Deck 22: Collective Bargaining, Unionization, and Employment Laws

Question 1

One of the nurses comes to the charge and reports, "I did not receive overtime pay when I acted as ambulance support last week. It is my understanding that our union contract states we get overtime for that type of care. Will you please follow up and see that I get the overtime on my next check?" What is this an example of?

A) Collective bargaining activity appropriate for a first-level manager
B) A problem employee griping
C) A formal grievance
D) A problem that needs to be reported to the director of nurses immediately

Answer 1

Collective bargaining activity appropriate for a first-level manager

Question 2

As a result of downsizing in the 1990s, a nursing surplus appeared in some parts of the country. What occurs in this type of situation?

A) Nurses tend to join unions to protect their jobs
B) No change would be expected in the rapid unionization of nurses
C) There would typically be less union activity by nurses
D) There is no historical perspective that indicates what nurses would do

Answer 2

There would typically be less union activity by nurses

Question 3

What event tends to be the primary reason for an increase in the numbers of unions being formed?

A) Salaries are not keeping pace with the economy
B) Organizations are insensitive to the needs of the worker
C) There is an economic downturn
D) Jobs are scarce

Answer 3

Organizations are insensitive to the needs of the worker

Question 4

How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 affect employees?

A) It eliminated sexual harassment in the workplace
B) It allowed veterans to return to jobs they held before their military service
C) It prohibited job discrimination based on factors unrelated to job qualifications
D) It eliminated racial discrimination in this country

Question 5

Which statement best describes a "closed shop?"

A) A closed shop results in a "lockout" that prevents employees from working until the union contract is signed
B) A closed shop results when the employees refuse to work because of unsettled grievances
C) A closed shop requires that all employees join the union
D) A closed shop allows employees to decide whether or not to join a union

Question 6

By contract, employees are to receive overtime pay when their workday exceeds 8 hours. A staff member attended a hospital sponsored mandatory CPR certification class after working an 8-hour shift. What type of paycheck adjustment can the employee expect?

A) Overtime for the time spent in the class
B) Regular pay for the class since there was no charge for the class
C) No pay for the class since it was identified as mandatory
D) Equal compensated time back during the next pay period

Question 7

Which statement regarding Affirmative Action legislation is true?

A) It requires a quota system
B) It aims to prevent workplace discrimination
C) It actively seeks underemployed groups to fill job vacancies
D) It encourages reverse discrimination

Question 8

What are the four equal pay tests associated with the Equal Pay Act of 1963?

A) Equal danger on the job, equal intelligence for hire, equal responsibility, and identical working conditions
B) Equal skill, equal effort, equal responsibility, and similar working conditions
C) Equal job requirements, same working conditions, equal job duties, and equal responsibilities
D) Equal effort, equal working conditions, identical job duties, and equal job requirements

Question 9

Under which circumstance would a supervisor of an oncology unit disregard the federal guidelines for handling chemotherapy agents?

A) The state has instituted a policy that is more restrictive than the federal one
B) The director of nurses requested more personalized guidelines be put in place
C) The staff has an accident-free record for the last 10 years
D) The state has a less restrictive policy that supersedes the federal one

Question 10

Which statement concerning the 1967 and 1987 Age Discrimination and Employment Acts is true?

A) Maximum age restrictions were limited for almost all job categories
B) Employees can be forced to retire at age 70 if their health is poor
C) Underage minors can be employed up to 20 hours per week
D) Individuals seeking early retirement (before the age of 60) may be exempt from company pension plans

Question 11

Which action by the manager is most likely to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment in the workplace?

A) Create all-male and all-female work teams
B) Encourage workers to confront the "harasser" directly and work it out
C) Provide desensitivity training to minimize employee reactions
D) Actively pursue an investigation of all complaints

Question 12

A nurse executive wants to decrease the chances of unionization of a nonunionized nursing service department. To accomplish this goal where should financial and energy resources best be directed?

A) Increasing the nursing salaries and benefits
B) Increasing the quality and amount of equipment
C) Improving the quality of nursing staff supervision
D) Improving nursing and medical staff relationships

Question 13

Which level of manager has the greatest influence on preventing unionization in a nonunion organization?

A) First
B) Middle
C) Top
D) CEO

Question 14

What do labor standards deal with?
1) Conditions of the employee's work
2) Pay for continuing education
3) Financial aspects
4) Number of hours worked

A) 1, 2, 3
B) 1, 2, 4
C) 1, 3, 4
D) 2, 3, 4

Question 15

Although some legislation makes the job of managing people more difficult for managers, what positive results have occurred?
1) Decreased bias against the older employee
2) Increased salaries for minorities
3) Increased opportunities for women
4) Increased opportunities for disabled

A) 2, 3, 4
B) 1, 2, 3
C) 1, 2, 4
D) 1, 3, 4

Question 16

Why does membership in the American Nurses Association (ANA) pose a conflict in loyalty for some nurses?

A) It fails to support male nurses sufficiently
B) Minorities are not represented on its Board of Directors
C) Membership is based on years of nursing experience
D) It acts as a professional association and a collective bargaining agent

Question 17

What perspectives must the manager have to see collective bargaining and employment legislation?
1) Government
2) Organization
3) Worker
4) Personal

A) 1, 2, 3
B) 1, 2, 4
C) 1, 3, 4
D) 2, 3, 4

Question 18

Which organizational characteristic makes employees view a union as an appealing option?

A) Organizational mission is too board to be achieved
B) Organizational philosophy is insensitive to the worker
C) Organizational philosophy is sensitive to management
D) Organizational mission is insensitive to the population it serves

Question 19

The National Labors Relations Board (NLRB) requires that at least how many of employees sign an interest card before an election for unionization can be held?

A) 25%
B) 30%
C) 60%
D) 70%

Question 20

What type of employment law focuses on the rights and duties of unions and employers in their relationship with each other?

A) Labor standards
B) Labor relations
C) Equal employment
D) Civil and criminal

Question 21

What is the nurse-manager's initial action when it becomes obvious that the unit will not meet staffing levels?

A) Ask for volunteers to work overtime
B) Close the unit to additional admissions
C) Notify upper-level management of the situation
D) Begin transferring patient to units with lower censuses

Question 22

Which statement concerning the process of arbitration is true?

A) Arbitration is the initial step in grievance resolution
B) Arbitration involves a third party arriving at a solution
C) Arbitration requires both parties to present the facts of the conflict
D) Arbitration is reserved for situations that involve the state or federal government

Question 23

Which role is considered a manager's responsibility related to collective bargaining and unionization?

A) Is a role model for fairness
B) Is nondiscriminatory in all personal and professional actions
C) Actively seeks a culturally and ethnically diverse workforce
D) Understands and appropriately implements union contracts

Question 24

An organization is attempting to prevent unionization. Which intervention demonstrates the administration's lack of understanding regarding employee motivation and satisfaction?

A) Establish a well-developed formal procedure for handling employee grievances
B) Assure each employee they will receive a 3% raise in base pay
C) Have an effective performance appraisal system in place
D) Ensure that all managers are well trained and effective

Question 25

What is considered the primary reason a nurse will join a union?

A) To eliminate discrimination
B) To fill the social need to be accepted
C) To increase their personal power
D) To improve the quality of patient care