LR CH 2

If one believes the employment relationship is characterized by equal bargaining power in a self-regulating market, then the appropriate workplace governance should be: A. Human resource management B. Government regulation C. Collective bargaining D. Competitive markets

D

In the critical industrial relations school, the primary aim of labor unions should be to? A. Bargain better wages, hours and working conditions. B. Improve human resource management practices. C. Replace capitalism with socialism. D. Do nothing; there is no useful role for unions in the critical industrial relations school.

D

In the mainstream economics perspective, the role of the law is to: A. Protect worker income security (e.g., minimum wage, unemployment compensation). B. Protect employers from individual employee pressure. C. Prohibit abuses of labor by management. D. Protect individual freedoms that are necessary for competition (e.g., property rights).

D

In the mainstream school of thought, unions are: A. necessary to correct market imperfections. B. acceptable as a way to correct market imperfections. C. irrelevant in that they have little effect on the competitiveness of the market. D. monopolies that restrict market competition.

D

The Occupy movement is most closely aligned with which school of thought? A. Industrial relations school. B. Human resource management school. C. Mainstream economics school. D. Critical industrial relations school.

D

According to the critical industrial relations school, balancing power between labor and management is: A. Not possible within a capitalistic system because management domination is built into the very political, legal, and economic structure of society B. Not possible within a capitalistic system because workers far outnumber employers and will therefore always be at an advantage C. Possible within a capitalistic system with the proper structure of laws and regulations D. Inherently present within a capitalistic system due to the invisible hand of Adam Smith (i.e., free market competition)

A

According to the critical industrial relations school, wealth and capital in society are created through: A. Producer and consumer decisions to sell and purchase goods and services in a free market. B. Free will of individuals that make decisions about buying and selling goods and services. C. Powerful governments that control market prices and available supply of goods and services. D. Laws that govern market transactions and social norms that dictate what buyers and sellers are allowed to do in the exchange of goods and services.

A

According to the human resources school of thought, labor unions are: A. necessary to correct market imperfections. B. a sign of unhealthy HR practices and problematic because they promote adversarial management-labor relationships. C. irrelevant in that they have little effect on the competitiveness of the labor market and are ineffective in improving HR practices. D. monopolies that restrict market competition.

B

In a perfectly competitive labor market: A. Employees can never be paid below a subsistence level (i.e., they will always be able to make enough money to survive). B. No one can be made better off without making someone else worse off. C. Employers can never make so little profit that they go out of business. D. Both employer and workers will make enough money to survive.

B

In the mainstream economics school of thought, labor unions are: A. Necessary to facilitate movement of supply and demand to the optimal market wage. B. Monopolies that try to restrict the supply of labor and benefit only a few at the expense of others. C. Create unproductive conflict. D. Important tools for eliminating capitalism.

B

The British labor relations system of voluntarism provides little protection for unionization and instead relies on the relative economic strength of employees to push for their demands and employers to resist their demands. This system is most closely aligned with: A. Mainstream economic model. B. Human resource management model. C. Industrial relations model. D. Critical industrial relations model.

B

Unionized workers tend to have lower job satisfaction than nonunionized workers primarily because: A. They are dissatisfied with their union representation. B. They are working under harsher conditions and their workplace climate is less desirable. C. They are receiving fewer benefits such as workers compensation and unemployment insurance. D. They are more likely to be victims of discrimination than nonunionized workers.

B

Which of the four schools of thought believes that workers and employers have common interests that can be aligned for the benefit of all? A. Mainstream economics B. Human resource management C. Industrial relations D. Critical industrial relations

B

According to the human resource management school, equity will be achieved only: A. If employer actions are regulated by employment laws. B. When workers produce to their maximum capabilities. C. If employers become responsive to employee needs. D. When market supply and demand are in balance.

C

According to the human resources school of thought, the labor problem stems from: A. Market failures. B. An imbalance of bargaining power between employers and employees. C. Poor management. D. Class divisions.

C

According to the industrial relations school, the role of the government and legislation should be to: A. Ensure that labor markets are competitive. B. Stay out of labor markets completely. C. Ensure that labor and management's relative power is balanced. D. Regulate wages, hours and working conditions to ensure that they are fair to workers.

C

From a business perspective, the poor working conditions endured by workers in the early part of U.S. industrialization were most problematic because: A. Workers should have better lives than that. B. Workers were willing to put up with anything to keep a job, thus turnover rates were too low. C. Workers lacked purchasing power which kept product demand artificially low. D. The government threatened to impose minimum wage and working conditions laws.

