Deck 2: The Environment

Question 1

The price elasticity of demand refers to the principle that if the price of a good or a service is reduced the quantity demanded increases.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Unions attempt to avoid the effects of the labour market that would otherwise dictate the wages of individual employees.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Fiscal policy refers to changes in the interest rate to affect inflation or employment levels.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Monetary policy refers to changes in government spending and taxation.

Question 5

Unions contend that the news media is slanted against labour.

Question 6

Non-standard work is employment in developing economic sectors such as information technology.

Question 7

Labour relations legislation establishes minimum terms of employment.

Question 8

Human rights legislation provides for minimum terms of employment.

Question 9

The legal environment affecting labour relations is not affected by the social environment.

Question 10

An elastic demand for a product means that the sales of a product are more responsive to a change in price.

Question 11

As perceived union power increases public support for unions declines.

Question 12

A retail store with locations in more than one province is regulated by the Canada Labour Code.

Question 13

Legacy costs are the expenses associated with providing pensions and health benefits to retired workers.

Question 14

Technological advances could be both a threat and an opportunity for unions.

Question 15

Nominal wages are wages that have been adjusted for inflation.

Question 16

During economic downturns,unions will seek larger than usual wage increases to protect the real incomes of employees.

Question 17

The stimulus packages adopted by governments to combat the 2008 -09 recession will not affect future government policy.

Question 18

Globalization is the trend to international agreements that reduce tariff barriers between countries.

Question 19

Employers and unions cannot contract out of employment standards,human rights,or labour relations legislation.

Question 20

Price elasticity of demand refers to how much a change in price affects the quantity demanded.

Question 21

Which of the following is correct regarding technological change?

A) it always poses a threat to unions
B) it always leads to improvements in health and safety
C) it does not affect the location of work
D) it does not affect compensation
E) it affects the ways that unions deal with employees

Question 22

The Charter has been relied upon in some cases to defend employees' freedom of expression.

Question 23

Which of the following is correct regarding the social environment?

A) it does not impact the law that regulates labour relations
B) attitudes towards unions are the same across Canada
C) it does not affect the propensity of employees to join unions
D) it impacts the bargaining power of the union and the employer
E) it has led to the enactment of right-to-work legislation

Question 24

When a firm produces a good or service that has an elastic demand it will:

A) be less able to increase price without losing customers
B) be more able to increase price without losing customers
C) decrease sales and revenue by lowering price
D) be able to change price without any effect on sales and revenue
E) increase the quantity demanded by increasing the price

Question 25

Which of the following is not correct:

A) The macroeconomic environment affects all firms in the same manner.
B) Some firms may be harmed by an increase in the value of the Canadian dollar.
C) Some firms may benefit from a recession.
D) Economic variables include government policy regarding taxation and debt.
E) Some firms are more affected by an increase in interest rates than other firms.

Question 26

Which of the following is not a change in the labour market that has affected labour relations:

A) a decrease in part-time and temporary workers
B) an increase in the number of workers of different races and religions
C) an aging workforce
D) more female employees in the labour force
E) a and d

Question 27

Health and safety,compensation,and job security are likely to be most affected by:

A) mergers
B) globalization
C) deregulation
D) increased diversity
E) technological change

Question 28

Direct discrimination refers to a rule or conduct that is intentionally discriminatory.

Question 29

Which of the following is the least likely to have a negative impact on Canadian manufacturers and unions:

A) trade practices of foreign governments
B) a decline in the value of the Canadian dollar
C) the price elasticity of demand for the product produced by the employer
D) monetary policy aimed at reducing inflation
E) an increase in the value of the Canadian dollar

Question 30

From 2004 to 2008 employment in manufacturing in Canada:

A) remained the same
B) was reduced by 14%
C) increased by 14%
D) was reduced by 24%
E) increased by 24%

Question 31

Which of the following is correct:

A) The aging workforce is a concern for employers, but not for unions.
B) Female employees are less likely than male employees to support unionization.
C) Diversity is a concern for employers, but not for unions.
D) The majority of part-time employees would prefer full-time work.
E) It has been more difficult for unions to organize part-time employees than full-time employees.

