Deck 9: Managing Employee Retention, Engagement, and Careers

Question 1

During which of the following is an employee informed of the fact that he or she has been dismissed?

A) outplacement interview
B) termination interview
C) appraisal interview
D) exit interview

Answer 1

B
Explanation: B) Telling an employee about his or her dismissal occurs in the termination interview. Exit interviews are conducted with employees who are leaving a firm for any reason for the purpose of gathering the employee's insight about the firm.

Question 2

Tracy is frequently absent from work and almost always late, so her manager has decided to fire her. Which of the following grounds for dismissal will her manager most likely use?

A) misconduct
B) insubordination
C) unsatisfactory performance
D) lack of qualifications for the job

Answer 2

C
Explanation: C) Unsatisfactory performance means persistent failure to perform assigned duties or to meet prescribed job standards. Specific grounds include excessive absenteeism, tardiness, a persistent failure to meet normal job requirements, or an adverse attitude toward the company, supervisor, or fellow employees.

Question 3

When an employee's dismissal does not comply with the law or with the contractual agreement stated or implied by the firm via its employment application forms, employee manuals, or other promises, ________ has occurred.

A) mutiny
B) insubordination
C) wrongful discharge
D) emotional hardship

Answer 3

C
Explanation: C) Wrongful discharge refers to a dismissal that violates the law or that fails to comply with contractual arrangements stated or implied by the employer, for instance, in employee manuals.

Question 4

Which of the bases for dismissal is defined as the deliberate and willful violation of the employer's rules and may include stealing and insubordination?

A) unsatisfactory performance
B) whistle blowing
C) misconduct
D) disregard

Question 5

Which of the following exceptions is NOT responsible for eroding the strength of the "termination at will" doctrine?

A) EEO laws
B) public relations campaigns
C) public policies
D) common law exceptions

Question 6

Under the public policy exception to the termination at will doctrine, courts have held that ________.

A) discharge is wrongful when it is against an explicit, well-established law
B) even in the absence of a written document, an implied contract existed based on representations in the employee handbook
C) employers should not fire employees without good cause
D) persistent failure to perform assigned duties or to meet prescribed standards on the job is reason for dismissal

Question 7

Which of the following terms refers to the involuntary termination of an employee's employment with a firm?

A) leave of absence
B) insubordination
C) sabbatical
D) dismissal

Question 8

Which of the following terms refers to the willful disregard or disobedience of a supervisor's authority?

A) insubordination
B) disobedience
C) harassment
D) mutiny

Question 9

Which of the following terms refers to a systematic process by which a terminated employee is trained and counseled in how to perform a self-appraisal and secure a new position?

A) exit interview
B) outplacement counseling
C) job counseling fair
D) discharge interview

Question 10

Dismissal based on unsatisfactory performance is most appropriate if an employee ________.

A) shows an adverse attitude towards co-workers
B) fails to accomplish tasks despite diligence
C) acts in an insubordinate manner
D) steals the employer's property

Question 11

Which of the following is conducted with employees who are leaving a firm for the purpose of eliciting information about what is right or wrong with the job and the firm?

A) outsourcing interview
B) termination interview
C) screening interview
D) exit interview

Question 12

Which of the bases for dismissal is defined as the persistent failure to complete assigned duties or to meet prescribed standards on the job?

A) misconduct
B) unsatisfactory performance
C) lack of qualifications for job
D) changed requirements of job

Question 13

Misconduct, one of the bases for dismissal, is defined as ________.

A) the deliberate and willful violation of the employer's rules and may include stealing and insubordination
B) an employee's inability to do the assigned work despite his or her diligence
C) the persistent failure to perform assigned duties or to meet prescribed standards on the job
D) an employee's inability to do the work assigned because the nature of the job has changed

Question 14

Which of the following terms refers to permanently dismissing a relatively large proportion of employees in an attempt to improve productivity and competitiveness?

A) downsizing
B) offshoring
C) outsourcing
D) bumping

Question 15

The plant closing law requires that employers ________.

A) provide employees with training for different jobs
B) offer employees comparable jobs in other facilities
C) provide severance pay for at least 3 months
D) notify employees 60 days in advance of the plant closing

Question 16

Which of the following requires that employers of 100 or more employees give 60 days' notice before closing a facility or starting a layoff of 50 or more people?

