TY - UNPB
T1 - Employee casualisation in department stores in Hong Kong
AU - WONG, May M. L.
PY - 2000/6
Y1 - 2000/6
N2 - This study examines the pattern of employee casualisation in two Japanese and a British department stores in Hong Kong. A number of employee categories can be identified in these companies according to the model of the ‘flexible firm’. These companies employed four major casualisation strategies which reflected their culture and business strategies. During the economic good times, the Japanese companies tended to casualise more local staff due to the fact that they preferred to use ethnocentric management overseas. However, during the economic downturn, all companies used casualisation for cost-minimisation as a major business strategy for survival. This study implies that casualisation strategies have enabled retailers to increase flexibility. Furthermore, as there are more unemployed workers with the necessary skills are available in the labour market during economic downturn, it is more possible for firms to adopt casualisation. Thus, the condition of the labour market can also influence firms' employment strategies.
AB - This study examines the pattern of employee casualisation in two Japanese and a British department stores in Hong Kong. A number of employee categories can be identified in these companies according to the model of the ‘flexible firm’. These companies employed four major casualisation strategies which reflected their culture and business strategies. During the economic good times, the Japanese companies tended to casualise more local staff due to the fact that they preferred to use ethnocentric management overseas. However, during the economic downturn, all companies used casualisation for cost-minimisation as a major business strategy for survival. This study implies that casualisation strategies have enabled retailers to increase flexibility. Furthermore, as there are more unemployed workers with the necessary skills are available in the labour market during economic downturn, it is more possible for firms to adopt casualisation. Thus, the condition of the labour market can also influence firms' employment strategies.
UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/hkibswp/84/
M3 - Working paper series
T3 - Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies Working Paper Series
BT - Employee casualisation in department stores in Hong Kong
PB - Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies, Lingnan University
CY - Hong Kong
ER -