$1.$ HRM and Alternative Work Arrangements

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HRM and Alternative Work Arrangements

Technology and other trends in the labor force have begun to reshape the employment relationship. The new psychological contract between employers and employees requires employees to take more responsibility for their own career, from seeking training to balancing work and family commitments. These expectations result in less job security for employees, who can count on working for several companies over the course of their career. In exchange for top performance and working longer hours without job security, employees want companies to provide flexible work arrangements, comfortable working conditions, training and development opportunities, and financial incentives based on how the organization performs. These alternative work arrangements may also give employers the flexibility to quickly reshape and resize their workforce to meet changing competitive needs.

Read the case and answer the questions that follow.

As Zion began his senior year in college, he is faced with many decisions prior to graduation about how best to start his career in business. He has had an opportunity to observe family and friends experience different types of work arrangements. Each of these work arrangements offer various advantages and disadvantages.

Zion$$s uncle is a project manager who works for a variety of companies over the course of a year. He manages people and projects that have specific deadlines. He seems to be starting with a new organization every month or so$,$ but has great flexibility in the assignments he chooses to accept.

Zion$$s friends have had various work experiences. Many of them work part$-$time jobs, sometimes steadily through temporary agencies or sporadically when they are called in by a company, even though they would prefer full$-$time work. Zion$$s friend Malik is a video editor who finds paying jobs through online websites or apps; another friend joined an online delivery service, which allowed him to choose when and where he wanted to work. In addition, a few of Zion$$s peers have already changed jobs, looking for new opportunities to work with cutting edge technology, move to a new city, or increase their work experience or wages.

With the variety of employment relationships today, Zion is unsure what would be the best formula for his long$-$term success. He hopes for a flexible work schedule with opportunities for training and growth, but overall he is anxious to make a commitment to his first career$-$oriented position.