Employee Relations In Northrop Grumman

Employer-Employee Relations � PAGE �4�

Employer-Employee Relations in Northrop Grumman

Aisha Holmes, Tisha Merchant, Michael Rhodes,

Kimberly Steele, Kim Walton, and Joy Williams

MGT 434

Dr. Larry Lovejoy

March 23, 2008

�

Employer-Employee Relations in Northrop Grumman

Employer and employee relations have many different ways in which organizations understand laws and guidelines set forth by governing bodies in the respective area and within the entire nation (Bennett-Alexander, & Hartman, 2007). This paper analyzes the differences in regular employees vs. temporary employees and independent contractors. It will also discuss the differences between exempt and non-exempt employees. Finally, it will look at the laws in Colorado and how
An exempt employee may be required to work more than a 40 hour work week without any compensation. An exempt employee can work an extended workweek (EWW). This means that they can, in extraordinary circumstances, work extra hours during a workweek and get paid additional compensation. At Northrop Grumman, the exempt employee must work at least six hours over the employee 's standard workweek to be considered working an extended workweek. The extended workweek cannot last more than three months for each project or approval by recommending manager, approving manager, contracts director and HR director. When an EWW is in effect, the employee 's straight time rate will be paid for each hour worked. The straight time rate is figured by dividing the employee 's weekly salary by the number of hours they are regularly scheduled (Northrop Grumman, 2006). An example of how an exempt employee is paid is: if an employee is 50% exempt and has a standard word schedule of 24 hours per timesheet and the employee works 32 hours on a timesheet, the employee is eligible to receive 2 hours of EWW pay. There are some guidelines the can be subject to were the employers does not need pay the employee for any workweek in which he or she performs no work.

Here are some examples of the examples of guidelines for exempt employees at Northrop
At-will employees may be terminated for any reason, so long as the terms are not illegal. Northrop Grumman is a corporation that hires all employees at will. According to Termination of Employment Policy ITP H7 (2007), all employment at Northrop Grumman Information Technology business department is at-the-will of the company therefore, termination may be determined by the management and in accordance with company policy and procedure.

Colorado has two exceptions to the at-will rule based upon the legal principles of "public policy" and "implied contract." First, the public policy exception simply means that an employee cannot be fired for performing a legal duty or exercising a legal right. Second, a binding employment relationship may be found to have been created by an implied or an express contract. The contract theory usually arises in situations in which procedures outlined in personnel handbooks are construed as a contract between the employer and employee (Employment Law, 2008). Northrop Grumman has an employee handbook that clearly outlines the guidelines behind employment-at-will and how the company has a right to use this doctrine. Although the information is expressed in the handbook, it is not mentioned during the hiring or new hire orientation processes. The company