Question 1

Which of the following statements about the costs of elder care is most accurate?
A)It should be much less expensive for firms to provide elder care than for them to provide childcare.
B)The financial burdens of elder care on the children of aging parents are likely to become less serious in the future than they are today,because many senior citizens are now remaining employed into their 70s rather than retiring in their early 60s.
C)Although elder care is expensive,the good news is that companies can receive a great deal of assistance from the federal government when they establish qualified elder care programs.
D)The costs of elder care are likely to rise very rapidly in coming years as an increasing number of older and more experienced employees face the need to care for aging parents and other relatives.

Accepted Answer

The statement that the costs of elder care are likely to rise very rapidly in coming years due to an increasing number of older employees caring for aging relatives is the most accurate. This is supported by demographic trends, such as the aging of the Baby Boomer generation and the fact that people are living longer, which will result in a higher demand for elder care services. Additionally, the costs of providing elder care are often high due to the need for skilled caregivers and specialized facilities.

Question 2

Ima,Boyd,and their fellow employees at Endrun work on an assembly line and do not have a specialized skill.If they are successful in their quest to set-up a union,they would probably be represented by an)________ union.
A)craft
B)industrial
C)freelance
D)traditional

Accepted Answer

Industrial unions represent workers across different industries who share a common job function or work in the same company. As Ima, Boyd, and their colleagues do not have specialized skills and work together on the same assembly line, they would be best represented by an industrial union. The other options are not appropriate - craft unions represent workers with a specific skill or trade, freelance unions represent self-employed or independent workers, and traditional unions is a vague term that could apply to any type of union.

Question 3

Safe'nSwift Airlines implemented a program to curb workplace violence before it occurs.Under this program,the employees of Safe'nSwift can expect to:
A)share in any profits their airline earns.
B)get paid extended leave if they become especially and visibly angry at work.
C)see much more use of contingent workers.
D)take part in focus groups to share their ideas about workplace violence prevention.

Accepted Answer

The program implemented by Safe'nSwift Airlines is aimed at preventing workplace violence. To achieve this, the company has implemented a focus group that allows employees to share their ideas on how to prevent workplace violence. This approach is proactive and allows for potential issues to be identified and resolved before they escalate, making it the best option among the given choices. A and B are not relevant to workplace violence prevention, while C suggests an increase in contingent workers, which does not address the issue at hand.

Question 4

The steps Ima,Boyd and their fellow workers must take to get the union legally recognized as the authorized bargaining agent are parts of the __________ process.
A)accreditation
B)arbitration
C)certification
D)collective bargaining

Accepted Answer

The process of getting the union legally recognized as the authorized bargaining agent is called certification. This involves the union and its members meeting certain requirements and procedures set out by the labor board or government agency responsible for labor relations. Once these requirements are met, the union will be certified as the exclusive bargaining agent for the employees it represents. Accreditation is a term used for the process of certifying that an organization meets certain standards or requirements. Arbitration is a method of settling labor disputes where a neutral third party makes a binding decision. Collective bargaining is the negotiation process between the union and employer over terms and conditions of employment.

Question 5

The plant where Ima and Boyd work is located in Illinois,which does not have a right-to-work law.If the workers approve the union as their bargaining agent,Boyd wants to get the greatest union membership that is legally possible.Boyd is likely to push for an):
A)closed shop.
B)agency shop.
C)union shop.
D)sweatshop.

Accepted Answer

A closed shop requires all workers to be union members, which is illegal in non-right-to-work states. An agency shop requires workers to pay union fees, but they are not required to be members of the union. A union shop requires all workers to become union members after a certain period of time, which is the greatest union membership that is legally possible in non-right-to-work states. A sweatshop is a workplace with poor working conditions and low wages, which is not relevant to the question. Therefore, the best choice is C) union shop.

Question 6

Identify and discuss three controversial employee-management issues.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and discuss three controversial employee-management issues....

Question 7

As an advisor to a company setting up its sexual harassment policy,which of the following tactics would you suggest?
A)Immediately making a sexual harassment claim public to every employee in the company.
B)Asking the accuser and the accused to sit down,face to face,and participate in a verbal discussion about what has occurred.
C)Make certain that there is a communication chain in place to immediately inform board members and executives of the accusation,so as to keep the information from being leaked to the news media.
D)Setting up a pro-active grievance procedure for quick action if and when there is an accusation of sexual harassment.

Accepted Answer

Setting up a pro-active grievance procedure for quick action if and when there is an accusation of sexual harassment is the best choice. This will allow for swift and appropriate action to be taken in the event of a harassment allegation, protecting both the accuser and the accused, and ensuring the company complies with legal requirements. Making sexual harassment claims public to every employee may create a hostile work environment, and sitting the accuser and accused face-to-face may be intimidating and not recommended by legal experts. Informing only board members and executives may not be sufficient, and may violate legal requirements for reporting and disclosure.