Question 32

Which of the following is not an economic factor affecting labour relations:

A) changes in the labour market
B) attitudes towards unions
C) deindustrialization
D) globalization
E) downsizing

Question 33

When the value of the Canadian dollar increases,which of the following is correct?

A) employment in all sectors of the economy will be reduced
B) employment in the manufacturing sector will be reduced
C) the price elasticity of demand for all goods and services will be reduced
D) union concerns about job security will be reduced
E) real wages will increase

Question 34

All employees and unions in a particular province are regulated by the labour relations legislation of the province.

Question 35

Which of the following is the least likely to be affected by the macroeconomic environment:

A) the demands made by unions
B) the elasticity of demand for goods and services
C) the demands made by employers
D) the real wages of employees
E) the bargaining power of the union

Question 36

Which of the following groups of employees is the most likely to be concerned with the pension provisions in a collective agreement:

A) part-time employees
B) younger employees
C) male employees
D) older employees
E) none of the above, employees have the same preferences

Question 37

The duty to accommodate imposes obligations on employers,unions,and employees.

Question 38

The shift from the government limiting market entrants and controlling prices to a system where the market is open to competition is:

A) globalization
B) trade liberalization
C) deregulation
D) deindustrialization
E) downsizing

Question 39

Human rights legislation in all provinces now prohibits mandatory retirement.

Question 40

If an employer establishes that a rule or requirement is a BFOQ (BFOR),the employer is allowed to establish the requirement even though it is discriminatory.

Question 41

What preference would a union have with regard to the price elasticity of demand for the good or service produced by the employer:

A) highly elastic demand
B) highly inelastic demand
C) no preference
D) slightly elastic demand
E) slightly inelastic demand

Question 42

In all jurisdictions unions and employers are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of:

A) age
B) marital status
C) political belief
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 43

Unions and employers are prohibited from contracting out of:

A) human rights legislation
B) employment standards legislation
C) labour relations legislation
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 44

The duty to accommodate:

A) requires employers to do whatever is required to avoid the adverse effects of discrimination
B) arises only in cases of indirect discrimination
C) requires employers to take measures, which do not impose an undue hardship
D) does not require a variation from the terms of a collective agreement
E) arises only in cases of direct discrimination

Question 45

The process that must be followed for a union to obtain the right to represent employees is set out in which of the following?

A) labour relations legislation
B) human rights legislation
C) health and safety legislation
D) employment standards legislation
E) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Question 46

The Highlands Store sells hiking and canoeing equipment.The company has at least one store in every Canadian province.The company's head office is located in Nova Scotia.If a union attempts to organize the employees of one of the company's stores located in Manitoba,which of the following applies:

A) Nova Scotia labour relations legislation
B) federal labour relations legislation
C) Manitoba labour relations legislation

Question 47

Real wages refers to:

A) salary and wages remaining after deducting the expenses incurred to earn the wage, such as child care expenses
B) salary and wages that have been adjusted for inflation
C) total compensation including both wages and benefits
D) salary and wages that have not been adjusted for inflation
E) salary and wages that have been adjusted for the effort required

Question 48

The economic environment affecting labour relations does not include which of the following?

A) demand for a firm's product or service
B) fiscal policy
C) globalization
D) values and beliefs of the Canadian public
E) deindustrialization

Question 49

The fact that the jurisdiction to enact employment and labour relations legislation is divided between the federal government and the provinces leads to certain consequences.Which of the following is correct regarding the division of authority:

A) It increases the costs of employers that carry on business in more than one province.
B) It could cause confusion regarding the relevant rules of employment.
C) It does not allow the federal government to deal with issues that are unique to federally regulated employers.
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 50

Eliminating jobs for the purpose of improving efficiency and economic returns is referred to as:

A) deindustrialization
B) downsizing
C) deregulation
D) globalization
E) trade liberalization

Question 51

The price elasticity of demand refers to:

A) a measure of the demand for the industry in which a firm competes
B) how much the demand for a good or service changes when there is an increase in incomes
C) the economic principle that as price increases the quantity demanded decreases
D) the fact that the demand for some goods and services may be countercyclical
E) how much the quantity demanded changes when there is a change in the price of a good or service

Question 52

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been relied upon to:

A) extend benefits to same-sex partners
B) prohibit the mandatory deduction of union dues
C) prohibit mandatory union membership
D) protect the right to strike
E) a and b

Question 53

Fiscal policy refers to or includes:

A) levels of government spending and taxation
B) changes in the interest rate to regulate the economy
C) the imposition of wage and price controls
D) measures to deal with diversity
E) attempts to stimulate the economy by reducing government spending

Question 54

Which of the following is correct?

A) Direct discrimination is unintentional.
B) Disability is a physical or mental illness that is permanent.
C) Disability refers to physical health issues such as a cancer; however, it does not include mental health issues such as depression.
D) Mandatory retirement is allowed in most jurisdictions.
E) Addiction to a drug is a disability.

Question 55

Which of the following regulates minimum terms of employment?

A) labour relations legislation
B) human rights legislation
C) employment standards legislation
D) Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
E) the duty to accommodate

Question 56

Which of the following is a federally regulated employer:

A) a retail store with locations in more than one province
B) Air Canada
C) an auto-manufacturing firm with plants in more than one province
D) a, b, and c
E) a and b, but not c

Question 57

In the process of meeting the duty to accommodate an employer could be required to:

A) move employees to alternative jobs
B) modify job duties
C) agree to a variation from the terms provided in the collective agreement
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 58

The duty to accommodate imposes obligations on:

A) employers
B) unions
C) employees
D) a, b, and c
E) a and b

Question 59

ABC Company is a national courier business with depots in all provinces.The company's head office is located in British Columbia.If a union attempts to organize the employees of one of the company's depots located in Alberta,which of the following applies:

A) The Canada Labour Code
B) Alberta labour relations legislation
C) British Columbia labour relations legislation

Question 60

Labour market changes have included which of the following:

A) increases in part-time and temporary work
B) a reduction in the number of females in the labour force
C) an aging labour force
D) a reduction in the number of workers of different religions, races, and abilities
E) a and c

Question 61

You are a union officer at a small manufacturing company.The employer wants to establish a requirement that all employees who work in shipping and receiving be at least 5'10" tall.Explain how you could challenge this requirement.

Question 62

To establish that a discriminatory requirement is a BFOQ (BFOR),the employer must prove which of the following?

A) the requirement was adopted for a purpose rationally connected to the performance of the job
B) the requirement was adopted in an honest and good faith belief that it was necessary
C) the requirement is reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of the work, and individual employees cannot be accommodated
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 63

A requirement an employer can establish is essential,with the result that it is allowed although it appears to be discriminatory,is called a:

A) Bona Fide Occupational Requirement
B) Non-Standard Work Requirement
C) Bona Fide Occupational Restriction
D) Exceptional Work Requirement
E) all of the above

Question 64

Which of the following are possible measures for an employer in the course of accommodating an employee?

A) changes in hours
B) allowing a period of absence
C) terminating another employee to open a position for the employee needing accommodation
D) a and b
E) a, b, and c

Question 65

Briefly describe the environmental factors affecting labour relations.For each factor outline one way that unions and employers could be affected.

Question 66

Describe the environmental factors affecting labour relations.

Question 67

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is important to labour relations because it:

A) protects collective bargaining from substantial interference by government
B) prohibits secondary picketing
C) protects the right to strike
D) guarantees the right to form a union
E) requires mandatory union membership

Question 68

"The divided jurisdiction for Canadian labour relations provides potential advantages and disadvantages." Discuss.

Question 69

Explain a systems framework for labour relations.Elaborate on the elements of the framework and how they are interrelated.

Question 70

Briefly describe three types of legislation and explain how each one affects labour relations.

Question 71

Describe the economic [or technological,social,political,legal] factors affecting labour relations and explain the significance for unions and employers.

Question 72

Explain the implications of the Charter for labour relations.