Deck 11: Human Resources Management

Question 1

In contrast to commissions,bonus is a form of compensation that pays employees in sales positions based on the level of sales they make within a given time frame.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: Bonus is a cash payment, in addition to regular wage or salary, that serves as a reward for achievement.

Question 2

Creation of a sexist environment in which employees are made to feel uncomfortable by lewd jokes,remarks,or gestures is a form of sexual harassment.

Answer 2

True
Explanation: Creation of a sexist environment in which employees are made to feel uncomfortable by lewd jokes, remarks, or gestures is a form of sexual harassment.

Question 3

Workforce analytics are a computer-based statistical approach to analyzing and planning for workforce needs.

Answer 3

True
Explanation: Many companies now rely on workforce analytics to align business needs and employee skillsets.

Question 4

According to a recent survey of the companies that make up the S&P 500 stock market index,CEOs are paid roughly 20 times more than average workers are paid.

Question 5

Wage employees are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Question 6

Sexism refers to discrimination on the basis of gender.

Question 7

Flextime allows two employees to share a single full-time job and split the salary and benefits.

Question 8

Headhunters refer to outside agencies that specialize in finding and placing employees.

Question 9

Layoffs involve terminating employees because of poor performance or other disciplinary reasons.

Question 10

Work-life balance is the concept that employees need to juggle the competing demands of their professional and personal lives.

Question 11

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act outlaws mandatory retirement based on age alone.

Question 12

Salary is paid by the unit of time or by the unit of output.

Question 13

The ethnic composition of the United States has been on a long-term trend of decreasing diversity.

Question 14

Roughly,10 percent of U.S.workers can be categorized as contingent employees.

Question 15

Turnover rate refers to the percentage of the workforce that is hired every year.

Question 16

The term outplacement services refers to external professionals who help an organization in terminating employees.

Question 17

Effective orientation programs help employees become more productive in less time,help eliminate confusion and mistakes,and can significantly increase employee retention rates.

Question 18

Job description refers to a statement describing the kind of person who would be best for a given job.

Question 19

The 360-degree review can uncover weaknesses that employees and even their direct managers might not be aware of.

Question 20

An employee who works from home and uses electronic communications to stay in touch with colleagues is said to be telecommuting.

Question 21

A ________ identifies key employees who are considered critical to the company's ongoing operations and lists potential replacements.

A) replacement chart
B) job specification
C) Pareto chart
D) depth chart
E) job analysis

Question 22

Many companies now rely on a computer-based statistical approach called ________ to align the skillsets of employees with the needs of the business.

A) simulated human capital
B) workforce scalability
C) predictive workforce analytics
D) just-in-time recruitment
E) productions and operations management

Question 23

An overall environment that results from job and work conditions is called ________.

A) ergonomics
B) work-life balance
C) quality of work life
D) job enrichment
E) employee turnover

Question 24

The human resource department at Wagner Group,a financial services firm,identified a list of key executives who were critical to the functioning of the firm.The HR department then worked with these executives to identify potential middle-level managers who would go through a mentoring and leadership development program.These middle-level managers were to act as potential replacements if the firm lost any of its key executives.In this example,the Wagner Group uses which of the following strategies?

A) job specification
B) decentralization
C) 360-degree review
D) succession planning
E) vertical integration

Question 25

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)of 1993 requires employers with 50 or more workers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for childbirth,adoption,or the care of oneself,a child,a spouse,or a parent with serious illness.

Question 26

Aligning the workforce refers to ________.

A) making jobs more challenging and interesting by expanding the range of skills required
B) helping employees balance the competing demands of their personal and professional lives
C) improving overall work environment
D) training workers to perform multiple jobs
E) matching the right employees to the right jobs at the right time

Question 27

Megan is an HR representative at Canales Investment firm.The firm needs to recruit new sales representatives,as the firm plans to expand its business.Megan is asked to review the job responsibilities of the current sales representatives and list the key tasks and responsibilities associated with the position.She is also asked to create an optimal employee profile to fill the sales representative position.The task assigned to Megan can be classified under which of the following processes?

