Deck 16: Managing a Diverse Workforce

Question 1

In the United States,immigrants are more likely than non-immigrants to start their own business,having been responsible for 30 percent of small business growth.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A diversity council is a group of managers and employees responsible for developing and implementing specific action plans to meet an organization's diversity goals.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The term diversity refers to variation in the important human characteristics that distinguish people from one another.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Workforce diversity represents both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses.

Question 5

Sexual and racial harassment will happen,and there is little a business can do to eliminate the problem.

Question 6

Variation in the important human characteristics that distinguish people from one another is called:

A) Workforce variability.
B) Diversity.
C) Difference.
D) Affirmative action.

Question 7

The growing diversity in the U.S.workforce is due to:

A) Millennials entering the workforce.
B) Immigration from other countries.
C) Shifting patterns of work and retirement.
D) All of the above.

Question 8

According to the latest government data,in about 30 percent of all married couples with children,both parents worked at least part-time.

Question 9

Policies and practices that leverage a variety of perspectives,life experiences,and approaches that every individual brings to the workplace,are referred to as diversity.

Question 10

Which ethnic group,as defined by the U.S.Census,represents the fastest-growing segment of the labor force?

A) African-Americans.
B) Hispanics.
C) Asians.
D) Native Americans.

Question 11

The major agency charged with enforcing equal opportunity laws and executive orders in the United States is the Americans with Disabilities Council (ADC).

Question 12

Beginning on a major scale in the 1960s,U.S.presidents issued executive orders and Congress enacted laws intended to promote equal treatment of employees.

Question 13

According to Figure 16-5,the country with the highest percentage of women holding board member positions is the United States.

Question 14

Some women and persons of color have spoken out against affirmative action,preferring to achieve personal success without receiving preferential treatment.

Question 15

The proportion of working women that have told researchers they have been sexually harassed on the job is between 40 and 70 percent.

Question 16

Under the Family Medical Leave Act,companies that employ 50 or more people must grant unpaid,job-protected leaves for up to 12 weeks to employees with serious family needs,including the birth or adoption of a baby.

Question 17

A survey of hiring managers indicated that millennials were:

A) More technologically adept than their seniors.
B) Narcissistic and hard to retain.
C) Expected to stay in their jobs less than three years.
D) All of the above.

Question 18

Age,ethnicity,gender,mental or physical abilities,race,and sexual orientation are what dimensions of diversity?

A) Primary.
B) Secondary.
C) Tertiary.
D) Legal.

Question 19

Sexual harassment is limited to overt acts of individual coworkers or supervisors.

Question 20

The term pay gap refers to the inequitable concentration of a group,such as minorities or women,in a particular job category.

Question 21

Which of the following is not true about occupational segregation?

A) It concentrates women in traditionally female-dominated jobs.
B) The pay gap in American businesses persists, in part, because of it.
C) It means that women cannot get the jobs that could break the cycle of relatively low pay.
D) The large pay gap for Hispanic workers partly reflects their concentration in several high-paying occupations.

Question 22

As of 2013,which of the following accurately describe(s)the pay gap for full-time working women and minorities in the United States,as compared to white men?

A) On average, women and persons of color earn lower pay.
B) Overall, black men earn about 75 percent more pay.
C) The pay gap has decreased by about 5 percent for both Hispanic men and women.
D) Both A and C, but not B.

Question 23

How do effective diversity and inclusion programs typically impact a firm's reputation?

A) The reputation is damaged.
B) The reputation is not affected.
C) The number of discrimination lawsuits increases.
D) The number of discrimination lawsuits decreases.

Question 24

Which of the following is not a benefit of managing diversity and inclusion effectively?

A) These businesses get tax breaks from the federal government.
B) These businesses can often more effectively serve customers.
C) These businesses are better able to attract and retain workers from a variety of backgrounds.
D) Businesses with a diverse workforce boost innovation for the firm.

Question 25

Which of the following government rules on equal treatment of employees does not apply to businesses?

A) Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or age is prohibited in all employment practices.
B) Government contractors must have written positive affirmative action plans to overcome the past and present effects of discrimination in their work force.
C) Women and men must receive equal pay for performing equal work.
D) Affirmative action plans must be permanent.

Question 26

Which law eliminated certain time restrictions for filing pay discrimination lawsuits?

A) Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
B) Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
C) Equal Opportunity Employment Act of 1972.
D) Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Question 27

Which of the following is an argument against affirmative action?

A) It costs American businesses too much money.
B) There are no mechanisms in place to verify that it is actually taking place.
C) It is inconsistent with the principles of fairness and equality.
D) It violates individuals' basic human rights.

Question 28

According to a Forbes study,what percentage of executives agreed that diversity encourages innovation?

A) 10 percent.
B) 50 percent.
C) 68 percent.
D) 85 percent.

Question 29

Why does a diverse and inclusive workforce benefit a firm supporting a global market?

A) A variety of language skills serves the global customer base well.
B) Cultural insensitivity helps to retain customers.
C) Understanding differences across markets restricts innovation.
D) Both A and C, but not B.

