Employee and Labor Relations

Question 1

What is the name of the institution that researches hazards, conducts employer training, and recommends standards?

Answer 1

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Question 2

While neither party is required to make concessions, this mandate requires both the union and employer to negotiate on matters within the scope of representation.

Answer 2

Bargaining in good faith

Question 3

An employee is hospitalized after a serious work-related accident; what must the employer do within 24 hours?

Answer 3

Notify OSHA

Question 4

Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard, employers must:

Answer 4

1. Establish a written exposure control plan.
2. Provide training to affected employees.
3. Make clean-up kits available.
4. Provide Hepatitis-B vaccines.

Question 5

Define “agency shop.”

Answer 5

Requires bargaining unit members to pay the equivalent of union dues and fees to the union, but does not require actual union membership.

Question 6

To increase employee satisfaction with the organization’s proposed new safety program, what action should the employer take?

Answer 6

Involve the workers in creating the plan.

Question 7

What limits does the Norris-LaGuardia Act impose on US courts?

Answer 7

Substantially limits the jurisdiction and authority of the courts to issue restraining orders and injunctions in cases involving labor disputes.

Question 8

After an employee is seriously injured on the job, what should the employer do next?

Answer 8

Conduct an accident investigation to determine causes and possible preventions.

Question 9

Describe the details of the “Gissel Doctrine” court decision.

Answer 9

The court gave approval for authorization cards as a substitute for an election when the employer’s actions amount to an unfair labor practice.

Question 10

Define “arbitration.”

Answer 10

A process in which the parties involved agree to submit an unresolved dispute to a neutral third party, whose decision is final and binding.

Question 11

A non-resident alien who is paid by a U.S.-based company, but works in a foreign country other than his or her home country is known as __________.

Answer 11

Third-country national

Question 12

Increasing the amount of an employee’s job duties is known as:

Answer 12

Job enlargement

Question 13

What is the purpose of an Org Chart?

Answer 13

Visually defines employees’ roles, functions, reporting relationships, and who has the decision-making responsibility.

Question 14

When employees know they are being studied and therefore perform differently, it is known as the _____________.

Answer 14

Hawthorne Effect

Question 15

One leadership theory is the “path-goal view,” which recognizes what 4 kinds of leadership behavior?

Answer 15

1. Directive leadership
2. Supportive leadership
3. Participative leadership
4. Achievement-oriented leadership

Question 16

Define “job enrichment.”

Answer 16

Adding tasks to a job to increase the job’s complexity, challenge, and responsibility.

Question 17

What is the most important task for the HR department during a reorganization?

Answer 17

To provide information, updates, and answers to employees.

Question 18

Comparing internal measures of productivity performance to similar measures in other organizations is known as _________.

Answer 18

Benchmarking

Question 19

A form of organizational structure in which there are clearly defined corporate levels with rigid top-down control.

Answer 19

Hierarchical or Pyramid

Question 20

In forecasting demand for employees, the most difficult problem is:

Answer 20

Aligning the need for personnel with the business plan.

Question 21

Employers commonly implement what rule as a holiday absence control practice?

Answer 21

Require employees to work the day before and after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay.

Question 22

What is required if the goal of top management is to create alignment and purpose between the disparate disciplines within an organization?

Answer 22

Clearly communicated corporate goals

Question 23

Per McGregor’s model, Theory X managers view people as lazy, not very bright, and irresponsible. Theory Y managers view people as ________.

Answer 23

Basically motivated, bright, responsible, and wanting control over their work and lives.

Question 24

Innovation cultures are most prized by organizations that compete in markets defined by:

Answer 24

Rapid change and advancement

Question 25

There are two major leader behaviors. One focuses on people and interpersonal relationships. What is the focus of the other?

Answer 25

Task accomplishment

Question 26

Define “attrition.”

Answer 26

Reducing the workforce of an organization by simply not replacing those employees who retire or quit.

Question 27

What is the essential requirement for the HR manager to obtain to ensure success of any new project?

Answer 27

Top management support

Question 28

What is the most common mistake associated with the use of employee attitude surveys?

Answer 28

Survey results are not responded to by management.

Question 29

When selecting instructional methods, what 3 points should be kept in mind?

