Discuss about the Managers and Legal Environment Strategies.

In today’s globalized and advance technological business environment, business organizations depend on the technologies to perform their business functions or activities in an effective and a quick manner. They only hire expert people to carry out their business processes in a more accurate way. Along with this, the business firms do not require more people and resources to accomplish the business goals and objectives appropriately. This situation has increased the problem of plant closings as well as layoff of employees in front of organizations. This research essay is helpful to describe that how should the business corporations, labour, and the government manage the situation of plant closings and layoff of employees in an effectual and a proper manner.

Currently, the increased market competitions and rapidly changing market conditions had changed the needs or requirements of the businesses. Apart from this, the prospects of plant closure as well as layoffs have changed the perceptions of the employees towards the business organizations. This has become a major reason of conflict among business organizations, and employees. The business organizations, labour and the government should handle this situation in a more effectual way. The main reason behind it is that, if they do not manage this situation in a proper way then it may influence businesses, employees and the government of the nations in a negative way (Brand, Levy & Gallo, 2008).  So, business firms, workforce and the government should take appropriate actions to handle the situation of plant closings and layoff of workforce in an appropriate way.

On the other hand, it should also be noted down that, Singapore is the country that is facing the problem of plant closings and layoff of employees more than the other countries. The slow economy and decreased industrial productions are the major reason of this problem in the country. For example, the report published by the MOM (Ministry of Manpower) shows that, in 2012, there can be seen a ten percent increase in the layoffs rate of the nation (Yahoo! Finance Singapore. 2014). Along with this, it occurred because of the increased redundancy rate of employees in Singapore. The business sectors were making a superfluous reduction in the number of employees. Apart from this, according to the report of Channel NewsAsia, in 2012, Walt Disney also made a big decision to shut down its plant that is known as ‘Game Studio LucasArts.’ The decision of Walt Disney also increased the situation of layoffs of employees’ within the nation (Channel NewsAsia. 2013). For that reason, it can be assumed that, Singapore is facing the situation of both plant closings as well as layoff of employees.

Strategies for Businesses

Along with this, business, workforce and the government should adopt and implement effective policies and strategies to handle the problem of plant closings and layoff of workers in an effective and a more comprehensive manner. For example, business corporations should follow the legal policies as well as procedures at the time of plants closings & layoffs. Moreover, they must also develop standards, principles, and policies as per the laws of state. For case, it should be noted down that, the state government establishes some important standards or policies for the selection of employees for the duration of plant closings as well as layoff of workers (Ginsburg, 2010). In addition to this, the business firms should do appropriate strategic planning to reduce the unfair termination and to manage the situation of layoffs in an effectual way.

In the same manner, business firms should pay their attention on the recruitment and selection criteria of the businesses. They must clear all the policies or procedures to the employees that they have for the time of plants closings & layoffs. They should make clear that they will provide   support such as: outplacement service, separation pay, and employ references in the situation of plants closings and dismiss of workforce (Robinson & Franklin, 2015). In addition to this, business organizations must develop effective strategies to reduce the key issues that they face in their day to day routine. For example, job counseling, job placement, working milieu, claim management, plant methods, and so on the major areas in which business firms generally face a lot of issues. Apart from this, the business corporations should develop effective strategies or policies to face these issues in an effective way. For case, accurate documentation of job descriptions, the pre-determined criteria of placement, the proper documentation of plant methods, the effective implementations of laws, proper inventory management, fair work environment, etc. are the major strategies that business firms should implement to handle all the major issues related to businesses (Meiners, Ringleb & Edwards, 2014).

On the other hand, the business firms should develop transparency to manage the situation of plant closings & layoffs effectively. The organizations should provide job stability to the recruits to improve the motivational level of the employees. Moreover, the business organizations should make employment contract to provide metal peace and job satisfaction to their workforce. The business firms should provide a prior notice to the employees if they are planning for plant closings as well as fire of recruits (Schwerdt, 2011). In this situation, the employees would be able to search a suitable job for their endurance. In Singapore, Walt Disney must inform to its employees before shutting down its plant (game studio). So, they might be ready to face the situation or to find out other occupations. In this way, with the help of above strategies, the business firms of each and every nation would be competent to manage the situation of plant closings and layoffs appropriately (Channel NewsAsia. 2013).

