New Zealand Labor Problems

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Recommended: A comparison of the the two autocratic and democratic leadership styles

As the fields of Human Resources (HR) and Industrial Relations (IR) had their genesis in the concept of labour problems, it could be regarded that policy changes throughout New Zealand’s history have addressed deplorable working conditions. However, unsatisfactory conditions of low wages, 12-hour workdays, primitive health and safety conditions, and management’s discrimination and autocratic control continue to occur within some New Zealand (NZ) workplaces. A prime example this essay will focus on are deckhands on high-sea fishing boats, to demonstrate that although working conditions still differ, these can be resolved by employers applying HR and IR approaches in the workplace to rectify fair working conditions.

Talley’s Nelson Deep Sea Division is a private company that specialises in freezer trawler operations (Talley’s, n.d.). Deckhands on these high-sea fishing expeditions spend between 40-50 days at sea, during which they work in rotations of six hours on, six hours off (Careers New Zealand, 2010). This cycle means employees work 12-hour days, which could have inadvertent negative effects on their performance. Due to the tight fishing deadline, workers do not get a chance to unwind before their next haul. Rotating work schedules combined with long hours, creates fatigue and stress in workers, and further taxes their mental and physical capacities (Comperatore & Rivera, 2007).

Commercial Fishing is extremely competitive with considerable pressure to deliver on time. This creates an intense and stressful work atmosphere that can lead to fatigue becoming a health and safety issue (Maritime New Zealand [MNZ], n.d.). It is rated as one of the most dangerous industries to work in, and is evidenced in NZ by the total number...

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...ved from

http://www.munz.org.nz/

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. (2010). Migration debate missing the point - SFWU. Retrieved from http://union.org.nz/

New Zealand Seafood Industry Training Organisation. (2011). Seafood ITO. Retrieved from http://www.seafoodito.co.nz/

Oates, S. (November 25, 2010). Leadership Styles - Autocratic vs democratic vs bureaucratic. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.leadership-expert.co.uk

Pfeffer, J. (1998). Six dangerous myths about pay. Harvard Business Review, 76(3), 108-119.

Statistics New Zealand. (n.d.). All claims for work-related injuries by territorial authority – 2009. Retrieved from http://www.stats.govt.nz/

Talley’s Group Limited (n.d.). Deep Sea Division. Retrieved from http://www.talleys.co.nz/

Three News. (March 2, 2009). Sealord to cut 160 jobs in Nelson. Retrieved from http://www.3news.co.nz/

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