Question 1

Although there are advantages and disadvantages to home-based workers for both the employer and employee the disadvantages to employer,employee,and society in general can be summarized as:

Accepted Answer

Decreased social interaction between employees can lead to feelings of isolation and decreased motivation, as well as a loss of team spirit and corporate culture. This can ultimately harm the productivity and success of the company, as well as the well-being of the employees. However, options such as remote team-building activities and regular communication can help to mitigate this disadvantage. The other options (A, B, D) do not necessarily apply to all situations and can depend on individual circumstances.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about home-based work and telecommuting is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

While it may be becoming more popular, only a small percentage of workers currently work from home regularly. Telecommuting can offer advantages for both workers and employers, but it is not likely to increase costs significantly. While home-based work may increase productivity for some workers, it is not a guarantee for all. The statement about the freedom and flexibility of home-based work creating problems for some workers is the most accurate statement.

Question 3

Steely Percussion Inc.briefly tried to implement a flextime system only to abandon it after a few months.Which of the following is the most likely reason Steely would drop its flextime plan?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Steely Percussion Inc.briefly tried to implement a...

Question 4

At a large law firm,Gina works daily as a secretary from 9:00 a.m.until 1:00 p.m. ,when she is replaced by Cassie who works from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m.The arrangement Gina and Cassie have at the law firm is known as:

Accepted Answer

The arrangement where Gina and Cassie work together to cover the full workday is known as job sharing. They share the responsibilities of one full-time position, working alternating shifts. Job enlargement refers to increasing the duties of a current job position, job rotation involves employees switching between different job positions, and job allocation is not a commonly used term in the context of job arrangements.

Question 5

A disadvantage of flextime plans is that they often:

Accepted Answer

Flextime plans, which allow employees to choose their working hours within certain limits, can necessitate supervisors and managers to work longer hours to oversee staff who are working at different times. This can be a significant disadvantage as it increases the workload and hours for those in supervisory roles.

Question 6

In a _____________ arrangement two part-time employees fill one full-time job.

Accepted Answer

Job sharing is when two part-time employees share one full-time job, splitting the responsibilities and hours between them.

Question 7

A major characteristic of a compressed workweek is that:

Accepted Answer

A compressed workweek involves reducing the number of days an employee works in a week while increasing the number of hours worked per day. This means that employees may work longer hours each day but have more days off during the week. They still receive the same pay for the total number of hours worked, just condensed into fewer days. Option A is a characteristic of a reduced workweek, not compressed. Option B is incorrect as it is not necessary to increase the pace of work with a compressed workweek. Option D describes job sharing, which is different from a compressed workweek.

Question 8

Wal-Mart stores in northern Illinois have gone to a __________,where management works four 10-hour days,and has four days off.

Accepted Answer

The description of working four 10-hour days and having four days off is characteristic of a compressed workweek schedule. A flextime system allows employees to determine their own work hours within a certain range, job rotation involves employees swapping positions or tasks for a period of time, and a constrained workweek is not a commonly used term in workplace scheduling.

Question 9

After graduating with a double major in engineering and business,Scott accepted a job with a large telecommunications company with the understanding that his first two years on the job would be spent internationally - Argentina and Korea.The company was willing to offer a compensation package that would compensate him for the sacrifice of leaving his family and living abroad,and if things went well,they anticipated that he would receive a promotion when coming back to the states.According to the Connecting Across Borders box,titled,"Coping with Cultural Challenges",which of the following is the firm least likely to consider when planning Scott's compensation plan?

Accepted Answer

The firm is least likely to consider soft benefits, such as cultural training or language courses, in Scott's compensation plan according to the Connecting Across Borders box titled "Coping with Cultural Challenges." The other options listed (special relocation allowances, currency conversions and tax consequences, and health insurance concerns) are all common considerations when planning compensation packages for international assignments.

Question 10

Companies are utilizing home-based workers as _______,shifting away from the expense of maintaining in-house operators or less qualified offshore operators.

