Human Resource Management at Woolworths †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource Management at Woolworths. Answer: Introduction Human resource management is an important activity for any business organization. This is because, the human resource is the most important resource for a business organization, and hence its effective management is necessary. This assignment highlights a human resource management issue that is faced by one of the most famous business organizations of Australia, Woolworths. The background of the organization is highlighted, along with the HR issues identified. The current HR policies of Australia are highlighted, along with the recommended HR policies. The causes of the issue faced have been shed light upon and the ways to ensure that such incidents could be avoided is also mentioned in this assignment. Background of the organization Woolworths is the largest retail chain of Australia. The first Woolworths store was established in 1924. With time and hard work of the employees, the company has become the largest retail chain in Australia and New Zealand (Welcome to Woolworths, 2017). In the present day, Woolworths employs more than thousands of people in Australia and New Zealand and caters to the needs of millions of customers. The company follows a tall structure with various levels of hierarchy (Welcome to Woolworths, 2017). Since the company is a large one, with thousands of employees, hence the tall structure is effective in ensuring proper functioning of the company. The HR issue identified One of the major human resource management issues that have been faced by Woolworths in the recent times is the allegation of poor pay for the trolley collectors (Maguire, 2017). On 30th May 2016, a news published in The Human Resource Director, Australia, highlighted the fact that allegations against the company has been brought due to the low wages paid to the trolley collectors in the supermarket chain (Maguire, 2017). Following this allegation, the Fair Work Ombudsman had sent out a general warning regarding the discrimination and mentioned that the company is likely to face prosecution for the discrimination in the wages (Maguire, 2017). The enquiry began in 2014 and the Fair Work Ombudsman hoped that the discrimination of the trolley collectors will be mitigated and moral and ethical responsibility will be ensured. Another major retail chain Coles faced a similar issue. However, they rectified their policy and ensured that no discrimination of the trolley collectors will be don e in future. Unlike Coles, Woolworths did not revise their pay scales. They tried to establish the fact that Woolworths pays the right amount of compensation of the trolley collectors. HR policies of Australia The HR policies in Australia ensure that equal pay among the employees are implemented by all the business organizations (Brewster, Mayrhofer Morley, 2016). Moreover, discrimination among the employees based on their age, cast and gender is not accepted in the HR policies in Australia (Stone, 2013). According to the HR policies of Australia, the discrimination of the employees in the wages being paid is violation of the Fair Pay Act ("Fair Work Commission | Australia's national workplace relations tribunal", 2017). Thus, the HR issues that took place in Woolworths resulted in the non-compliance of the HR policies in Australia. Recommended HR practices In order to ensure that the similar HR issues do not occur in Woolworths, the discrimination of the employees on the basis of the wages should not be indulged. Moreover, equality among the employees has to be ensured, such that Woolworths do not enter into controversy due to HR management issues (Sparrow Brewster Chung, 2016). With the warning published against Woolworths by the Ombudsman, the company rejected the warning. They ensured that the trolley collectors were well paid and ensured that they practiced fair work in their organization. The HR has to ensure that employees are satisfied with the policies of the business organization. The equal pay of the trolley collectors will ensure employee satisfaction, thus resulting in employee retention. Conclusion Human resource management is an important activity that has to be taken up by any business organization. it is important that the HRM ensures that no discrimination among the employees should be indulged in the business organization. Discrimination in the wages has to be mitigated, so that Woolworths abide the policies set by the fair work commission. The HR issue that have been faced by Woolworths resulted in loss of the goodwill. Coles faced a similar issue. However, they ensured that they trolley collectors are paid with the right among of wages, abiding by the HR policies of Australia. Thus, Woolworths have to ensure that HR policies are successfully abided by, in order to avoid controversies in future. References Brewster, C., Mayrhofer, W., Morley, M. (Eds.). (2016).New challenges for European resource management. Springer. Fair Work Commission | Australia's national workplace relations tribunal. (2017).Fair Work Commission. Available at: https://www.fwc.gov.au/ [Accessed on 25 Aug 2017] Maguire, J. (2017). Woolworths hits back against exploitation claims.HR Online. Available at: https://www.hcamag.com/hr-news/woolworths-hits-back-against-exploitation-claims-216760.aspx [Accessed on 25 Aug 2017] Sparrow, P., Brewster, C. Chung, C., (2016).Globalizing human resource management. Routledge. Stone, J.R. (2013) Human Resource Management, 8th edn. Wiley, Australia Welcome to Woolworths. (2017). Woolworths.com.au. Available at: https://www.woolworths.com.au/ [Accessed on 25 Aug 2017]