Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson Outcomes: Identify need for intervention Show understanding of the impact of intervention in terms of business decisions e.g. what is produced and how Give examples of intervention both to support and control the impact of business activity on people, the economy and the environment
What type of product or services are illegal/restricted in Qatar? WHY? Goods which harm the natural environment can also be banned.
Japan's 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster prompted a rethink of nuclear energy policy in many countries. Germany decided to close all its reactors by 2022, and Italy has banned nuclear power. Following Fukushima, the International Energy Agency halved its estimate of additional nuclear generating capacity to be built by 2035
Consumer protection
Consumers can be easily misled. Consumers need protection against businesses which could, unfortunately, take advantage of the consumers lack of knowledge and lack of accurate product information.
The fact that consumers must have a full understanding of the agreement, with terms and conditions clearly stated The method of calculating APR The provision of an annual statement
They can fix high prices to make high profits They can prevent new firms from setting up to compete with them As there are no competitors, the monopoly is not encouraged to become more efficient or to introduce new products
Employers must
Pay their employees at least the minimum wage Ensure their workers are safe (health & safety laws) Give each employee a contract of employment Follow other employment laws
For example, give employees holidays
Employment Laws
There are laws designed to protect workers from bad employers These laws can also protect the employer
Employment Laws
Law
Equal Pay Act 1970
Main point
Ensuring men and women are paid the same amount for doing similar work Preventing men and women being treated differently from members of the opposite sex Preventing people of one race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin being treated differently from those of other origins
Main point
Ensuring that equal opportunities are given to disabled people
A firm must give a worker a statement of particulars within 8 weeks of starting work Employers must protect employees from dangers in the workplace Prevents workers from being exploited by employers
Group Activity Perform a risk assessment to spot health and safety hazards in this office and discuss what you notice
Costa Concordia Captain error and poor evacuation due to poor H&S training.
Chenobyl The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel.
Charlotte Thompson (left) and Olivia Bazlinton, two teenage girls hit and killed by a train at a level crossing at Elsenham, Essex in December 2005. Network rail admit liability.
Think about a local shopping centre what is in place to ensure your safety?
Before you accepted a new job, what information would you like to know? Write down at least five things
Contract of employment
This is a written document that explains what is expected of the employee AND the employer It includes:
Salary details Hours/days of work Job title Job description Who your line manager is Dress code Disciplinary procedure Etc.
Employment tribunals
Tribunals are courts which deal with laws relating to employment If a worker sues an employee, the tribunal will hear evidence from both sides If the employer is at fault they will receive bad publicity and may have to pay a fine
Can you name any companies which have made people redundant?
Redundancy
When a workers employment is ended because the work they do is no longer needed. People might get made redundant due to;
Firm using machines instead of labour Firm is producing less Firm has gone out of business
Activity
1. Good Sports is a small firm that manufactures sports clothes Recommend 3 ways in which Good Sports could inform its workers about health and safety matters in the factory. Give reasons for each of your recommendations. (6 marks)
Extension 1. Explain 3 ways in which employment laws, other than health and safety at work laws, affect the employment of workers (6 marks)
Location of industry
Two types of measures are often used by governments to influence where firms locate: Planning controls- will legally restrict the business activities that can be undertaken in an area Regional assistance- given to businesses to encourage them to locate in undeveloped parts of the country
Examples
Partnership Act, Companies Acts Health & Safety at work act, Workplace (Health Safety & Welfare) Regulations, Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations Employment Act, Employment Relations Act, Working Time Regulations, Race Relations Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Sunday Trading Act
Paying staff
Information and data Selling goods and giving credit