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions the use of home-based workers for call center operations. Therefore, the best choice is A) call agents. None of the other choices mention call center operations.

Question 11

Humphrey Communications uses a flextime plan,however,all employees must be on the job from 10:00 a.m.until 2:00 p.m.These hours are referred to as the:

Accepted Answer

The hours from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. are referred to as core time, which is the period when all employees must be on the job.

Question 12

A __________ allows workers to work the full number of hours per week in fewer days.

Accepted Answer

A compressed workweek allows workers to complete their full weekly hours in fewer days, such as four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. This can provide greater flexibility and work-life balance for employees without reducing overall productivity.

Question 13

The time when all employees must be present in a flextime plan is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Core time refers to the designated period when all employees in a flextime plan must be present. This period is usually set by the employer and can vary from one organization to another.

Question 14

Steve works in purchasing for the Department of the Army on the east coast.He arrives at work at 6:00 a.m.and leaves by 3:00 p.m.He enjoys this schedule because he is an early riser.A disadvantage to the government in allowing Steve to use flextime is:

Accepted Answer

The disadvantage in allowing Steve to use flextime is that his schedule may not align with the schedule of defense contractors on the west coast, leaving a window of opportunity where communication cannot occur. This could potentially delay purchasing decisions and negatively impact operations.

Question 15

Janelle spends three hours each day working as an online customer service representative for an online retailer.She can choose her own hours,within reason.The job works out well for her since she has a new baby that she cares for much of the day.The retailer does not provide her or the other 200 customer service reps with work space,which constitutes a sizeable cost savings for the company.Janelle participates in a popular work strategy known as _______________.

Accepted Answer

Janelle is working from home as an online customer service representative, which is an example of home-based work.

Question 16

Which of the following firms would have the strongest incentive to adopt a job sharing plan?

Accepted Answer

GHI Health Services has the strongest incentive to adopt a job sharing plan as reducing absenteeism and tardiness can be accomplished by allowing employees to have more flexible schedules through job sharing. With job sharing, employees can split the work hours and responsibilities in a way that fits their personal needs, reducing the likelihood of missed work due to external factors such as childcare or transportation.

Question 17

Tony is an office manager with a financial company.His company recently announced that it will soon implement a flextime plan.Under this new system,Tony is likely to find that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tony is an office manager with a...

Question 18

At Friendly Financial Consulting,employees are allowed to choose what time they start each workday,as long as they arrive between the hours of 7:00 a.m.and 10:00 a.m.They must be on the job from 10:00 a.m.until noon and from 1:00 p.m.until 3:00 p.m.They are required to work a total of 8 hours each day,so the earlier they arrive,the earlier they can leave.This is a ___________ system.

Accepted Answer

The system described is a flextime system, where employees have some control over their start and end times within set parameters, but still must work a set number of hours each day.

Question 19

A ___________ plan gives employees some ability to adjust hours when they work,as long as they work the required number of hours.

Accepted Answer

Flextime allows employees to have some control over their work hours, as long as they still work the required number of hours. A cafeteria-style plan typically refers to offering employees a choice of benefits they can select, rather than adjusting their work schedule. Varitime is not a commonly used term in employment practices. Gantt scheduling is a project management tool used to create a timeline for completing a project, not a plan for employee work schedules.

Question 20

A firm that wants to reduce its office costs,broaden its base of available talent and improve job satisfaction could achieve all of these goals by:

Accepted Answer

Allowing more workers to work from home can reduce office costs by reducing the need for physical office space. It can also broaden the available talent pool by allowing the firm to hire remote workers from all over the world. Additionally, studies have shown that telecommuting can increase job satisfaction and work-life balance for employees. Recruiting only from internal sources may not necessarily reduce office costs or broaden the talent pool, and implementing specific compensation systems may not directly address the goals of reducing office costs and broadening the talent pool. Scientific management techniques may be useful for improving productivity, but may not directly address the goals stated in the question.

Quiz 11: Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees