Quiz 1 Flashcards
What is HRM?
- The management of people in organizations
- Activities an organization carries out to utilize its human capital and resources (employees) effectively to achieve organizational goals
- Involves recruitment, training, performance management
What is human capital and why is it important in today’s knowledge-based society?
- An individual’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics
- Can be enhanced through higher education or training
- Includes valuable and non-substitutable knowledge
- When employees leave their organization, organizations leave competitive advantage
What is organizational effectiveness?
- The degree of congruence between organizational goals and some observed outcome
- Enhanced by HRM; results in ⟶ lower turnover, improved profits and performance
What is the mutual gains perspective?
- Enhancing the relationship between management and employees results in better individual and organizational outcomes
- Emphasizing the investment that companies make on their employees by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)
- When employees perceive that they are valued by the companies, they will perform better and are happier
Define high performance work systems. How do HPWS affect organizational effectiveness?
- A set of management practices that attempt to create an environment within the organization where the employee has greater involvement and responsibility
- Improve organizational performance and lower turnover
5 components:
- Employee involvement
- Employment security (full-time job)
- Performance-based pay
- Training and development
- Teamwork
Explain the universalistic perspective.
- Some HR practices are always effective and should be adopted by all organizations
- This is called the high performance work system
Describe the impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on HRM in Canada.
- Provides fundamental rights and freedoms to every Canadian (except for illegal immigrants)
- All legislations must meet Charter standards unless practices can be demonstrably justified as reasonable limits in a “free and democratic society”
- For example, since the Charter grants everyone the Freedom of religion, you are allowed to practice your religion without interference from your employer
Define and give an example of intentional discrimination.
- Direct discrimination by deliberately refusing to hire, train, or promote an individual on any of the prohibited grounds
- Eg. refusing to give any female applicants an interview
Define and give an example of unintentional discrimination.
- Employment criteria that have the effect of discriminating but are not used with the intent to discriminate
- More difficult to detect and combat
- Eg. having minimum height and weight requirements which screen out Asians and women
What is Bona Fide Occupational Requirement (BFOR)? Provide at least 2 examples of BFOR.
- A justifiable reason for discrimination based on business necessity, such as the requirement for the safe and efficient operation of the organization
- Business necessity is objectively reasonable, which means that everyone can easily understand a legitimate qualification for doing a job
- Eg. hiring of actors of a particular sex or race for the purpose of authenticity OR a blind bus driver
What are the 3 elements of a test to define if a BFOR exists?
- Question of Rationale ⟶ was the policy or procedure that resulted in the discrimination based on a legitimate, work-related purpose?
- Question of Good Faith ⟶ did the decision makers or other agents of the organization honestly believe that the requirement was necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role?
- Question of Reasonable Necessity ⟶ was it impossible to accomodate those who have been discriminated against without imposing undue hardship on the employer?
Define sexual harassment.
- Uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical behaviour of a sexual nature, especially by a person in authority toward a subordinate
- The most common type of harassment
What are serious consequences of sexual harassment for victims?
Anxiety, sleep disorders, weight changes, low self-esteem, voluntary turnover, decreased job satisfaction
What are serious consequences of sexual harassment for harassers?
Referral for a counseling program, demotion, decrease in pay, termination, ruined reputation, financial damages (eg. fine)
Explain the purpose of the employment standards legislation.
- Provincial legislation that protects workers in Canada
- Tells employers how to treat employees fairly
- Include rules about minimum wage, maximum hours, and pregnancy leave
