Deck 11: Managing Employee Relations

Question 1

Solid employee relations demand careful attention to,among other factors,all of the following except

A)organizational communications
B)employee counselling
C)employee discipline
D)technological factors
E)management of work groups

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The employee handbook (often given to new employees)is an example of

A)upward communication
B)top-down communication
C)employee referral programs
D)open-door policy
E)employee assistance program (EAP)

Answer 2

B

Question 3

One study identified in the text indicated that there are a number of factors that are important in building employee commitment,including

A)lack of job security
B)lack of trust in senior management
C)poor quality of organization's products/services
D)competitiveness of rewards
E)employer's unethical conduct

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The information in employee handbooks should

A)be updated rarely to avoid confusion
B)be updated regularly and carefully reviewed
C)be fairly specific but still vague enough to allow employees some leeway in interpretation
D)not give specific information on benefit and assistance plans
E)not discuss human resource activities directly

Question 5

Some common examples of downward communication methods include all the following except

A)meetings
B)e-mail
C)in-house newsletters
D)jobholder reports
E)suggestion systems

Question 6

Even when the basic human resource functions are performed properly,solid employee relations still depend on careful attention paid by managers to all the following except

A)work group management
B)developing employee counselling skills
C)effective disciplinary procedures
D)organizational communication
E)compensation and benefits

Question 7

Most approaches to organizational communication systems include

A)horizontal and vertical communication systems
B)vertically integrated and horizontally integrated communications systems
C)upward and downward communications systems
D)circular and non-linear communication systems
E)"semi-soft" communication systems

Question 8

The purpose of downward communication systems in organizations is to

A)get information to the employees
B)get information from the employees
C)scan the external environment
D)enforce job analysis data
E)permit management to "talk down" to employees that they do not like

Question 9

One study identified seven factors important to building employee commitment,including all the below except

A)competitiveness of rewards
B)integrity of employer's business conduct
C)quality of the organization's products
D)job security
E)ability to be promoted to senior management

Question 10

Corporate culture,individual perceptions,and human resource practices make up the blend of factors important in the area of

A)employee discipline
B)employee relations
C)employer relations
D)job analysis
E)technological change

Question 11

The purpose of organizational upward communication systems is to

A)get information to the employees
B)reinforce the work-trend line
C)obtain information from the employees
D)communicate the organization's mission and culture
E)talk up good ideas

Question 12

All of the following are examples of methods of downward communication except

A)in-house publications
B)electronic communication
C)in-house complaint procedures
D)prerecorded messages
E)information booklets

Question 13

Surveys indicate that about __________ of all employees believe that their job offers little recognition and low satisfaction.

A)10 percent
B)18 percent
C)25 percent
D)45 percent
E)92 percent

Question 14

Reasons why good employee relations practices are important can include the fact that they can do all the following except

A)improve productivity
B)reduce employment costs
C)ensure implementation of organizational strategies
D)help employees grow and develop
E)improve wages and salaries

Question 15

Internal job postings are a form of

A)upward communication
B)union-management communication
C)downward communication
D)lateral communication
E)job evaluation communication

Question 16

A policy of encouraging employees to come to higher management with any concerns is often referred to as

A)a policy of concern
B)an open-door policy
C)management by hierarchy
D)management by objectives
E)the whiney-employee policy

Question 17

Good employee relations practices can reduce employment costs by

A)increasing turnover and absenteeism among less effective employees
B)having employees take voluntary salary and wage cuts
C)reducing the number and size of rewards needed
D)offering an organization a recruiting advantage
E)improving workforce demographics

Question 18

An open-door policy is designed to

A)allow employees to address their problems to higher levels of management
B)encourage managers to get up from their desk and go through the door to talk to employees
C)allow managers to better control their employees by being able to see what they are doing at any time
D)diminish health concerns in closed office spaces by allowing air to circulate
E)encourage people to open doors before going through them

Question 19

Components of effective employee relations include all of the following except

A)discipline
B)involvement
C)counselling
D)communication
E)recruiting and selection

Question 20

A study of email users reported that employees believe email has

A)allowed employees to freely access confidential information for their own purposes
B)improved communication with supervisors
C)increased time at work
D)decreased the need for a company website
E)increased administrative tasks for management