Question 8

At Hottie Potatee,the famous potato bar chain,the CEO,CFO,and COO are each paid a salary and stock options.As with other large,publicly traded companies,the strategy behind structuring executive compensation packages in this way is:
A)Stock options are paid out of after tax earnings.The company has already paid taxes on these earnings.
B)The practice keeps executives from earning more than 20 times the pay of the average company employee.
C)It conveniently eliminates golden parachutes and other incentives.
D)It becomes an incentive because when profits go up,stock prices usually go up.

Accepted Answer

Stock options serve as a motivation for executives to maximize company profits because as the profits increase, so does the stock price. This aligns the interests of executives with those of the shareholders and the company as a whole. Option A is incorrect as stock options are not paid out of after-tax earnings. Option B is incorrect as there is no legal requirement to limit executive pay in this way. Option C is incorrect as stock options do not eliminate other forms of compensation such as severance packages.

Question 9

As an employee of the human resource department of a major corporation,you are concerned about the potential costs of drug abuse.You are contemplating testing employees for substance abuse.Before adopting such tests,you should know that:
A)this type of testing has been found to be illegal,but many firms do it anyway.
B)medical tests of this nature are not very accurate.
C)if you use these tests,your company will join over 70 percent of major companies that test workers and job applicants.
D)these tests are very expensive,and should only be given to those who may belong to groups judged to be at higher risk.

Accepted Answer

The statement "if you use these tests, your company will join over 70 percent of major companies that test workers and job applicants" suggests that testing employees for substance abuse is a common practice among major corporations. This implies that such testing may not be illegal or, if it is, that many companies are willing to risk violating the law. The statement also suggests that there may be some benefits to testing, as many companies have adopted the practice. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Option A may be true, but it does not provide any information as to whether such testing is a good or bad idea. Option B may be true, but it only focuses on the accuracy of the tests, not on whether testing is a good or bad idea. Option D is partially correct, but it is not clear what groups would be deemed "higher risk" and why.

Question 10

Union membership has declined in recent years.What has led to this decline and what can unions do to turn this trend around?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Union membership has declined in recent years.What...

Question 11

Explain the difference between closed,open,union,and agency shop agreements.What impact did the Taft-Hartley Act have on the use of closed and union shop arrangements?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between closed,open,union,and agency shop...

Question 12

Identify several laws that significantly influenced labor-management relations.Discuss the major provisions of each law.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify several laws that significantly influenced labor-management...

Question 13

Which of the following statements about sexual harassment is most accurate?
A)Only men can be charged with sexual harassment.
B)Sexual harassment cannot be proven unless the employee's submission to such conduct was made explicitly a term of employment or was used to influence the results of the employee's performance appraisal.
C)One flaw with the current laws concerning sexual harassment is that they do not take into account the possibility of same-sex harassment.
D)In evaluating charges of sexual harassment,the courts place a great deal of emphasis on whether the behavior was unwelcomed.

Accepted Answer

This statement is the most accurate because it reflects the current legal standard for evaluating charges of sexual harassment. The courts will consider whether the behavior was unwelcomed by the victim in order to determine if harassment occurred. Option A is incorrect because women can also be charged with sexual harassment, and Option B is incorrect because proving sexual harassment does not require the behavior to be explicitly linked to employment terms or performance appraisals. Option C is partially correct, but it is not the most accurate statement as many jurisdictions have expanded their laws to cover same-sex harassment.

Question 14

After gaining union representation,any workers with complaints regarding promotions,layoffs,and job assignments will file an)________ with their shop steward.
A)grievance
B)arbitration request
C)injunction
D)yellow-dog contract

Accepted Answer

A grievance is a formal complaint filed by a worker or union on behalf of worker regarding any violation of the collective bargaining agreement. Grievances can be filed for a variety of reasons such as promotions, layoffs, and job assignments. The shop steward is responsible for representing workers in these circumstances and must be informed of any grievances.

Question 15

If management tries to threaten or punish Ima and Boyd for their efforts to gain union representation,the two workers could ask the ____________ to investigate these unfair labor practices.
A)National Labor Relations Board
B)Bureau of Labor-Management Relations
C)Department of Justice
D)Federal Trade Commission

Accepted Answer

The National Labor Relations Board is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws, including investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. If Ima and Boyd feel that they are being threatened or punished for trying to gain union representation, they can file a complaint with the NLRB to investigate this potential violation of their protected rights. The other options listed are not relevant to labor relations or unfair labor practices.

Question 16

Exceptional Enterprises launched a program to evaluate the relative levels of skills,education,and training needed to perform various jobs.Based on the results of this evaluation,the firm intends to adjust pay scales so that jobs requiring similar levels of skills,abilities,and education will receive similar pay.Exceptional Enterprises' program is an attempt to deal with the issue of:
A)comparable worth.
B)affirmative action.
C)reverse discrimination.
D)equal employment opportunities.

Accepted Answer

Exceptional Enterprises' program is aimed at comparable worth, which refers to the concept that jobs that require comparable levels of skill, education, and responsibility should receive similar compensation. This program does not address affirmative action, reverse discrimination, or equal employment opportunities.

