CAFS - HSC Notes Individuals And Work (Option One) PDF

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CAFS - HSC Notes Individuals And Work (Option One)...

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COMMUNITY AND FAMILY STUDIES HSC COURSE STUDY NOTES: OPTION: INDIVIDUALS & WORK MODULE FOCUS:

NATURE OF WORK

● The changing nature of work ● ● ● ●

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Work defines many people—spend large portion of lives fulfilling roles, responsibilities set out for people by their work Work dictates how much time is spent with family, how much money one has to spend, even how one is perceived in the community Work gives identity—who one is, how one expresses themselves, who one spends their time with, place in which one lives Work can impact on all areas of wellbeing—physically, work can full basic needs ○ Emotionally, it can enable fulfillment of goals, making people feel good about themselves ○ Socially, work enables formation of friendships, allows people to form productive relationships ○ Economically, it provides money to create a lifestyle Thus work creates opportunities for people not only to believe in themselves, their abilities (spiritual) but also to express themselves culturally Work can be hard to define, each individual constructs their own definition of ‘work’—one person’s definition of work may be another’s definition of a leisure activity Concise Oxford Dictionary  defines work in 27 different ways, first as ‘expenditure of energy, striving, application of effort or exertion for a purpose’ ○ Work could also be defined simply as ‘energy directed towards a goal’ ○ Another definition comes closer to traditional definition of work: ‘Employment, especially the opportunity of earning money by labour’ Demonstrates definition of work can mean different things to different people

Reasons Why People Work - (SHESEAS VASE) ● Meet Needs (SHESEAS) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ew8l-9hlHWMFIyfyKGG7vcy7sibpYFC_os7JDhwq4Vc/edit ● Safety and security—Refers  to our essential desire to feel protected and safe from threat ○ This need covers important physical, emotional and nancial aspects of wellbeing ● Health—Holistic concept and is related to a person’s perception of wellbeing ○ There are ve dimensions of health: physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual ● Employment—Met by exerting energy towards a goal for pay, prot, commission or payment ● Sense of Identity—Idea  of who one is, inuenced by roles one plays in work, family, sport, social life ● Education—Refers to the action or process of learning knowledge and skills ● Adequate Standard of Living—Sometimes  referred to as primary needs, food, clothing and shelter are required by all people

● Economics ● ● ● ● ●

One of the major reasons why people work—economic gain/monetary rewards are given for labour, either through direct/indirect payments Direct payments for work are usually in the form of wage, salary or fee for service, which often includes compulsory superannuation Indirect payments are non-monetary payments in return for a service, such as a company car, bonuses, stock options, shares, corporate boxes or mobile phones Both direct and indirect payments enable workers to create a lifestyle and satisfy needs and wants The amount of financial comfort will depend on the work pattern and occupation, as different work patterns and occupations attract different wages

● Value Work is valued for two major reasons ● On individual basis (where individual benefits), work is valued because it provides economic resources to fulfill need for adequate standard of living (physical needs—food, clothing, shelter) ○ Individuals may also value work for the satisfaction and self-esteem they gain from it and/or the lifestyle they are able to create ● As people earn money and pay taxes, governments are able to provide infrastructure and services, such as roads and hospitals that contribute to the wellbeing of society (the community benefits)

● Status Status is societal-based rank of individual’s importance derived from their work, occupation or profession. Status can be perceived by: ● Whether individual is employed/unemployed ● Industry in which individual works—occupations with integrity (firefighter/school teacher) will give status compared with those lacking integrity (paparazzi, tabloid journalists, used-car salesmen) ● Level of employment, such as CEO, manager or assistant ● Level of decisions made on behalf of others—occupations required to make decisions that might be life-threatening (doctors), will affect large numbers of people (prime minister), will have higher status ● Work pattern ● How many years of study/education that are required to perform this occupation—doctors, surgeons study for seven years, in comparison to check-out operator in supermarket who has on-job training ● How much an individual earns (the level of remuneration)

The Labour Force ● Labour force concepts & terms Labour force—All  people who are working or are able to work Employed—All persons aged 15 or over who during the working week: ● ●

Worked one hour or more per week for either direct or indirect payment in a job, business or on farm Worked one hour or more per week without pay either in a family business or on a farm

● Were employees who did not work due to being away, on strike or on workers compensation. Unemployed—All persons aged 15 and over who were not employed but were actively looking for work and were available for work Employed part time—Those  working fewer than 35 hours per working week

Employed full time—Those  working 35 hours or more per working week Participation rate—The  labour force expressed as a percentage of the entire population

