Notes

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Employment and Work

Work is an activity that requires effort. For example doing your homework or washing dishes is work

Work that is carried out for payment is called employment

The difference between the two is that payment is received for working in a petrol station or a supermarket, while no payment is received for doing your homework or washing dishes

People who are employed are called employees

The person who employs others and pays them for work is called the employer

The Labour Force

All people in Ireland who are available for work are referred to as the labour force

It includes people who are employed as well as those who are unemployed

It does not include those who are not available for work, such as;

- Those retired

- Those who are still in school, college or on training courses

- Those who do not wish to work outside the home

Employment in Ireland

Employment in Ireland can be grouped into three main areas:

Agriculture

Industry

Services

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Agriculture

This sector includes all people employed in farming, forestry and fishing

The number of people employed in this sector has fallen over the last number of years

Agriculture has the smallest percentage of workers due to:

- New technology and machinery

- Young people are not interested in agriculture

- A lot of agriculture sold in Ireland is imported

Industry

This sector includes all the people who are employed by firms that manufacture goods as well as those firms involved in building and construction

It has the second largest number of employees in Ireland

Enterprise Ireland tries to increase employment in this area by encouraging new firms to set up and produce goods in Ireland

Services

This sector is the biggest employer in Ireland and includes all those people who work for firms and other organisations providing services to the consumer

For example, finance, insurance, communications, transport, administration, teachers and gardaí work in this sector

It also includes all those people who are employed in the tourism industry, including hotel workers, car rental and air travel

It increases each year as Ireland becomes a popular destination for foreign firms such as Google and Facebook

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Help for Unemployment

A regular payment - Jobseeker's Benefit or dole paid by the Department of Social Protection

Retraining programmes are organised by FÁS/ Solas to give the unemployed new skills to help them get jobs

Back- to - work programmes are organised by FÁS/ Solas to give unemployed people work experience

Benefits such as medical cards, fuel/ food vouchers and rent supplements to help reduce day to day expenses

Reducing Employment

Irish people could buy more Irish- made goods

People who are already employed could work less overtime

people who wish to do so could be given the opportunity to job share

Irish people could be encouraged to start their own business

Irish firms could try to become more efficient competitive

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Rights and Responsibilities of an Employee

Rights:

To receive a fair wage for the work they do

To be given safe and healthy working conditions

To join a trade union if they wish to

To receive the correct number of days holidays

To be treated the same as the other employees

Responsibilities:

The employee should be honest and trustworthy

The employee should do a far day's work for the money they receive

The employee should be on time for work

The employee should respect the property of the employer and not steal or damage it

Self- Employment

People who work for themselves are said to be self- employed

They want to be their own boss

Become more successful

Make more money

The may enjoy doing something as a hobby which they now want to turn into a career

They may be unemployed and unable to find a job

Risks and Rewards of Being Self- Employed

Rewards

You're your own boss

You make all the decisions

You choose your own working hours

You keep all the profits

You are dong something you enjoy and are good at

Risks

You must provide all the money to start a business

You could lose all the money you invest if things don't work out

You might have to work long hours

You are responsible for all areas of the business

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The Management Team

The managing director is the most senior employee in the firm and is n charge of the day-to- day running of the business

The marketing manager is responsible for the marketing department, all the firm's advertising and sales promotions and to keep the budget set for the department

The human resources manager interviews new staff when they are needed, to provide training courses for new and existing employees, to make sure that the workplace is safe and healthy and to talk to the trade union representative if there are any problems in the workplace

The sales manager tries to increase the sales of the firm's products to both new and existing customers, employ and trans salespeople and to keep in contact with the production manager so that enough goods are produced to fill all the orders

Jobs and Skills

Jobs:

Manual - Physical work, e. g building, painting

Clerical - Office work, e. g typing, word processing

Technical - Jobs that require a particular skill or knowledge as to know how and why machinery or equipment work

Administrative - Work that involves organising all the tasks necessary to get a job done

Services - Jobs that involve providing a service to others, e. g nursing, teaching and banking

Creative - Jobs that require the person to have a particular artistic talent, e. g musician, entertainer, dancer

Skills

Professionals: They have a professional qualification usually obtained from a university, e. g an accountant

Skilled: They have a skill, usually obtained from a training course or apprenticeship, e. g an electrician

Semi - skilled: They have been trained in one special area, usually by the firm itself, e. g a machine operator

Unskilled: They have no training or qualifications, e. g a cleaner

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Important Definitions

Work is any activity that requires effort

Employment is work carried out in return for payment

Employees are people who work for others in return for payment

Employers are people who hire others to do work for them in return for payment

The labour force consists of all people who are available to work

Unemployment is when people who are willing and able to work are unable to find a suitable job

People who work for themselves are said to be self- employed

An organisation structure shows the positions of each person in the business

The managing director is the most senior employee in the firm and is in charge of the day- to- day running of the business

A supervisor is the person on the factory floor who is responsible for making sure that others are carrying out their job properly