Deck 15: Employees and the Corporation

Question 1

Some labor unions have exerted their influence through political action committees.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

If someone is entitled to be treated in a certain way,this refers to a(n):

A) Relationship.
B) Obligation.
C) Duty.
D) Right.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

As shown in Figure 2,in 2013 the countries with the highest and lowest percentages of unionized labor,respectively,were:

A) Sweden, United States.
B) Japan, Mexico.
C) Norway, Austria.
D) United States, Denmark.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Employees in the United States have the right to organize and bargain collectively.

Question 5

In a business context,privacy rights refer to protecting an individual's personal life from unwarranted intrusion by his or her employer.

Question 6

The problem of alcohol-related accidents in the workplace is caused almost entirely by hard-core alcoholics.

Question 7

Critics have argued that honesty tests discriminate disproportionately against minorities.

Question 8

Some firms require managers to sign a consensual relationship agreement to protect against harassment suits related to failed office romances.

Question 9

The employment relationship confers rights and duties on both sides.

Question 10

The U.S.Department of Labor has ruled that employees who are economically dependent on the employer should be classified as independent contractors.

Question 11

Employment-at-will is a legal doctrine that means employees are hired and retain their jobs at the sole discretion of the employer.

Question 12

Under U.S.laws:

A) Only private workers have the right to hold an election to choose what union they want to represent them, if any.
B) Only public workers have the right to hold an election to choose what union they want to represent them, if any.
C) Most private and public workers have the right to hold an election to choose what union they want to represent them, if any.
D) Only the employer has the right to hold an election to choose what unions they want to represent the workers within the organization, if any.

Question 13

The U.S.Constitution protects the right to free speech-which means only the government can take away this right.

Question 14

The level of income inequality in the United States has fallen since the 1980s.

Question 15

Employers are not required by law to agree to the union's demands,but they are required to bargain in good faith.

Question 16

Drug testing for cause is commonly used after an accident or some observable change in behavior.

Question 17

The Occupational Safety and Health Act gives workers the right to a job "free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm."

Question 18

In recent years,the use of drug testing in the workplace has increased as drugs have become more available.

Question 19

Employees in the United States have a legal right to:

A) Organize and bargain collectively.
B) A safe and healthy workplace.
C) A job.
D) Both A and B, but not C

Question 20

Where are workers not permitted to form independent unions?

A) Europe.
B) Some communist countries.
C) Some military dictatorships.
D) Both B and C, but not A.

Question 21

Which of the following is not true about employee theft?

A) Almost half of all inventory losses are due to employee theft in the U.S.
B) It is a significant economic, social, and ethical problem in the workplace.
C) Almost half of all employees have stolen from an employer at least once in his or her career.
D) Employees damage coworkers and their employers by stealing from the company.

Question 22

Which of these actions can businesses take to reduce income inequality?

A) Adjust minimum wage laws to increase worker pay.
B) Implement new tax policy that benefits employees.
C) Provide very high executive compensation.
D) Commit to paying a living wage to all employees.

Question 23

According to the new social contract:

A) The employer is obligated to provide long-term job security.
B) Companies try to attract workers by giving them interesting and challenging work.
C) Job security is based on seniority, but salaries may be lowered for poor performance.
D) The employer is without any responsibilities toward employees.

Question 24

Which of the following is (are)true about Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)?

A) They offer counseling and follow-up to alcohol and drug abusers.
B) Almost all employers with 1,000 or more workers offer EAPs.
C) Nearly three-quarters of small companies with 50 to 99 employees offer EAPs.
D) All of the above.

Question 25

A living wage has been defined as a wage that:

A) Equals or exceeds the minimum wage established by law.
B) Equals or exceeds one-and-a-half times the minimum wage established by law.
C) Support the basic needs of an average-sized family, based on local prices.
D) Support half the basic needs of an average-sized family, based on local prices.

Question 26

A strong employer-employee relationship is central to:

A) Achieving a corporation's economic goals.
B) Satisfying the wishes of those who contribute their skills and talents to the company.
C) Increasing the gross domestic product of a nation.
D) Both A and B, but not C.

Question 27

According to the U.S Department of Labor:

A) Annually, more than 3 million workers in the private sector are hurt or become ill on the job.
B) Annually, more than 3 million workers in the public sector are hurt or become ill on the job.
C) Three out of every 100 workers are hurt or become ill on the job annually.
D) Both A and C, not B.

Question 28

The Occupational Safety and Health Act gives workers the right to a job:

A) With equal wages for similar kinds of work.
B) With wages that enable an employee to enjoy a decent standard of living.
C) That is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious injury.
D) That does not require them to lift, bend, or move items at any time on the job.

Question 29

Some studies have shown that the burden of complying with safety regulations falls hardest on:

A) The government.
B) Large businesses.
C) Small businesses.
D) The manufacturing sector only.

Question 30

Polygraph testing:

A) Is encouraged by the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988.
B) Is used by 85 percent of U.S. companies as a pre-employment screening procedure.
C) Has been replaced by written psychological tests.
D) Is used by 85 percent of U.S. companies to discover employee theft.

