Deck 11: Impacts of Unionization

Question 1

Union workplaces have more flexibility in staffing decisions than their nonunion counterparts.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The textbook concludes that the relationship between unions and innovation is most likely negative.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which term refers to "the ability of a group or union to express concerns"?

A) grievance
B) spillover effect
C) collective voice
D) shock effect

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Encouraging health and safety has become an important role of unions.

Question 5

According to the textbook, unions appear supportive of performance appraisals when they focus on developmental purposes versus administrative purpose.

Question 6

Which statement best explains why the presence of a union influences HRM practices in an organization?

A) The power of a group is greater than the power of an individual.
B) Common law does not protect individual rights.
C) The chilling effect reduces internal communication.
D) Unionized employees cannot exit the firm.

Question 7

According to the textbook, recent research found a positive relationship between union density and profit when employee-focused business strategy was high.

Question 8

What occurs when the increased costs and employee protection caused by unionization lead management to adopt stricter human resource practices?

A) shock effect
B) collective voice
C) chilling effect
D) union impact

Question 9

Individual pay for performance plans is common in unionized workplaces.

Question 10

Overall, unions have a small positive effect on productivity.

Question 11

Globally, unionized workers receive more training than nonunion workers do.

Question 12

Unionized workers are more likely to quit their job relative to their nonunion peers.

Question 13

Which term refers to the process by which employees on layoff can be rehired?

A) reinstatement
B) recall
C) call back
D) probation

Question 14

The shock effect occurs when increased costs and protection shock management into stricter management practices.

Question 15

The only restrictions on employers in common law are items under statutory legislation.

Question 16

Unionized workplaces are as likely to have gain-sharing plans as profit-sharing plans.

Question 17

There is no evidence to conclude that unionization results in higher rates of business failure.

Question 18

Unionized firms often have more HRM practices that increase managerial flexibility and/or management's ability to make unilateral decisions.

Question 19

There is a positive relationship between one's intention to leave a firm and one's desire to leave the union.

Question 20

According to exit-voice theory, what can dissatisfied employees do?

A) return to work after layoff
B) voluntarily quit the firm
C) go on strike
D) remain at work during strikes

Question 21

Which term refers to anything that an employer pays for, to the benefit of the employee, that is not part of base pay or performance pay?

A) statutory pay
B) total compensation
C) indirect pay
D) rewards

Question 22

Which statement explains why unionized firms have more benefits than nonunion firms?

A) Union workers are more educated and can afford better benefits.
B) Voice enables unionized workers to achieve such benefits.
C) Arbitration awards grant better benefits.
D) Union workers, by law, are required to receive more benefits.

Question 23

Unionized employees are more likely to have complex indirect benefits, such as pension plans, than nonunionized employees. Why is this?

A) Union members can rely on the union to deal with complex technical issues. .
B) Union members remain in the union after retirement.
C) Unions guarantee a retirement wage.
D) Unionized health benefits are generally weak.

Question 24

According to Koch and Hundley (1997), what is one reason that explains why unionized organizations use a limited number of recruiting techniques?

A) collective agreements limit advertising
B) higher seniority
C) unions cannot recruit
D) common law controls recruitment

Question 25

Under which of the following circumstances will unions usually support a performance appraisal program?

A) when pay increases because of appraisals
B) when the union has been involved in the performance appraisal
C) when the appraisals are formal and structured
D) when the union has been involved in developing the program

Question 26

One on the most significant impacts of unions is their ability to raise wages above the levels paid to nonunionized workers. What is this an example of?

A) monopoly effect
B) spillover effect
C) union effect
D) total compensation effect

Question 27

Shortly after being hired, many unionized employees can be discharged without the right to grieve their discharge. Which of the following makes this possible?

A) probation periods
B) shock effect
C) lack of seniority
D) recall rights

Question 28

Almost 80 percent of unionized workers in Canada have a pension plan. What is this an example of?

A) base pay
B) total compensation
C) indirect pay
D) wage differential

Question 29

Globally, research indicates that unionized employees receive more training than nonunion employees. According to Canadian results, which group of employees has the most opportunity for training?

A) men
B) women
C) new employees
D) union stewards

Question 30

In an effort to reduce the likelihood of unionization, a nonunion pool pays lifeguards $13.00 per hour. The unionized pools pay $11.00 an hour. What is this an example of?

A) spillover effect
B) union effect
C) threat effect
D) wage differential effect

Question 31

Mark earns $12.00 per hour as a server in a coffee shop. If a person orders only a coffee, he is supposed to ask them if they would also like a doughnut. For every doughnut Mark sells in that way, he earns an extra 25 cents. What is the $12.00 he earns per hour an example of?