A) job analysis
B) job enrichment
C) forced ranking
D) onboarding
E) job expansion

Question 28

________ refers to the percentage of the workforce that leaves every year.

A) Cyclical unemployment
B) Attrition rate
C) Employee alignment
D) Employee retention
E) Employee turnover

Question 29

Pay for performance requires employees to accept a lower base pay but rewards them with bonuses,commissions,or stock options if they reach agreed-upon goals.

Question 30

A 401(k)plan refers to a defined-benefit plan in which companies specify how much they will pay employees upon retirement.

Question 31

Linda W.Taylor is the recruitment manager at Creative Solutions,a brand management firm.The creative director of the firm recently quits,and Linda needs to find a replacement for the position.She conducts a job analysis to identify the nature and demands associated with the position of the creative director,as well as the skills required to fill the position.Based on this research,she creates a summary stating the tasks the creative director is responsible for,the working hours,and the working conditions.Linda posts this document in key job portals to inform potential applicants what to expect from the job.This document is an example of a ________.

A) statement-of-purpose
B) business proposal
C) contract of employment
D) job description
E) code of ethics

Question 32

________ is the process of gathering information about the demands,responsibilities and worker requirements of each position in the organization.

A) Employee orientation
B) Performance monitoring
C) Compensation analysis
D) Competency analysis
E) Job analysis

Question 33

________ refers to a statement of the tasks involved in a given job and the conditions under which the holder of a job will work.

A) Job specification
B) Job description
C) Succession planning
D) Job analysis
E) Job enrichment

Question 34

Gain sharing ties rewards to an employee's knowledge and abilities rather than to his or her job per se.

Question 35

________ refers to a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can result from constant exposure to stress over a long period of time.

A) Worker buyout
B) Discrimination
C) Employee burnout
D) Work-life balance
E) Ergonomic stress

Question 36

M&Z Information Systems,a software development company,has built a day care center in the office premises to help working women take care of their children.The company also has flexible working hours and work-from-home policies that enable employees to better manage both their personal and professional tasks.In this example,the company's efforts are aimed at ________.

A) aligning the workforce
B) improving motivation through job enrichment
C) succession planning
D) improving employee's work-life balance
E) cross-training employees

Question 37

Due to understaffing in his department,Matthew has been working 60-hour weeks for the last few months.As a result,he is both physically and emotionally exhausted.Matthew is experiencing ________.

A) employee burnout
B) worker buyout
C) discrimination
D) work-life balance
E) ergonomic stress

Question 38

________ refers to a statement describing the kind of person who would be best for a given job - including the skills,education,and previous experience that the job requires.

A) Job specification
B) Job enrichment
C) Succession planning
D) Job analysis
E) Job description

Question 39

The term ________ represents workforce planning efforts that identify possible replacements for specific employees,usually senior executives.

A) job retrenchment
B) employee retention
C) 360-degree prognostication
D) succession planning
E) passing the torch

Question 40

Legislators enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010,featuring a variety of changes designed to improve access to health care.

Question 41

Pearl Architectural Design,an architecture firm in Vermont,hired several junior-level architects on a temporary basis to fill the workforce requirement for a specific project.In this example,Pearl Architectural Design uses ________ employees.

A) unskilled
B) contingent
C) full-time
D) permanent
E) existing

Question 42

Which of the following statements is TRUE about terminating employees?

A) Employers have legal rights to fire employees for whistle-blowing.
B) The Age Discrimination in Employment Act requires dismissal of an employee who reaches a certain age.
C) Worker buyouts are usually undertaken to stop employees from voluntarily departing.
D) Rightsizing usually involves downsizing the workforce.
E) Layoffs refer to firing employees because of violation of company policies.