● Labour force participation across the lifespan ●

As people age, their work-related needs are going to evolve—therefore, their participation within the labour force will change ● Across the lifespan (infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and the aged years), individuals may experience some of the following life events—may impact on labour force participation, determining whether a person works full time, part time or is unemployed Some events may take the person out of the labourforce ● Going to school ● Going on to tertiary study ● Buying a car ● Moving out of home to study ● Completing tertiary study ● Meeting a partner ● Renting a house/apartment ● Travelling around the world ● Having a family ● Finding suitable childcare ● Sending children to school ● Buying a house with a mortgage ● Owning your own home ● Having children move out of home ● Choosing to retire Different individuals in these situations will have own reasons for choosing to work full, part time or not at all Adolescence—Labour force participation can commence at 15 years, during adolescent stage of lifespan ● During this stage, they may be unemployed due to lack of employment experience ● Many may be employed part time due to education, social commitments ● Even within this lifespan stage variations can occur, with increased numbers entering labour force at 15, reduction during HSC year, sudden spike in labour force participation immediately after HSC ● This trend of labour force participation could continue during this stage of the lifespan into tertiary education pathways Adulthood—Large number of adults involved in full-time employment (35/more a week) ● Commitment may change when life event (birth of child) occurs when parent may choose to take leave from employment/alter their working hours to part-time position ● Generally adulthood will see greatest volume of participants in labour force primarily due to financial commitments, career aspirations Aged—Many people in this lifespan age may commence retirement when they cease employment/move to part-time employment ● Aged may find it difficult to enter full-time employment at this stage of their lifespan ● On the other hand, greater numbers in this lifespan may continue to participate in labour force due to financial constraints/changes to government policy (increased retirement age) ● Others may move from paid employment, offer their services to volunteer, community roles Full-Time VS Part-Time—Part-time  work consists of less than 35 hours, full-time is 35/more, both usually have set days, hours of work each week ● Part-time work is more popular pattern of work for adolescence (12-18), young adults (18-25), aged (65+) in some cases ● For adolescence, young adults, this is due to need for more flexible schedule as they are either in high school/may be engaged in tertiary education which only allows them to work less than 35 hours ● Aged, for those past retirement age, some are unable to live off superannuation/pension money comfortably/have no hobby to fall back on to occupy time, may need to turn to part-time to fill time ● Full-time is most appealing to adults (26-65) as they need this job to provide enough income to

sustain lifestyle, family, have this free time as there are little other commitments (school), aside from family they have to attend to Unemployed—State of being without employment, but seeking it, does not include those not old enough/not seeking formal employment (infants, children, some adolescents, many individuals past retirement age) ● This is common in middle years of adolescence, present to a degree in young adulthood ● 14-16 years is often when individuals begin search for employment to financially support themselves, not rely on parent(s)/guardian(s) to provide them with needs, wants ○ Being a way to start adding formal support to resumes ● Those in young adult age bracket may have just finished highschool/tertiary education, are only just looking for job, not having had one when they were younger

Patterns of Work Full Time

Suitability across the lifespan

(Most forms of employment) worker who consistently works more than 35 h/w is considered full-time employee. This entitles employees to minimum of four weeks annual leave per year, sick leave, long- service leave, parental leave Advantages: ● Work is generally stable ● ●

Increased hours, therefore increased wages Benets (sick leave) enable parents to care for sick

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children Hours can be structured, regular

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Increased opportunities for promotion Opportunity for on-the-job training to further establish skills

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If working in a big business, childcare facilities may be available

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university/TAFE:  They are ready to focus on career development, will benet from spending time in workplace to develop new skills, network with others; alternatively, may benet from larger income to save for extended overseas holiday ●

Work may need to be taken home Annual holiday leave may not be exible

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Less time is spent with family Increased responsibility may bring increased stress

Homeowners with mortgage: Large percentage of their wage/salary will go towards paying off their mortgage, any

Disadvantages: ● Long hours ● ●

Young people who nished

surplus can be used for lifestyle/ entertainment needs ●

Parents with family:  Petrol, health care, schooling, child care, child entertainment/ sport/hobbies can all contribute to high cost of living

Part Time Permanent employment, employees work less than 35 h/w, receive all entitlements of full-time employees on proportional/pro-rata basis

Suitability across the lifespan ●

Phased retirees:  Allows those nearing retirement to gradually ease out of workforce

Advantages: ● Shorter hours, allowing individuals to combine

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Parents of infants/children:  Set, structured hours allow parents to have

work, family responsibilities/other interests outside of work

set working hours, set childcare hours—Childcare hours are generally

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Set, structured hours per week, which offer security, regularity in working hours

not exible—working hours will also provide intellectual, social stimulation

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Wide range of occupations Benets are proportional to number of hours

for parents Young students (school/university/

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worked, therefore workers are still entitled to sick leave