A) COBRA
B) ERISA
C) Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
D) Electronic Communications Privacy Act

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT an example of employee insubordination?

A) deliberately defying company rules
B) repeatedly failing to perform tasks
C) disregarding the chain of command
D) publicly criticizing a supervisor

Question 18

Which of the following best defines "termination at will"?

A) Employers can end business relationships with clients even if a contract exists.
B) Employees can refuse to collaborate with specific co-workers for personal reasons.
C) Customers can end relationships with service providers for any reason at any time.
D) Either the employer or the employee can end the employment relationship at any time.

Question 19

During a merger and acquisition, it is especially important for managers to be sensitive to employees who are dismissed so that ________.

A) lawsuits stemming from ADA and OSHA violations can be avoided
B) remaining employees will remain productive and committed
C) exit interviews will reveal positive details about the firm
D) bumped employees can continue being promoted

Question 20

All of the following are reasonable bases for dismissal EXCEPT ________.

A) unsatisfactory performance
B) whistle blowing
C) misconduct
D) lack of job qualifications

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of an intangible cost of turnover?

A) interviewing costs
B) recruiting costs
C) coaching costs
D) testing costs

Question 22

According to research, what is the primary reason that top-performing employees leave an organization?

A) stress
B) compensation
C) work-life balance
D) promotion opportunities

Question 23

Which of the following managerial actions would most likely improve employee engagement?

A) highlighting how employee efforts help accomplish company goals
B) providing annual performance appraisals and bonuses
C) assigning employees to high-performing work teams
D) encouraging lifelong learning through training

Question 24

Which of the following statements about employee engagement is most likely true?

A) Most of the global workforce is engaged.
B) Long-term employees are considered engaged.
C) An engaged workforce improves company revenue.
D) Companies improve engagement by raising salaries.

Question 25

Kirk, a marketing specialist, is working with a mentor to identify his personal skills and interests. Kirk will then identify career-related goals and establish an action plan to attain those goals. Kirk is most likely involved with ________.

A) job training
B) career planning
C) career development
D) organizational management

Question 26

Turnover is best defined as the rate at which ________.

A) employees leave a firm
B) employers hire workers
C) employees are promoted
D) employers downsize operations.

Question 27

ABC Enterprises has a high rate of employee turnovers. Which of the following would most likely help ABC managers identify turnover causes?

A) background checks
B) appraisal interviews
C) aptitude testing
D) exit interviews

Question 28

A talent management approach to employee retention focuses primarily on ________,

A) retaining key employees
B) reducing turnover costs
C) minimizing coaching needs
D) retaining executive managers

Question 29

Which term refers to the lifelong series of activities that contribute to a person's career exploration, establishment, success, and fulfillment?

A) career management
B) career development
C) career planning
D) career

Question 30

Which of the following is most likely an example of a career development activity?

A) selection interview
B) performance appraisal
C) employee coaching
D) training workshop

Question 31

Which of the following would most likely increase turnover rates at an organization?

A) training and development
B) flexible work arrangements
C) intense performance monitoring
D) high-involvement work practices

Question 32

Which term refers to actions intended to place physical or psychological distance between employees and their work environments?

A) absenteeism
B) job withdrawal
C) employee retention
D) voluntary turnover

Question 33

Which term refers to the occupational positions a person has had over many years?

A) engagement
B) experience
C) promotion
D) career

Question 34

Which of the following would LEAST likely measure employee engagement?

A) profitability
B) recruitment
C) absenteeism
D) customer satisfaction

Question 35

Wilson Manufacturing has experienced a significant increase in employee turnover over the last year. Managers at Wilson want to identify and correct problems before losing valuable employees. Which of the following would most likely accomplish this goal?

A) administering attitude surveys to employees
B) initiating regular exit interviews for workers
C) providing additional training opportunities
D) offering a flexible benefits plan

Question 36

What is the purpose of IBM's on-demand staffing strategy?

A) monitor career development of high-performers
B) train employees for future workforce needs
C) identify causes of high turnover rates
D) meet needs of temporary workers

Question 37

Ray, an IT specialist, often daydreams at work, fails to focus on tasks, and arrives late. Ray's actions are most likely an example of ________.

