The Australian government's commitment to equal employment opportunity has resulted in the enactment of anti‐discrimination and affirmative action legislation at both the federal…
Abstract
The Australian government's commitment to equal employment opportunity has resulted in the enactment of anti‐discrimination and affirmative action legislation at both the federal and state level and the development of a number of labour market, training and social policies specifically designed to remove impediments to women's employment. The Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 is pivotal to the removal of discrimination in organisations, but its effectiveness has been hindered by the restructuring of organisations on a divisional basis, a lack of understanding of the nature of equal employment opportunity (eeo) and the role of affirmative action programmes among some employers and employees, and the choices women make about their employment and training. A number of innovative policies have been developed by large organisations to deal with these barriers to the effectiveness of affirmative action programmes and the creation of eeo and they provide useful models for other organisations.
The principle of discrimination‐free behaviour has been establishedin Australia as the basis for behaviour in organizations. This principleforms the basis of affirmative action…
Abstract
The principle of discrimination‐free behaviour has been established in Australia as the basis for behaviour in organizations. This principle forms the basis of affirmative action legislation and is integrated into industrial relations legislation. Some employers in Australia have recognized that a situation which is free from discrimination and provides equal employment opportunity requires an acknowledgement of the impact of family responsibilities on work behaviour. This has resulted in the implementation of initiatives designed to accommodate work and family needs of employees. However, despite the more general acknowledgement among employers of the value of employing women in a range of positions, developments in the industrial relations arena could threaten the continued creation of equal employment opportunity.
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– The aim of this paper is to examine the practice of performance management in a cross-border context in times of global uncertainty.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to examine the practice of performance management in a cross-border context in times of global uncertainty.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a conceptual paper.
Findings
The findings expose global uncertainty to be wielding a significant influence on performance management.
Practical implications
A practical framework is developed using real options theory. This approach offers suggestions for multinational corporations to increase the effectiveness of their performance management while at the same time focusing on profit-maximisation.
Originality/value
This paper enhances international management research by recognizing that real options theory can effectively be applied to improve the effectiveness of performance management in global uncertainty.
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The implementation of the Australian government's affirmative actioning proposals, promoting equal treatment for women in organisations, will reduce some elements of disadvantage…
Abstract
The implementation of the Australian government's affirmative actioning proposals, promoting equal treatment for women in organisations, will reduce some elements of disadvantage faced by women in the labour market. Employment practices directly discriminating against women will be replaced by practices which do not overly acknowledge the sex of the applicant, and the employment of women in a diverse range of occupations will be given credence by the organisation's formal statement of commitment to equal employment opportunity. Attempts to remove disadvantage will have to start from the present work structures which are outcomes of actions and bargains between groups in which women have not played a significant part. Unless the trade union movement is given a more prominent role in the development and implementation of affirmative action programmes, these programmes will create further division in the workforce, as the reassessment of concepts underpinning personnel practices may cause much hostility among employees.
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The Sixteenth Annual Report of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland argues that the enforcement of individual rights is a crucial pre‐requisite for change…
Abstract
The Sixteenth Annual Report of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland argues that the enforcement of individual rights is a crucial pre‐requisite for change. There was a 28% increase in the number of legal complaints and enquiries dealt with during the year under review. The most marked increase was in the area of employment (34%). With the increasing influence of European law many of these complaints have led to the commencement of very complex actions.
Rajesh Kumar Srivastava, Vivek Mendonsa, Harshit Joshi and Tejal Pradhan
The context of the case presents an account of how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiated by Lawrence & Mayo (L&M), a company dealing in optical frames for 140 years…
Abstract
Learning outcomes
The context of the case presents an account of how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiated by Lawrence & Mayo (L&M), a company dealing in optical frames for 140 years, helped to build brand equity, image and identity, creating a strategic advantage against competition. The case had a deep-rooted theoretical association with a theory such as the triple bottom line theory (three Ps: profit, people and planet) on CSR. The case helps to understand and clarify the role of CSR in brand equity. It also gives an insight into the value and culture of L&M, and its impact on various stakeholders, namely, employees and customers.
Case overview/synopsis
This case is related to the CSR orientation of L&M and its impact on brand equity. As a brand, L&M is over 140 years old and has a dynamic and trending optics market in India. There is a dilemma in the company around the impact of CSR on brand equity, customer engagement and company goodwill. This case focuses on maintaining and improving brand equity, identity and image through CSR initiatives.