C

If one believes that labor is not a commodity and labor markets are not always efficient, employee voice is important, and there is an inherent conflict of interest over who gets what share of the profits, they are most closely aligned with the: A. mainstream economics school of thought. B. human resources management school of thought. C. industrial relations school of thought. D. critical industrial relations school of thought.

C

In a perfectly competitive labor market, the best protection an employee has against exploitation by his or her employer is: A. Other employees B. The government C. Other employers D. Labor unions

C

Referring to management, the saying "You get the union you deserve" best fits: A. The industrial relations perspective B. The mainstream model of economics C. The human resources perspective D. The critical industrial relations perspective

C

Taken as a whole, U.S. labor law is most closely aligned with which one of the four schools of thought on the labor problem? A. Mainstream economics B. HR management C. Industrial relations D. Critical Industrial relations

C

The key distinguishing feature of the critical industrial relations school of thought is that: A. Workers cannot be treated as any other commodity to be bought and sold in a marketplace. B. Labor markets are essentially competitive markets that need a small amount of guidance from governments. C. There is an inherent conflict of interest between labor and management that extends to the very social order of society whereby some classes of individuals are better off than others. D. There is a unity of interests between employers and workers.

C

Viewed through the critical industrial relations lens, an employer's goal to be "an employer of choice" is designed primarily to: A. Provide better working conditions for its workers. B. Show compliance with current laws and regulations in the workplace. C. Prevent workers from exercising their independent, collective voice in the workplace. D. Turn workplace control over to the workers.

C

Which of the four schools of thought believes that workers and employers have multiple, competing interests that center primarily around the division of profits between them? A. Mainstream economics B. Human resource management C. Industrial relations D. Critical industrial relations

C

Workplace governance under the industrial relations model should include: A. Government intervention that establishes laws regarding good workplace practices B. Government intervention in the form of laws and rules that protect the rights of individuals to enter contracts C. Government intervention in the form of laws and rules that protect worker rights to bargain collectively and establish labor standards D. No government involvement

C

According to the critical industrial relations perspective, the answer to "the labor problem" is: A. New management methods B. Union representation C. Free market supply and demand D. Social unrest and agitation that will lead to worker control

D

According to the mainstream economics school of thought, employees exercise voice in the employment relationship by: A. Banding together to hold discussions with the employer. B. Hiring attorneys. C. Forming employee involvement groups. D. Exiting and entering into employment arrangements.

D

The saying, "the union makes us strong" best describes which school of thought: A. Industrial Relations B. Human Resource Management C. Mainstream economics D. Critical industrial relations

A

According to the mainstream economics school of thought, market competition results in wages equal to: A. workers' marginal productivity (i.e., the value of their work). B. product revenues. C. the value of a product. D. the price of a product.

A

Before the early 1900s, the prevailing opinion regarding the employment relationship was that: A. The government should never interfere with the ability of an individual to freely enter into an economic relationship with another individual B. The government should monitor economic relationships to ensure they were fair to both parties C. Individuals should only enter into an economic relationships if there were laws ensuring minimum standards of protection D. Employers should be allowed to unilaterally set terms and conditions of employment

A

News and other media portrayals of unions and union workers tend to: A. Reinforce stereotypes of unions made up of greedy and lazy workers that engage in frequent and violent strikes. B. Portray union workers as hard-working, self-sacrificing employees. C. Provide a balanced view of workers and the organizations they work for. D. Reinforce stereotypes of unions as champions of "the little guy," looking for social justice and workplace representation.

A

The basis for the drive system that characterized management in the early 1900s was the core belief that: A. Labor was like any other factor of production and should be driven to attain maximum production for the least cost. B. Labor was driven by its own desires and needs and therefore should have a voice in how it was managed. C. The drive to succeed was so high that workers would be willing to do anything to get ahead. D. Automation and replacement of human labor with machinery was paramount to organizational success.

A

The key distinguishing feature between the mainstream economics school and the institutional labor economics (or industrial relations) school is that the industrial relations school believes that labor markets: A. Are not perfectly efficient. B. Operate similar to other types of markets. C. Have too few suppliers of labor (workers) but many purchasers of labor (employers). D. Work only when there is a "working class" that is excluded from the "ownership class."

A

Which of the following best describes the pluralist view of conflict in the workplace? A. Almost every issue that arises in the workplace is characterized by conflict between the interests of employers and employees. B. The fact that there are multiple parties to the employment relationship doesn't mean that there are also competing interests between them. C. Not all workplace issues can be thought of and resolved through a focus on shared interests between employers and employees. D. No government involvement. Very few issues that arise in the workplace are characterized by conflict between interests of employers and employees.

