Workplace Dynamics and Regulations
Elements of a Company
Elements within the company: This format explains the people who collaborate in the organization and evolution of business activity. The creator of the company directs it. Workers are the strength of business development. Modern economic and technological development has been driven by constant progress and innovation.
Emotional Intelligence in Business
According to Daniel Goleman, researcher and journalist, emotional intelligence is the ability that allows us to understand and manage our own emotions, and interpret and address the emotions of others. It also involves abilities such as self-motivation, empathy, and self-control. Key components include: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.
Equality in the Workplace
Inequality is evident in wage discrimination, pension gaps, higher female unemployment rates, and underrepresentation of women in positions of political, social, cultural, and economic responsibility. Women often face challenges balancing personal, family, and work life, and may experience discrimination. The Act for Effective Equality between Men and Women promotes measures such as paid paternity leave, addressing disadvantages faced by women, combating verbal and physical harassment, promoting balanced representation of women and men, and facilitating work-life balance.
Human Resources Department
This department works with the human element of the company, managing personnel. The structure of an HR department varies depending on the company’s size. The department aims to maximize production and efficiency through selection, hiring, training, and management of personnel.
Administrative Functions
- Organization and Planning: This involves planning the organizational structure, defining job profiles, and designing jobs with specific functions. Many companies base their organization and planning on competency management.
- Selection and Hiring: This process involves defining required skills, recruiting candidates, conducting selection processes (ability and personality tests, interviews), and making hiring decisions based on the candidate’s potential and fit for the role.
- Training: Ongoing training allows personnel to adapt to changes, such as technological advancements. Training can be administered through various methods, including e-learning (online materials, CDs, DVDs). E-learning offers benefits like reduced costs, convenience, and flexibility, but also has drawbacks such as slow feedback, potential for higher dropout rates, technical issues, and lack of familiarity for some. Knowledge management focuses on transferring knowledge and experience among employees.
- Personnel Administration
- Labor Relations
- Occupational Health and Safety: Employers must evaluate potential risks, workers must prioritize their own safety, and manufacturers must provide information on proper product use.
- Personnel Control: This involves monitoring activities, managing motivation, and evaluating performance.
Work and Labor Regulations
Work is the set of tasks and activities performed within a company. Labor regulations define the rights associated with work. Key characteristics of work include voluntariness, remuneration, and subordination to the employer.
Rights and Duties
Employers have the obligation to comply with labor regulations and recognize worker rights. Employers also have the power to direct and organize production and to enforce discipline.
Employment Policy Framework
The employment policy framework comprises the laws and regulations that govern the working environment.
Hierarchy of Regulations and Sources of Labor Law
- The Spanish Constitution: The supreme law of the land, it establishes the foundation for all other laws and guarantees citizens’ rights and freedoms.
- International Treaties: Legal rules established by agreements between countries, such as ILO Conventions, which aim to improve working conditions and living standards.
- EU Standards: Regulations set by the European Union to ensure minimum living standards for workers, including free movement of labor, harmonized working conditions, and recognition of professional qualifications.
- Worker’s Statute: The basic labor law that sets the framework for worker rights and regulations.
- Collective Agreements: Agreements between worker representatives and companies that establish working conditions and rules.
- Employment Contract: An agreement between an individual and a company that defines the terms of the employment relationship.
Worker and Company Representation
Unions
Unions are organizations where workers associate freely to defend their rights. They protect employment rights and provide legal advice. Examples include CCOO and UGT.
Worker Representation within the Company
Company representatives are elected democratically by the workforce. Their primary functions include receiving information about company activities, reviewing financial statements, ensuring compliance with labor regulations, and representing workers in negotiations. Representation can be through staff delegates (in companies with 10 to 50 workers) or a works council (in larger companies).
Employer Organizations
Companies can join employer organizations, such as CEOE, to defend their interests and participate in negotiations and conflict resolution.