question

Health-Tech Materials is a firm that manufactures medical equipment purchased by hospitals and clinics. The firm employs over 2,500 workers in its two manufacturing facilities located in Texas and Arizona. Recently, Health-Tech dismissed a number of employees for ethics violations ranging from improper Internet usage to stealing company funds. In addition, the firm has been sued by two former employees for wrongful discharge. As a result, Health-Tech's top executives are evaluating the firm's hiring process, ethics training system, reward system, and disciplinary system to determine how to promote ethics and fair treatment. Which of the following best supports the argument that Health-Tech should make significant changes to its disciplinary process?

answer

Historically, arbitrators have overturned the dismissal decisions of Health-Tech's managers because of unclear company rules.

question

________ refers to all forms of pay or rewards going to employees and arising from their employment.

answer

Employee compensation

question

Direct financial payments include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

answer

insurance

question

Which of the following terms refers to pay in the form of financial benefits, such as insurance?

answer

indirect financial payments

question

Which compensation-related law contains provisions for minimum wage, maximum hours, overtime pay, equal pay, and child labor?

answer

Fair labors Standard Act

question

Jorge worked 6 hours of overtime this week but has decided to take time off instead of overtime pay. How many hours will Jorge receive in time off from work?

answer

9 hours

question

Which of the following is true for employers who use independent contractors?

answer

Fair Labors Standards Act overtime requirements do not apply

question

According to the Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible employees can take up to ________ weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for the birth of a child or for the care of a child, spouse, or parent.

answer

12 weeks

question

Which of the following has historically been the primary issue in collective bargaining?

answer

wage rates

question

Lisa is an HR manager who has been assigned the task of establishing pay rates to ensure external equity. What should Lisa do first in the process?

answer

Conduct a salary survey

question

________ is a formal and systematic comparison of jobs to determine the worth of one job relative to another.

answer

job evaluation

question

______ means collapsing salary grades and ranges into just a few wide levels or bands, each of which contains a relatively wide range of jobs and salary levels.

answer

Broadbanding

question

Which of the following terms refers to any salary increase the firm awards to an individual employee based on his or her individual performance?

answer

merit pay

question

Tanner's employer puts a predetermined portion of profits into a trust account for Tanner's retirement. Which of the following is most likely the type of profit-sharing plan used by Tanner's employer?

answer

Deferred profit-sharing plan

question

A(n) ________ plan is an incentive plan that engages many or all employees in a common effort to achieve a company's productivity objectives with any resulting cost-savings gains shared among employees and the company.

answer

gain sharing

question

The indirect financial and nonfinancial payments employees receive for continuing employment with the company are called ________.

answer

benefits

question

Which of the following benefits is required by federal or state law?

answer

workers' compensation

question

Eric has worked full-time for a large manufacturing company for over 3 years. Eric and his wife have recently adopted a baby, and Eric wants to take time off from work to care for the child. Which of the following laws most likely applies to Eric's situation?

answer

family and medical leave act

question

About ________% of people working in the United States belong to unions.

answer

12%

question

Which of the following best explains why union membership has fallen since 1955?

answer

Legislation provides workers with protections that were once exclusive to unions.

question

The ________ form of union security means that the company can hire only union members.

answer

closed shop

question

Which type of union security accounts for almost three-fourths of union contracts?

answer

union shop

question

The term "________" describes statutory or constitutional provisions banning the requirement of union membership as a condition of employment.

answer

right to work

question

Right-to-work laws inhibit union formation by ________.

answer

prohibiting any form of union security

question

Which of the following was established by the Wagner Act?

answer

It gave unions legal protection, and granted employees the right to unionize, to bargain collectively, and to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.

question

You are a manager at a manufacturing facility, and you tell your subordinates that unions are dangerous to the economy. Which law protects your right to express these views?

answer

taft-harley act

question

________ is the process of legally terminating a union's right to represent employees.

answer

DECERTIFICATION

question

Which third-party intervention uses a neutral third party to assist the principals in reaching agreement?

answer

MEDIATION

question

Which intervention method listed below is the most definitive of all third-party interventions?

answer

Binding arbitration

question

Arbitration means ending an impasse by ________.

answer

Giving a third-party the power to determine and dictate the settlement terms

question

The Evil Woman Thesis asserts that when a woman does not act the way men and other women think she should, they will tend to treat her more harshly than they might if the alleged misdeed was done by a man.

