Deck 4: Ensuring Fair Treatment and Legal Compliance

Question 1

Which of the following statements about the relationship between federal and state laws is true?

A)All companies,no matter how small,are covered under federal laws.
B)State laws often anticipate (precede)federal laws.
C)The only difference between state laws and federal laws is the jurisdiction of the agency that enforces them.
D)Federal and state laws are types of administrative law.
E)Federal laws never supersede state laws.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable reason to terminate and employee?

A)Incompetence in performance that does not respond to training or to accommodation
B)Gross or repeated insubordination
C)Civil rights violations such as engaging in harassment
D)Complaining or testifying about violations of equal pay or wage and hour laws
E)All are acceptable reasons

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Ned complained to his supervisor when he discovered that he was required to work late three nights a week,and a co-worker in a similar position only worked late once every two weeks.Ned thought his treatment was unfair.The supervisor instructed both employees to work two nights every week.Even though Ned would have preferred to not work any nights,he was satisfied with this solution because the:

A)supervisor had used both distributive and procedural justice to achieve a level of fairness
B)supervisor had implemented a corporate mission statement of fairness
C)organization had complied with the federal government's Law of Equity
D)denotation of the word fairness had been implemented,if not,its connotation
E)chain of command had not had to change as a result of Ned's complaint

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Executive orders are:

A)created by federal agencies
B)dictated by the U.S.Constitution
C)the result of precedent-setting legal cases
D)issued by the president of the U.S.
E)state laws that act as precedent for federal laws

Question 5

Suzanne is a lesbian and she has been denied a promotion to departmental manager.Suzanne's superiors feel that because of her sexual orientation,she will not have the respect of her subordinates.Suzanne confers with her lawyer.She wants to sue her employer for discrimination.She has been deprived of a career and financial opportunity because her employer views her sexual orientation as a barrier to her performance.What will her lawyer tell her?

A)She can sue for sex discrimination under Title VII.
B)She can sue for sexual harassment under Title VII.
C)She can sue for disability discrimination under the ADA.
D)She can sue under the Equal Pay Act.
E)She cannot sue under federal law.

Question 6

Imagine you work in the human resources office of a large department store.You have been asked to develop a fair procedure to thwart employee pilferage.In developing this procedure,you should take into account:

A)methods for getting accurate and appropriate information about pilferage
B)communicating the pilferage policy
C)allowing employees to contribute their ideas about developing the pilferage policy
D)building flexibility into the pilferage policy to account for unique circumstances
E)all of the above

Question 7

Which of the following are true?

A)Society's view of what constitutes fair treatment of employees is in constant flux.
B)Practices that were considered fair at the beginning of the twentieth century are now illegal.
C)Practices considered fair today may no longer be legal in five or ten years.
D)Complying with laws and regulations is seldom enough to ensure that employees feel they are treated fairly.
E)All of these statements are truE.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about fairness is true?

A)In a capitalistic economic society,organizations are only concerned about fairness when dealing with consumers and competitors.
B)Fairness is seldom the result of proactive thinking.
C)Concerns about fairness are typically handled reactively.
D)Members of the labor force initiate and ultimately create federal and state laws.
E)Fairness in the workplace is a result of ethical principles not legal institutions.

Question 9

In most states,employees have up to _____ days after an alleged discriminatory event to file a charge with the EEOC.

A)100
B)300
C)30
D)250
E)1000

Question 10

In order for employees to perceive that the formal procedure used to resolve concerns about unfair treatment is itself fair:

A)the information used to resolve the issue must be appropriate and accurate
B)the basis for deciding how to resolve the problem must be clearly explained to all parties involved
C)all parties involved must have equal and open access to the resolution process
D)the system should be flexible enough to be responsive to changing conditions that may require further changes
E)all of the above conditions must be met

Question 11

Tootsie's All-American Restaurant has 27 locations throughout the United.States.Tootsie's founder believes that "An all-American restaurant must have an all-American staff." Therefore,the restaurant chain unwritten policy is that no wait staff with foreign accents can be hired.Tootsie's All-American Restaurant is ripe for _____.

A)a class action lawsuit under Title VII
B)a Fourteenth Amendment suit
C)a violation of Executive Order 11246
D)a common law suit
E)none of the above

Question 12

You perceive that you are being treated unfairly in the workplace.Which of the following actions will help you to resolve the issue in a manner best for you and your organization?

A)Ignore it and hope it corrects itself.
B)Have patience.The government will pass legislation soon to help you.
C)Call a lawyer and find grounds for a lawsuit.
D)Talk to your supervisor or other appropriate person in the organization about the issue first
E)Quit and look for a job more to your liking

Question 13

Line managers,HR professionals,and employees all have roles and responsibilities for ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.Which of the following do all three groups have in common?