A) voluntary turnover
B) disengagement
C) withdrawal
D) retention

Question 38

Career management is best defined as the ________.

A) process for helping employees to develop and use their skills and interests both within the company and after they leave the firm.
B) lifelong series of activities that contribute to a person's career exploration, establishment, success, and fulfillment.
C) process through which someone becomes aware of personal skills, interests, knowledge, motivations, and other characteristics.
D) series of occupational positions that a person holds over many years.

Question 39

Which term refers to being psychologically involved in, connected to, and committed to getting one's jobs done?

A) retention
B) engagement
C) ethical
D) enrichment

Question 40

Diminished employee engagement is most likely shown by all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) poor attendance
B) voluntary turnover
C) mental withdrawal
D) inadequate supervision

Question 41

Which of the following is the role of a manager in an employee's career development?

A) providing positive employee references
B) identifying the main interests of employees
C) providing monetary assistance for higher education
D) linking performance appraisals to development plans

Question 42

According to research, which of the following statements about women in the workforce is most likely true?

A) Overseas assignments are offered to more women than men.
B) Women typically receive lower overall performance ratings than men.
C) Women have more difficulty getting developmental assignments than men do.
D) Fast-track programs are more available to women than men because of EEO laws.

Question 43

Kareem, a college student, has just completed the Self-Directed Search test. By taking the test, Kareem is most likely trying to ________.

A) apply for a job
B) determine labor trends
C) assess cognitive strengths
D) identify suitable occupations

Question 44

Which term refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a new employee's high expectations are met with a dull job?

A) engagement
B) reality shock
C) job withdrawal
D) employee turnover

Question 45

Which of the following would LEAST likely prevent an employee from experiencing reality shock?

A) being given simple tasks
B) being assigned a mentor
C) receiving realistic job expectations
D) having challenging work assignments

Question 46

Which term refers to educating, instructing, and training subordinates to perform job-related tasks?

A) outsourcing
B) networking
C) mentoring
D) coaching

Question 47

Jason, a sales manager, has been given the task of coaching a new employee. Jason has already observed the employee on the job and reviewed the employee's productivity levels. What should Jason do next?

A) develop a change plan with the employee
B) offer the employee ideas and advice
C) observe the employee again
D) create a task assignment

Question 48

What is the primary method for management to support the career development of employees?

A) assigning career planning coaches
B) establishing corporate career centers
C) offering individual career counseling
D) providing realistic performance reviews

Question 49

Which factor most likely increases the importance of career management for workers?

A) global expansion
B) cost of health benefits
C) unpredictable labor market
D) lack of training opportunities

Question 50

Jason, a sales manager, has been given the task of coaching a new employee. What should Jason do first?

A) ask the employee to complete a job-related questionnaire
B) give the employee suggestions about work practices
C) observe the employee working and interacting
D) reach agreement with the employee on a plan

Question 51

Which term refers to barriers to women's progress in the work environment?

A) withdrawal
B) glass ceiling
C) networking
D) prejudice

Question 52

Which term refers to a planned learning event in which participants evaluate occupational trends, perform self-assessment exercises, set goals, and develop action plans?

A) employee orientation
B) team building retreat
C) career planning workshop
D) competency-based peer review

Question 53

Westin Manufacturing is a large firm with offices across the U.S. Many career opportunities exist at Westin in areas such as IT, sales, marketing, and product development. Westin managers are currently considering the idea of assigning a coach to every new employee at the firm. Which of the following, if true, best supports this idea?

A) Organizational development at Westin has improved employee engagement.
B) As a high-performance work system , Westin relies on multi-skilled teams.
C) Westin employees participate in training and development programs twice a year.
D) The turnover rate of hourly employees at Westin is higher than the industry average.

Question 54

All of the following are career management opportunities offered by many employers EXCEPT ________.

A) providing realistic job interviews
B) offering periodic job rotation
C) distributing interest surveys
D) giving performance feedback

Question 55

First USA Bank has established a ________ to help employees solidify career goals through the use of career assessment and planning tools.

A) recruitment office
B) career center
C) career mentor
D) work cycle

Question 56

The psychological contract between employers and employees identifies the ________ of each party.