Question 21

To improve communications internally and enhance links between employees and the organization,companies should do all of the following except

A)invest in research and surveys to find out what the employees attitudes are towards communication
B)focus on performance oriented communication
C)communicate training needs with managers and employees
D)provide monetary rewards communication,rather than total rewards communication
E)regularly review and audit the communication systems

Question 22

Upward communication systems can include all the following except

A)the grapevine
B)open-book management
C)in-house complaint procedures
D)suggestion systems
E)attitude survey feedback

Question 23

Open-book management refers to

A)an organization where all the rules are known and publicized
B)an organization that "goes by the book",and where this is common knowledge among all employees
C)an organization where employees receive information about the firm's economic performance
D)an organization where employees can access their own,and other's,personnel records
E)the system of constructive or corrective discipline

Question 24

Some practical steps to prevent employee misuse of electronic communications include all the below except

A)developing and implementing a policy concerning the subject
B)being aware of legal issues
C)training employees and managers concerning the policy
D)actively addressing complaints
E)encouraging the reporting of policy violations only after an in-depth investigation

Question 25

Examples of the use of intranet communication to human resource departments include all of the following except

A)setting up an electronic employee directory
B)using electronic pay stubs
C)managing succession planning
D)managing the grapevine
E)creating discussion groups

Question 26

Following established rules and procedures and allowing employees to respond in disciplinary action is referred to as

A)diligent process
B)due process
C)disciplinary process
D)corrective process
E)mandated process

Question 27

As more employees use the Internet at work,issues that organizations need to consider include all the following,except

A)the rights of employers to monitor employee usage
B)the restriction of use to business purposes
C)concerns dealing with copyright
D)the posting or downloading of offensive or defamatory material
E)which insurance company to provide on line benefit access to

Question 28

Official and comprehensive company programs designed to help employees overcome personal and work-related problems are referred to as

A)employee evaluation programs (EEPs)
B)employee problem-solving programs (ESPs)
C)employee assistance programs (EAPs)
D)employee personal problem programs (EPPs)
E)employee tell-and-sell programs (ETSs)

Question 29

The objectives of a corrective disciplinary action are to achieve all the following except

A)to reform the offender
B)to punish past actions
C)to maintain consistent and effective group standards
D)to deter others from similar actions
E)be positive and corrective

Question 30

The objectives of corrective disciplinary actions can be said to be

A)positive only
B)educational only
C)corrective only
D)positive,educational,and corrective
E)both positive and corrective

Question 31

For employee suggestion systems to work,all the following must happen except

A)management must provide a fair and prompt response
B)employees must be encouraged to make suggestions
C)top management must support the idea
D)supervisors should be trained to encourage employee suggestions
E)employees should be encouraged to check suggestions with upper management before making them

Question 32

A procedure for non-unionized employees that is in writing,is communicated to employees,and guarantees employees the right to present complaints to management is often referred to as

A)an unofficial complaint system
B)in-house complaint procedure
C)labour-management relations
D)the formal grapevine
E)a human resource method for identifying trouble-makers

Question 33

Employee blogs are a concern for some employers for all of the following reasons except

A)using common sense may break existing rules
B)confidential information may be leaked about the company
C)the company may be exposed to a potential liability
D)the reputation of the company may be hurt
E)business may be described in a negative way

Question 34

The definition of corrective discipline is that it is an action

A)that is taken before an infraction occurs in order to encourage employees to follow the rules
B)that follows a rule infraction and seeks to discourage further infractions
C)that encourages employees to discipline themselves
D)where supervisors attempt to correct unwanted behaviour without making any critical comments
E)that is designed to correct behaviours through negative punishments and withdrawals

Question 35

Organization-specific internal computer networks are usually called

A)internets
B)intranets
C)infonets
D)extranets
E)hairnets

Question 36

An informal communication system that arises spontaneously from the social interaction of people in any organization is called

A)the grapevine
B)the informal gripe line
C)the bush telegraph
D)the water cooler exchange
E)the rumour tumour

Question 37

When an organization formally discusses employees' problem(s)with them and/or assists them in coping with these problems,this is normally referred to as