Complexity academic level
Undergraduate and postgraduate students, essential for students focusing on Marketing and CSR disciplines.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
Subject code
CSS 8: Marketing.
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This article examines how responsibility and strategy can and should be connected in a business organization.
Abstract
Purpose
This article examines how responsibility and strategy can and should be connected in a business organization.
Design/methodology/approach
The article offers a review of the field by mapping previous studies according to their strategy and responsibility orientations and, consequently, identifies the classic perspective, as well as the major deficiencies and prevailing research gaps in the literature.
Findings
The article contributes to the field of strategic corporate responsibility by reframing the field with a contender perspective that challenges the classic view of strategy and responsibility amalgamation. Together, the classic and the contender perspectives are synthesized to form an integrative perspective that is more holistic than those currently available.
Originality/value
The article ends by calling for a reimagining of the relationship between corporate responsibility and strategy to find promising future research avenues and effective business practices suitable to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
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This paper aims to identify the ethical foundations and principles underpinning the learning organization (LO) concept.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the ethical foundations and principles underpinning the learning organization (LO) concept.
Design/methodology/approach
By interviewing one thought leader in the field, Professor Robin Snell, this paper traces how his early days in academia shaped the development of an ethics-driven research agenda on LO.
Findings
An ethical perspective advocates the importance of establishing a covenant or constitutional foundation of rights that would enable and empower organizational members at all levels to enact the processes of LOs, thus signifying the importance of employee development and a more sustainable approach for developing LO.
Originality/value
A personal reflection of Robin Snell on his own academic career development and research trajectory offers some insights into how an ethical perspective of LO evolved and flourished as a field of study.
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Dave E. Marcotte, Virginia Wilcox-Gök and D.Patrick Redmon
In this research we use data from the National Comorbidity Survey to examine the effects of affective mental disorders on the income and employment of women and men. We consider…
Abstract
In this research we use data from the National Comorbidity Survey to examine the effects of affective mental disorders on the income and employment of women and men. We consider separately the effects of three major categories of affective illness: depression, bipolar illnesses, and dysthymia.We use a two-stage instrumental variables procedure to estimate the labor market effects of affective disorders in the presence of unmeasured heterogeneity between those with and without illness. In the first stage, we draw on respondents' family histories with illness to construct instrumental variables, which are theoretically and empirically relevant. These instruments are used in second stage regression and logistic analyses of annual income and employment.We find evidence that some affective disorders result in earnings losses for both women and men. For women, depression is associated with substantial earnings losses for working women, on the order of more than $6,000 per year. But, these losses are mitigated over time. Moreover, we find evidence that depression has substantial negative employment effects for women. For men, we find evidence of income losses associated with dysthymia, but we find no evidence of significant employment effects.
Calem De Burca, Helen Louise Miles and Eduardo Antonio Vasquez
Substance use contributes to the development of criminogenic behaviour and mental health problems. However, the extent and severity of substance use and the relationship to…
Abstract
Purpose
Substance use contributes to the development of criminogenic behaviour and mental health problems. However, the extent and severity of substance use and the relationship to offending in mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) admitted to regional medium secure units has received relatively limited research attention.
Design/methodology/approach
Case note reviews (n=57) and semi-structured interviews (n=21) of past substance use levels, substance use problems and forensic history were conducted at a medium secure unit in South East England.
Findings
Results highlighted the high prevalence of substance use among MDOs, especially when determined by self-report. At least one-third (case note review) or almost half (self-report) used alcohol at the time of their index offence, although many failed to recognise use as problematic. Significant correlations were found between heavy past use of alcohol and use of alcohol at time of offending. Past heavy use of alcohol significantly predicted whether or not the individual was convicted of a violent offence.
Research limitations/implications
The small sample from one area limits the generalisability of findings as substance use demographics vary. Methodological shortcomings were noted when comparing data from self-report and case note information. Retrospective recall bias may influence past perceptions of substance use.
Practical implications
These preliminary findings indicate the importance of assessing substance use in MDOs and considering its relationship to offending behaviour in treatment and risk management.
Originality/value
Although anecdotally substance use is known to be high and likely to be related to offending behaviour amongst MDOs, there is little previous research highlighting this.