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Human resource management Introduction British Airway Company is among the leading air lines in the global world operating in 72 countries across the world having many destinations that provide passenger and freight services. By March 2 1 the company had about 2! operating aircrafts that served more than ! destinations in the global world. "he company has both business and non#business airlines

with the business airline comprising of the cargo and passenger operations $British Airways %lc& 1' Sep 2 1 (.)t is among the most successful companies since it has been able to overcome varies challenges that had impacted it in 1*7 s ."his has been due to alterations in customer policies and the recruitment as well as promotion policies of its employees so that they can be based on performance appraisal. British airways annual report indicate that some strategies have been set by the management of British airways so that it can be transformed into a global

premium airline ."he main aim of the strategy is to ensure that outstanding services are delivered to the customers at their convenience. "his report is aimed at discussing a case study of a company of my choice that ) would prefer to wor+ in as a young graduate. Recruitment and selection of employees ) would prefer to wor+ in British Airways Company since it is a well established company with an e,cellent human resource department that is non discriminatory. As "orrington& "aylor and -all $2 7( points out& recruitment and selection of employees is very

essential for all companies and specifically British airways. .ecruitment has been described as the process of see+ing applicants to fill certain vacant positions in a company and as a result

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through recruitment the management of a company is able to obtain the best candidate for a particular position. .ecruitment process enables the employer to choose the appropriate candidate and at the same time provides an opportunity for the candidate to decide the e,tent to which he would li+e to pursue his career. "he process culminates in a binding agreement between the employer and the employee meaning that it is a participatory process that is democratic but at the same time binding. According to "yson $2 /(& the employees of any

company are critical for the success of such a company. .ecruitment and selection processes for British airways employees is very essential since it is a big airline meaning that inefficiencies in employee recruitment can result to far reaching adverse effects. Staff suitability is very paramount as it determines the 0uality of services delivered to the customers .British airways therefore employs human resource schemes in order to achieve tits strategies. "he management relies on -arvard and Michigan human resource management models ."his is because the -arvard model appreciates employees since it considers them as resources thus rewards them via motivation and pay schemes. "he achievement of such virtues as competence& cost effectiveness& and commitment are build upon very strong policies that guide the management of the company $%otter& 1**1(. British airways has company has continued to emphasi2e on the importance of employees as resources for the company. "he human resource department has e,perience a huge boost since 1*3 s as the company has concentrated its profit returns investment in trying to motivate the employees so that they can offer 0uality services to the clients. A program to win the hearts and mind of its employees was developed in the mid 1** s and is meant to ensure that the profits of the company are ma,imi2ed due to the efforts of the employees. "he inception of electronic recruitment techni0ue has of late been established and this has continued to enhance the recruitment and selection of employees.

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Training and development of employees "raining is defined as the process of transferring s+ills and +nowledge to non#e,periences employees so that their performance capacity in the wor+ing area is enhanced $%rice&2 7(&

British airways relies on several training programs aimed at transforming the value and attitude of its employees and specifically to those employees e,pected to be in direct contact with the clients. "he customer first training program has been developed in all countries that the airlines serve and its main ob4ect is to ensure a good relationship between the customer and the employee so that more customers can be attracted to the company. "he other training program that has been developed by British airways is putting people first program and is aimed at training employees on how to maintain respect and dignity among themselves& the management and the clients $Bowers& 5dens 6 Salas& 2 1(. since they are the most

"he main focus of the program is however on the customers

valuable resources without which the company cannot run. Substantial investments on employee development has been achieved by the company .As a result it has provided the access to the two ma4or training programs inferring that the learning is open to all employees. "hose employees that succeed in the training are awarded with MBA degree in the university of Bath .7ther studies on top flight program have been developed and they provide a se0uence of studies so that an individual can progress to an e,ecutive position with competency ."he main aim of the training and development program is therefore to transform the airline so that it can be the best globally .As a result when replacing employees &the company usually goes for talented and intellectual people who have demonstrated leadership s+ills in other management

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set ups."he training and development program ensures satisfaction of the employees thereby providing 0uality services to the customers with desire and commitment$8oot and -oo+& 2 Equal opportunities and managing diversity "he concept of e0ual opportunities refers to the practice of treating people fairly without discrimination. "his is practiced so as to create conducive wor+place conditions that value d*iversity and enhance dignity among individuals of different origins and cultures. British airways provide e0ual employment opportunities to all employees as well as the new recruits without bias on age& se,& colour& religion& nationality and disability among other specifications $Bowers et al.2 1(. An affirmative action is ta+en by the human resource development to 3(.

ascertain that the policy is adhrered to in all aspects of employment even in the cases of promotions& training and transfer of employees. )n response to the e0ual opportunity legislation prohibiting biasing of persons on religious grounds& British airways management has held meetings to discuss the issue with its employees. "his as resulted to allocation of prayer rooms based on the diverse religions with the beliefs of every religion being respected and dignified. 9espite all these the management of British airways has re0uired all people to ascertain that religious symbols are worn underneath clothes however these has been protested by Christians due to the fact that it is a form of indirect discrimination$%otter&1**1(. "he employment e0uality irrespective of the age has had a great impact across the airline as all employees have ta+en this

legislation positively since it ensures diversity in age thereby eliminating stereotypes that are lin+ed to age. Currently& British Airways Company has come up with initiatives that have produced fle,ible wor+ing conditions that have empowered women. "he management raises awareness on harassment and bullying in the wor+ing environment thereby promoting dignity

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and respect among the employees. "his is due to the fact that failure to comply with the legislation might lead to enforcement and a sought for litigation. :hile see+ing for racial e0uality the company endeavor to listen to the needs of employees from all geographical

destinies ."his has in turn enhanced e,ternal recruitment of employees; across the globe$%rice& 2 7(. Conclusion -uman resource management is an organi2ational function whose core values are to focus on employee recruitment& management and direction so that they can effectively perform their duties in the wor+ing environment $8oot et al. 2 3(. "hrough British airway;s human

resource management& employees have been hired& trained& developed and promoted depending on their performance appraisal. )t is through this organi2ational function that the employee diversity in cultural and religious environment has been ac+nowledged while maintaining the principle of e0ual employment opportunities. "hrough British airway;s strategic and comprehensive techni0ues& the human resource department has been able to empower its employees to carry out their duties effectively so as to achieve goals and ob4ectives of the company. 8urther the principle of e0ual opportunities has ascertained that there is maintenance of respect and dignity among the employees thereby creating a serene wor+ing environment. References Bowers& C.A.& 5dens& 5 6 Salas& 5.& 2 1< )mproving "eamwor+ in 7rgani2ations< Applications

of .esource Management "raining< =awrence 5rlbaum Associates.

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British Airways %lc&1' Sep 2 1 < Company profile&n.d<http<>>sdbplus.wordpress.com>2 12> 1> 1>british#airways#hr#management# part#2> 8oot& M. and -oo+& C.& 2 -aw+ins& %.&6 Smith&?.&2 3< )ntroducing -uman .esource Management& -arlow< =ongman / <Coaching& Mentoring and 7rgani2ational Consultancy< /

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%rice& A. &2 7< -uman .esource Management in a Business Conte,t& =ondon< )nternational "homson %ublishing "orrington 9.& "aylor& S. and -all& =.& 2 -all "yson& S.& 2 7< -uman .esource Management& ?ew Aor+< %rentice

/< 5ssentials of -uman .esource Management< Butterworth#-einemann.

%otter& M.& 1**1< )nternational Business Benchmar+B Management Services& Col. !3.