Question 1

Profits earned above a certain level and distributed to all employees are ________.

Accepted Answer

The option that describes sharing profits earned above a certain level with all employees is profit-sharing plans. Gain-sharing plans typically only distribute profits to a certain group of employees who directly contribute to increasing productivity, while cafeteria plans are a type of employee benefits program that allows them to choose between different types of benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans. Wages are the regular payments made to employees for their work, usually on an hourly or salaried basis.

Question 2

Skills inventories are often maintained in a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

Skills inventories are typically maintained in an employee information system, which is a database that contains various information about employees, including their skills, qualifications, training, and experience. This information helps organizations identify the available talent within their workforce and make informed decisions about promotions, training, or transfers. Replacement charts, internal supply forecasts, and flowcharts are also useful tools for workforce planning, but they do not specifically focus on skills inventories.

Question 3

In cases of ________ harassment,sexual favors are requested in return for job-related benefits.

Accepted Answer

Quid pro quo harassment involves requesting sexual favors in exchange for job-related benefits such as a promotion, raise or job security. The other options listed are not related to this specific type of harassment.

Question 4

Employees hired to supplement a firm's permanent workforce are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Contingent workers are employees who are hired to supplement a firm's permanent workforce. They may be temporary, part-time, or contract workers who provide additional support during busy periods, help with special projects, or fill in for permanent employees who are on leave or vacation. This allows the firm to adjust its staffing levels quickly and efficiently in response to changing business needs, without incurring the costs and administrative burden of hiring and training full-time employees.

Question 5

The collective bargaining process begins when ________.

Accepted Answer

The collective bargaining process begins when the union is recognized as the official bargaining agent. This means that the organization or company recognizes the union as the entity that has the authority to negotiate and enter into a contract on behalf of its members. Without this recognition, collective bargaining cannot occur. Once the union is recognized, negotiations can occur, and the other steps can follow, such as identifying the bargaining zone, agreeing to contract terms, and ratifying the contract.

Question 6

Ace Products' profits for fiscal year 2005 have exceeded estimates by over 2 million dollars.Ace is distributing part of this excess to employees through a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

Profit-sharing plans are a type of employee benefit plan in which a portion of the company's profits is distributed to employees as a form of compensation. Therefore, Ace's distribution of excess profits to employees falls under this category. Gain-sharing plans are similar, but focus on distributing cost savings rather than profits. Cafeteria plans and insurance plans are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 7

Computer scientists,engineers,and physical scientists may all be examples of ________,employees who are of value because of the knowledge they possess.

Accepted Answer

Knowledge workers are employees who are valued for their knowledge and expertise in a particular field, such as computer science, engineering or physical science. Technical workers typically also possess knowledge and skills in a specific technical area, but knowledge workers are generally considered to have a higher level of expertise and are more strategic in their roles. Contingent workers are temporary or contract employees, while shop stewards are union representatives.

Question 8

The federal government agency in charge of promoting workplace safety is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the federal agency in charge of promoting workplace safety by setting and enforcing standards, providing training and education, and conducting inspections to ensure compliance with regulations. The other options listed are not specifically focused on workplace safety.

Question 9

When middle managers are rewarded for especially productive output,such as for producing earnings that significantly exceed the cost of bonuses,it is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Pay for performance specifically refers to rewarding employees, in this case middle managers, based on the productivity or results they generate. This could include exceeding earnings targets or other key performance indicators, and the rewards are typically tied to these specific outcomes. The other options (wages, merit salary system, gain-sharing plan) do not specifically refer to rewarding employees based on outcome-based performance.

Question 10

The legal concept of ________ holds that both employer and employee have the mutual right to terminate an employment relationship any time for any reason and without advance notice to the other.

Accepted Answer

The legal concept described here is employment at will, which means that either the employer or employee can end the employment relationship without notice and for any reason. A) Quid pro quo refers to an exchange of something for something else and is not related to employment termination. B) Affirmative action is a policy designed to promote equality of opportunity for historically marginalized groups and is also not related to employment termination. D) Mutual consent is a general term that could apply to many types of agreements and is not specific to employment termination.

Question 11

A ________ is a labor action in which employees temporarily walk off the job and refuse to work.

Accepted Answer

A strike is a labor action in which employees temporarily walk off the job and refuse to work, typically to protest unfair labor practices or to demand better wages or working conditions. A lockout is a similar action initiated by an employer, who prevents employees from working by closing the workplace or refusing to allow employees to enter the premises. A boycott is an organized effort by consumers to refuse to buy products or use services from a particular company or group, often in support of a social or political cause. Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party facilitates negotiations between two or more parties in a dispute, with the goal of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

Question 12

When a baseball player's contract contains clauses that pay him bonuses for making the All-Star Team,the incentive is referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

An incentive plan is a program designed to motivate and reward employees for achieving specific goals or performing at a certain level. In the case of the baseball player's contract, the clause offering bonuses for making the All-Star Team serves as an incentive plan.

Question 13

Enforcement of equal employment opportunity legislation is handled by ________.

Accepted Answer

Enforcement of equal employment opportunity legislation is handled by both the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The OFCCP is responsible for ensuring that federal contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in employment, while the EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Question 14

________ are temporary or permanent replacements for striking workers.

Accepted Answer

Strikebreakers are temporary or permanent replacements for striking workers. Union busters and union breakers refer to individuals or companies that seek to undermine or dismantle labor unions, while contingent workers are workers hired on a temporary or contractual basis.

Question 15

Which of the following statements regarding HR planning is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

HR planning involves identifying the future staffing needs of an organization, and selecting the best person for a job is a task related to recruitment and selection, which is a separate process from HR planning.

Question 16

At Ace Products,employees receive a fixed dollar amount for benefits,but they may choose between various health insurance,life insurance,disability insurance,and educational benefits through a(n)________ plan.

Accepted Answer

The given plan is a cafeteria benefits plan, which allows employees to select from a variety of benefit options. This plan provides employees with more flexibility and choice in selecting benefits that meet their individual needs. Gain-sharing and profit-sharing plans are compensation plans that provide variable pay based on company performance, and equal employment refers to the principle of nondiscrimination in employment practices.

Question 17

Which of the following company-wide incentive plans distribute bonuses to employees when a company's costs are reduced through greater work efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Gain-sharing plans distribute bonuses to employees when a company's costs are reduced through greater work efficiency.

Question 18

In cases of ________,a coworker or group of coworkers have actions or comments that make other employees feel uncomfortable.

Accepted Answer

Hostile work environment refers to a situation where a coworker or group of coworkers engage in actions or behaviors that make the work environment uncomfortable, intimidating or offensive to other employees. It can include things like bullying, harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate comments or conduct. Quid pro quo, affirmative action, and employment at will are unrelated to this context.

Question 19

Gretta is observing and interviewing several database administrators to determine the duties and responsibilities associated with their job as well as the knowledge,skills,and abilities that someone must have to perform the job.Gretta is performing the HR function of ________.

Accepted Answer

Gretta is performing a job analysis, which involves identifying and analyzing the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a particular job. This information is used to develop job descriptions, recruit and hire employees, and establish criteria for performance evaluation and training.

Question 20

Independent contractors,on-call workers,temporary employees,contract employees,and leased employees are all examples of ________.

Accepted Answer

These are all types of contingent workers, meaning they are employed on a temporary or flexible basis and not as full-time employees.

Quiz 10: Human Resource Management and Labor Relations