. This improves the employer and employee relations because as they treat everyone the same at Blacks. By doing this they are promoting a friendlier environment with less conflict occurring due to irregularities.
The Equal Pay Act means that Blacks should give men and women equal treatment in the terms and conditions of their employment contract and they should both also be on the same wage.
There is also the important National Minimum Wage Act of 1998, which states that each person, depending on their age must be paid a minimum wage. Any organisation who fails to meet this requirement could be taken to court, with bad consequences, not only financial but also in terms of their company name. For example, those who are over 18 by law must be paid a minimum of £5.05. It is vital that Blacks take the issue of the minimum wage into consideration.
When taking into consideration the wage, Blacks need to consider the physiological needs that its employees require, and from there decide the best payment they could offer. Blacks are also seen as a specialist company, whose employees have a certain skill, and knowledge about their products which others do not simply have.
They are in fact addressing this issue to a certain extent, by paying all staff that are over 18 a good wage of £5.80 per hour. They also offer a generous pension schemes to employees, showing that they care about their workforce.
The contract that is agreed is very important at Blacks if they are to comply with the working time regulation. This regulation states that employers must provide 11 hours rest per shift of every employee, give 48 hour maximum working hours per week to an employee for who works 5 days or 6 days a week and give a minimum 4 weeks annual paid leave.
Blacks comply with this European Union legislation and observe and demonstrate this law by checking the staff’s daily rota to make sure no one has been given any more hours that exceed that amount by mistake. This acts as a safety net for workers as they cannot be asked to do more hours than 48 hours per week. Doing and checking rota’s improves the working conditions as everyone knows when they are working and how many hours they are working.
Employment equality regulation for sexual orientation is EU legislation, which means the legislation acts as an aim to provide protection on the grounds of sexual orientation. An example of how Blacks demonstrate this law is by having several women and men in charge of the store on different days.
This act is very similar to the sex discrimination act where a person cannot be discriminated against because of their gender in category such as when it comes to recruitment and selection.
The social chapter
The European Union’s social chapter is an attempt to encourage minimum wages and conditions of work in member countries. It was argued that a business may attempt to respond to falling profits or greater competition by cutting costs. This of course could lead to poor pay and work conditions for employees to prevent this, member countries outlined an agreement which covered such areas as:
- A limit on hours of work
- Fair reasonable rewards
- Minimum wages
- Access to training
- Worker involvement in decision making
- Health and safety
- Union recognition
- Equal opportunities
Overall, we can get a clear view how the employment laws in general can have a big impact on both the working conditions and practices within Blacks. On the whole, Blacks tries to take each employment law into consideration, and tries to act upon it, by providing healthy and equal working conditions for all. It also tries to adopt certain practices, beneficial in complying with the laws of the state.
