Business and Labor Business and Labor PoliciesPolicies

House Policies and Procedures/Contracts

Unions

Private Enterprise

Equal Rights

Employee Benefits

Employee Rights and Responsibilities

6 areas are discussed in this PowerPoint lecture

House PolicyHouse Policy

All companies have All companies have policy to run their policy to run their business. business.

Employees are Employees are guided by policy both guided by policy both general and specificgeneral and specific

For example, suppose you worked in a hotel and a guest asked For example, suppose you worked in a hotel and a guest asked you for a handful of shampoo bottles to take home. What do you you for a handful of shampoo bottles to take home. What do you say? Will you get in trouble if you say no? This is why companies say? Will you get in trouble if you say no? This is why companies have policies. You can refer to the company policy to answer most have policies. You can refer to the company policy to answer most specific questions. Most companies have policy to guide general specific questions. Most companies have policy to guide general questions (the customer is right…. You are authorized to refund up questions (the customer is right…. You are authorized to refund up to $50 etc.) Policies help in the running of a business. Everyone to $50 etc.) Policies help in the running of a business. Everyone knows what they are to do in various situations.knows what they are to do in various situations.

UnionsUnions Generally unions are non-existent in Generally unions are non-existent in

Tourism Industry because of the seasonal Tourism Industry because of the seasonal nature of the business and small nature of the business and small businesses (small numbers bargaining businesses (small numbers bargaining power). Most tourism businesses don’t power). Most tourism businesses don’t have enough employees to form a union have enough employees to form a union and many of the jobs are seasonal too and many of the jobs are seasonal too which makes it hard to form a union.which makes it hard to form a union.

Unions would significantly increase the cost Unions would significantly increase the cost of small operators because often union of small operators because often union contracts include provisions small business contracts include provisions small business owners can’t afford….such as:owners can’t afford….such as: Guaranteed jobs, higher wages, better Guaranteed jobs, higher wages, better

working conditions, leave with pay.working conditions, leave with pay.

Private EnterprisePrivate Enterprise Most tourism businesses are run privately. Most tourism businesses are run privately.

Many are mom and pop businessesMany are mom and pop businesses Many need help from the government in terms of tax relief and Many need help from the government in terms of tax relief and

policies to help them be profitablepolicies to help them be profitable Small businesses have extra costs such as:Small businesses have extra costs such as:

They have to collect GST and PST for the They have to collect GST and PST for the government (have to hire an accountant because government (have to hire an accountant because of the book work involved)of the book work involved)

They have various licenses and fees they have to They have various licenses and fees they have to pay (town licenses, Chamber of Commerce Fees, pay (town licenses, Chamber of Commerce Fees, printing costs, etc)printing costs, etc)

The minimum wage legislation raises their costs The minimum wage legislation raises their costs because they have to pay more to their employeesbecause they have to pay more to their employees

They have to follow work and overtime rules that They have to follow work and overtime rules that generally end up costing them more moneygenerally end up costing them more money

Equal RightsEqual Rights Equal pay for equal work Equal pay for equal work

means all people should be means all people should be treated equally in terms of pay. treated equally in terms of pay. History tells us that women History tells us that women generally get paid less than generally get paid less than men for the same work.men for the same work.

Women have most of the jobs Women have most of the jobs in many of the sectors, in many of the sectors, especially in hotels and especially in hotels and restaurants.restaurants.

Many jobs are suited for young Many jobs are suited for young people and college students people and college students because they are seasonal and because they are seasonal and are lower paying.are lower paying.

There are few careers that are There are few careers that are high paying in the Tourism high paying in the Tourism industry.industry.

Employee BenefitsEmployee Benefits Benefits typically are in the following Benefits typically are in the following

areas and few tourism related areas and few tourism related business provide them.business provide them.

Sick Leave…where you get paid even Sick Leave…where you get paid even though you are at home and sick.though you are at home and sick.

Maternity Leave provides an Maternity Leave provides an opportunity to stay at home with your opportunity to stay at home with your new-born or newly adopted infant. The new-born or newly adopted infant. The government provides help in this area government provides help in this area through Employment Benefits if you through Employment Benefits if you qualifyqualify

Severance pay is pay given to you Severance pay is pay given to you when you are fired (or severed) Since when you are fired (or severed) Since most tourism jobs are paid by the most tourism jobs are paid by the hour, severance pay is 1 hour. hour, severance pay is 1 hour.

Paid training is often available in many Paid training is often available in many careers, but in the tourism sector, careers, but in the tourism sector, much of the training is on-the-job as much of the training is on-the-job as you are working. You seldom are sent you are working. You seldom are sent away to learn skills.away to learn skills.

Employee Rights and Employee Rights and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

The main factor that determines how well you are treated as an The main factor that determines how well you are treated as an employee is the amount of commitment the employer has to the employee is the amount of commitment the employer has to the employee? Are you hard to replace? If so, you will probably be employee? Are you hard to replace? If so, you will probably be treated better.treated better.

Employees that are treated well generally have more commitment Employees that are treated well generally have more commitment to their employer. to their employer. Low commitment would see the worker leave for another job for Low commitment would see the worker leave for another job for

$.50 per hr more.$.50 per hr more. High commitment would see the worker market the business High commitment would see the worker market the business

and the townand the town High commitment would see the worker give conscientious workHigh commitment would see the worker give conscientious work

All people have the right to be treated with respect, fairly, and All people have the right to be treated with respect, fairly, and honestly however not all are treated in that manner. If you are not honestly however not all are treated in that manner. If you are not treated fairly you have remedies under the law for unfair treated fairly you have remedies under the law for unfair treatment as provided in the Code of Human Rights, WCB, Labor treatment as provided in the Code of Human Rights, WCB, Labor Standards etc.Standards etc.