The analysis of Shangri-La hotels and resorts in the UK - Essay Example

? Employee Relations Marketing Communications Planning Introduction: Integrated marketing communications or IMC involves different types of marketingactivities that may enhance demand for a product or a service among its customers. Companies generally use this strategy in marketing and the different activities that may create demand are in a group referred to as communications mix. A flow of activities is involved in the communications strategy that enables a company to ultimately reach its customers. The important elements of this communication flow include the “source”, “message”, “medium” and the “receiver”. Also communications may be specific, selective or it may be mass communication. The various elements of the IMC are integrated in the communications mix and includes ‘advertising, sales activities, promotion, direct marketing, and public relations’. Integrating through all these measures, the main emphasis of the IMC is to influence its target customers (Anderson & Vincze, 2006: 372-377). As the case study of Shangri-La Hotels reflects, although several travel and tourism businesses were impacted owing to the terrorists’ attacks of the September 11, 2001 and other terrorist activities, yet Shangri-La Hotels which is an Asian based hotel group and based in Hong Kong, managed to survive and maintain its growth and expansion plans thus achieving greater reputation, particularly for the high quality service that they provide. As can be realized from the success of Shangri-La Hotels, a proper strategic integrated communications mix is highly necessary to keep the demands of the customers rising and to attract newer customers as well. This report would mainly focus on determination of an integrated marketing communications strategy that may be applied for the Shangri-La group of hotels with an overview of the entire market, the internal analysis of the company, the media and creative strategy, the communications mix, and the timing and budgets required for the plan. Situation Analysis: Considering a nation like the United Kingdom, the travel and tourism industry seems to be continuously developing. The statistics of British Tourist Authority says that the expenditure level of tourist has risen from ? 12 billion in 1998 to more than ?18 billion in 2003. Around 1.7 million jobs are provided by the tourism industry in Britain. The number of visitors is increasing overtime. The major countries from where these visitors come include USA, France, Germany, and Italy (Rodgers, 2001:38-39). The travel and tourism industry in the twentieth century started growing rapidly with greater participation in tourism activities (Marvell & Hayward, 2005:21). The holiday resorts in UK are popular for their food, entertainment and other facilities. Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca are some of the major players being very popular among tourists. Technology has brought about several changes in the industry with increasing use of computers posing threats to traditional values; internet facilities making tourists less dependent on travel agents, floating hotel being encouraged, and so on. Social and economic changes have also arisen with working classes getting greater access to tourisms, affordability has also increased among individuals, better pay packages being available for workers, and so on (Marvell & Hayward, 2005:23-24). Thus these factors affect the Shangri-La hotels as well. Internal Analysis of Shangri-La Hotels: The major strength of the company is in its possessing high standards of service that is supported by the operational, human and financial resources. The company experiences lower turnover in comparison to the whole industry. The reputation of the company with a strong brand name makes the position of the hotel group stronger in the market thus increasing its strength in the industry. The weaknesses of the company lie in its losing market share to its competitor like UK based Intercontinental Hotel Group, UK based Marriot Chain, or Hilton. The compensation packages provided are not very attractive. Also, there is lesser understanding of cultural differences in the company. Another weakness is that the overall costs are higher than competitors. The company has the opportunities to achieve market share in countries like North America and Europe. It may increase its presence in China and Asia. The rising income levels in the urban families can also provide for greater opportunities for the company. Building designs may provide efficiency in operations. Threats to the company may arise from travelling restrictions, employee loss to competitors, or increase in the labor costs (Shangri-La Hotels, n.d.). Campaign Objectives: Shangri-La hotels represent a “brand campaign” expressing unique values of generosity. The campaign or communications objectives of the company mainly focus on “embracing people from heart and treating them like family”. The uniqueness of the company is represented by the members of the company have true concern and esteem for their guests as well as for each other. (Shangri-La, 2010). The company being one of the largest hotels, and highly successful in providing its services, its campaign and communications objectives should focus not only on the external representations of its features; rather an integrated internal communication mechanism to look after the employees’ welfare should be a major focus of the company. If the organizational members are able to meet and discuss different related issues, that may increase awareness among them. This would improve their performance thus leading to better perception and of the company amongst the tourists. Strategy: Target Market The twentieth century family groups reflect that income levels are increasing in the urban families and greater numbers of people are enjoying the facilities that popular hotels and resorts like Shangri-La provide their guests with. Thus the major target market for the company in communicating their services should be the groups of people in the urban families as well as the wealthier groups of people. Demographically those families should be targeted that have a high level income. These people would not compromise with their accommodation