answer

TRUE

question

The introduction of union relations laws, civil rights laws, and occupational safety laws have led to the diminishment of most employees' legal rights.

answer

FALSE

question

Unfortunately, employers have no tools for measuring the ethics of an individual during the applicant screening process, so employers do not realize they have hired an unethical person until it is too late

answer

FALSE

question

The four main types of privacy upheld by courts are intrusion, publication of private matters, disclosure of medical records, and appropriation of an employee's name or likeness for commercial purposes

answer

TRUE

question

The standards an individual uses to decide what his or her conduct should be are known as common law

answer

FALSE

question

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires publicly traded companies to declare whether they have a code of conduct, and it increases penalties for companies convicted of ethics violations if they have codes of conduct that were not properly enforced

answer

FALSE

question

Many people in the new business development group at GRS&M feel that Blaine was promoted due to her personal friendship with the supervisor rather than a fair review of the qualified employees in the group. This attitude is the result of the employees' perceived procedural justice relative to the decision.

answer

TRUE

question

A manager constructs a fair discipline process on three pillars: rules and regulations, a system of progressive penalties, and outplacement counseling.

answer

FALSE

question

Financial benefits like employer-paid insurance and vacations are not a part of employee compensation.

answer

FALSE Employee compensation refers to all forms of pay going to employees and arising from their employment. It has two main components, direct financial payments (wages, salaries, incentives, commissions, and bonuses) and indirect financial payments (financial benefits like employer-paid insurance and vacations).

question

When employees work more than 40 hours per week, employers must pay overtime at a rate of at least one-and-a-half times the normal pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek

answer

FALSE

question

The Equal Pay Act states that employees of one sex may not be paid wages at a rate lower than that paid to employees of the opposite sex for doing roughly equivalent work

answer

TRUE

question

A key advantage of employee stock ownership plans is that the company gets a tax advantage equal to the fair market value of the shares that are transferred to the trustee.

answer

TRUE

question

Competencies are demonstrable characteristics of a person including knowledge, skills, and behaviors that enable performance

answer

TRUE

question

Employee benefits account for about one-third of wages and salaries.

answer

TRUE

question

Federal law requires private sector employers to grant a minimum amount of paid vacation leave.

answer

TRUE

question

If an employee is injured at work due to a blatant disregard for company safety policies, the company is not required to pay workers' compensation

answer

FALSE

question

It is illegal for supervisors to discuss their opinions about unionization with employees

answer

FALSE

question

Employers can replace strikers permanently unless the strike is based on unfair labor practices.

answer

TRUE

question

A wildcat strike is an unauthorized strike that occurs during the term of a contract.

answer

TRUE

question

Grievances should be settled based on what is considered fair even if the solution differs from the labor agreement.

answer

FALSE

question

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it more difficult for employers to prevent the formation of unions.

answer

FALSE

question

OSHA enforces its standards through inspections, which are usually announced so that employers have time to prepare

answer

FALSE

question

Safety training should be bilingual in situations where employees speak English as a second language or are not fluent in English.

answer

TRUE

question

Lockout/tagout involves affixing a disabled tag to the equipment.

answer

TRUE

question

Family pressures are a primary cause of expatriate failure.

answer

TRUE

question

According to the ethics research presented in the text, "bad apples" are best described as ________.

answer

People who are inclined to make unethical choices

question

Health-Tech's HR department has devised a brief ethics test for employees to use when determining if their actions match Health-Tech's code of conduct. Which of the following questions is LEAST likely to be included on the ethics test?

answer

Would I perform this action if I worked for a Health-Tech competitor?

question

Based on research into ethical behavior in the workplace, which of the following is a true statement?

answer

Having ethical leaders in an organization reduces the number of unethical decisions

question

R&R has a nonpunitive discipline policy. Employees at R&R Carpet and Tile are allowed to take one-hour lunch breaks. Todd's assistant, Suzanne, took a two-hour lunch break today without prior approval. Suzanne was given a verbal warning five weeks ago for a similar infraction. Which of the following will most likely be Todd's response to Suzanne's actions today?

answer

give Suzanne a formal written reminder that will be included in her personnel file

question

Which of the following would most likely be considered unfair by employees?

answer

sustaining the burden of proof on the employee

question

Employees at R Carpet and Tile are allowed to take one-hour lunch breaks. Todd's assistant, Suzanne, took a two-hour lunch break today without prior approval. Suzanne has never broken any other rules since being employed by the company. R&R has a nonpunitive discipline policy. Which of the following will most likely be Todd's response to Suzanne's violation?

answer

issuing an oral reminder to Suzanne

question

Tamika, a FedEx employee, was recently disciplined by her supervisor for insubordination. Tamika believes that the punishment was too harsh. According to FedEx's guaranteed fair treatment program, what should Tamika do first to appeal the decision?

answer

Submit a written complaint to a middle manager

question

During ethics training, which of the following would most likely emphasize the importance of ethics to the firm?

answer

top management participation

question

Jason, a sales manager, has been given the task of coaching a new employee. What should Jason do first?

answer

observe the employee working and interacting

question

The basic purpose of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is to ________.

answer

set and enforce the safety and health standards that apply to almost all workers in the United States

question

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was intended to ________.

answer

assure every person safe and healthful working conditions

question

All of the following are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act EXCEPT ________.

answer

self-employed persons

question

According to OSHA, employers must report occupational injuries that result in any of the following EXCEPT ________.

answer

first aid treatment

question

Which of the following would most likely NOT be considered a reportable injury according to OSHA?

answer

John sprains his ankle after becoming tangled in his car's seat belt in the company parking lot.

question

Which of the following would be considered OSHA's highest priority for inspection?

answer

inspecting a site where there may be imminent danger

question

As a supervisor, which of the following is the LEAST recommended action to take during an OSHA inspection?

answer

volunteering all hazard and safety information

question

Improperly guarded equipment, defective equipment, hazardous procedures, and improper ventilation are all examples of ________.

answer

unsafe conditions

question

Which of the following is one of the earliest indicators of an employee's possible alcoholism?

answer

missed deadlines

question

All of the following are symptoms of employees in the advanced stages of alcoholism EXCEPT ________.

answer

delegating job responsibilities

question

Research estimates that the cost of health care is nearly ________ higher for highly stressed workers than for workers with low levels of stress.

answer

50%

question

Which of the following is a true statement regarding workplace smoking?

answer

Employers may dismiss workers because they smoke at home

question

Which term refers to the HR techniques and concepts that employers use to manage their international operations?

answer

International Human Resource Management (IHRM)

question

________ are citizens of the countries where they are working

answer

Home-country Nationals

question

In which human resource activity does a typical labor agreement NOT give the union a role?

answer

Appraisals

question

The first step in an industrial hygiene program involves the health and safety officer conducting a facility walk-through.

answer

TRUE

question

Prior to 1930, employers attempted to limit the influence of unions using all of the following methods EXCEPT ________.

answer

None of the above (employers didn't have to participate in collective bargaining)

question

Which of the following unfair labor practices and provides for majority rule and secret ballot elections?

answer

Wagner Act

question

Each year there are roughly ________ cases of workplace accidents per 100 full-time workers in the United States.

answer

6 cases

question

A drug-free workplace policy should state at a minimum "The use, possession, transfer, or sale of illegal drugs by employees is prohibited".

answer

TRUE

question

When firing a high-risk employee, an HR manager should conduct the meeting on a Friday so that the terminated employee has time to calm down over the weekend

answer

TRUE

question

HR activities in small firms tend to be more informal than in larger firms

answer

TRUE

question

While most small firms are affected by the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, only large firms need to be familiar with the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

answer

FALSE

question

Research indicates that the majority of workplace accidents, especially serious accidents, occur in firms that employ less than 50 workers.

answer

TRUE

question

A recent name change or promises of substantial savings suggest that a professional employer organization will be reliable

answer

FALSE

question

Wallace Cleaning Services employs 10 workers, so the small business does not have to comply with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

answer

TRUE

question

The majority of multinational corporation management positions are filled by expatriates

answer

FALSE

question

In a polycentric corporation, the prevailing attitude is that home country attitudes, management style, knowledge, and managers are superior to anything the host country might offer.

answer

FALSE

question

Firms using a geocentric staffing model will seek the best people for key jobs throughout the organization, regardless of nationality

answer

TRUE

question

Employees preparing for overseas assignments should be trained in cultural differences, attitude formation and behavioral influence, factual country knowledge, and language skills

answer

TRUE

question

Varying departure and arrival times when working in a foreign country can minimize a business traveler's chances of becoming a crime victim.

answer

TRUE

question

Treating locals as equal partners when developing a global HR system will minimize resistance.

answer

TRUE

question

The most expensive approach to staffing is the polycentric staffing model

answer

FALSE -Geocentric

question

Human resource audits and benchmarking are two critical tools used by managers who implement an evidence-based approach to human resource management.

answer

TRUE

question

Most employers routinely conduct HR audits every 6 months

answer

FALSE

question

A compliance audit would most likely be used to assess a firm's recruitment and hiring practices compared to those of other firms

answer

TRUE

question

A strategic audit would most likely be used by an HR manager to assess a firm's procedures and practices in regard to employee benefits

answer

TRUE

question

Although low employee morale indicates a problem in the firm, it does not indicate that an HR audit is necessary

answer

TRUE

question

An HR audit is most likely needed when the business grows to the point where line managers need the help of HR to hire and discipline employees

answer

TRUE

question

An applicant tracking system provides a way to measure the quality of those you are hiring.

answer

TRUE

question

Human resource practices, such as hiring based on selection tests, pay raises based on work performance, and training provided to new and experienced employees, contribute to a company's ability to achieve high-performance levels.

answer

TRUE

question

High performance work systems became popular in the 1980s due to competition among U.S. automakers.

answer

FALSE

question

Which of the following is a common characteristic of HR at most small businesses?

answer

SIZE, PRIORITIES, INFORMALITY, THE ENTREPRENEUR

question

Mark owns a small business that provides engineering consulting services. Mark is new to business ownership, and he has a list of questions he would like answered. Mark has logged on to the EEOC Web site to search for answers. Which of Mark's questions is LEAST likely to be addressed on this Web site?

answer

CORRECT CHOICES: - HOW DO I DETERMINE IF MY BUSINESS IS COVERED BY EEOC LAWS? - WHO MAY FILE A CHARGE OF DISCRIMINATION WITH THE EEOC? - CAN A SMALL BUSINESS RESOLVE A CHARGE W/O UNDERGOING AN INVESTIGATION OR FACING A LAWSUIT? - WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN SOMEONE FILES A CHARGE AGAINST MY COMPANY?

question

What is the primary reason that small firms use the Internet for employee training programs?

answer

ONLINE TRAINING CAN PROVIDE, AT A LOW COST, EMPLOYEE TRAINING THAT USED TO BE BEYOND MOST SMALL EMPLOYERS' REACH

question

Training programs at most small firms tend to focus on ________.

answer

INFORMALITY IN TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

question

Which of the following best explains why effective communication methods are essential to small businesses?

answer

IT HELPS EMPLOYEES BECOME FAMILIAR, FLEXIBLE, AND INFORMAL

question

Approximately what percentage of U.S. workers is employed by small businesses?

answer

MORE THAN 50%

question

At most small businesses, human resource management activities can best be described as ________.

answer

INFORMAL

question

Which of the following agencies offers small businesses the use of FirstStep Employment Law Advisor?

answer

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

question

The purpose of FirstStep Employment Law Advisor's Web site is to help small employers to ________.

answer

DETERMINE WHICH LAWS APPLY TO THEIR BUSINESS

question

Jana owns a dry cleaning business and employs 25 people. She needs a safety and accident checklist that is specific to the dry cleaning industry. Jana would most likely find the information she needs on the ________ Web site.

answer

DOL (Department of Labor)

question

Which of the following recruitment and selection tools would LEAST likely be used by a small firm?

answer

CORRECT CHOICES: WONDERLIC PERSONNEL TEST, PREDICTIVE INDEX

question

All of the following are characteristics of work sampling tests EXCEPT ________.

answer

-PERFORM ACTUAL SAMPLES OF THE JOB IN QUESTION -EASY TO DEVISE

question

Managers who prepare for an interview using the streamlined interview process should focus on all of the following factors about a candidate EXCEPT

answer

Age and skills

question

During a streamlined interview, questions that probe such areas as a person's aspirations and energy level seek information regarding a candidate's _________ factor.

answer

MOTIVATION

question

Any governmental action that could adversely affect the long-run profitability of a firm is called a ________.

