Glossary Index: A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Number of entries:

----------------------------

[top] Collective bargaining

A mechanism for organized groups of workers and their employers to resolve conflicting interests and to pursue agreement over common interests.

[top] Collective bargaining agreement

The results of labor-management negotiations codified in written form.

[top] Contingent compensation

A compensation system that distributes earnings to employees as a function of some measure of economic performance (the specific measure of economic performance varies much including measures of individual, group, plant, or corporate performance and may be defined by output, profits, or sales)..

[top] Employee involvement

A process where employees have a say in identifying and solving business and production problems.

[top] Gain sharing

A contingent compensation system that distributes earnings to employees as a function of output or profits.

[top] Interest-based bargaining

A form of collective bargaining whereby labor and management jointly frame and solve issues in order to reach solutions providing gains to provide both sides.

[top] Job classification

A description of the skills needed for and responsibilities of a particular job as formally stated in a contract or personnel manual.

[top] Job rotation

A system of work organization in which employees rotate across the various jobs in their work area rather than only perform a single job as they would under traditional work organization.

[top] Joint steering committee

An employer-employee committee with the goal of coordinating participation, work restructuring, and collective bargaining activities.

[top] Labor-management committee

A group of workers (and possibly union representatives) who meet with management in an effort to resolve problems and improve organizational performance outside of formal collective bargaining.

[top] Labor relations staff

The management personnel with responsibility for handling union-organizing at-tempts, negotiations, contract administration, and litigation with regard to union activity.

[top] Organizational change

Efforts to reshape relationships between workers and managers through trust building or changes in work assignments.

[top] Pay-for-skills

A wage system that provides greater pay (often in step increases) as a worker becomes competent in more skills and jobs. Workers receive higher pay for their skill level whether or not they actually use those skills at any particular point in time.(sometimes known as knowledge-based pay)

[top] Profit sharing

Compensation awarded employees based on the profits of the firm (a form of contingent compensation).

[top] Team leader

An hourly worker who takes on some of the tasks traditionally carried out by supervisors such as helping to coordinate work processes and leading team meetings. In some situations, team leaders will serve as utility workers and fill in for absent workers.

[top] Team work

A system in which workers are organized into work groups and perform a broader than normal set of tasks. In some teams workers perform material handling, inspection and repair duties, and budget and planning tasks.