Question 1

Which statement best describes the enforcement of provincial human rights laws?

Accepted Answer

Independent boards of inquiry in the enforcement of provincial human rights laws have similar powers as a federal tribunal. They are responsible for investigating complaints, holding hearings, and making decisions.

Question 2

What requires large firms bidding on federal government contracts worth $200,000 or more to have an employment equity plan?

Accepted Answer

The requirement for large firms bidding on federal government contracts worth $200,000 or more to have an employment equity plan is governed by the Federal Contractors Program.

Question 3

If a religious organization insists on hiring a member from its own faith, it is probably safe to do so legally if it claims which legal defence?

Accepted Answer

The legal defence for a religious organization insisting on hiring a member from its own faith is the bona fide occupational qualification, which allows employers to make employment decisions based on religious beliefs when such beliefs are necessary for the job, and when accommodating those beliefs would cause an undue hardship.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT true of the Employment Equity Act (1995)?

Accepted Answer

The Employment Equity Act (1995) does not require all Canadian organizations to have some form of employment equity program. Only organizations with 100 or more employees are required to implement employment equity programs.

Question 5

According to the text, which group is most likely to view the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as a disappointment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, which group is...

Question 6

Organization Z is about to undertake an organization-wide process of ensuring equitable representation in terms of designated groups, including an analysis and redressing of past discriminations. What is Organization Z undertaking?

Accepted Answer

Organization Z is undertaking an employment equity policy implementation, which focuses on promoting equitable representation of designated groups and redressing past discrimination. Affirmative action policy implementation, on the other hand, involves taking steps to remedy specific instances of discrimination, while pay equity policy implementation focuses on ensuring that employees are fairly compensated for their work. The given scenario does not provide enough information to conclude that an employment systems review is being undertaken.

Question 7

Aboriginals face major employment barriers, which may be compounded by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Aboriginals face major employment barriers, which may...

Question 8

As a result of the Supreme Court of Canada ruling regarding the right to bargain collectively and to strike, governments can weaken the collective bargaining process through which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The government can weaken the collective bargaining process by limiting salary increases, as it directly affects the negotiation power of unions regarding wages.

Question 9

Which statement best describes bona fide occupational qualifications?

Accepted Answer

Bona fide occupational qualifications (BFOQs) are limited exceptions to anti-discrimination laws that allow employers to discriminate based on protected characteristics if it is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of their business. For example, a movie studio could require that an actor playing a specific character must be of a certain race or gender for authenticity. However, BFOQs must not be based on employer preferences or stereotypes, and they cannot require unnecessary harm or suffering.

Question 10

A large accounting firm has only 35 percent female UFE-certified accountants on staff. Women make up approximately 50 percent of the population and UFE-certified women make up approximately 15 percent of the labour force. What is the best description of the situation for women at this large accounting firm?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A large accounting firm has only 35...

Question 11

Which of the following is a possible outcome of a human rights complaint filed by an individual?

Accepted Answer

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) can refuse to deal with complaints it considers trivial, frivolous, or made in bad faith.

Question 12

What is the most serious possible occurrence if an HR professional is dishonest in a human rights investigation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the most serious possible occurrence...

Question 13

Which statement best describes employment equity?

Accepted Answer

Employment equity refers to ensuring that all individuals have equal access to opportunities in the workplace, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics. It impacts all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and compensation.

Answer: B
 While employment equity and affirmative action share similar goals, they are not synonymous. Employment equity focuses on ensuring fairness and equity in the workplace, while affirmative action involves taking proactive steps to address historical discrimination and promote diversity.

Answer: C
 Diversity management is a related concept, but it does not replace employment equity. Diversity management refers to creating an inclusive workplace culture that values differences and promotes collaboration among employees from diverse backgrounds.

Answer: None of the above
 Employment equity remains an important issue, particularly as organizations strive to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. While some may argue that employment equity has declined in importance in recent years, this likely varies by industry and region. Overall, employment equity is a vital component of promoting social justice and ensuring equal opportunity for all workers.

Question 14

"Phil's Antique Superstore" is hiring ten new customer service agents. All three of Phil's stores are housed in historic landmark buildings that are "heritage" sites and do not have wheelchair ramp access. Phil, the owner, has indicated that city bylaws will not allow him to renovate and add a wheelchair ramp to his buildings because of their heritage status. This fact makes the ability to go up stairs which of the following in relation to working at Phil's?

Accepted Answer

DA bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) is a quality or an attribute that employers are allowed to consider when making decisions on the hiring and retention of employees—a quality that when considered in other contexts would constitute discrimination and thus be in violation of civil rights employment law. In this case, the ability to go upstairs becomes a BFOQ because the nature of the buildings (historic landmark buildings that are heritage sites) inherently requires employees to navigate stairs, and modifications cannot be made due to city bylaws.A system barrier refers to obstacles that are built into societal structures and that prevent individuals with disabilities from gaining access to services, activities, or employment opportunities that are available to others. In this scenario, the inability to install wheelchair ramps due to the buildings' heritage status creates a system barrier for individuals who use wheelchairs.

Question 15

What is the most important thing an organization can implement if it wants to retain women?

Accepted Answer

Policies that focus on the family, such as flexible working hours and parental leave, are crucial for retaining women as they help balance work and family responsibilities.

Question 16

What is the difference between pay equity and pay equality?

Accepted Answer

Pay equity refers to the concept of ensuring that jobs which are of equal value are compensated equally, regardless of the gender of the individuals performing those jobs. Pay equality refers to the equal pay for equal work, regardless of any factors such as gender, race, or age.

Question 17

Green Grass Hospital pays its hallway painters/technicians nearly twice the hourly rate that it pays the nurses. This fact is likely to cause further investigation in a pay equity program implementation under which of the following circumstances?

Accepted Answer

Pay equity programs aim to ensure that employees are paid fairly and equally for work that requires similar skills, effort, and responsibility. If Green Grass Hospital is paying its hallway painters/technicians more than its nurses despite the latter having more training or experience, it could be indicative of a gender-based pay bias. Therefore, if the nurses are predominantly women and the painters are predominantly men despite both roles requiring similar education, experience, and responsibility, it would warrant further investigation to assess whether there is gender-based pay discrimination at play. The involvement of the painters' union or the nurses' seniority does not necessarily affect the potential pay equity violation.

Question 18

Employers that pay men and women performing the same job a different salary are violating the Pay Equity Act only if the differences are based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Pay Equity Act prohibits pay discrimination based on gender. Salary differences based on seniority, merit, or incentive plans are allowed as long as they are not discriminatory based on gender.

Question 19

Which group would NOT fall under the broad definition of a designated group?

Accepted Answer

Individuals who are 40 years of age or older may be protected under age discrimination laws, but they do not fall under the specific categories of designated groups outlined in employment equity legislation in Canada.

Question 20

How is the Canadian Human Rights Act typically enforced?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How is the Canadian Human Rights Act...

Quiz 3: Equity and Diversity in Human Resources Management