Employee Relations: An International Journal

Bamber, Greg J.; Shadur, Mark A.; Howell, Faith

1992 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459210013869

Discusses feasibility, desirability and value of Japanesemanagement strategies in a Western context. Major Japanese companies areat the leading edge in refining management strategies, techniques andstyles, for example, with regard to having a longterm perspective andthe continuous improvement of quality, stock control, skill formation,communications, training and employee development. As possible modelscan these approaches be transferred to different cultures

Macaulay, Ian R.; Wood, Roy C.

1992 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459210013878

Reports and analyses the findings of recent research undertaken infive Scottish centres to assess hotel and catering workers attitudes totrade unions. Initially, reviews the reasons advanced in explaining lowunion density in the hotel and catering industry. These explanationsformed the basis to the research project which are reported. Theresearch fieldwork comprised interviews with hotel and catering workersin a variety of establishments across a range of industry subsectors.Contrary to what would have been expected from a review of previousresearch, Scottish hotel and catering workers demonstrated positiveviews of trade unions and a high level of interest in union membership.In the light of such views, gives consideration to the reasons why hoteland catering workers remain largely nonunionized in terms of employerhostility to trade unions and employee doubts about the potential forunion success in the industry.

AdamSmith, Derek; Goss, David; Sinclair, Adele; Rees, Gary; Meudell, Karen

1992 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459210013887

The issue of AIDSHIV is currently a concern of many employingorganizations. Considers the contextual factors which surround AIDS as aworkplace issue in terms of legislation, state policy, and trade unionand employer positions. This is followed by an analysis of current UKcorporate AIDS policies. Identifies two approaches to policyformulation definsive and humanistic. The former regards AIDSHIVlargely in instrumental terms whereas the latter frames the issue as oneof social justice and responsibility. Considers the implications of eachposition and explores the prospects for future research and practice.

Hausiu Chow, Irene

1992 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459210013896

Examines the compensation method used in stateowned enterprises inthe Peoples Republic of China. A questionnaire survey of 504 workersattitudes towards compensation practices regarding wages, bonuses,pensions, unemployment compensation and other incentives was conducted.Research results revealed that there was strong agreement amongrespondents for the ranking of the different forms of compensationpractices. The respondents preferred a performancebased compensationsystem as opposed to an egalitarian system. These results give someinsight into designing a compensation package and the direction foreconomic reforms in enterprises.

Ackers, Peter; Marchington, Mick; Wilkinson, Adrian; Goodman, John

1992 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459210013904

British industrial relations has changed greatly over the pastdecade. A central development has been managements sponsorship of new,direct forms of employee involvement EI such as team briefing, qualitycircles and profit sharing. In many larger manufacturing firms newschemes now coexist with traditional unioncentred collectivebargaining structures. In 1988 Employee Relations Vol. 10 No. 6reported on a quality circle programme and a range of other EIinitiatives at Browns Woven Carpets. Here returns to Browns severalyears on, as part of a wider, Department of Employment funded researchproject on New Developments in Employee Involvementcarried out at Manchester School of Management, UMIST. The Browns caseillustrates how employee participation develops in successivewaves a major theme of the larger study. The firmhas now entered a period of consolidation. No new schemes have beenintroduced, but the early 1980s initiatives have gained a stable if notdominant place in company industrial relations while the emphasis hasmoved on from a reactive to a more proactiveusage of EI.