Answer 29

1. Who is the audience?
2. What do they need to learn?
3. How are we going to deliver the information?

Question 30

When training sessions are held before or after regular work hours, trainees should receive overtime pay unless what 3 conditions apply?

Answer 30

1. Training is voluntary—employees do not have to attend to keep their jobs.
2. No productive work is involved.
3. Training will teach employees a new, different, or additional skill, but is not designed to make them more efficient at their present jobs.

Question 31

Time spent in training courses within the regular workday is considered time worked. True or false?

Answer 31

True

Question 32

The greatest cost factor for employee training is __________.

Answer 32

Trainee hours lost from production

Question 33

An on-the-job union representative who carries out the responsibilities of the union, in the plant, at the departmental level is known as a(n):

Answer 33

Shop steward

Question 34

Define “unfair labor practice (ULP).”

Answer 34

When employers or unions violate employees’ or each other’s LMRA-protected rights.

Question 35

Which act created a “Bill of Rights” for union members to combat wrongdoing and to limit control or union leadership?

Answer 35

Labor Management Reporting/Disclosure Act (also known as the Landrum-Griffin Act)

Question 36

A Supreme Court case in which the court ruled that the employer-created “action committees” comprised of both employees and managers that met to discuss working conditions, and were a violation of the NLRA is known as:

Answer 36

Electromation

Question 37

An unlawful boycott in which workers pressure an employer that is not directly involved in a dispute is called a _______ boycott.

Answer 37

Secondary

Question 38

When leaders are compelled to hold a performance management discussion with under-performing employees, what are the essential communication requirements for the leader?

Answer 38

Be clear, direct, factual, and concise.

Question 39

An individual appointed to impartially investigate internal complaints, report findings, and facilitate equitable settlements is a(n):

Answer 39

Ombudsman

Question 40

Define the “Right-to-Work” concept.

Answer 40

Prohibits agreements requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment.

Question 41

This is a method of satisfying legal arguments without going to court.

Answer 41

Alternative dispute resolution

Question 42

Basic steps in dealing with the issue of violence in the workplace is for an HR manager to establish:

Answer 42

A selection system that screens out potentially violent applicants, coupled with a zero-tolerance policy.

Question 43

How long must employee medical records be kept?

Answer 43

For the duration of the employee’s tenure with the company plus 30 years.

Question 44

_____________ is a field of study that evaluates and designs workplaces, environments, jobs, tasks, equipment, and processes in relation to human capabilities and interactions.

Answer 44

Ergonomics

Question 45

Which provision requires virtually all employers to provide employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards?

Answer 45

The General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970

Question 46

Define “teratogens.”

Answer 46

Chemical, physical, and biological agents that may cause infertility, impotence, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, congenital mental retardation, and other genetic diseases.

Question 47

What are the 4 requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard?

Answer 47

1. Written program
2. Label all hazardous chemicals
3. Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
4. Training for workers

Question 48

Define “Boulwarism.”

Answer 48

A collective bargaining approach in which management presents its entire proposal as its final offer, holding nothing back for further negotiations. This is illegal and is not good faith bargaining.

Question 49

Before setting up a security program or making changes in an existing one, the Safety Manager should perform a thorough ________.

Answer 49

Security audit to determine the program needs

Question 50

What must a union win in order to prevail during a representation election?

Answer 50

A simple majority of the votes cast in the election (50% + 1)

Question 51

Which act is a comprehensive federal law granting employees of private employers broad rights to form or join unions and to engage in collective activity?

Answer 51

National Labor Relations Act (also called the Wagner Act)

Question 52

A handy acronym for prohibited activity of supervisors involved in coercing employees with regard to union activities is TIPS. What does TIPS stand for?

Answer 52

Threats, Interrogation, Promises, Surveillance

Question 53

A non-binding dispute resolution technique in which parties discuss their disputes with a trained, impartial outsider who assists them in attempting to reach a mutually acceptable agreement is called:

Answer 53

Mediation

Question 54

Define “union shop.”

Answer 54

A workplace that requires employees to become union members (may be unlawful in Right-to-Work states)

Question 55

The process of removing a union as the certified representative of employees within a bargaining unit is called _________.

Answer 55

Decertification

Question 56

What percentage of bargaining unit employees have to sign authorization cards so that a petition for a representation election can be filed with the NRB?

Answer 56

30%