A) long-term goals
B) expectations
C) ethical morals
D) opportunities

Question 57

According to the text, what is important to young people entering the job market today?

A) work-life balance
B) career development
C) international opportunities
D) strong organizational culture

Question 58

Allison, a new employee at Dixon Enterprises, has been assigned a career coach. Allison should most likely expect the coach to help her with all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) negotiating for a lifelong learning account
B) obtaining development opportunities
C) identifying development needs
D) creating a five-year career plan

Question 59

Career management, planning, and development are primarily the responsibility of the ________.

A) mentor
B) employee
C) employer
D) manager

Question 60

Which term refers to advising, counseling, and guiding an employee?

A) coaching
B) mentoring
C) appraising
D) training

Question 61

Which term refers to moving from one job in a firm to another with no change in salary or grade?

A) promotion
B) turnover
C) retention
D) transfer

Question 62

In a constructive discharge claim, plaintiffs argue that they quit because their employer made the work situation intolerable.

Question 63

A signed employment application that contains a statement regarding the employer's right to terminate at will serves as a procedural step in avoiding wrongful discharge suits.

Question 64

Which of the following is most likely important in a firm that has informal promotion processes?

A) employee qualification data banks
B) nine-box assessments
C) job posting policies
D) networking skills

Question 65

Which of the following organizations would most likely base promotions on seniority?

A) small business
B) private corporation
C) government agency
D) multinational enterprise

Question 66

Promotions are always upward.

Question 67

According to research, effective mentors have the ability to ________.

A) maintain control of the relationship
B) establish basic standards of performance
C) steer employees into important projects
D) teach employees how to complete tasks

Question 68

Which of the following would most likely encourage working mothers to remain with a firm?

A) job coaching
B) flexible scheduling
C) appraisal interviews
D) performance monitoring

Question 69

What is the most common reason that employers transfer employees?

A) rewarding a high-performing employee
B) finding a better job fit for the employee
C) giving the employee more challenging work
D) allowing the employee to work part-time

Question 70

Managers at M&M Enterprises want to retain a greater number of the firm's older workers. Which of the following would most likely help the firm accomplish this goal?

A) offering flexible work arrangements
B) providing more full-time positions
C) establishing a coaching program
D) setting achievable career goals

Question 71

Which of the following best summarizes the Peter Principle?

A) Firms often promote competent employees to levels beyond their abilities.
B) Promotion decisions should stem from talent management activities.
C) Firms should promote employees exclusively on past accomplishments.
D) Women are more likely to be promoted if they have mentor/sponsors.

Question 72

Employers today are finding that they do not have the blanket right to fire employees.

Question 73

What is the most likely reason that retirement planning is increasingly important to firms?

A) rising number of acquisitions
B) changes in federal employment laws
C) concerns about future labor shortages
D) rising need for cost containment strategies

Question 74

Quinn, a new employee at Madison Enterprises, thinks that a mentor would benefit his career at Madison. In order to have a successful mentor-protege relationship, Quinn should most likely ________.

A) keep expectations vague for flexibility
B) ask his manager to be his mentor
C) focus on specific work issues
D) discuss his personal problems

Question 75

Which of the following is the LEAST relevant question to ask when establishing an organization-wide promotion process?

A) How should competence be measured?
B) How much time should the process take?
C) Should the process be a formal or informal one?
D) Should promotion be based on seniority or competence?

Question 76

Unlike a traditional mentor, a mentor/sponsor is able to ________.

A) advocate for an employee's promotion
B) guide employees into projects
C) offer professional advice
D) teach job skills

Question 77

In most private firms, what is the typical measure of competence when determining promotions?

A) performance potential
B) cognitive skills tests
C) past performance
D) assessment centers

Question 78

Which of the following most likely ensures the legality of a firm's promotion process?

A) objective evidence
B) informal procedures
C) union agreements
D) salary increases

Question 79

The 9-box matrix is used by firms to assess an employee's ________.

A) past performance
B) job skills knowledge
C) communication skills
D) promotional potential

Question 80

Wrongful discharge occurs when an employee's dismissal does not comply with the law or with the contractual agreement stated or implied by the firm via its employment application forms, employee manuals, or other promises.