Employee and Labor Relations

Question 1

Who are the members of a works council

Answer 1

Representatives of workers and management

Question 2

The ownership of innovation by an individual or business enterprise

Answer 2

Intellectual property (IP)

Question 3

A broad statement that reflects an organization’s philosophy, objectives, or standards concerning a particular set of management or employee activities.

Answer 3

A policy

Question 4

General steps of the Grievance Process

Answer 4

Immediate supervisor; Next level; Higher-level management; Third-party determination

Question 5

The process by which management and union representatives negotiate the employment conditions for a particular bargaining unit.

Answer 5

Collective bargaining

Question 6

A method of nonbinding dispute resolution involving a third party who tries to help the disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable decision.

Answer 6

Mediation (also known as conciliation)

Question 7

A negotiated procedure in which labor and management agree to submit disputes to an impartial third party and abide by the arbitrator’s decision.

Answer 7

Arbitration

Question 8

Three generic labor strategies

Answer 8

acceptance, avoidance, and adaptation.

Question 9

a group of workers who coordinate their activities to achieve common goals (e.g., better wages, hours, or working conditions; job security; training) in their relationship with an employer or group of employers

Answer 9

A labor union or trade union

Question 10

Types of Unions

Answer 10

Single enterprises; Specific trades or crafts; A national union; An industry union

Question 11

Permanent bodies composed of workforce members that represent employees, generally on a local or organizational level.

Answer 11

Works councils

Question 12

A form of corporate governance that requires a two-tiered corporate board structure—a typical management board and a supervisory board—that allows management and employees to participate in strategic decision making.

Answer 12

Codetermination

Question 13

three models of codetermination

Answer 13

Dual system; Single-tier system; Mixed system

Question 14

Works Councils Structures

Answer 14

Both management and worker representatives; Only worker representatives who are overseen by a member of management; Only worker representatives with no management oversight

Question 15

a collaboration of governments, employers, and unions which is the norm in many countries

Answer 15

Tripartism

Question 16

Positioning of employees at the place of work targeted for the action for the purpose of protest. This can be used for similar purposes as strikes, but there is no work stoppage.

Answer 16

Picketing

Question 17

Which action includes various forms of collective employee actions (or “concerted activities,” in U.S. parlance) taken to protest work conditions or employer actions.

Answer 17

industrial actions

Question 18

A violation of employee rights as defined in a country’s labor statutes. In general, these rights relate to the core principles of the ILO on the right to organize and bargain collectively.

Answer 18

unfair labor practice (ULP)

Question 19

The first stage of dispute resolution

Answer 19

an informal meeting of the employee or employees with their immediate manager

Question 20

Third-party resolution uses an intermediary to create solutions and dispel conflict.

Answer 20

alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Question 21

Permits an employee to select an arbitrator from a group of individuals. This allows employees to feel some control over their futures.

Answer 21

Chosen officer

Question 22

Identifies a specific individual chosen by senior management to conduct investigations and dispute resolution. The credibility of this individual may depend on the credibility of management.

Answer 22

Single designated officer

Question 23

Establishes a panel of employees (or employees and managers) trained to work together to hear and resolve employee complaints. The panel may be led by an HR professional. It may not change organization policy but sometimes may recommend changes to policy. It is sometimes limited to suspensions and discharges.

Answer 23

Peer review

Question 24

Designates a neutral third party (from either inside or outside the organization) to investigate employee complaints confidentially and help mediate disputes. The person may draw an opinion and may bring the dispute before management but is usually not empowered to settle grievances. The person may advance unresolved disputes to other forms of ADR.

Answer 24

ombudsperson

Question 25

A form of corrective action that implements increasingly severe penalties.

Answer 25

Constructive discipline (also called progressive discipline)

Question 26

typical sequence of constructive disciplinary actions

Answer 26

Verbal counseling, problem-solving, and open dialogue; First formal warning; Second formal warning; (probation, employee’s signature); Final formal warning (time-off, sign a form acknowledging); Discharge or termination

Question 27

Which is the primary reason why work councils are prohibited in the United States?

Answer 27

company-dominated unions is prohibited