Question 1

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 sentence states that companies are utilizing home-based workers as call agents, which means they are using them as operators involved in making or receiving phone calls. The sentence specifically mentions that companies are moving away from maintaining in-house operators or offshore operators, indicating a need for call agents. Staff positions such as attorneys, multitaskers, or receptionists are not mentioned or implied as being shifted towards home-based workers.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A compressed workweek allows workers to work the full number of hours per week in fewer days, for example, four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. Flextime plan provides flexibility to workers in choosing their work hours, but it does not necessarily mean working more hours in fewer days. The maximum plan and double shift plan are not related to reducing work hours per week.

Question 3

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 Kore A.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 Reaching Beyond our Borders box,titled,"Working Worldwide",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 leisure or recreational activities, in Scott's compensation package when planning his international assignment. Soft benefits are typically not a priority when planning international compensation packages and are considered to be less essential compared to other compensation components like housing, health insurance, and currency conversions.

Question 4

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

This choice is the most significant disadvantage to home-based workers because social interaction is an important factor in building corporate culture and relationships between employees. Without face-to-face interaction, communication may be more difficult, and relationships between remote employees may not form as easily. This can decrease employee morale, increase turnover rates, and ultimately decrease productivity. However, choices A and D may not always apply, as home-based work can sometimes lead to cost savings and improved efficiency. Choice B is also not entirely accurate, as not all employees will be more likely to steal from the company.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The time when all employees must be present in a flextime plan is referred to as core time. This is the period during which all employees are expected to be present in the office and available for collaboration and meetings. Outside of core time, employees can schedule their workday in a way that best suits their productivity and personal commitments.

Question 6

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 the core time in a flextime plan. This is the time during which all employees are required to be on the job.

Question 7

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, which is known as home-based work. This allows her to choose her own hours and take care of her baby while still being employed. The fact that the retailer does not provide her with workspace also suggests that she is working from home. None of the other options - time-in work, job sharing, or compressed work - accurately describe Janelle's work arrangement.

Question 8

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 hours as long as they work the required number of hours. A cafeteria-style plan allows employees to choose from a variety of benefits or compensation options, varitime and Gantt scheduling are not related to flexible scheduling.

Question 9

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 10

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 share the same job position is known as job sharing, where two or more employees split a full-time position, typically working part-time hours.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

While home-based work and telecommuting can have many benefits, such as reducing commute times and increasing flexibility, the freedom and flexibility can create problems for some workers. For example, distractions at home can interrupt work, and some workers may struggle with setting boundaries between work and personal life. While there is potential for increased productivity, it is not a guaranteed outcome. Additionally, while telecommuting can save costs on office space and equipment, it may also require additional investment in technology and management systems. While the popularity of home-based work and telecommuting is increasing, it is still only a small percentage of workers who regularly work from home.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

In a job sharing arrangement, two part-time employees share the responsibilities of one full-time job. This allows them to split the workload and the hours between them, providing flexibility for both employees while still fulfilling the needs of the organization.

Question 13

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 10:00A.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

This is a flextime system because employees are allowed to choose their start time within a specific range and have flexibility in their schedule as long as they work a total of 8 hours per day.

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

Steve's flextime schedule means that he leaves work by 3:00 p.m., which may not overlap with the work hours of defense contractors on the west coast, who work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This can make it challenging to communicate efficiently with those contractors or conduct any necessary business during that time period.

Question 15

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 given fits the definition of a compressed workweek, where employees work longer hours for fewer days in a week. Option A, flextime system, refers to a schedule where employees have the freedom to choose their own working hours within a set range. Option C, job rotation system, involves employees rotating between different roles within a company. Option D, constrained workweek, is not a commonly used term and does not apply in this context.

Question 16

A major characteristic of a compressed workweek is that:

Accepted Answer

A compressed workweek involves dividing the total number of hours an employee works over fewer days each week while maintaining the same total number of hours worked. This means that employees work fewer days each week but work more hours each workday. They do not receive the same pay for fewer hours of work, nor is the pace of work increased. Additionally, hiring multiple part-time workers to fill one full-time position is not related to a compressed workweek.

Question 17

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 as fewer office spaces will be needed, broaden the available talent pool as the firm can hire remote workers regardless of their location, and improve job satisfaction as employees can enjoy the flexibility of working from home. This option also aligns with the trend of a more remote workforce in today's economy. Options A and C would not necessarily address the three goals mentioned in the question, and option B is not relevant to reducing office costs or broadening the talent pool.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

GHI Health Services would have the strongest incentive to adopt a job sharing plan because it would help to reduce absenteeism and tardiness. With job sharing, employees can work part-time and alternate shifts, making it easier for them to balance work with personal responsibilities and reducing the likelihood of unplanned absences.

Question 19

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 20

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...

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