expenses; hence are advantageous for the company. Families to be targeted would include different age groups, whereas young people may also be targeted who would like to enjoy tours with friends. Geographically, the company should spread across all the countries particularly countries having high income group people who would prefer travelling and enjoying the facilities of such resorts and hotels. To target the market behaviorally, those customers should be communicated who have a preference for travelling and tourism. The hotel industry may try to capitalize on customers who may need accommodations if there is a grand wedding or games like Olympics that draw huge number of people from other countries. The rate of changes in the purchase and expenditure pattern of the customers needs to be studied and considered to understand the target market. A preferred measure would be to undertake a market research to understand the market and is actual demands. Creative Strategy: Shangri-La hotels and resorts can be understood to be in a leading position in the minds of the customers as the case study indicates that this company had successfully managed to grow and expand even after suffering the terrorists’ attacks and other terrorism related acts. The company is highly known for its services and facilities, thus positioned at the top as the largest Asian -based deluxe hotel group operating in the region. A marketing communication plan should be created such that it can reach out and spread at all corners of the world. The copy platform would include providing the customers with information on the company’s background, their services, facilities, their brand positioning in the market, their market share, the costs, features, principles and values of the company, the media relations, and other associations of the company. This copy platform needs to be presented to the customers in an innovative and attractive manner. This would include taking measures like creating attractive advertisements. Magazines and articles can be attractively printed with details providing the facilities at Shangri-La, and to let individuals take a look at these, special offers may be provided along. Special services may be made available at the hotels that could change with times to keep the curiosity of individuals rising. The servicemen may present themselves in newer and different ways in different occasions to lessen any form of monotony. Thus the creative strategy would involve having some measures that are always new and innovative and unique from the other competitors. Communications Mix: A communications mix is an integrated creative plan that includes all components of communicating features of a business, particularly to its customers. This includes Advertising, Salesforce Activity, Sales Promotion, Direct Marketing, and Public Relations. Advertising helps in communicating to the masses as they are placed in the media that can be viewed by large numbers of people. Salesforce activity would deal with the operations of the salespersons such that they can provide value to customer through directly approaching them. Sales promotion motivates distributors and retailers by reducing prices and generally has a direct impact on the buying behavior of the customer. Direct marketing facilitates directly reaching out to the customers with the product or service. Finally, publicity may occur without much of monetary involvements. News may be publicized and spread even from mouth-to-mouth (Anderson & Vincze, 2006:376-377). As far as Shangri-La is concerned a communications mix comprising of advertising, salesforce activities, promotion, direct marketing and publicity all should combine together to successfully communicate to the customers and gain new and fresh demands. Newer attractive advertisements would be created to reach out to new customers. Direct marketing would also be performed where salespersons would directly approach people and promote the hotels and their features and facilities through campaigns across the group’s target market. Also, to attract more customers, special offers and discounts would be provided that could also include participations in contests and winning special services from the resorts. Public relations would be given utmost importance since satisfied customers is the ultimate aim of the group of hotels. Thus a communications and creative mix strategy would be so created that innovation and attractiveness accompanied by curiosity would attract new customers. Recommended Campaign: A communications mix appropriate for Shangri-La would be to include advertising, salesforce activities, promotion, direct marketing and publicity together and reach to its target market and enhance new guests at its hotels and resorts. For the purpose of advertising, the television, radio, newspapers, hoardings and banners may be used by the company that may attract new customers. The advertisements need to be attractive and should have the basic details to inform the target market. Promotional offers may often attract more customers; hence the company may provide its customers with discount in charges, particularly during any occasion. Direct marketing can also be used by the company as salesforces may move to different localities in different regions and through campaigns, let their customers know about the features and services of the hotels. The performances as well as welfare of the sales teams would be dealt through the salesforce activities. Publicity is another way to reach out to customers. For this, the company may make use of magazines and articles. Media Strategy: The different media options available to the company include the television, the radio, the newspapers and magazines that can be used for the purpose of advertising, direct marketing, and promotion. Television is a very popular medium that can produce the company’s advertisements in between different television programs. Particular programs on the television may also talk about the features, facilities and other details of the hotels of Shangri-La. The radio is another popular medium which can be utilized for the purpose of advertising. Ads having basic details or other offers may also be presented through the newspapers. Other media that can be used are hoardings