Question 1

A golden handshake refers to the severance pay that is offered to a worker that is laid off when the firm downsizes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A golden handshake refers to the severance...

Question 2

The Golden Handshake is a popular method of firing or dismissing senior members of your workforce.

Accepted Answer

The Golden Handshake is actually a voluntary severance package offered to senior employees as an incentive for them to retire early. It is not a method of firing or dismissing employees.

Question 3

In recent years, many companies have avoided hiring permanent workers during periods of growth by using temporary employees and outsourcing some of their functions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many companies have relied on temporary employees and outsourcing to meet their needs during times of growth, as it allows them to avoid the long-term costs and commitments of hiring permanent workers.

Question 4

Most companies that have tried job sharing have concluded that the extra cost of hiring and training additional workers outweigh its benefits.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not universally true as some companies have found that the benefits of job sharing, such as increased employee satisfaction and productivity, outweigh the extra costs.

Question 5

Job sharing tends to increase absenteeism and tardiness, because part-time workers are not as dedicated and loyal as full-time workers.

Accepted Answer

This statement is a common misconception. Research has actually shown that job sharing can increase job satisfaction and reduce burnout, which can lead to lower rates of absenteeism and tardiness. Part-time workers can be just as committed and loyal as full-time workers, and may even bring unique skills and perspectives to the job.

Question 6

A disadvantage of job sharing is that it requires a firm to hire, train, motivate, and supervise more employees.

Accepted Answer

Job sharing involves splitting the responsibilities of one full-time job between two or more employees. As a result, a firm needs to hire and manage more employees for the same job. This requires additional resources for training, motivation, and supervision, which can be a disadvantage for the firm.

Question 7

Management is turning to a strategy of offering more lateral transfers due to the fact that many companies are operating under a flatter organization structure.

Accepted Answer

Many companies are adopting a flatter organizational structure, which means fewer levels of hierarchy and more emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. As a result, offering lateral transfers has become a popular strategy to provide career growth opportunities for employees while retaining their valuable skills and knowledge within the organization.

Question 8

The "employment at will" doctrine maintained that a firm could only fire a worker if it could demonstrate "just cause."

Accepted Answer

The "employment at will" doctrine maintained that a firm could fire a worker at any time, with or without cause.

Question 9

Transferring an experienced worker to a new position at the same level within an organization can be an effective way to motivate the worker to remain with the company.

Accepted Answer

Transferring an experienced worker to a new position at the same level within the organization can provide new challenges and opportunities for growth, which can, in turn, motivate the worker to remain with the company.

Question 10

Managers at a local bank are discussing the absentee problems they are experiencing at their west side location. Although the workers do a good job and serve customers well when they are on the job, they tend to report to work late at least two days each week, and often want to leave early. Job sharing might be a good staffing arrangement for the managers to consider.

Accepted Answer

Job sharing can help address absenteeism problems by providing flexibility for employees to share responsibilities and schedules, potentially increasing their motivation and job satisfaction.

Question 11

The benefit of a firm establishing "hoteling" is that it can reduce operating costs because it eliminates the need for office space, for employees that telecommute.

Accepted Answer

Hoteling allows employees to use office space as needed instead of having a permanent workstation, reducing the need for office space and lowering operating costs. This is particularly beneficial for employees who telecommute and do not need a dedicated workspace in the office.

Question 12

The doctrine of "employment at will" means that employees must be allowed to keep their jobs as long as they are willing and able to perform their required duties. Under this doctrine, employers can only fire or layoff an employee if the firm is in serious financial difficulty or the employee is grossly incompetent or has committed a felony.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The doctrine of "employment at will" means that an employer can terminate an employee for any reason or no reason at all, as long as it is not an illegal reason such as discrimination or retaliation.

Question 13

Marketing manager Sam Woodall has worked for Family Care Pharmaceuticals for 36 years. He fondly remembers the "good old days" when he could fire a worker for just about any reason. He feels that today's laws and regulations limiting his ability to fire workers undermines his authority and forces him to keep employees that don't measure up to his standards. Sam's views suggest he would favor working in a state that implements the policy of "employment at will."

Accepted Answer

The policy of "employment at will" allows employers to terminate employees without needing a specific reason, which aligns with Sam's belief that he should have more authority to fire workers for any reason.

Question 14

"Hot desking" means sharing a desk with another employee, while "hoteling" means reserving office space when you plan to be at the office.

Accepted Answer

"Hot desking" and "hoteling" have different meanings and the statement correctly defines them.

Question 15

The prevalence of flatter corporate structures in recent years has increased the number of workers that firms promote.

Accepted Answer

In a flat organization there are fewer levels of management and thus fewer positions available for promotions. Therefore, it is more common to transfer workers to new positions at the same level than it is to promote them to a higher level.

Question 16

Exit interviews by a third party can be an effective way for a firm to prevent future losses of valuable employees.

Accepted Answer

Exit interviews conducted by a third party can provide a level of anonymity and openness for departing employees, allowing them to give honest feedback without fear of retaliation. This information can be used by the company to improve its policies, procedures, and corporate culture in order to retain valuable employees in the future.

Question 17

Recent court cases include drug-addicted employees who claim their addiction is an illness, and therefore, they are protected from wrongful discharge under the American With Disabilities Act.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) does classify addiction as a disability and protects individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol from being discriminated against in the workplace. However, employers can take action against an employee who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on the job, or who cannot perform their job duties due to their addiction.

Question 18

Internal promotions (from within the company) are a cost effective way of filling positions within a firm because the employees filling the position are already familiar with the organization's culture and procedures.

Accepted Answer

Internal promotions save costs on recruiting and training new employees, and existing employees already have knowledge of the company culture and procedures.

Question 19

Central Communications, a company that provides land line, cell phone, Internet, and television services for residential customers experienced poor customer call care ratings with its overseas call center service. As a recent Introduction to Business student, you would suggest that Central implement home-based call agents. This will cost them a little more in office space and benefits, but it will certainly increase its customers' perception of their service.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Central Communications, a company that provides land...

Question 20

Melville Bank is about to implement a job sharing plan. The bank is likely to find that scheduling workers for peak periods will become easier as the result of this policy.

Accepted Answer

Job sharing allows for more flexibility in scheduling, which can help ensure that there are enough workers available during peak periods.

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