Question 43

WNIC,a publishing firm,allows its employees to choose their own work hours as long as they work for 8 hours every day.This is an example of ________.

A) job sharing
B) succession planning
C) telecommuting
D) flextime
E) diversity initiatives

Question 44

IBM established executive-led task forces to represent women,Asian Americans,African Americans,Hispanic Americans,Native Americans,people with disabilities,and individuals who are gay,lesbian,bisexual,and transgender.This is an example of ________.

A) diversity initiatives
B) horizontal integration
C) ethnocentric policies
D) decentralization
E) deregulation

Question 45

The process of attracting appropriate applicants for an organization's jobs is known as ________.

A) de-layering
B) recruiting
C) positioning
D) downsizing
E) onboarding

Question 46

Which of the following initiatives is most likely to be taken by a firm that aims to help employees with disabilities perform activities that might otherwise be difficult or impossible for them?

A) informally promoting glass ceiling
B) using job enrichment
C) investing in assistive technologies
D) using succession planning
E) promoting ethnocentrism

Question 47

The ________ is a metaphor for discriminatory practices that have prevented women and minorities from advancing to executive level jobs.

A) high hurtle
B) glass ceiling
C) transparent entryway
D) wall of denial
E) line of demarcation

Question 48

John did not promote Cynthia because he thought that a woman could not supervise male construction crews in his company.Given that Cynthia had the necessary experience and credentials,John may have been guilty of ________.

A) narcissism
B) collective bargaining
C) nepotism
D) sexism
E) ethnocentrism

Question 49

Irene has been working as the senior manager at Ashton Industries for the past four years.Though she has high performance levels,she finds it difficult to move to a top executive position because of subtle discrimination,such as lack of mentoring,limited access to informal networks of communication,and biased rating and testing systems.She is often assigned to projects where there is very limited scope for career growth.In this example,Irene faces ________.

A) nepotism
B) ethnocentrism
C) narcissism
D) affirmative action
E) the glass ceiling

Question 50

________ made it illegal for employers to practice sexism or discrimination on the basis of gender.

A) The Equal Pay Act of 1963
B) The Civil Rights Act of 1964
C) The Wagner Act
D) The Social Security Act
E) The Fair Labor Standards Act

Question 51

K.M.Retailers,an international consumer products retail chain,gives preference to women and minority owned suppliers and sub-contractors.The firm hires a large number of employees from ethnic minorities,and the human resource department keeps the interests of these groups in mind while framing company policies.In this example,K.M.Retailers uses which of the following strategies?

A) job enrichment
B) ethnocentric policies
C) decentralization
D) deregulation
E) diversity initiatives

Question 52

Employee retention programs ________.

A) aim to increase the turnover rate
B) list potential replacements for key positions in a firm
C) evaluate job requirements and create job specifications
D) aim to hire more contingent employees
E) ensure a steady supply of experienced employees for new opportunities

Question 53

Arc Techsystems Inc.,a global technology services and outsourcing company,was forced to lay off several employees due to a business slow-down.To help laid-off employees re-orientate to the job market,the company provided them résumé-writing courses,career counseling,office space,and secretarial help.In this example,Arc Techsystems Inc.provides which of the following services to the laid-off employees?

A) rightsizing
B) outplacement
C) coaching
D) affirmative action
E) diversity initiatives

Question 54

Michelle works as a nurse at Queens Diagnostic and Treatment Center,in New York.She wants to leave the hospital for two years to work with "Doctors Without Borders," a volunteer organization that provides urgent medical care to victims of war and disaster.The human resource manager at the hospital is reluctant to lose a good employee,and considers using alternative work arrangements to meet her needs.Which of the following initiatives is he most likely to take to address this particular situation?

A) decentralization
B) benchmarking
C) flexible career paths
D) job rotation
E) job enrichment

Question 55

________ is a euphemism used to suggest that an organization is making changes in the workforce to match its business needs more precisely.