A)employee assistance
B)employee counselling
C)employee stroking
D)employee involvement
E)an intrusion into an employee's private life

Question 38

Employer disciplinary actions are substantially restricted by all the following except

A)human rights legislation
B)labour relations legislation
C)occupational health and safety legislation
D)pension and benefits legislation
E)collective agreements

Question 39

Action taken by supervisors prior to any infraction and that is designed to encourage employees to follow the rules is called

A)corrective discipline
B)progressive discipline
C)preventive discipline
D)positive discipline
E)advisory discipline

Question 40

A disadvantage of using electronic mail as an organizational communication method is that

A)it allows for two-way interactive communication,e.g.employee surveys
B)it can be accessed quickly and easily
C)it can be limited to select recipients
D)it can be easily directed to all employees
E)not everyone uses or can access e-mail

Question 41

Employee rights could include all the following except

A)right to privacy
B)right to fair treatment
C)rights in workplace restructuring
D)rights in business closings
E)right to permanent employment

Question 42

Under common law,if an employer makes a major change in employment terms that results in an employee resigning,this can be considered as

A)constructive dismissal
B)reasonable notice
C)just cause
D)corrective discipline
E)contractual dismissal

Question 43

The Wallace Effect refers to

A)awarding extended periods of notice in wrongful dismissal cases,when the employer was found to have terminated the employee in bad faith
B)awarding decreased periods of notice in wrongful dismissal cases,when the employer was found to have terminated the employee in bad faith
C)awarding extended periods of notice in wrongful dismissal cases,when the employer was found to have terminated the employee in good faith
D)awarding decreased periods of notice in wrongful dismissal cases,when the employer was found to have terminated the employee in good faith
E)forcing the employer to take the employee back in cases of wrongful dismissal,when the employer was found to have terminated the employee in bad faith

Question 44

The law of wrongful dismissal

A)only applies to union members
B)tends to require prudent legal advice
C)is straight-forward
D)has not been applied in Canada since 1945
E)has no specific legal ramifications

Question 45

For an employer,one of the most difficult employee dismissal situations to successfully defend in court is dismissal for just cause in the case of

A)insubordination
B)incompetence
C)conflict of interest
D)dishonesty or theft
E)frailty of character (e.g.drug use,bad or abusive behaviour,and so on. )

Question 46

Generally speaking,an employer can dismiss a non-union employee

A)for almost any reason
B)by giving "reasonable notice"
C)without having to give compensation in lieu of notice
D)only according to the collective agreement
E)only during working hours

Question 47

An effective internet usage policy should include a policy stating that

A)the employee is the rightful owner of the computer resources
B)employees can have expectations about privacy concerning computer resources
C)information sent over email is confidential
D)there are consequences for employees who contravene the policy
E)that downloading software and using the computer off hours for personal use is permissible

Question 48

The onus for proving just cause in dismissing an employee lies with

A)the employee
B)the courts
C)the labour board
D)the employer
E)the human rights commission

Question 49

Employee involvement in the workplace has been shown to increase both productivity and satisfaction,and overall quality of work life.Such involvement can take the form of

A)quality circles
B)codetermination
C)self-directed work teams
D)job enlargement/enrichment
E)self-promotion

Question 50

A typical progressive discipline system has a number of steps and would likely include all the following except

A)a verbal reprimand
B)a written waning
C)a suspension from work
D)discharge for cause
E)cancellation of the warning after discipline has been applied and actions changed

Question 51

Just cause for dismissal under common law includes any act by the employee that

A)could have serious negative impact on the organization's reputation
B)is felt to be unreasonable or unacceptable by top management
C)could have serious negative impact on the organization's operations,even if not the employee's fault
D)the union supports
E)a supervisor does not approve of

Question 52

According to a 2007 survey by the American Management Association,what percent of employers had employees email or instant messaging subpoenaed?