A) base pay
B) total pay
C) performance pay
D) indirect pay

Question 32

Research suggests that, on average, union workers make more in base pay than nonunion workers. How much more do they make?

A) 5%
B) 15 %
C) 20 %
D) 25 %

Question 33

What is a nonunion firm hoping to accomplish when it responds to the threat effect by offering higher wages to clerical staff that those wages offered by other firms?

A) avoidance of work stoppage
B) effective cost management
C) raising the wage differential
D) avoidance of a unionization

Question 34

In a unionized firm, which job evaluation approach is most likely to be used?

A) job ranking
B) point factor
C) job analysis
D) whole job comparison

Question 35

Mark earns $12.00 per hour as a server in a coffee shop. If a person orders only a coffee, he is supposed to ask them if they would also like a doughnut. For every doughnut Mark sells in that way, he earns an extra 30 cents. What is the 30 cents per doughnut an example of?

A) base pay
B) total pay
C) performance pay
D) indirect pay

Question 36

Which staffing practice is an effect of unionization?

A) the use of informal recruitment techniques
B) a lack of probationary periods
C) the use of seniority in selection decisions
D) the use of job design

Question 37

Approximately what percentage of total payroll costs is made up of indirect pay?

A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 30

Question 38

Which process would a firm use to determine the overall value of a job?

A) job analysis
B) job ranking
C) job comparison
D) job evaluation

Question 39

According to research, which group has the largest union wage differential?

A) male employees
B) public-sector employees
C) nonprofit employees
D) employees in smaller firms

Question 40

Overall, what does Canadian research evidence suggest regarding performance appraisals in unionized firms?

A) Appraisals are more formal than those in nonunionized firms.
B) Appraisals are supported for development purposes.
C) Appraisals are seldom used for discipline purposes.
D) Appraisals are usually used for promotion purposes.

Question 41

What do unions and employers have in common?

A) communication problems
B) formalized human resource practices
C) satisfied employees
D) high organization commitment

Question 42

Which term refers to an employee's acceptance of the organization's goals and values?

A) organizational fairness
B) organizational commitment
C) organizational compliance
D) organizational development

Question 43

Why is the relationship between union wage premiums and economic performance countercyclical?

Question 44

Name and briefly describe the three elements of total compensation.

Question 45

Which of the following has been defined as an employee's assessment of his or her overall job experience?

A) job enrichment
B) job satisfaction
C) workplace commitment
D) worker perception

Question 46

What term refers to a survey that assesses the likelihood that an employee will leave the organization?

A) intention to quit
B) intention to move
C) intention to relocate
D) intention to grieve coworker relationships

Question 47

When is union commitment more likely to be high?

A) when the member has limited contact with the union
B) when the member has high union satisfaction
C) when the member reads union publications
D) when the member has low organizational commitment

Question 48

Which term refers to an increase in the quality and quantity of union membership?

A) union acceptance
B) union renewal
C) union gain
D) union development

Question 49

Your friend John owns a coffee shop that recently unionized. He asks you how unionization will affect the business's profitability, productivity, pay, and selection practices. Briefly outline your response to John.

Question 50

Which term refers to an employee's assessment of his/her union experience?

A) union climate
B) intention to quit the union
C) union commitment
D) union satisfaction

Question 51

Which human resources practice on firms is an effect of unionization?

A) HR practices are less formal.
B) HR practices focus more on individual rewards and recognition.
C) Management is more flexible about HR matters.
D) Many HR practices put more emphasis on seniority.

Question 52

An organization's total compensation mix contains three elements. Explain base pay in relation to union impact.

Question 53

Why might unions have a negative effect on firm productivity?

A) Collective voice increases the number of employee complaints.
B) Formal grievance procedures are used to discuss workplace conflict.
C) The industry may have a history of union-management conflict.
D) Unions increase participative decision making.

Question 54

Evidence suggests that unionization is associated with a small increase in productivity. Which of the following best explains the increase in productivity?

A) the union's involvement in pay and benefits
B) the union's involvement in appraisal and evaluation
C) the union's involvement in health and safety
D) the union's involvement in staffing and selection

Question 55

Compare and contrast the job satisfaction of union and nonunion employees. In your answer, address wages, benefits, job security, supervisors/supervision, job content, and promotion opportunities.

Question 56

You are working in the HR department of a firm that has just unionized. Your boss, Jane, asks you to predict, based on research, the impact of unionization on employee satisfaction and intention to quit. What do you tell Jane?

Question 57

Recruitment and selection represent key staffing functions. How is each function impacted by unionization?