A

Which of the four schools of thought is the only one that conforms to the belief that workers and employers are equals in the labor market? A. Mainstream economics B. Human resource management C. Industrial relations D. Critical industrial relations

A

Which of the four schools of thought views work as "unpleasant" and lacking in rewards other than making enough money to purchase the goods and services one desires? A. Mainstream economics. B. Human resource management. C. Industrial relations. D. Critical industrial relations.

A

Workers are not commodities, employee voice is important, there is an inherent conflict of interest between management and employees over economic issues describes the assumptions of: A. The industrial relations perspective. B. The mainstream model of economics. C. The human resources perspective. D. The critical industrial relations perspective.

A

According to the human resources school of thought, the solution to the labor problem is better management that emphasizes: A. unions as a mechanism for employees to express their voice B. alignment of the interests of workers and their employers C. scientific management principles that improve efficiency

B

According to the industrial relations school, the best method to increase bargaining power of workers in their relationships with management is to: A. Regulate markets to ensure that they are competitive B. Support the formation of individual labor unions and collective bargaining C. Support the formation of employer and worker cooperatives D. Prosecute and fine employers who mistreat workers

B

According to the mainstream economics view, unions are: A. Tools of management that are used to suppress workers. B. Monopolies that interfere with economic efficiency. C. A symptom of poor management. D. Effective at balancing the power between management and labor.

B

The Human Resource Management school of thought believes that workplace governance: A. Should include tripartite system of employer, government, and employees finding workplace solutions. B. Should be the sole purview of management which retains unilateral control over the workplace. C. Should be the result of bilateral negotiations with a representative of the employees. D. Will be largely dictated by the laws of supply and demand in the labor market.

B

The conditions associated with the "labor problem" were made possible in part due to a prevailing management attitude that labor was: A. A valued resource that should be carefully managed. B. An interchangeable and expendable factor of production. C. Fully capable of speaking out for itself. D. Protected by existing labor laws.

B

The industrial relations school of thought rests on the assumption that labor market outcomes are determined by: A. The laws of supply and demand. B. The relative bargaining strength of parties to the employment relationship. C. Government intervention and determination of outcomes. D. Worker protests and militant actions.

B

Which of the following is not true with respect to the impact of unions on terms and conditions of employment? A. Unionized workers earn more, on average, than nonunionized workers B. Unionized workers are more satisfied, on average, than nonunionized workers C. Unionized workers are more likely to have health benefits than nonunionized workers D. Unionized workers are less likely to be denied unemployment and workers' compensation

B

Aside from their role in workplace governance, unions are important to the effective functioning of a democratic society because they: A. Increase the competitiveness of labor markets. B. Create additional employment for people who do not want to work for corporations. C. Provide a counter to excessive political power of employers and employer associations. D. Take on some of the roles and responsibilities of government.

C

In the 1920's many employers who followed the human resources school of thought believed that nonunion representation plans were: A. unnecessary if management was exercising good human resources B. a threat to management's decision-making authority C. helpful in promoting mutual respect, cooperation and loyalty D. vital to protecting worker rights and interests

C

In the mainstream economic perspective, the role of the government is to: A. Pass laws that protect worker rights and income. B. Pass laws that protect employer interests. C. Pass laws that promote competition. D. Pass laws that promote good management policies.

C

Labor unions are considered the quintessential form of independent employee representation because: A. They are most likely to take management's perspective into consideration. B. They are partly influenced and operated by management. C. They are independent of managerial authority. D. They are independent of both employer and employee influence.

C

The shock effect refers to the tendency for A. nonunion members to join unions because of the extreme wage differential B. nonunion firms to become unionized C. managers in unionized firms to become better managers in response to unionization D. managers in nonunion firms to become better managers so they can avoid unionization

C

Which of the following is not typically considered characteristic of the "labor problem" in the early 1900s: A. Long work hours of 72 hours per week and more. B. Unsafe and unsanitary working conditions. C. Job insecurity and the constant fear of unemployment. D. The high cost of health care and health insurance.

D

Which of the following methods to establish workplace governance is suggested by the critical industrial relations perspective? A. Human resource management with voice (i.e., employee participation). B. Labor unions. C. Laws of supply and demand. D. Worker control of organization.

D

Which of the following statements is most accurate? A. Unionization almost always results in improvements to workplace productivity B. Unionization almost never results in improvements to workplace productivity C. Unionization generally has no effect on workplace productivity D. The effects of unionization on productivity are mixed; sometimes it results in an increase and sometimes it results in a decrease

D

Workplace governance under the mainstream economics model should include: A. Government intervention that establishes laws regarding good workplace practices. B. Government intervention in the form of laws and rules that protect the rights of individuals to enter contracts. C. Government intervention in the form of laws and rules that protect worker rights to bargain collectively and establish labor standards. D. No government involvement.

D