and banners which if made attractive may attract new customers. However television seems to be the most effective medium that may aid the company in communicating to its customers. The use of these media channels would be particularly made to reach out to new customers on a large scale and at a rapid pace. Television being a very popular medium is expected to contribute to a great extent to the spread of communications from the group of hotels to the customers. The target market would be studied and their preferences would be realized before media can reach them. This would facilitate in using the media strategies appropriately to the needs of the individuals. Timing and Budgets: The budget being ?3 million for the period of two years, it can be invested in the following manner: ?1 million for Advertising that would include advertising through the television channels, the radio, the printings of Ads in newspapers, the expenses on hoardings and banners presenting with information on Shangri-La hotels. ?1 million for Sales activities and Promotions that would include the expenses needed on activities to promote the marketing and attraction of new customers. The expenditure on market research would also be included, and ?1 million for Direct Marketing and Publicity that would be required for directly reaching out to individuals, forming and presenting campaigns and maintaining relationships with customers through phone calls, emails and other mediums of contact available. Since the time period for this budgeting is for two years, the advertising medium should be used throughout this period, particularly television medium can be utilized for the whole year. Promotional campaigns may be conducted at different points of the year, and more during occasions like Christmas. Direct marketing and publicity have to be conducted all through the time period as different regions and localities may be covered through direct marketing. Post Campaign Testing: The communications mix being planned and implemented, a post campaign testing would assist in understanding the level of awareness among people about the company. An attitudinal research may also be conducted to learn about what people, after the campaigns, think and feel about the company, the hotels and whether they would prefer to visit and spend time there with their families or friends. For this testing, people can be directly approached and asked questions either in the form of short interviews, or by letting them fill up questionnaires. The testing has to be done over a huge range of area that would include all those market segments that are the targets of the company’s services. Also, collection of different opinions of the customers may help the company to a great extent. The responses of all these people would be studied to analyze if any changes in their services would satisfy the customers more or what the other relevant factors are that might be needed to be looked at. Through these responses, the level of awareness about the hotels would also be understood as to how much they know about the Shangri-La hotels and resorts. This would help to increase or lessen its advertising and other campaigns. Thus a post campaign testing would enable the company to judge the situation with respect to its positioning in the minds of the people and take measures accordingly. Summary: Considering the current market scenario particularly when terrorism has damaged several businesses, Shangri-La hotels and resorts in the UK has plans to formulate an integrated communications plan for the next two years. The plan comes ahead of the times when the company has been capable of managing its leadership in the industry and plans to expand in bigger dimensions. The communications mix strategy would assist the company to use the media options in spreading its services and features across the different regions and among different people thus intending to increase the demands from the customers. For this purpose the different components of the communications mix including advertising, salesforce activities, promotion, direct marketing and public relations can be used by the company. To start with the company can initiate the advertising strategies and then follow it by direct marketing and other promotional campaigns. Reaching out to the wide range of people who are the target market of the company through an integrated strategic communications plan would help the company to spread its business further and increase demands among the customers. References: 1) Anderson, C.H. & J.W. Vincze (2006), Strategic Marketing (2Nd Ed.), India: Dreamtech Press 2) Lei, Z. Strueby, S. & M, J. (n.d.), Shangri-La Hotels, available at: www.plu.edu/~leiza/doc/shangri-la.ppt (accessed on August 17, 2011) 3) Marvell, A. & Hayward, P. (2005), Travel & Tourism: AS level for AQA, London: Heinemann 4) Rodgers, J. (2001), Travel and tourism: advanced, London: Heinemann 5) Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Launches New Global Brand Campaign (2010). Shangri-La, available at: http://www.shangri-la.com/en/corporate/press/pressrelease/41806 (accessed on August 17, 2011) Employee Relations 1 Total Word Count: 2124 Introduction: Associations of employers in all sectors of organizations are important as they “organize themselves” in different forms. Depending on the nature of industry as well as the degree of the “unionization” the importance given to employee relations vary. Associations involved with employee relations mostly deal with “semi-skilled and skilled labour” in industries like engineering. Organizations for employee relations are known to be present for long times; however, their influences have been found to lessen in the recent years. Nonetheless, “employers’ organizations” facilitate the human resources in an organization in performing their services that include collective bargaining, dispute resolution, advising members and other related issues. Associations of employers are “voluntary, private bodies” providing information and harmonization (Gennard & Judge, 2005:151-154). The institutional framework of industrial and employee relations was greatly restructured by the Employment Protection Act 1975. Some of the institutions like the HSC and Acas were created when independent organizations