Labour Market Analysis Report Virgin Blue Airline

Labour Market Analysis Report Virgin Blue Airline Labour demand and supply The companies that sell products to end users based on the laws of supply and demand in the market become the purchasers in the labor market since they require employees to design products and do other sorts of things to ensure that the finished products meet the requirements of the end-users. Since no employee can render a free service, companies are compelled to go into the labor market so as to purchase labor according to their considerations.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Labour Market Analysis Report: Virgin Blue Airline specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Virgin Blue Airline determines the number of workers it demands based on some considerations. These are the costs it will incur on the labour (based on the Australian market wage), and the number of workers it needs to meet the current and predicted demands for doing business. The supply of labour in the Australian airline industry is determined by the amount of wages, salaries, as well as other benefits provided by the potential employers, and skilled workers tend to move from one employer to the other based on these influences. To make the conditions of work attractive, Virgin Blue Airline offers competitive pay, performance based rewards, travel allowances, study assistance, and many other benefits to potential employees (Virgin Blue Airlines, 2010). Labour requirements for Virgin Blue Airline increased growth Virgin Blue Airline, with a current market share of about twenty-eight percent in Australia’s airline industry, is increasingly growing to serve other routes around the world. For example, in the past one year, it has carried about 18.4 million international passengers (PPS Publications Ltd, 2010). This increased growth implies that it will need additional employees to serve the increasing number of its customers. In this regard, the company will need to hire culturally diverse employees for i t to succeed in doing global business. This will make it possible for the diverse workforce to bring different points of view in tackling issues in the airline company, which are invaluable for its success internationally. More so, since the success of a modern organization requires different inputs from people with diverse skills and experiences, recruiting such people will ensure that Virgin Blue Airline benefits from the different range of experiences that they will be bringing along for its eventual success in the international market. Since doing international business normally encounter several restrictions, for example, acceptance of the airline by the customers in another locality and customer-handling issues, Virgin Blue Airline will need to surmount these obstacles by hiring employees who are up to the task.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In additio n, another associated labour requirements in this new market is to hire employees who can speak fluently other languages, apart from English. This will ensure that the company confronts the language barrier problem that can make it lose its customers if not properly addressed. Analysis of Virgin Blue Airline existing workforce to determine areas of excesses and shortages Virgin Blue Airline, launched on 31 August 2000 with less than three hundred employees, currently employs about three thousand workers, and the number is still growing. However, until recently, the company had been concentrating on employing younger workers who were below thirty-five years of age. This raised questions about the company’s hiring process. For example, a group of eight mature former flight attendants sued the company for discrimination. They accused the airline company for not giving them jobs because they were above thirty-five years of age (Weller, 2006). The company lost the case and compens ated the former flight attendants. This implies that there are shortages of mature employees in the company and an excess of younger employees. It is important to note that experienced workers bring in the skills and attitudes that a company can utilize for its success, especially in the international market. Another area where there is shortage is in the number of female employees that the airline has. This shortage has arisen because of the increased requirement to travel to other countries around the world. Since it becomes difficult to strike a balance between work and family commitments in such situation, a number of females have stayed away from working with the company. Analysis of Virgin Blue Airline current workforce suitability to meet current and predicted demands for labour In as much as Virgin Blue Airline had been concentrating on hiring younger employees, its current workforce has the capacity to meet the current and predicted demands for doing business in the aviatio n industry. The company has established an effective culture that ensures that its operations run smoothly. The company has a top management team consisting of twelve professionals who have served in various capacities in the company since its inception ten years ago. Bruce Highfield, HR director for Virgin Blue, says, â€Å"Having a top team that really works effectively together is really half the battle. Culture starts at the top, and the leadership style of the boss is what filters down† (The Reed Group Ltd, 2010, para. 7).