TAFE): Enables young people to socialise in adult environment while

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Continuing employment, week to week Enables individuals to maintain skills, develop their

gaining experience, earning money People returning to work from maternity/

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career on return to full-time employment Disadvantages:

paternity leave/after injury/illness: Part-time work facilitates re-entry into

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Wages are proportional to number of hours worked Career, promotional opportunities may decline

workforce after time off—time at work provides for nancial needs, while

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May have to take work home that is not nished in set number of working hours

part-time hours allow time for rest, recuperation/to look after young child

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Lower status than full-time work

Job Share Involves one full-time position being shared between two people, each with proportionate benefits. Therefore, one employee working two d/w will receive two-fifths of benefits, while other employee working three d/w will receive three-fifths of benefits Advantages: ● Family friendly: Provides balance between work, family ● Educational, social needs are met through workplace

Suitability across the lifespan ●

Parents with partner working: For those who have infants/children, it is important to balance time at work, time with children. Due to reduced income, there may be reliance on partner to supply surplus of

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interaction Opportunity to continue working after pregnancy, illness,

nancial resources— extra money may be used for

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disability or prior to retirement

mortgage, basic necessities, luxuries

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Set hours allow structure for young children to develop routine

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Lower absenteeism as workers receive adequate time off Fewer working hours can lead to greater opportunities for

recreational pursuits Disadvantages: ● ●

Income is lower Working in tandem with someone else may be difcult

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Conict between two workers over hours, days worked

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Potential loss of continuity in position may lead to less promotional opportunities

Those returning to work or phased retirees:  Reduction in workload makes working only few d/w manageable—days off provide time for rest, bonding with children, rehabilitation or

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recreational activities University/TAFE students: Flexibility of university/TAFE can t into job-sharing arrangement—student is able

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Disruption to ofce/other working staff If communication between two workers is not clear, it may

to gain valuable work practice, learn from those experienced

result in duplication of work/ decisions being reversed

in eld

Casual Engaged to work on hourly/daily basis for which they are paid extra loading on top of normal rate to compensate for lack of usual benets, such as sick leave/annual leave Advantages: ● Receive extra pay loading higher than full-time/part-time employees ● Gain skills, training, exposure to workplace ● ●

Individuals can leave with short notice Shorter hours of employment, with pay at higher hourly rate

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More casual work available in retail, service industries during Christmas time; public holidays may attract higher rate of pay per

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Suitability across the lifespan ●

(school/university/ TAFE): Enables young people to socialise, learn new skills, earn money to develop independence ●

hour Can access unpaid parental leave, if they have been employed on

regular basis for period of at least 12 months Disadvantages:

Young students

Carers: May be able to pick up casual shift, in times of economic strain/for respite

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Parents:  Flexibility may allow parents to

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Can be called in without notice Lacks job security

access work to help manage their

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No access to sick leave, carers’ leave, annual leave or long-service

multiple-role

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leave No right-of-return after maternity leave if they have been employed

expectations—higher rate of pay may assist

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by same employer for less than 12 months May be difcult to get home loans/nancial support because of lack

to pay off part of mortgage, or be

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of job security Further education may not be supplied by workplace, may be at

saved, used for holiday

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expense of worker More common in lower skilled occupations

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Casual workers may need to get another job, taxed at higher rate

Temporary / Contract Contract is agreement to perform task for certain rate of pay. Contractor can work either for themselves/ others. Companies may choose to strategically hire temporary contractors to boost productivity for certain periods of year. Temporary workers are workers only employed for certain period of time, usually for duration of project/based on funds available

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Phased retirees: Allows those nearing retirement to gradually ease out of workforce

Suitability across the lifespan ●

Young people who have nished university/ TAFE: Those who do not have commitments

Advantages: ● Paid for every hour worked, which means person can earn more than

may use higher rate of pay to create their

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permanent worker in same position Usually exible—contractor can pick, choose which contracts to work

preferred lifestyle Parents with support

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Working with many new people can keep work interesting It is temporary, so individual can change work direction at any time,

network/partner at home:  Higher rate of

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while gaining, broadening experiences Some industries (building industry) have made it easier to build up

pay will benet families; however,

superannuation, long-service leave as contractors change employers

lack of sick/parental leave may mean

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Disadvantages: ● Contractors generally not eligible for any benets, such as sick, ●

annual, long-service, paternity/maternity leave Lack of job security, stability: in less productive times of year,

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contractor may not work for long periods of time Skills updating must be done in personal time, paid for by contractor;

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skills must also be maintained to ensure steady ow of work Travel to work may result in high petrol costs; however, costs can in

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part be gained back through tax Fewer opportunities for advancement when only employed for short

family will have to rely on other family members/relatives to look after sick/injured children

period

Self Employed Individual who owns, operates their own business, may be someone like Donald Trump/Mark Zuckerberg, who operate large-scale businesses, tradesman who works for himself, owner of corner store. Those self-employed generate income directly from their service/product, not as salary from employer Advantages: ● Control over how much time is spent working ● Total control over decisions made, what direction business should ●

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