had taken up the functions that governments used to perform earlier. However, the “funding, appointments, target setting, audit and review” are maintained by the departments responsibly (Dickens & Neal, 2006:3-10). This report would focus on the recent developments in the roles played by two new employee relations actors (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureaux, ACAS or the Commission for Equality and Human Rights), and discuss their effectiveness in representing and supporting workers. Body of the Report: Management and employees need to possess an association between them with a “duty of care”. Managers and higher authorities of an organization need to focus on the interpersonal relationships and communications. This is more required because varieties of people having different characters are parts of an organization; hence they are required to be managed. Industrial relations can be defined as the way by which organizational members interact in the place of work to establish their results and the circumstances under which they function. The primary focus of industrial relations is the resolution of disputes within organizations. The present scenario reflects a “period of uncertainty and ambiguity” as change is continuously taking place. Such changes include privatization being encouraged by governments, free trade, competitions at the global level, labor moving across international obstacles, and competitions in availability of resources (Dicker, 2004:3-10). The current development of growing organizations and the organizational managers has greater focus on the importance of people within organizations. This focus is mainly on “enterprise bargaining”, “greater devolution of responsibility”, and “encouragement of worker participation” in decision making process of a company. Managers who are good performers take care of every such aspect in relation to employee relations and take committed measures to ensure that they properly happen along with proper training and development. Traditional principles are now changing. There is a greater acceptance of the fact that employees can “question and dissent” and they can as well participate in decision making (Dicker, 2004:11-12). Changing Times and Changing Need and the Role of Actors: The 21st century witnesses lesser prominence on the “strength and power” of organizations that follow a hierarchy. Today a person’s changing job every few years is viewed as advancement towards attainment of skills and knowledge. Unlike before, today “cooperation, collaboration and interdependence” are given greater importance. Growth in personal profession as well as satisfaction levels in job are considered extremely important in today’s organizations. The 21st century employee relations finds “human factor” as the most important issue within an organization. Thus people are more involved in participations and contributions with lesser emphasis on power or status of the company. An employee relations manager can best improve the performances of its employees by understanding the potentials of each member and letting them work smarter instead of working harder and longer (Dicker, 2004:12-13). According to Ellem et al., the changes in employee relations to employment legislation can be expressed as a continuation of a move from “formal legislative regulation to internal regulation of labour processes”, that augments greater control within the management along with “highlighting” the space in depicting the employees. It is perceptible that “new actors and processes” are rising in the industrial relations within organizations. Several actors who were not recognized earlier are now given importance. Such actors have high influences on the employee relations and employee assistance programs are greatly recognized in today’s employment relations (Burgess, 2008: 269-270). ACAS: Role and Developments: ACAS or the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service is an organization formed under the terms and conditions of the Employment protection Act 1975. Its main intention was to support the development of industrial relations. The organization takes the role of an advisory and advises individuals and organizations that require the skills and knowledge to cooperate with different processes and situations. Codes of practices have also been established by ACAS and other handbooks that are helpful in different service methods that include “discipline, grievance, industrial disputes, redundancy, dismissal” and other related issues. The practices and values of ACAS have been accepted and followed by several organizations. ACAS also settles several legal actions that may otherwise a serious level. The conciliation specialists of the organization are available in a manner that they can immediately attend such issues that may arise within employee relations. ACAS is also considered as a potential arbitrator to whom different problems may be approached for solutions (Currie, 1997: 295). New methods of trade union recognition were introduced by the Employment Relations Act in 1999. This increased the need for the conciliation services of ACAS for the purpose of solving problems related to trade union recognitions. To this ACAS has three roles to play. Firstly, employers of the corporation are provided with advices along with information on “statutory recognition processes and options” by the conciliation specialists of ACAS. Secondly, membership checks are facilitated that provides support for recognition. Thirdly, ACAS members pacify the disputes arising within the organizations over bargaining units and access of workers to trade unions. Although ACAS is generally called for at a later stage, yet organizations are greatly facilitated by the conciliation processes approached by ACAS (Couper, 2005:4). Along with the conciliation roles played by ACAS, it also provides aid to organizational members within a place of work in attaining a strategic approach towards resolution of conflicts. This is turn improves the relations in work. One approach includes improvement of collective bargaining; however on the whole the objectives involve “joint problem solving and consultation and communication processes” towards management of conflicts. Thus the roles of ACAS altogether include