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Labour Market Analysis Report: Virgin Blue Airline specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Even though it has established a cohesive management team, the company goes at great lengths to recruit competent workers who are able to preserve its unique culture as well as meet its current demand for business and future expansion. Besides the thorough recruitmen t process, the company ensures that its workers remain motivated and committed in accomplishing their duties by properly assigning tasks, carrying out employee appraisal programs, meeting their expectations, and involving the employees in different aspects of decision making within the company. Analysis of current and predicted external labour supply data Between 1980 and 2000, the Australian labour force has been increasing an estimated rate of two percent due to the full entry to the labour force market of the baby boom generation, increased participation of women, and overseas migration (McDonald Temple, 2008, p.2). Currently, it is estimated that the country’s labor force is growing at 3.1 per cent per annum and this rate is falling (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2010). Moreover, this labour supply growth rate may fall further if there will be no international migration. Since Australia’s population is likely to grow, this will create a multiplier effect upon th e demand for labour in the aviation industry. The country’s labour force is and will have to confront the difficulties of its ageing population. This difficulty will lead to possible replacement of the elderly labour force with young labour force resulting in certain labour shortfalls and skill gaps in the country’s airline industry. Recommendations for workforce planning Virgin Blue Airline has experienced incredible growth within a short time. Therefore, to ensure its continued success it should develop a workforce planning tool that ensures that its objectives are matched with the needs of the employees. It can achieve this by identifying the key abilities of its potential future workforce, engaging in an accurate analysis of its current workforce numbers and capacity, carrying out a gap analysis to make a comparison between the projected workforce supply to the workforce demand forecast, developing workforce strategies and projected funding impact, and implementing and reviewing workforce plans. References Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2010. Labour Force, Australia, Sep 2010. [Online]Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Australia Bureau of Statistics. Available at: abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[emailprotected]/mf/6202.0?opendocument#from-banner=LN . McDonald, P. Temple, J., 2008. Demographic and Labour Futures for Australia. [Online] Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute. Available at: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:qljwbbJOR-kJ:www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/research/_pdf/demo-labour-supply.pdf+labour+supply+in+australiahl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEEShDeknLiq7JDVILE9svPMStJG3bnqMhCGNXz7B6pjr7e2xbuBle55KDBIzAfpr0M6UsweWBpEQm-h08WSoIqrjxo4MqvzNe6CnDVXL4slk9wPungSuDoil0gVXTaZ0GlV7sGeRdsig=AHIEtbQUF4_lXNhdYKJh520dWOvAiU7GXA . PPS Publications Ltd, 2010. Virgin Blue’s growth coming from international routes; 18.4 million passengers carried in last 12 months. [Online] PPS Publications Ltd. Available at: anna.aero/2010/06/08/virgin-blues-growth-coming-from-international-routes/ . The Reed Group Ltd, 2010. Breaking in a new culture: the Virgin Blue story. [Online] Reed Elsevier A ustralia Pty Limited. Available at: humanresourcesmagazine.com.au/articles/0b/0c01a00b.asp . Virgin Blue Airlines, 2010. Benefits. [Online] Virgin Blue Airlines. Available at: virginblue.com.au/AboutUs/Careers/Benefits/ . Weller, S., 2006. Discrimination, Labour Markets and the Labour Market Prospects of  Older Workers: What Can a Legal Case Teach Us? [Online] Victoria University, Melbourne. Available at: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:wt3nsispaZsJ:www.cfses.com/documents/wp31.pdf+international+labour+market+airline+industryhl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEESg1ZC8Oztnhf2FsvXiNXpR21CHKoXe3h0DNAZXmjrJ1cokwJK3tCXXtC87LAY1ixnel2qCRwGrXF_oJpQPHMbOBVFuN_qQKduT7boL0MMHDauVRwd5YDGB6ur2BDD6KZU0zX_COsig=AHIEtbSsbjcti5KH_bI_k0IlfKcbQTCsbA   .

Battle of Camden - American Revolution

Battle of Camden - American Revolution The Battle of Camden was fought August 16, 1780, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). Having withdrawn from Philadelphia to New York in 1778, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, commanding British forces in North America, shifted his focus south. That December, British troops captured Savannah, GA and in the spring of 1780 laid siege to Charleston, SC.   When the city fell in May 1780, Clinton succeeded in capturing the bulk of the Continental Armys southern forces. Raiding from the city, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton defeated another retreating American force at the Battle of Waxhaws on May 29. Having taken the city, Clinton departed leaving Lieutenant General Lord Charles Cornwallis in command. With the exception of partisan groups operating in the South Carolina backcountry, the closest American forces to Charleston were two Continental regiments commanded by Major General Baron Johann de Kalb at Hillsborough, NC. To rescue the situation, the Continental Congress turned to the victor of Saratoga, Major General Horatio Gates. Riding south, he arrived in de Kalbs camp at Deep River, NC on July 25. Assessing the situation, he found that the army was lacking in food as the local population, disillusioned by the recent string of defeats, was not offering supplies. In an effort to restore morale, Gates proposed immediately moving against Lieutenant Colonel Lord Francis Rawdons outpost at Camden, SC. Though de Kalb was willing to attack, he recommended moving through Charlotte and Salisbury to obtain badly needed supplies. This was rejected by Gates who insisted on speed and began leading the army south through the North Carolina pine barrens. Joined by Virginia militia and additional Continental troops, Gates army had little to eat during the march beyond what could be scavenged from the countryside. Armies Commanders: Americans Major General Horatio GatesMajor General Johann de Kalb3,700 men British Lieutenant General Lord Charles CornwallisLieutenant Colonel Banastre TarletonLord Rawdon2,200 men Moving to Battle Crossing the Pee Dee River on August 3, they met 2,000 militia led by Colonel James Caswell. This addition swelled Gates force to around 4,500 men, but further worsened the logistical situation. Approaching Camden, but believing he greatly outnumbered Rawdon, Gates dispatched 400 men to aid Thomas Sumter with an attack on a British supply convoy. On August 9, having been informed of Gates approach, Cornwallis marched out from Charleston with reinforcements. Arriving at Camden, the combined British force numbered around 2,200 men. Due to disease and hunger, Gates possessed around 3,700 healthy men. Deployments Rather than wait at Camden, Cornwallis began probing north. Late on August 15, the two forces made contact approximately five miles north of the town. Pulling back for the night, they prepared for battle the next day. Deploying in the morning, Gates made the error of placing the bulk of his Continental troops (de Kalbs command) on his right, with the North Carolina and Virginia militia on the left. A small group of dragoons under Colonel Charles Armand was to their rear. As a reserve, Gates retained Brigadier General William Smallwoods Maryland Continentals behind the American line. In forming his men, Cornwallis made similar deployments placing his most experienced troops, under Lieutenant Colonel James Webster, on the right while Rawdons Loyalist and Volunteers of Ireland militia opposed de Kalb. As a reserve, Cornwallis held back two battalions of the 71st Foot as well as Tarletons cavalry. Facing off, the two armies were constrained to a narrow battlefield which was hemmed in on either side by the swamps of Gum Creek. The Battle of Camden The battle commenced in the morning with Cornwallis right attacking the American militia. As the British moved forward, Gates ordered the Continentals on his right to advance. Firing a volley into the militia, the British inflicted several casualties before surging forward with a bayonet charge. Largely lacking bayonets and rattled by the opening shots, the bulk of the militia immediately fled the field. As his left wing disintegrated, Gates joined the militia in fleeing. Pushing forward, the Continentals fought vigorously and repelled two assaults by Rawdons men (Map). Counterattacking, the Continentals came close to breaking Rawdons line, but were soon taken in the flank by Webster. Having routed the militia, he turned his men and began assaulting the Continentals left flank. Stubbornly resisting, the Americans were finally forced to withdraw when Cornwallis ordered Tarleton to attack their rear. In the course of the fighting, de Kalb was wounded eleven times and left on the field. Retreating from Camden, the Americans were pursued by Tarletons troopers for approximately twenty miles. Aftermath of Camden The Battle of Camden saw Gates army suffered around 800 killed and wounded and another 1,000 captured. In addition, the Americans lost eight guns and the bulk of their wagon train. Captured by the British, de Kalb was cared for by Cornwallis doctor before dying on August 19. British losses totaled 68 killed, 245 wounded, and 11 missing. A crushing defeat, Camden marked the second time an American army in the South was effectively destroyed in 1780. Having fled the field during the fighting, Gates rode sixty miles to Charlotte by nightfall. Disgraced, he was removed from command in favor of the dependable Major General Nathanael Greene that fall.