A)Keep accurate and current records about employee performance
B)Be informed about laws and regulations protecting employee's rights
C)Administer grievance/complaint procedures
D)Set policy to take into account societal views
E)They have none of these in common.Employees do not take part in this.

Question 14

In the Wal-Mart affirmative action class action lawsuit Dukes v.Wal-Mart,

A)the parties got a better response by suing Wal-Mart directly rather than going through the EEOC.
B)the plaintiffs were men who had filed a reverse discrimination suit.
C)outcomes received by women were generally less than what men received.
D)the problem was local rather than national.
E)pay was not an issuE.

Question 15

In a recent downsizing,Maureen,an average performer,was informed via email not to report to work the following Monday as her job had been terminated.Maureen was aware that the downsizing was to occur and was informed of the process by which layoffs would occur,which she thought was fair.All other performers in her work group who were let go had also been rated "average." Maureen

A)is probably feeling she has been treated equitably.
B)probably believes she has been denied procedural justice.
C)probably believes she has been denied distributive justice.
D)probably believes she has been denied interactional justice.
E)b,c,and d are all correct.

Question 16

Executive orders:

A)are issued by federal agencies as tools for monitoring the workplace
B)are derived from the Bill of Rights
C)specify rules and conditions for government business and for doing business with the government
D)are rules made by judges as they resolve disputes between parties
E)are governmental controls for with private-sector companies

Question 17

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)is an example of an _____ agency.

A)administrative
B)constitutional
C)statutory
D)common
E)procedural

Question 18

The _____ rule states that because employers are the managers,they have the right to terminate their employees whenever they choose.

A)termination-at-will
B)employee non-discrimination
C)equity treatment
D)employment-at-will
E)employer autonomy

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the relationship between federal and state laws is true?

A)State laws are simply reiterations of federal laws.
B)Federal laws always precede state laws.
C)Federal laws always supersede state laws.
D)State laws must be consistent with federal laws.
E)All of the above statements about the relationship between federal and state laws are truE.

Question 20

Which of the following actions is an acceptable reason for dismissing Anna Black?

A)Anna has blown the whistle on an employee who was sexual harassing his secretary.
B)Anna has demanded that her employer take certain precautions to prevent employees from getting sick building syndrome.
C)Anna filed a workers' compensation claim as a result of injuries she sustained when a file cabinet fell on her.
D)Anna has a history of being late for work at least two mornings a week.
E)Anna asked union organizers to come to her company and start a union.

Question 21

Respect for all employees is when employment decisions are made on the basis of _____ rather than _____.

A)race,merit
B)performance,merit
C)merit,demographic attributes
D)affirmative action,demographic attributes
E)demographic attributes,performance

Question 22

Arbitration:

A)is a common form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
B)typically bars attorneys from the process
C)is a less formalized process than mediation
D)has escaped the controversy that has surrounded the mediation process
E)is accurately described by all of the above

Question 23

Mediation is a popular form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)because:

A)it is purely voluntary
B)the mediator is typically someone who is in close day-to-day contact with all parties in the dispute
C)it is a less formal process than arbitration
D)it allows an employee to appeal a mediated decision that he or she deems to be unfair
E)it is only necessary when parties involved want to settle a dispute without litigation

Question 24

Which of the following statements about grievance procedures is true?

A)Grievance procedures become widely used in the 1990s.
B)Organizations typically try to thwart employee use of grievance procedures.
C)More than half of America's largest corporations have some type of grievance system
D)Only unionized companies have a grievance procedure.
E)Grievance procedures typically raise the legal costs associated with resolving employee-employer disputes.

Question 25

Pilar has been offered a job as a inventory control manager at a large manufacturing company.As a condition of employment,she has been asked to sign a paper that says that in the event of a dispute she agrees to mandatory arbitration.Which of the following explains how signing such a document would benefit her?

A)She can be sure that she will always have a competent and impartial arbiter.
B)Her disputes with upper management will remain private.
C)She will not have to have a trial.
D)The results of arbitration can be easily used to deter future similar actions.
E)All of the above are benefits gained from mandatory arbitration.