resolution of disputes through conciliation, at the same time providing strategies for the management of an organization in handling conflicts, thus improving employee relations in the modern organizations (Dix & Oxenbridge, 2004: 4). In the recent times, initiatives have been taken to refine processes of the ACAS such that individual cases of conciliation may be handled along with “provision of a mediation service” that assists in the resolution of individual workplace arguments (Dickens & Neal, 2006: 32). Citizens Advice Bureaux: Role and Developments: The CAB or the Citizens Advice Bureaux is “the largest independent network” that comprises of centers of advice that are free of any charges and provides with advises related to different rights and responsibilities of individuals. Such advices are “free, independent, confidential and impartial” as required by the individuals, that helps employees in different organizations as well in improving relations. The Bureaux gives high esteem to variety, encourages equality, and confronts any kind of discrimination. It gives advices to those people who are in troubles. It tries to improve the circumstances of lives of people by bringing changes in rules and practices (House of Commons, 2011:95). According to researched information, the specialist advisers of the CAB deal with “43,234 welfare benefit problems, 56,990 debt problems, 9,129 housing and 2,954 employee problems” that are contracted with the Legal Services Commission. The CAB provides its services in different situations in the “justice system” and offers information, guidance and support. Thus the organization has a high importance in the system of justice as far as rules and policies of individuals are concerned. The services of Citizens Advice Bureaux have become internal to several organizations where justice of the individuals is required (House of Commons, 2011:95-96). Overall view on ACAS and CAB: Comparing today’s work environment with the earlier days, a significant change may be noticed in the principles and disciplines of work as well as in the employee relations. More concerns in regard to employee relations are involved by the management of any organization. Improving working life as well as performances in the organizations can be represented as being “mutually exclusive”. Employment relations in modern organizations are essential issues that have impacts on the organizational improvements and outcomes. It concerns the factors of “fairness and respect” with respect to individuals thus reflecting their performances (Donaghy, 2005:4-5). Although changes have been occurring in the organizational processes, principle and disciplines, the basic purpose of ACAS or CAB remain the same. They play highly significant roles in employee relations within organizations that are greatly required for the better and improved performances by the organizational members. If the roles of ACAS or CAB are considered it can be understood that keeping the basis similar to what had initiated these organizations, these bodies have been continuously developing their services with the changing needs and changing times. The basic functions of ACAS have always been to conciliate and advise in situations of conflicts. With the changing environments and changing demands in the functions within different organizations, the services of ACAS are more demanded in modern business world. The ACAS accordingly provides its conciliation and other advisory services satisfying the needs and demands of the organizations. Similarly the services of CAB are highly essential in the ever changing environment of the business world. The rights and responsibilities of individuals are essential factors to be recognized. This has greater implications in the employee relations as organizational members would have greater transparency in their responsibilities that would lead to better performances. Also, the different problems that different members may encounter would be approached by the CAB that may try to solve the individual disputes. This is an essential requirement in the modern organizations as human resources are the most important factor for an organization’s success. Thus their welfare is highly necessary that would otherwise have impacts on their performances. On a nutshell, it can be realized that in the developing world that has brought several changes and implications on the business world as well, developments have also taken place in the services of organizations like ACAS and CAB thereby increasing their demands within organizations for improvements in employee relations. Conclusion: Employers association has a great importance in today’s business world for particular organizations of employees. The employee relations particularly with the higher authorities thus have a significant role to play in the performance of the individuals. Independent bodies like ACAS or CAB have indispensable participation in these factors as they enhance improved employee relations within organizations through their terms and policies. While ACAS serves by settling disputes through conciliations, at the same time giving strategic advises to the organizational members in handling of conflicts. On the other hand CAB provides solutions to different problems of individuals that also include problems related to organizational performances. The CAB helps individuals to realize the rules they should follow and the responsibilities they need to take. With the developing and changing business world, the services of ACAS and CAB have also developed to provide services to greater number of organizations that require improved employee relations. The importance of these institutions can be realized in the context of increasing needs for better employee relations. This importance is more highlighted as in modern organizations human resources have a potential role to play in the organizational success, thus their needs and problems are more required to be addressed. The bodies like ACAS and CAB assist organizations in this respect with developing their services all the more than before. References 1) Burges, J. (2008), New Employment Actors: Developments from Australia, Switzerland: Peter Lang 2) Couper, W. (2005), Employment Relations Matters, ACAS, available at: http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=565&p=0 (accessed on August 17, 2011) 3) Curie, D. (1997), Personnel in Practice, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell 4) Dickens, L. & A.C. Neal (2006), The changing institutional face of British employment relations, Netherlands: Kluwer Law International 5) Dicker, L. (2004), Employee relations: how to build strong relationships with your employees, Australia: Allen & Unwin 6) Dix, G. & S. Oxenbridge (2004). Coming to the table: The role of Acas in collective disputes and improving workplace relationships, ACAS, available at: http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/f/m/0104_coming_to_the_table.pdf (accessed on August 18, 2011) 7) Donaghy, R. (2005). The Changing Landscape of Employment Relations in Britain, Warwick Papers in Industrial Relations Number 78, available at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/research/irru/wpir/warwick_paper_2005_lowry.pdf (accessed on August 18, 2011) 8) Gennard, J. & G. Judge (2005), Employee Relations, London: CIPD Publishing Impact of UK’s Membership of the European Union (EU) on British Workers Total Word Count: 869 Introduction: United Kingdom had its membership with the European Union since 1973. The EU is comprised of an organization of 27 countries. The British government was from the beginning expected to remain active in its roles (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2011). However, different views had arisen among the residents as well as labors in regard to the impacts of such membership being good or bad. This report would highlight the impacts of UK’s membership in the EU and find the positives and negatives affecting the British workers. The UK’s acceptance of work councils on the basis of industrial relations methods that comes with UK’s joining EU countries is expected to allow the British workers to have “wildest choice of institutions of voice”. This would enable them to merge nonunion related jobs with unions and maintain unions or work councils for presenting their voices. Although certain “formal policies” may interfere and let the workers require the unions, yet different companies would be able to utilize the human resources in influencing the choice of workers. The good point in this respect lies in the fact that unions are observed as “a desirable form of voice” by the workers. However the bad point is that workers may have distrusts in the efficiency of the unions and there may be lack of proper recruitment activities among the unions. Workers would prefer unions for the purpose of discussing wages, conditions of work environments, and for protecting any illogical actions against employees. At the same time unions may not assist the employees in enhancing their career goals. Thus the union facilities may have both positive and negative impacts on the workers (Freeman & Haynes, 2007:94). As has been reported by Lord Mandelson, the workers of the EU are not expected to pose any negative impact on the British workers. They are in fact assisting to fill up vacancies that were not being accepted by the British workers. If wages are considered, “no statistically significant impact” has been obtained. Jobs still remain vacant for the British workers to fill up those places if they wished so. The membership of the UK in the EU has led to more employment in the sectors of hospitality, retail and other sectors that were before vacant as British workers were unwilling to work there. According to figures in 2001, “more than 600,000 UK nationals had jobs now” thus show no significant impacts on the higher labour rates amongst British employees. It is not possible to say that the membership had any adverse effects on the British employees as “Over nine out of every 10 people in employment” have been found to be from the British citizens. But, James Clappison challenged the earlier views and presented facts that clearly indicate that the employments in the UK have not increased; the immigrations have on the other hand increased. Employees from such immigrants were found to fill up the vacancies in the different sectors. Several EU members were thus posted to UK (BBC News, 2009). The greater number of immigrations from the EU countries to UK is expected to create dissatisfactions among the national citizens as well as workers in Britain. The effects of the membership of UK in the EU can be realized to have both positive and negative impacts as far as the welfare of British workers is concerned. If the number of immigrants increases over the years and these immigrants take up jobs in the UK, then it is understood that UK nationals would have lesser number of jobs and would suffer from unemployment. This is a severe concern for the government. Although unions and other facilities or policies provided by the EU may benefit the existing workers; however, if unemployment of the nationals is predicted, then UK citizens are not expected to accept it. Conclusion: United Kingdom has been a member of the EU since a long time. Its implications on the British workers however, do not seem to have good effects. It can be realized that the EU may have several policies that may be beneficial for the employees of different organizations. But, the issue to be taken in concern is that with the UK’s taking membership in the EU, large number of immigrants from the EU is being posted in the UK. These people are found to take up jobs in the nations which may come up as a threat to the nationals of UK. Thus if the question arises whether the membership of UK in the EU is good or bad, it can be said that with respect to the British workers, the membership does not seem to be a good policy, that in turn creates dissatisfaction and uncertainty in the minds of the workers and citizens. References 1) Britain’s relationship with the European Union (2011), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/european-union/021-europe-approach/ (accessed on August 18, 2011) 2) EU workers ‘no impact’ on UK jobs (2009). BBC News, available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7933272.stm (accessed on August 18, 2011) 3) Freeman, R.B. & P. Haynes (2007), What workers say: employee voice in the Anglo-American workplace, New York: Cornell University Press Read More