Business Ethics Ch 17 – Flashcards
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Employees have enjoyed steadily improving work conditions. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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Half oftoday's workers between the ages of20 and 24 have been at their jobs for less than one year. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The new social contract is driven by globalization and the worldwide economic recession. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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Labor unions have vigorously pursued civil liberties for employees in the workplace, but have not had much success. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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Belief in the "good cause norm" is a primary principle underlying the doctrine of employment-at-will. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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Court decisions are gradually eroding the employment-at-will doctrine. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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As a general rule, managers should assume that litigation might result from firing an employee. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The concept of due process is a basis for the employment-at-will doctrine. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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Companies have given special consideration to employees' rights to due process only in the past thirty-five years. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The success of peer review panels depends on whether the panelists are elected or appointed T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The trend toward using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is growing. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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Some employers are requiring that their new hires sign contracts that waive their right to sue the firm and accept mandatory arbitration to settle disputes.T a. True b. False
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a. True
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Whistle-blowing is primarily a due process issue. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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Studies of whistle-blowers indicate that many are praised by their peers and managers, and often receive promotions for their actions. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act makes whistle-blowing much easier. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The False Claims Act is relatively new legislation, passed in response to the scandals ofEnron, WorldCom, and others. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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Whistle-blowing against abuse of government by private companies is making a comeback, due to the False Claims. T Act. a. True b. False
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a. True
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A good way to avert whistle-blowing is for management to make a visible effort to listen and be responsive to employees' concerns. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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One recommendation for an employee who is considering whistle-blowing is to keep quiet as long as possible. F a. True b. False
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b. False
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The basis of the employment-at-will doctrine is found in common law principles. T a. True b. False
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a. True
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The new social contract is being driven by a. the employee rights movement. b. technology. c. deregulation. d. global competition.
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d. global competition.
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Workers' trust in their employers is a. at an all-time high. b. a reciprocal relationship. c. based on the employee rights movement. d. higher in small companies than in large firms.
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b. a reciprocal relationship.
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Today's employees are looking for a. competitive pay and benefits. b. opportunities for professional growth. c. recognition for their accomplishments. d. all of these.
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d. all of these.
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Which one of the following is not a difference between the old social contract and the new? a. lifetime careers with one employer vs. fewer life careers b. loyalty to employer vs. loyalty to self and profession c. focus on team accomplishments vs. focus on team building d. stable positions vs. temporary assigrnnents
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c. focus on team accomplishments vs. focus on team building
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The new social contract is placing on employees more responsibility for a. planning their retirement funding. b. career management. c. their own successful career/job and future in the employment relationship. d. their co-workers' advancement in the organization.
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c. their own successful career/job and future in the employment relationship.
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All the following are tme of training except a. vital for employees. b. keeps employees at the cutting edge in changing envirornnents. c. it increases knowledge and skill. d. tuition reimbursement programs.
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d. tuition reimbursement programs.
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The new free agent workers will be a. highly educated scientists and managers. b. more proactive about their work envirornnents. c. more loyal to good employers than were their predecessors. d. willing to move overseas to pursue good opportunities.
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b. more proactive about their work envirornnents.
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Private corporations have not had to recognize employee rights because a. they are exempted from doing so by federal law. b. society has honored the corporation's private property rights. c. employees have never demanded them. d. management has been separated from ownership.
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b. society has honored the corporation's private property rights.
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Employee rights are a. encompassed in private property law. b. guaranteed by the Constitution. c. spelled out in labor union contracts. d. justifiable claims that utility cannot override.
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d. justifiable claims that utility cannot override.
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Rights provided by law are called a. inherent rights. b. statutory rights. c. enterprise rights. d. negotiated rights.
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b. statutory rights.
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Workers' rights provided through union contracts are established a. bylaw. b. through collective bargaining. c. by the employer. d. within an overarching framework of common law.
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b. through collective bargaining.
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Enterprise rights are derived from a. employer promises. b. labor demands. c. negotiated contracts. d. the labor market.
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a. employer promises.
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Employee rights can be based on any of the following except a. economic grounds. b. religious grounds. c. legal grounds. d. ethical grounds.
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b. religious grounds.
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The belief that employees should only be discharged for good reasons is the a. justice as fairness principle. b. employment-at-will doctrine. c. good cause norm. d. sphere of justice principle.
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c. good cause norm.
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Under the employment-at-will doctrine, the only illegal reason for firing someone is a. fraud. b. discrimination. c. belonging to a union. d. poor fmancial performance.
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b. discrimination.
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The idea that the relationship between a worker and employer is voluntary and can be terminated at any time, by either party, is the a. employment-at-will doctrine. b. due process principle. c. corporate governance system. d. arbitrary employment doctrine.
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a. employment-at-will doctrine.
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The exception that protects employees from being fired because they refuse to commit crimes or take advantage of privileges to which they are entitled by law is a. common law. b. the employee protection principle. c. the public policy exception. d. the fair employment loophole.
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c. the public policy exception.