A)0%
B)18%
C)24%
D)57%
E)72%

Question 53

The hot-stove rule of corrective discipline means that discipline is all of the following except

A)that it is immediate
B)that it follows a warning
C)that it is impersonal
D)that it is consistent
E)that it is severe

Question 54

Select the first step in a standard progressive discipline system

A)written reprimand by supervisor
B)more serious written reprimand with two day suspension
C)written reprimand with one week suspension
D)verbal reprimand by supervisor
E)dismissal for cause

Question 55

According to PIPEDA,which of the following does not qualify as personal information?

A)factual information about the company
B)non recorded factual information about an individual
C)recorded factual information about an individual
D)an employee's home address
E)an employee's Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Question 56

Employees' rights to privacy are covered under which act?

A)Constitution
B)Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
C)Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
D)Private Information Passage and Email Delivery Act
E)Postponing Issues Prior to Email Delivery Act

Question 57

Problems around information security include all of the following except

A)poor enforcement of policies
B)outdated security software
C)poor hiring
D)high possibility of identity theft at work
E)human resource systems not being confidential

Question 58

Dismissing an employee without just cause or reasonable notice is called

A)unfair dismissal
B)unlawful dismissal
C)wrongful dismissal
D)preventative dismissal
E)illegal dismissal

Question 59

All of the following are among the requirements necessary to dismiss an employee for incompetence except

A)having reasonable and objective performance standards that have been communicated to all employees
B)being able to show that other employees are able to achieve the standards set
C)it can be based on a single incident of incompetence
D)having evidence of warnings given to the employee
E)demonstrating that the employee concerned had reasonable time to improve performance

Question 60

All the below are true of employee rights except that

A)they refer to rights desired by employees relating to job security and working conditions
B)they are,in many cases,protected under law
C)they are protected under a collective agreement,if one exists
D)many may be listed in an employee's contract of employment or in company policies
E)they exist only for unionized employees

Question 61

Almost 80 percent of all employees believe that their job offers them little opportunity to use their abilities.

Question 62

Human resource professionals get involved in a variety of roles during downsizing efforts,including all of the following except:

A)assist quality performers with finding new positions
B)develop skills inventories
C)assist in communicating the decision
D)evaluate the downsizing program
E)job design and redesign

Question 63

A policy of encouraging employees to come to higher management with their concerns is called an open door policy.

Question 64

Solid employee relations demand careful attention to communication,counselling,and employee management.

Question 65

One reason that good employee relations are a reasonably simple issue is that they don't involve the more complex factors of either corporate culture or basic human resource activities.

Question 66

Good employee relations practices reduce employment costs.

Question 67

The five key dimensions of employee relations are rights,discipline,counselling,involvement,and communication.

Question 68

While good employee relations practices tend to make for happier employees,they do not have any direct effect on either productivity or employment costs.

Question 69

Directly included in the key dimensions of good employee relations are job evaluation and job pricing.

Question 70

The key dimensions of employee relations include communication,involvement,and discipline.

Question 71

Although the concept of employee __________ is relatively new,a growing number of organizations are introducing it as a means of reducing the cost of administrative work performed by human resource departments.

A)self-service
B)administration
C)production
D)avoidance
E)relations

Question 72

Factors that are important in building employee commitment include job security,quality of organization's products,and trust in top management.

Question 73

The policy in some organization of encouraging employees to come to higher management with any concerns is often referred to as a compassionate management policy.

Question 74

Numerous studies indicate that after an organization downsizes

A)morale and productivity are unaffected
B)it performs better financially
C)it does not perform any better financially
D)morale drops but productivity improves
E)morale improves but productivity drops

Question 75

Types of downsizing strategies include all of the following except

A)work redesign
B)systematic change
C)workforce reduction
D)constructive dismissal
E)voluntary severance

Question 76

Practices that lead to successful organizations include all of the following except

A)selective hiring
B)self-managed teams
C)extensive training
D)sharing of information with employees
E)clear status levels

Question 77

Good employee relations practices ensure implementation of organizational strategies and improve productivity.

Question 78

One factor that makes employee relations a complex issue is the presence of individual perceptions.

Question 79

Reducing employment to improve efficiency,productivity,and competitiveness is often referred to as

A)outsourcing
B)downsizing
C)midsizing
D)resizing
E)cotton sizing

Question 80

One problem with effective employee relations is that they can inhibit the implementation of organizational strategies.