Question 31

The practice of adapting the job to the worker is called:

A) Social contracts.
B) Living wages.
C) Electronic monitoring.
D) Ergonomics.

Question 32

A reason for an increase in employee monitoring does not include:

A) To achieve greater efficiency at work.
B) To avoid lawsuits if employees act in inappropriate ways.
C) To make sure employees do not disclose confidential information.
D) To reduce the employer's health insurance premiums.

Question 33

States that have adopted right-to-work laws:

A) Barred companies from forming unions to represent their employees.
B) Prevented unions from requiring all workers they represent to pay fees or dues.
C) Required the formation of unions in all manufacturing organizations.
D) Took away the rights of workers in the public sector to form unions.

Question 34

Which of these statements accurately describe(s)the "gig" (or sharing)economy?

A) Many companies have become more cost-efficient.
B) Risk has shifted from the worker to the company.
C) In many cases, income has decreased.
D) Both A and C, but not B.

Question 35

Which of the following is true about random drug testing of employees?

A) It screens randomly-selected employees at various times through the year.
B) It randomly tests selected applicants before hiring, as a part of a physical examination.
C) It tests an employee believed to be impaired by drugs and unfit for work.
D) It regularly tests employees from randomly-selected job categories or job levels.

Question 36

Which of the following is true about romantic relationships in the workplace?

A) Most businesses have strict policies forbidding all romantic relationships in the workplace.
B) OSHA requires businesses to forbid workplace romantic relationships.
C) Many companies allow managers to become romantically involved with subordinates, so long as they do not supervise them directly.
D) Almost all businesses ban romantic relationships between employees in the different departments.

Question 37

Which of the following statements are not true about the right to a safe and healthy workplace?

A) Over recent years no new categories of accidents or illnesses have emerged.
B) Extensive training and careful precautions are necessary to avoid accidents, injuries, and illness.
C) Many jobs are potentially hazardous to workers' safety and health.
D) Some occupations, such as drilling and mining, are particularly dangerous.

Question 38

One important aspect of the new social contract is:

A) Fixed pension benefits have increased significantly.
B) Fixed pension benefits have remained a solid incentive for workers.
C) Fixed pension benefits have been eliminated in the U.S. by around 90 percent.
D) Defined contribution plans provide more returns and less risk.

Question 39

Since the mid-1950s the proportion of American workers represented by unions has:

A) Decreased.
B) Increased.
C) Remained about the same.
D) Grown only in the manufacturing sector.

Question 40

The leading cause of death on the job is due to:

A) Falls.
B) Vehicle accidents.
C) Contact with equipment.
D) Murder.

Question 41

When an employee believes their employer has done something that is wrong or harmful to the public,and he or she reports alleged organizational misconduct to the media,government,or high-level company officials,what has occurred?

A) Insider trading.
B) Hot-lining.
C) Whistle-blowing.
D) Snitching.

Question 42

Discuss the pros and cons of the new social contract from the viewpoint of an employer and employee.What duty does an employer have to provide job security to its workers?

Question 43

Income inequality has grown in the United States since the 1980s.In what ways do businesses contribute to this trend? What,if anything,can businesses do to reduce income inequality?

Question 44

Some people believe that the right of privacy should be extended to the workplace.Others feel that,on the contrary,that such an extension would constitute an unwarranted incursion into management's right to manage.Please comment on this debate,using examples from the text discussion of electronic monitoring,romance in the workplace,employee drug testing,and employee honesty testing.Are there particular circumstances under which it is,or is not,appropriate for employers to monitor employee behavior?

Question 45

Only after which of the following conditions is (are)met,should the whistle-blower go public?

A) The unreported act would do serious and considerable harm to the public.
B) The employee has tried and failed to resolve the issue internally.
C) Reporting the problem publicly probably will not resolve the issue.
D) Both A and B, but not C.

Question 46

Which law allows individuals who sue federal contractors for fraud to receive up to 30 percent of any amount recovered by the government?

A) False Standards Act.
B) Economic Priorities Act (as amended in 1999).
C) U.S. False Claims Act (as amended in 1986).
D) Fair Labor Standards Act.

Question 47

Provide an example where employee whistle-blowing is justified and an example where it is not.Provide support for each example.

Question 48

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act makes it illegal for employers to:

A) Sue federal contractors for fraud.
B) Retaliate against whistle-blowers who report information that could have an impact on the value of a company's shares.
C) Hire employees who have a prior record of accounting fraud.
D) Both B and C, but not A.

Question 49

As the use of electronic communication at work has risen,new ethical issues involving worker privacy have emerged.Should employers be allowed to read employee e-mail,inspect their Facebook pages or blogs,or access files located on a personal computer at work? Why or why not?

Question 50

Workers in the United States enjoy several important legal guarantees.Discuss three major worker rights.What are the U.S.laws and regulations that govern each? How do such policies compare with those of other countries?

Question 51

Discuss working conditions around the world.What challenges face multinational corporations? What approaches are companies using to establish fair labor standards? Are there circumstances under which some approaches might work better than others?

Question 52

The right to free speech is protected in the United States by the:

A) Constitution.
B) Patriot Act.
C) False Claims Act.
D) Fair Labor Standards Act.