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. was protection for federal employees who expose illegal, corrupt, or wasteful government activities. a. Employment-At-Will Doctrine b. False Claims Act c. Civil Service Reform Act d. Michigan Whistle-Blowers Protection Act
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c. Civil Service Reform Act
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Employer promises that they may not even know they made are called a. inherent intentions. b. implied contracts. c. public policies. d. good faith promises.
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b. implied contracts.
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If employers do not give unsatisfactory employees every reasonable opportunity to improve their performance before being fired, the company may have violated a. the worker's right to free speech. b. the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. c. fair trade agreements. d. the good faith principle.
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d. the good faith principle.
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The good cause norm is the opposite of a. the employment at will doctrine. b. the reason for wrongful discharge. c. the belief that employees should be discharged only for good reasons. d. based on private property rights.
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a. the employment at will doctrine.
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Which of the following is not an action that managers should take when terminating employees? a. Fire employees in a private space b. Email the employee the termination c. Preserve the employee's dignity d. Use transparent criteria for layoffs
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b. Email the employee the termination
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The right to receive an impartial review of one's complaints and to be dealt with fairly is known as a. the right to a fair and speedy trial. b. the right to trial by a jury of one's peers. c. good faith bargaining. d. due process.
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d. due process.
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Which of the following is not a requirement of a due process system? a. It must follow rules and not be arbitrary. b. It must be well documented. c. It must be predictably effective. d. It must be perceived as equitable.
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b. It must be well documented.
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Requirements of a due process system include all of the following except a. institutionalization. b. ease of use. c. subject to review and appeal. d. applicable to all employees.
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c. subject to review and appeal.
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Methods of providing due process for employees outside of the legal system are called a. arbitration. b. mediation. c. adjudication. d. alternative dispute resolution.
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d. alternative dispute resolution.
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One of the most used alternative dispute resolution methods is a. the open door policy. b. the suggestion box. c. the complaint box. d. employee complaint hotlines.
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a. the open door policy.
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An alternative dispute resolution method that allows the employee to be represented by an attorney in front of a neutral company executive is called a. mediation. b. arbitration. c. a hearing procedure. d. trial by fire.
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c. a hearing procedure.
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An ombudsman a. hears all formal employee complaints. b. is part of the human resources department. c. is a consultant hired by a company to chair hearing procedures. d. investigates reported complaints and helps to achieve equitable settlements.
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d. investigates reported complaints and helps to achieve equitable settlements.
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The peer review panel a. is typically well-versed in company culture. b. is made up of senior managers from the company's headquarters. c. is housed in the legal department. d. is typically not well trusted within an organization.
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a. is typically well-versed in company culture.
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A process in which a neutral party resolves a dispute between two or more parties and the resolution is binding is known as a. mediation. b. negotiation. c. adjudication. d. arbitration.
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d. arbitration.
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An individual who reports to some outside party some wrongdoing that he or she knows or suspects his or her employer of committing is a(n) a. informant. b. corporate traitor. c. whistle-blower. d. muckraker.
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c. whistle-blower.
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Which of the following is not a key element in the whistle-blowing process? a. the act or complaint b. the party to whorn the report is made c. the organization against which the complaint is made d. the law under which the complaint is lodged
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d. the law under which the complaint is lodged
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Which of the following is true about the average whistle-blower? a. They are more highly paid than inactive observers. b. They have lower job performance reviews than inactive observers. c. They are less likely to hold supervisory or professional status than inactive observers. d. They are more likely to be single than inactive observers.
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a. They are more highly paid than inactive observers.
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Recommendations for potential whistle-blowers include all of these except a. Identify sources of support b. Act out of public interest rather than for personal gain c. Maintain anonymity at all costs. d. Think about the outcomes
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c. Maintain anonymity at all costs.
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What forms of retaliation might be aimed at a whistle-blower? a. not given promotion b. cold shoulder from coworkers c. transfer to another office d. all of these choices
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d. all of these choices
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What incentives are provided to claimants under the False Claims Act? a. immunity from prosecution b. 15 to 25 percent of the proceeds from any settlement joined by the government c. guaranteed reinstatement and double back pay d. witness protection program
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b. 15 to 25 percent of the proceeds from any settlement joined by the government
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Under Sarbanes-Oxley, who bears the responsibility for investigation of complaints of the whistle-blower being terminated, harassed, or demoted? a. local law enforcement officials b. the FBI c. the Labor Department d. the Treasury Department
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c. the Labor Department
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Each of the following suggestions are encouraged for free and open speech in the workplace except a. Invite suggestions from employees b. Actively refute assumptions and myths that discourage communication c. Hesitate and make excuses for not implementing suggestions d. Tailor rewards so that employees share directly in cost savings or sales increases from ideas they offer.
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c. Hesitate and make excuses for not implementing suggestions
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All of the following are key elements that comprise the whistle-blower process except. a. the arbitrator. b. whistle-blower. c. the act or complaint about which the whistle-blower is concerned. d. the organization against which the complaint is made.
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a. the arbitrator.
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Legal challenges to the employment-at-will doctrine include all the following except a. public policy exceptions. b. contractual actions. c. firing exceptions. d. breach of good faith actions.
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c. firing exceptions.