answer

Political Risk

question

Jason is a British freelance journalist working in Paris, so he is most likely classified as a(n) ________

answer

expatriate

question

Of the types of international managers that multinational companies can employ, expatriates are

answer

Non-citizens of the countries in which they are working

question

Roberta is an Italian citizen who spent a great deal of time during her childhood in England. She now works in Brazil as an HR manager for a British company. Roberta is a(n) ____________

answer

THIRD COUNTRY NATIONAL

question

Call centers that service customers for firms like software and computer hardware companies are increasingly using employees in India to staff the telephones. This is an example of

answer

Offshoring

question

Microsoft tends to follow a geocentric staffing model. From which group will it tend to hire?

answer

In any of the regions where the company operates

question

Which of the following terms refers to the belief that home country attitudes, management style, knowledge, evaluation criteria, and managers are superior to anything the host country has to offer?

answer

Ethnocentric

question

Which of the following best explains why female managers receive fewer foreign assignments than male managers?

answer

-women may not wish to work internationally -men in the host country do not wish to do business with women

question

Before departing for an overseas assignment, an employee would most likely benefit from _____ training

answer

CROSS CULTURAL

question

______ refers to bringing a manager back home after a foreign assignment has been completed.

answer

Repatriation

question

High performance companies are more likely than low-performance companies to

answer

use validated selection tests when hiring employees, fill jobs internally, use self-managing work teams, and provide extensive amounts of employee training

question

The primary purpose of implementing high-performance practices such as recruiting, screening, and training are to practices is

answer

to foster a trained, empowered, self-motivated, and flexible workforce.

question

Which of the following refers to an analysis by which an organization measures where it currently stands and determines what it has to accomplish to improve its HR functions?

answer

HR Audit

question

An HR specialist conducting an HR audit should review which of the following when auditing recruitment and selection practices?

answer

Background Check

question

Ray, an HR specialist, has been informed that he needs to conduct an HR audit. Which of the following events does NOT signal the need for an HR audit?

answer

...

question

Matthew, an HR manager, needs to select a vendor that will handle his firm's benefits administration tasks. Which aspect of the vendor is most important for Matthew to consider?

answer

...

question

Problems associated with the accelerators of Toyota cars primarily raised questions about the firm's ________.

answer

High Performance Work System

question

Which of the following terms refers to the process of comparing and analyzing the practices of one firm with those of a high-performing company?

answer

Benchmarking

question

What is the final step in the basic HR audit process?

answer

Possible answers: -termination & transition policies and practices -create action plans

question

________ metric focuses on measuring the activities that contribute to achieving the company's strategic aims.

answer

Strategy based

question

Thermo is a plastic supply and custom fabrication company. The company employs approximately 500 workers at its facility in Ohio. Safety is a top priority at Thermo, and supervisors are required to conduct daily inspections of all equipment. Recently, three workers were seriously injured by a large press used to mold plastic parts. The workers spent time in the hospital for hand injuries, and they are currently recuperating at home. As a result, top management is evaluating all aspects of safety at the facility to determine what changes need to be made. Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that Thermo needs to implement a positive reinforcement program?

answer

The injured workers removed a safety guard while operating the press in order to speed the process

question

Which of the following, if true, supports the argument that Thermo needs to modify its screening, placement, and training procedures?

answer

Interviews with the injured workers indicate that the most experienced worker removed the safety guard and the other two workers did not know how to respond.

question

Which of the following, if true, best supports the argument that Thermo supervisors need additional training in OSHA standards?

answer

The safety gate had been removed from the press to bypass a safety interlock, and the gate was not replaced prior to the three workers using the machine during their morning shift at Thermo

question

During a merger and acquisition, it is especially important for managers to be sensitive to employees who are dismissed so that...

answer

remaining employees will remain productive and committed

question

Which term refers to being psychologically involved in, connected to, and committed to getting one's jobs done?

answer

Engagement

question

Which of the following requires that employers of 100 or more employees give 60 days' notice before closing a facility or starting a layoff of 50 or more people?

answer

Worker Adjustment and Retrain Notification Act

question

Which of the following terms refers to a systematic process by which a terminated employee is trained and counseled in how to perform a self-appraisal and secure a new position?

answer

Outplacement Counseling

question

Keith works as a construction foreman, and he is viewed as a reliable, competent employee. Keith was recently injured in a car accident while on vacation, and his injuries are so severe that he will not be able to return to work. Which of the following would most likely provide Keith with benefits?

answer

Unemployment insurance

question

Even if the employee was treated easily with first aid, employers must report the occupational injury.

answer

FALSE

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