A) Restructuring
B) Repositioning
C) Nearshoring
D) Work sharing
E) Rightsizing

Question 56

Quality of hire measures ________.

A) the amount of money spent in hiring and training new employees
B) the level of productivity of employees in the probationary period
C) how closely incoming employees meet the company's needs
D) the percentage of minority groups in a firm's workforce
E) the percentage of the workforce that leaves every year

Question 57

Harmony House,a software development firm,had recently hired a large number of software developers to work on several new projects.Colleen,the manager of the human resource department,wanted to assess the effectiveness of the recruitment team.She used a combination of criteria (including the percentage of qualifications met and subjective assessment by managers)to measure how closely newly-hired employees met the company's needs.Colleen is most likely to be using which of the following tools?

A) quality of hire
B) employee satisfaction
C) utilization percent
D) job enrichment
E) outplacement

Question 58

________ services,such as resume-writing courses,career counseling,and secretarial assistance are offered to laid-off employees by many companies.

A) Rightsizing
B) Termination
C) Coaching
D) Affirmative action
E) Outplacement

Question 59

Which of the following acts prohibits any form or testing that can be construed as a preemployment medical examination?

A) the Taft-Hartley Act
B) the Landrum-Griffin Act
C) the Wagner Act
D) Americans with Disabilities Act
E) Fair Labor Standards Act

Question 60

Janet teaches the first grade at Meadows Elementary on Monday,Wednesday and Friday.Jeff teaches the class on Tuesday and Thursday.They split the salary and benefits of the job on a pro-rata basis.In this example,the human resource team at Meadows Elementary uses which of the following alternative work arrangements?

A) job sharing
B) cross-training
C) flextime
D) performance monitoring
E) succession planning

Question 61

James C.Massey is the team-lead of a team of twelve associate consultants and two senior associate consultants at AMZ Inc.,a global management-consulting firm.James' performance appraisal requires a web-based feedback form to be filled by his manager,the members of his team,as well as several other team-leaders he has worked with.The HR department consolidates data obtained from these forms and provides James with detailed feedback regarding his performance during the past year.In this example,which of the following performance appraisal methods is used?

A) 360-degree review
B) behaviorally anchored rating scale
C) benchmarking
D) skills inventory
E) coaching

Question 62

Salary differs from wages in that the salary ________.

A) falls under the purview of the Fair Labor Standards Act
B) does not fall under the purview of the Fair Labor Standards Act
C) is based on a fixed amount per year
D) relates to exempt employees
E) is paid by the unit of time

Question 63

Melissa is a pharmaceutical sales representative and her compensation includes a percentage of her sales each quarter.This type of pay is called ________.

A) sliding-scale plan
B) cafeteria plan
C) knowledge-based pay
D) salary
E) commission

Question 64

Massay Manufacturers,a toy manufacturing company,provides free consultation with a professional dietitian who comes to the office premises every Friday.The HR department also encourages employees with low immunity to avail the gym facilities provided by the firm.Massay Manufacturers uses which of the following tools to tackle the high health-care costs?

A) sliding-scale plans
B) health insurance buying groups
C) wellness programs
D) health savings accounts
E) high-deductible insurance

Question 65

Which of the following statements is TRUE about administering employee compensation?

A) Fixed cash compensation for work, independent of the number of hours worked, is termed as wages.
B) Cash payment based on an employee's unit of output is called salary.
C) Labor-Management Relations Act sets specific guidelines that employers must follow when administering salaries and wages.
D) Compensation comprises of direct payments such as wages or salary, and excludes indirect payments through employee benefits.
E) Compensation is dictated by prevailing conditions in the job market and the value each employee brings to the organization.

Question 66

Employee benefits refer to ________.

A) pay tied to an employee's acquisition of knowledge or skills
B) tying rewards to profits or cost savings achieved by meeting specific goals
C) compensation other than wages, salaries, and incentive programs
D) employee compensation based on a percentage of sales made
E) a cash payment, in addition to regular wage or salary, that serves as a reward for achievement

Question 67

Which of the following is TRUE about the Wagner Act?