Question 26

Grievance procedures:

A)have become nearly universally used in unionized settings
B)are consistent with managers' beliefs that employees have a right to fair treatment.
C)help lower legal costs associated with resolving employee-employer disputes in court
D)increase employee loyalty and commitment
E)are accurately described by all of the above

Question 27

Jan is a Polish-American.Every day his co-workers torment him with Polish jokes.Jan believes that he is being forced to work in a hostile,offensive environment that prohibits his effective performance.Jan has complained to his supervisor.In compliance with EEOC guidelines,his supervisor should:

A)report Jan's co-workers to the National Labor Relations Board
B)immediately investigate and take immediate and appropriate corrective action
C)move Jan to another position of equal or less status in the company away from his current co-workers
D)terminate Jan because he is not a team player
E)take a "wait-and-see" attitude and hope the co-workers run out of jokes or move to another target

Question 28

Diversity management initiatives:

A)are usually the result of a court order after a class action lawsuit
B)are required by Title VII
C)are monitored by the EEOC
D)are usually voluntary
E)apply only to Title VII protected classes

Question 29

_____ is the most popular form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

A)Mediation
B)Administrative settlement
C)Executive order
D)Arbitration
E)Statutory governance

Question 30

The Privacy Act of 1974:

A)was the first major statute to address the issue of privacy directly
B)applies to employees in the private sector
C)gives employees control over who gets what information
D)is an administrative regulation developed and enforced by the EEOC
E)has been ruled as unconstitutional by the U.S.Supreme Court

Question 31

Sexual harassment policies in the workplace should:

A)raise affirmatively the issue of harassment
B)establish procedures for investigating and corroborating a harassment charge
C)assure employees that they won't be subjected to retaliation for reporting incidents of harassment
D)provide a clear and broad statement defining what constitutes harassment
E)do all of the above

Question 32

Organizational codes of ethics

A)apply only to employers
B)are mandated by federal law
C)deal with organizational,not personal,matters
D)inform employees as to how they are to conduct business
E)safeguard the firm's reputation

Question 33

In terms of layoffs and terminations,the U.S.tends to be _____ than other countries.

A)more concerned about the effects
B)more likely to develop social plans to moderate the impact
C)less legalistic about handling layoffs and terminations
D)more generous in financial arrangements for laid off and terminated employees
E)less likely to ignore unions and other stakeholders in planning for layoffs and terminations

Question 34

Which of the following actions is an unacceptable reason for dismissing Kent Forde?

A)Kent likes to tell raunchy jokes to his young female assistant and watch her blush.
B)Kent often takes home company equipment,which he sells to friends.
C)Kent blows the whistle on the unsafe disposal of chemicals used in his company's manufacturing process.
D)Kent often calls his supervisor,"A big fat slob" and makes pig noises whenever the woman tries to talk to Kent about his poor attitude.
E)Kent has been caught repeatedly recording someone else's sales as his own.

Question 35

Which of the following statements about the employees' rights to privacy is true?

A)The Bill of Rights guarantees employees in the private-sector the right to privacy.
B)The U.S.Supreme Court has done nothing to protect the privacy of the employee in the private-sector.
C)Privacy legislation gives employees the right to control who gets what information.
D)Administrative laws protect the privacy of private-sector employees from their employers.
E)None of the above statements about the employees' right to privacy is truE.

Question 36

Which of the following statements about harassment in the workplace is true?

A)Harassment does not include any nonverbal communication.
B)The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)defines harassment as racist epithets,raunchy jokes,and ethnic slurs.
C)Harassment occurs anytime an off-color joke is told in the workplace.
D)Harassment often it leads to expensive financial settlements and negative publicity.
E)All of the above statements about harassment in the workplace are truE.

Question 37

If a legal right has been violated and has resulted in injury,the defendant may be required to pay _____ monetary damages to the plaintiff.

A)distributive and procedural
B)compensatory and punitive
C)financial and professional
D)personal and professional
E)present and future

Question 38

Which of the following statements about the prevention of harassment is true?

A)Businesses should enforce a zero tolerance for harassment.
B)It is relatively easy to create sexual harassment policies that will eliminate harassment.
C)The EEOC wants businesses to establish a fund from which plaintiffs in harassment cases will be paid.
D)Harassment-awareness training programs have proven ineffective deterrents.
E)Policies defining penalties for engaging in activities that may involve harassing need to be narrow and specific in order to be really useful.

Question 39

The standard held by the courts for determining sexual harassment is the _____ standard:

A)reasonable man
B)reasonable woman
C)reasonable person
D)same sex
E)common law

Question 40

In order to make sure its sexual harassment policy provides effective guidelines for its managers,the company should write a policy that includes:

A)jokes,slurs,and epithets that are examples of harassment
B)termination policies for the accused and the accuser
C)a requirement that those who have been harassed must report it to management
D)the reporting format that will be used in its monthly report to the EEOC
E)the scale for payment to those who have proven they were harassed

Question 41

Treating employees fairly is good for employers.

