Topic 2 Flashcards
Define “employment at-will.”
an employer may terminate an employee at any time, allows the employee to leave a job at any time, and for any reason, without facing adverse legal consequences
consequences to employees of “employment at-will
may leave employees vulnerable and financially insecure
the three exceptions to “employment at-will
Public-policy exception
Implied-contract exception
Implied covenant-of-good-faith exception
Public-Policy exception.
an employee who refuses to break the law, exercises a legal right, fulfills a statutory duty, or engages in whistle-blowing activities
What is an implied contract?
a legally binding agreement, which is created not through formal contract negotiation and documentation, but by the actions of the employer and the employee
What are the various ways implied contracts are created?
if the employer gives oral assurances that the employee will have continued work for satisfactory job performance
Define the Covenant-of-Good-Faith exception.
holds that each party to the employment relationship makes an implied promise to treat the other in good faith and fairness
benefits of a diverse workforce
will align workplace diversity with the strategic goals of the organization; can bring a variety of viewpoints and perspectives to the organization.
diversity management
a strategy to help promote recognition and respect for individual differences found within the organization
the result of diversity management
will help each individual within the organization feel included
diversity
the similarities and differences between individuals, accounting for numerous aspects of personality and individual identity
inclusion
the extent to which each person in the organization feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued as a team member
What is the Civil Rights Act?
intended to prevent the practice of treating people differently based on their race
What is Title VII the Civil Rights Act?
makes it unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire any individual because of the individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
What groups are protected under Title VII?
race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
How was the EEOC created?
conduct formal enforcement litigation
What is the purpose of the EEOC?
enforces federal anti-discrimination statutes and provides oversight for all federal equal opportunity employment regulations.
gender discrimination
the unfavorable treatment of someone based on sex or gender
sex discrimination
involves treating someone, such as a job applicant or employee, unfavorably because of that person’s sex; treating someone less favorably in any aspect of employment such as hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, and so on.
gender identity discrimination
discrimination on the basis of someone’s being transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, agender, nonbinary, or genderfluid;
sexual harassment
directed at an employee because of his or her gender
What is the purpose of the Age Discrimination in employment Act (ADEA)?
to protect workers from 40 to 65. Applies to public and private employers, and to unions with more than 20 employees
religious discrimination
treating a person unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs
List one example of the religious discrimination.
Hassan recently applied for a computer programming position with a large software company in San Jose, California. While Hassan had more experience and programming skills than many of the other applicants, he was not selected for the job. A close friend who worked for the company later informed Hassan that he was not selected because of his Muslim beliefs.
How does the EEOC define “race”?
is a local geographic or global human population—a distinct group—that is evident by genetically transmitted characteristics. For example, American Indian and Pacific Islander are racial categories
How does the EEOC define “color”?
pigmentation, complexion, or skin shade or tone.
national origin employment discrimination.
occurs when an employer makes an adverse employment decision against an individual because the individual or his or her ancestor: 1) is from a certain country or place, 2) belongs to, or identifies with, a national, cultural, or ethnic group, or 3) associates with a person from that group.
What was the purpose of affirmative action?
is any action taken by an employer to overcome discriminatory effects of past or current practices or policies that create barriers to equal employment opportunity
protected categories covered under affirmative action
historically disadvantaged groups in employment. Such groups include women, African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, disabled persons, American Indian/Alaska Native, and veterans.
Who must have an affirmative action plan?
Federal Contractors
What are the three basic elements of an affirmative action plan?
“Reasonable self-analysis;
Reasonable rationale for taking affirmative action; and,
Reasonable affirmative action.”
affirmative action
When employers are urged to make up for historical discrimination, they are exercising _______________ .
implied contract
A company’s employee handbook with its description of policies and processes can be misconstrued as a(n) ____________.
diversity
As businesses become more global in nature, employing people with a variety of thinking styles, personalities, cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds is important. This workforce could be described as having _______________.
title vii of the civil rights act
The EEOC acts as the enforcement agency for ____________ that protects people from discrimination based on sex, religion, race, national origin and color.
closely held beliefs
Religious discrimination goes beyond considering only employees’ faith but also extends to protecting their __________.
employment at will
Employees may leave a company without giving a reason or notice under the ________________ doctrine.
public policy exception
When an employee has informed a governmental agency of the company’s wrongdoing, the employer cannot (for this reason only) let the employee go. This exception to a rule is called the _________________.
veterans
Women, Asians, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, people with disabilities and ________________ are covered under affirmative action.
inclusion
The Acme Widget Company strives to create an environment in which all employees feel they belong. The term for such a goal is __________________.
