Human Factors at work place

In general, a human factor is a physical or cognitive property of an individual or social behavior which is specific to humans and influences functioning of technological systems as well as human-environment equilibriums. Human factors merely mean the benefits and basic facilities given to employees by an Organisation to sustain them. In social interactions, the use of the term human factor stresses the social properties unique to or characteristic of humans. Human factors involves the study of all aspects of the way humans relate to the world around them, with the aim of improving operational performance, safety, through life costs and/or adoption through improvement in the experience of the end user. The terms human factors have only been widely used in recent times; the field's origin is in the design and use of aircraft during World War II to improve aviation safety. It also includes the way in which an employee is treated at work place. A human factor in the workplace has to do largely with the safety of employees, both long and short-term. It can help reduce costs by improving safety. Human factors is one of the approach that deal with an understanding of sustainability both in the sense of obtaining long-term success and thus survivability of a corporate and in the sense of the normative idea sustainable development, which has gained substantial relevance since the early 1970s. These understandings are represented by different approaches. Success and sustainability of an Organisation can be better understood and measures by knowing how much it understands its employees and how it facilitates them, through providing a good infrastructure to work, providing incentives and extra benefits other than income to sustain or retain them in the Organisation. Thus a companys sustainability to a large extent depends on human factors. Thus in brief human factors include, the basic amenities provided to an employee at work, like the food, good working condition, flexible and fixed time of work, privacy etc. Issues related to human factors In the case of human factors, issues could arise in many ways some of the commonly arising issues are: Employee not treated with dignity No proper safety provided to the employee. Poor working condition Lack of basic amenities at work place Hostile and rude relation between the employee and employer Too long working hours. No proper food provided These are the issues related to human factors that make the life of employee at work place unbearable and miserable. All basic human factors must be satisfies by organisations, to retain its employees at work in this world of high competition.

Comparison of human factors in India and Western countries:

Indian society
Human factor is a recently developed concept at Indian corporate. In India proper safety equipments and first aid mechanism is not available to an employee in the case of emergency. At work place there is very little privacy to the employees to satisfy their basic needs. In some organizations employees are not treated with dignity. There is no fixed time of work for employees; they have to work till they complete their assigned task. This concept developed in India after industrial revolution. Human is considered as a mere commodity that brings profit. There is no guarantee of minimum wage and job security. Some organizations do not even guarantee basic amenities. Slowly the concept of human factors is coming into effect in corporate due to western ownership of the company and influence of western culture.

Western societies
It has been there in western society from a long time in the name on ergonomics. An induction program is provided to employees regarding the safety measures and good first aid facility is provided in case of emergency. Employee has all his privacy to satisfy his needs. Employees are treated with good respect and dignity. There is fixed time of work for e.g. 9 to 5 and beyond 5 no one works and Sundays are declared holidays. Originated in western societies. Employees are considered as a resource to the company. There is fixed income that will not go down at any situation, there is job security to some extent. The organized are fully structured and designed in prior to suit the work. Already in existence.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Assignment 1 (Issues regarding Human factors at work place and gender justice)
By Nithya.A (0712138) 3rd B.A.Sociology