Strategies for Labor

At the same time, the laborers are the people who mainly face the situation of layoffs within organizations. For case, it should be noted down that, the decisions that are related to the plant closings and layoffs influence the careers and life styles of the laborers. These types of decision affect to the workers of the organizations in a direct way. In other words, it also can be assumed that, in this situation, the workers of business firms suffer more than any other people related to business firms. For that reason, it is suggested that the labour should perform appropriate actions to handle the situation of layoffs in an appropriate manner. For example, the workers should talk with the management of the organizations. The workers should know the reasons of the layoffs. If the employees find out that the organizations are providing genuine reasons for the layoffs then they must provide support to the business corporations (Cihon & Castagnera, 2016).

Along with this, the employees should be cautious about their job security. They should make prior agreement with the corporations for the safety of their jobs. They should talk with the management that layoffs may occur anytime.  So, if the organizations face such issue then they are liable to give prior notice to the employees. In this notice, they will inform to the employees that, the organizations are willing to do plant closings and layoffs. Apart from this, after receiving the notice, employees should make demand of their benefits, bonuses, reimbursements, etc. that were mentioned in the employment agreement (Twomey, 2012).  For example, in the case of Walt Disney, if the firm informed the employees in advance then they never faced the problem of job losses. In this case, the employees would be able to search new opportunities for the growth and success of their career.

On the other hand, the government should be involved in the cases of plant closings as well as layoffs. The government should take appropriate actions to manage the circumstances of plant closers & layoffs in an effectual and an effective manner. It is true that, the governments of the nations have already passed numerous acts such as: Industrial Relations Act, WARN Act, etc. to reduce the chances of disputes and conflicts between the employers and employees (Bagley, 2015). Furthermore, it should be noted down that, in current, there can be seen a rapid growth in the Asian market especially in the Indian and the Singapore market. This growth has produced a scale of the employment within nations. In this situation, the government is liable to manage balance within the national and the global investment system to reduce the chances of conflicts or disputes effectively. In addition to this, the role of the Singapore government is very much clear in the cases of Motorola, Seagate, and so on. For example, in these cases, the government of nation informed to the company that they are obliged to pay appropriate compensation to their employees (Twomey, 2012). For that reason, it can be said that, the government should manage plant closings and layoffs. It is because of only the government of the nation may bind to business firms to perform their responsibilities towards their workers. So, the government should be actively involved in the cases of plant closings and layoffs.

Conclusion

On the premise of the above conversation, it can be supposed that, the situation of plant closings and layoffs may take place at any point or level of the business. As a result, the business, workforce and the government must be prepared to manage these situations in an effectual way.

References

Bagley, C.E. (2015). Managers and the Legal Environment: Strategies for the 21st Century. USA: Cengage Learning.

Brand, J. E., Levy, B. R., & Gallo, W. T. (2008). Effects of layoffs and plant closings on subsequent depression among older workers. Research on aging, 30(6), 701-721.

Channel NewsAsia. (2013). Layoffs in Singapore after Disney shuts down game studio LucasArts. Retrieved From: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/layoffs-in-singapore-after-dis/627382.html

Cihon, P.J., & Castagnera, J.O. (2016). Employment and Labor Law. USA: Cengage Learning.

Ginsburg, J. (2010). Layoffs and alternatives to layoffs (Doctoral dissertation, Worcester Polytechnic Institute).

Meiners, R.E., Ringleb, A.H., & Edwards, F.L. (2014). The Legal Environment of Business. USA: Cengage Learning.

Robinson, R.K., & Franklin, G. M. (2015). Employment Regulation in the Workplace: Basic Compliance for Managers. NY: Routledge.

Schwerdt, G. (2011). Labor turnover before plant closure: “Leaving the sinking ship” vs. “Captain throwing ballast overboard”. Labour Economics, 18(1), 93-101.

Twomey, D. (2012). Labor and Employment Law: Text & Cases. USA: Cengage Learning.

Yahoo! Finance Singapore. (2014). Layoffs in Singapore rose 10 per cent in 2012: MOM. Retrieved From: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/layoffs-in-singapore-rose-10-per-cent-in-2012–mom-report-085947652.html