Page 128 - DMGT550_RETAIL_MANAGEMENT

Unit 7: Human Resource Management

conditions that present safety concerns in the workplace. The department is also responsible for Notes
identifying potentially dangerous employees and ensuring they do not harm themselves or
others within the organization.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
11. .................... ethics are rules and standards that guide workplace behavior and moral
principles.
12. .................... professionals must ensure the organization remains compliant with anti-
discrimination and harassment laws.
13. Human resources representatives have access to .................... sensitive information.
14. .................... encompasses the various qualities, characteristics and experiences that
distinguish one worker from another.
15. .................... is an issue facing human resources personnel.



Case Study Developing a Career Path in Retail in Harrods

‘Harrods of London’ is a British institution. It is probably the most well-known and
respected retail store in the world. For 162 years, Harrods has built its unique reputation
supported by its key brand values – British; Luxury; Innovation; Sensation; Service. Harrods
employs approximately 5,000 people from 86 different nationalities who deal with up to
100,000 customers a day at peak times.

Harrods needs employees who can face the challenges that its reputation and standards
bring. It needs people who are looking for an exciting and rewarding long-term career
with responsibility and prospects. Its challenge is to find (and retain) employees with the
right mix of skills and abilities, who can be developed to become the managers of the
future.
To achieve this, Harrods has to counter some of the negative perceptions about working
in retail. Working in a shop has traditionally been seen as low-skilled – with long hours,
poor pay and little chance of promotion. However, because quality is key at Harrods,
employees are well-paid, respected and have clear career paths open to them. Senior
managers at Harrods have come from all walks of life and started out with various levels
of qualifications. All have benefited from development opportunities provided by the
company.
The Importance of Training and Development
Training and development is vital to any business. Its purpose at Harrods is to better the
performance of employees to enable Harrods to meet its business goals. For example, at
Harrods the Sales Academy develops employees’ sales skills, leading to increased sales
when they return to the shop floor. Allowing employees to acquire new skills, expertise
and qualifications supports employee progression which leads to increased motivation.
This supports Harrods’ retention strategies.
Training is about gaining the skills needed for a job. These may be learned at the place of
work (on-the-job) or away from work (off-the-job). On-the-job training tends to be more
Contd....

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