Question 30

Companies can combat sexual and racial harassment-and protect themselves from expensive lawsuits-by:

A) Developing a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and communicate it clearly to employees.
B) Establishing a complaint procedure and act quickly to resolve any problems.
C) Bribing employees with money to avoid a lawsuit.
D) Both A and B, but not C.

Question 31

Which of these statements is (are)true regarding sexual harassment?

A) Most sexual harassment incidents target women.
B) Sexual harassment is illegal in the United States.
C) The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is empowered to sue on behalf of victims.
D) All of the above.

Question 32

Which of these statements is true regarding women in the United States workforce?

A) The percentage of working women declined slightly in 2013.
B) A lack of family-friendly business policies has made it difficult for working mothers.
C) The participation rates of women and men in the workforce have diverged.
D) Both A and B, but not C.

Question 33

Sexual harassment applies to:

A) Only men who are being harassed.
B) Only women who are being harassed.
C) Either men or women who are being harassed.
D) Only attractive employees who are being harassed.

Question 34

Executive Order 11246,established in 1965,mandates:

A) Affirmative action for all government employees.
B) Affirmative action for all federal contractors and subcontractors.
C) Equal pay for equal work for all federal contractors and subcontractors.
D) Family and medical leave for all federal employees for illness, or the birth of a child.

Question 35

Racial harassment is illegal under:

A) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
B) The Third Amendment to the Constitution.
C) The Equal Pay Act.
D) The Family Medical Leave Act.

Question 36

Among minority-owned firms in the mid-2010s,the most numerous were those owned by:

A) Asians.
B) African-Americans.
C) Hispanics.
D) Native Americans.

Question 37

The term "Glass walls" refers to:

A) Fewer opportunities for direct upward advancement.
B) Fewer opportunities to move sideways into jobs that lead to the top.
C) Reliance on word of mouth by recruiters for top positions - "the old boys' network" from which women are excluded.
D) A company's lack of commitment to diversity.

Question 38

Why does the inclusion of women on corporate boards improve company performance?

A) Alternative courses of action are more realistically considered.
B) Women bring different life experiences to discussions.
C) Women are more likely to raise multiple stakeholder concerns.
D) All of the above.

Question 39

Recently released workplace statistics for high tech companies reveal:

A) A majority of their workers are white or Asian.
B) Women are more likely to be in technical roles.
C) Pinterest is the only high tech company surveyed with a majority female workforce.
D) No high tech company surveyed had a female CEO or COO.

Question 40

Which of the following actions can a company take to effectively manage diversity and inclusion?

A) Do not actively recruit ethnic minority workers.
B) Set up a diversity council to monitor the company's goals.
C) Fire existing workers and replace them with ethnically diverse workers.
D) All of the above.

Question 41

Government regulations ban both sexual and racial harassment.Discuss both kinds of harassment and why they are a concern to employers.What can companies do to combat sexual and racial harassment?

Question 42

A company can increase diversity and inclusion in the workforce by:

A) Accommodating family needs outside of work.
B) Moving all operations overseas.
C) Hiring only foreign-born managers.
D) Showing foreign films weekly.

Question 43

Do you believe that support programs for work and family primarily benefit women employees,men employees,or both equally? Explain.

Question 44

Over time the workforce will continue to change.How do you see the face of the workforce in 20 years? In what ways will continued diversity create competitive advantages for companies? Discuss based on the material in the textbook.

Question 45

In 2015 only 5 percent of chief executive officers of the S&P 500 companies were women.What factor best explains this fact: women's education and job experience,discrimination against women by companies,preferences of women employees,different family roles and responsibilities between women and men,or something else? Why do you think so?

Question 46

What is the role of government in the area of equal employment opportunity? Discuss from a historical perspective.

Question 47

Which of the following is (are)true about child care assistance in the workplace?

A) It helps reduce employee absenteeism and tardiness.
B) It aids in recruiting workers by making the company more attractive to parents.
C) It helps retain talented employees.
D) All of the above.

Question 48

Who do you believe should be primarily responsible for the advancement of minorities in the workplace: the individual,the government,or businesses? Why?

Question 49

The current trend in the United States of firms' eliminating domestic partner benefits is largely due to:

A) The legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.
B) The costs became prohibitive.
C) State laws banned domestic partner insurance coverage.
D) Insurance companies refused to provide coverage.

Question 50

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),passed in 1993:

A) Companies that employ 100 or more people must grant unpaid, job protected leaves of up to 12 weeks to employees faced with serious family needs.
B) Companies that employ 50 or more people must grant unpaid, job protected leaves of up to 36 weeks to employees faced with serious family needs.
C) Companies that employ 50 or more people must grant unpaid, job protected leaves of up to 12 weeks to employees faced with serious family needs.
D) Companies that employ 50 or less people are required to do more for expectant and new parents.

Question 51

When a mother or father is granted time off when children are born or adopted and during the early months of a child's development,this is called:

A) The parent track.
B) Baby care.
C) Parental leave.
D) Family leave.

Question 52

Do you believe companies are ever justified in treating women or minority employees differently,with respect to wages,benefits,job assignments,or promotions? If not,why not? If so,under what conditions,and why?