Thursday, August 21, 2008

Employee Welfare In Human Resource Management

EMPLOYEE WELFARE

1). Define employee welfare?


Ans. Employee welfare means “the efforts to make life worth living for workmen.” According to Todd “employee welfare means anything done for the comfort and improvement, intellectual or social, of the employees over and above the wages paid which is not a necessity of the industry.”

2). What are the features of employee welfare?

Ans. The features of employee welfare are: -

* Employee welfare is a comprehensive term including various services, facilities and amenities provided to employees for their betterment.



* The basic purpose in to improve the lot of the working class.



* Employee welfare is a dynamic concept.



* Employee welfare measures are also known as fringe benefits and services.



* Welfare measures may be both voluntary and statutory.



3). What are the objectives of employee welfare?


Ans. Employee welfare is in the interest of the employee, the employer and the society as a whole. The objectives of employee welfare are: -

* It helps to improve.



* It improves the loyalty and morale of the employees.



* It reduces labor turnover and absenteeism.



* Welfare measures help to improve the goodwill and public image of the enterprise.



* It helps to improve industrial relations and industrial peace.



* It helps to improve employee productivity.



4). Name the agencies of employee welfare?


Ans. The agencies of employee welfare are: -

1. Central government: - The central government has made elaborate provisions for the health, safety and welfare under Factories Act 1948, and Mines Act 1952. These acts provide for canteens, crèches, rest rooms, shelters etc.



2. State government: - Government in different states and Union Territories provide welfare facilities to workers. State government prescribes rules for the welfare of the workers and ensures compliance with the provisions under various labor laws.



3. Employers: - Employers in India in general looked upon welfare work as fruitless and barren though some of them indeed had done pioneering work.



4. Trade unions: - In India, trade unions have done little for the welfare of workers. But few sound and strong unions have been the pioneering in this respect. E.g. the Ahmedabad textiles labor association and the Mazdoor sabha, Kanpur.



5. Other agencies: - Some philanthropic, charitable d social service organizations like: - Seva Sadan society, Y.M.C.A., etc.






5). What are the types of welfare services?


Ans. The types of welfare services are as follows: -

* Intramural: - These are provided within the organization like:

1. Canteen,
2. Rest rooms,
3. Crèches,
4. Uniform etc.



* Extramural: - These are provided outside the organization, like: -

1. Housing,
2. Education,
3. Child welfare,
4. Leave travel facilities,
5. Interest free loans,
6. Workers cooperative stores,
7. Vocational guidance etc.



6). What provisions do Factories Act 1948 provides for welfare?


Ans. Provisions provided by Factories Act 1948 are: -

* Adequate, suitable and clean washing facilities separately for men and women workers.


* Facilities for storing and drying clothes.


* Canteens, if more than 250 workers are employed.


* Welfare officer, wherever more than 500 workers are employed.


* First aid boxes are provided.