Question 42

The only branch of government that is not actively involved in shaping the legal environment of the United States is the executive branch.

Question 43

Employees do not necessarily feel that they have been treated unfairly when they do not get the best possible outcome.

Question 44

An employee cannot be dismissed for filing discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state or municipal fair employment agency.

Question 45

Laws are simply society's values and standards that are enforceable in the courts.

Question 46

Robin is a human resources manager.She has taken a position with a large multinational corporation.She is concerned about the differences between labor-management practices in the U.S.and other countries.You could tell her that:

A)most countries require that the protection of U.S.laws be extended to non-U.S.employees in workplaces outside the U.S.
B)many countries' laws protect employees much more aggressively than do U.S.laws
C)in many countries,a "social plan" is needed before a U.S.firm can close down or curtail operations in a foreign country
D)the legal environment for managers is much more important to understand than the cultural environment
E)there is no difference in how human resource management tasks are performed in the U.S.and in the rest of the world

Question 47

According to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN,1988),employers are required workers with at least a six months' notice of a plant or office closing.

Question 48

Once hired,employees generally become much less vocal in expressing their concerns about fairness.

Question 49

Arbitration is the most popular form of alternative dispute resolution.

Question 50

When compared to mediation,arbitration is more formal.

Question 51

Similar to court judges,arbitrators must provide written decisions or use previous cases in rendering their decisions.

Question 52

Concern for social cohesion is greater in the United States than in collectivistic countries.

Question 53

Rulings made by the Supreme Court carry the most weight because many of the decisions made by federal and state courts are subject to review by the Supreme Court.

Question 54

In most states,employees have up to 300 days after an alleged discriminatory event to file a charge with the EEOC.

Question 55

People's perception of fairness includes both situational justice and procedural justice.

Question 56

The National Labor Relation Board administers Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as well as the Equal Pay Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Question 57

Which of the following can be treated as business records that must be retained?

A)Personal e-mails sent on a company computer.
B)E-mail messages typed on a company computer but never sent.
C)Text entered into a Word document that you later deleted.
D)Personal IMs sent to friends on a company computer.
E)All can be treated as business records

Question 58

Legal institutions provide channels for the labor force to use in communicating their concerns about fairness to employers.

Question 59

In the real world,effective businesses seek to address only the concerns of their stockholders.

Question 60

The term distributive justice refers to perceptions about fairness in the allocation of outcomes.

Question 61

The newest approaches to alternative dispute resolution uses web-based technology to resolve disputes.

Question 62

The text suggests that the best indicator of how fairly employees feel they are being treated may be the degree in which the employees are willing to accept responsibility for behaving fairly in all dealings with their employers.

Question 63

Is it true that state laws are simply reiterations of federal laws? Discuss your answer.

Question 64

There are no proactive approaches,other than formal grievance procedures,to deal with the unfair treatment of employees.

Question 65

One common result of disputes in civil litigation is the payment of monetary damages.List the two major types of monetary damages.

Question 66

Discuss the following statement: "Employment-at-will decisions emphasize the value of procedural justice."

Question 67

What is common law?

Question 68

Diversity initiatives are most likely to be effective when they are developed to meet clear objectives and then monitored to ensure that those objectives are met.

Question 69

As the industrial era began,employers managed their businesses under the assumption that they had the right to terminate employees whenever they wanted to and for whatever reason they chose.What is the correct name of this practice?

Question 70

Describe the role of federal agencies in ensuring that employees are treated fairly.

Question 71

Which government agency developed guidelines for defining sexual harassment?

Question 72

Employers can penalize,refuse to hire,or even terminate employees because of some conditions associated with high health care costs.

Question 73

Research has shown that people's perceptions of fairness reflect at least two features of the situations they find themselves in: the actual outcome and the processes used to arrive at these outcomes.What is the term used to describe the outcomes?

Question 74

The U.S.Supreme Court has concluded that various guarantees stated in the Constitution have the effect of creating zones of privacy.

Question 75

You are considering accepting a job offer from a company that has asked you to sign away your statutory right to trial as a condition of employment.This company uses arbitration to settle all disputes with employees.Discuss the reasons why signing such an agreement may be in your best interest.

Question 76

The Bill of Rights guarantees private-sector employees the right to privacy.

Question 77

What is the most popular form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR)?

Question 78

What are two common remedies that the EEOC is likely to seek when filing employment lawsuit?

Question 79

The Employee Data Protection Directive is a recent EEOC regulation that sets restrictions on what personal information can be collected and stored by firms;it applies to all areas of everyday business activity and to all U.S.companies.

Question 80

To date,a large body of research is available publicly to document the economic benefits of a diverse workforce and positive organizational culture.