A) It prohibits employers from interfering in union activities.
B) It gives the president the authority to impose injunctions against strikes.
C) It gives individual employees the right to choose not to join a union.
D) It prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants.
E) It sets strict guidelines for child labor.

Question 68

A wage differs from salary in that the wage ________.

A) is based on a fixed amount per year
B) falls under the purview of the Fair Labor Standards Act
C) is paid by the unit of time
D) does not fall under the purview of the Fair Labor Standards Act
E) relates to nonexempt employees

Question 69

________ refers to pay tied to an employee's acquisition of skills.

A) Cafeteria plan
B) Knowledge-based pay
C) Sliding-scale plan
D) Gain sharing
E) Commission

Question 70

Kyle Creative Solutions,an advertising firm based in Lakeland,Florida,achieves cost-cutting goals through significant reduction in use of resources,better time-management,and increased productivity.The top managers of the firm decide to reward the employees of the firm,for their contribution towards the company's goals,by distributing a portion of the savings amongst the employees.In this example,Kyle Creative Solutions uses which of the following incentive programs?

A) commission
B) cafeteria plan
C) gain sharing
D) sliding-scale plans
E) wellness programs

Question 71

Which of the following is TRUE about the Landrum-Griffin Act?

A) It requires employers to fund programs that provide income for qualified unemployed persons.
B) It requires employers to let employees or their beneficiaries buy continued health insurance coverage after employment ends.
C) It establishes the right of employees to form, join, and assist unions and the right to strike.
D) It combats financial fraud within unions.
E) It governs the establishment and operation of private pension programs.

Question 72

________ refers to tying rewards to profits or cost savings achieved by meeting specific goals.

A) Gain sharing
B) Employee benefits
C) Wellness program
D) Sliding-scale plan
E) Cafeteria plan

Question 73

The ________ provides retirement,disability and medical coverage for employees and their dependents and is jointly funded by employers and employees.

A) Fair Labor Standards Act
B) Civil Rights Act
C) Employee Retirement Income Security Act
D) Social Security Act
E) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Question 74

________ refers to flexible benefit programs that let employees personalize their benefits packages.

A) Cafeteria plans
B) Gain sharing
C) Profit sharing
D) Commissions
E) Bonus

Question 75

________ refers to a multidimensional review in which a person is given feedback from subordinates,peers,superiors,and possibly outside stakeholders such as customers and business partners.

A) Skills inventory
B) Coaching
C) 360-degree review
D) Behaviorally anchored rating scale
E) Benchmarking

Question 76

A(n)________ identifies both the current skill levels of the company's workforce as well as those the company needs in order to succeed.

A) employee turnover analysis
B) replacement chart
C) EPM
D) skills inventory
E) 360-degree review

Question 77

With a(n)________,employers charge for health insurance based on salary,making insurance more affordable for lower-wage workers.

A) sliding-scale plan
B) wellness plan
C) employee stock-ownership plan
D) 401(k)
E) pension plan

Question 78

________ refers to an incentive program that rewards employees for meeting specific,individual goals.

A) Pay for performance
B) Knowledge-based pay
C) Salary
D) Competency-based pay
E) Commission

Question 79

________ refers to distributions of financial incentives to employees who voluntarily depart; usually undertaken in order to reduce the payroll.

A) Mandatory retirement
B) Affirmative action
C) Worker buyout
D) Decentralization
E) Outplacement

Question 80

Greytip Information Systems,a software development firm,tackles high health-care costs by encouraging employees to enroll in smoking-cessation classes,and teaches them relaxation techniques to help them to deal with stress.Greytip Information Systems is most likely to be using which of the following cost-cutting tools?

A) sliding-scale plans
B) health insurance buying groups
C) wellness programs
D) 401(k) plan
E) high-deductible insurance