Question 17

Ty Runt has always taken a hard line against unionization efforts.Two years ago,when workers at his previous company tried to obtain union representation,the company closed down the plant and refused to let employees work until they abandoned their efforts to form a union.This management tactic is called an):
A)management strike.
B)secondary boycott.
C)injunction.
D)lockout.

Accepted Answer

A lockout is a management tactic where an employer refuses to allow employees to work until they agree to certain conditions, such as abandoning their efforts to form a union. This is what occurred in the scenario described. A management strike is when management goes on strike instead of the employees, a secondary boycott involves boycotting a company that is not directly involved in a labor dispute, and an injunction is a court order to stop or prevent certain actions. None of these terms fit the situation described in the scenario.

Question 18

Identify and describe the major tactics used by unions and management when collective bargaining efforts break down.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify and describe the major tactics used...

Question 19

Tom Dash works as a researcher studying the effects of alcohol and drug abuse at a large research university on the east coast.The alcohol center's mission statement reads,"Our mission is to conduct,coordinate,and promote basic and clinical research on the causes,prevention,and treatment of alcoholism and alcoholic disease." Looking forward,which of the following statements are you likely to agree with?
A)Tom's work,although impressive will not have any short-term or long-term effect on the cost of labor in the U.S.
B)The U.S.has seen significant declines in alcohol and drug related issues in the work place.Tom would better serve the business world by working on AIDS related diseases.
C)Illegal drug use is more of a problem than alcohol in terms of the number of work-related accidents that these problems cause.Tom should know,though that the baby boomers are the major drug users,and they are retiring.
D)Tom Dash's work is greatly needed by business and industry.Alcohol and drug use continue to be on the rise and present serious work related costs to businesses across almost all industries.

Accepted Answer

The alcohol center's mission statement clearly indicates that their research is focused on the causes, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism and alcoholic disease. This suggests that alcohol use and abuse continues to be a significant problem. Additionally, research has shown that alcohol and drug use can have serious economic costs for businesses, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and workplace accidents, and increased healthcare and insurance costs. Therefore, Tom Dash's work is likely to be greatly needed by business and industry.

Question 20

Last year,a retired schoolteacher moved her parents from Michigan to northern Illinois to live with her.For the past year,she was traveling two times each month to provide care for this eighty-six year old couple,including coordinating medical services and meals.In conversations with her family members,the teacher remarked,"If I were not already retired,I would have to quit my job to continue this way!" This retired teacher:
A)is in an unusual situation because there are more persons entering the workforce with childcare issues than with taking care of aging Americans.
B)is like a growing number of families whose households are caring for aging parents and relatives.
C)will benefit by all the affordable elder care facilities that cost about $20,000 per year.
D)should be advised that Medicare and Medicaid are covering all medical expenses for person 65 years and older,so she should not be experiencing such a burden.

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question is becoming increasingly common as the population ages and more families are caring for aging relatives. Option A is incorrect as it refers to childcare, not elderly care. Option C is also incorrect as not all families can afford or choose to use elder care facilities, and they may not be located near the family's home. Option D is misleading, as while Medicare and Medicaid may cover medical expenses for seniors, they do not cover all costs associated with caring for elderly relatives.

Quiz 12: Dealing With Union and Employeemanagement Issues

Which of the following statements about the costs of elder care is most accurate?

Ima,Boyd,and their fellow employees at Endrun work on an assembly line and do not have a specialized skill.If they are successful in their quest to set-up a union,they would probably be represented by an) ________ union.

Safe'nSwift Airlines implemented a program to curb workplace violence before it occurs.Under this program,the employees of Safe'nSwift can expect to:

The steps Ima,Boyd and their fellow workers must take to get the union legally recognized as the authorized bargaining agent are parts of the __________ process.

The plant where Ima and Boyd work is located in Illinois,which does not have a right-to-work law.If the workers approve the union as their bargaining agent,Boyd wants to get the greatest union membership that is legally possible.Boyd is likely to push for an) :

Identify and discuss three controversial employee-management issues.

As an advisor to a company setting up its sexual harassment policy,which of the following tactics would you suggest?

At Hottie Potatee,the famous potato bar chain,the CEO,CFO,and COO are each paid a salary and stock options.As with other large,publicly traded companies,the strategy behind structuring executive compensation packages in this way is:

As an employee of the human resource department of a major corporation,you are concerned about the potential costs of drug abuse.You are contemplating testing employees for substance abuse.Before adopting such tests,you should know that:

Union membership has declined in recent years.What has led to this decline and what can unions do to turn this trend around?

Explain the difference between closed,open,union,and agency shop agreements.What impact did the Taft-Hartley Act have on the use of closed and union shop arrangements?

Identify several laws that significantly influenced labor-management relations.Discuss the major provisions of each law.

Which of the following statements about sexual harassment is most accurate?

After gaining union representation,any workers with complaints regarding promotions,layoffs,and job assignments will file an) ________ with their shop steward.

If management tries to threaten or punish Ima and Boyd for their efforts to gain union representation,the two workers could ask the ____________ to investigate these unfair labor practices.

Identify and describe the major tactics used by unions and management when collective bargaining efforts break down.