Chapter 11 Critical Issues in Human Resources Management

Core Business Strategies

the highest-priority activities required to address an organization's mission

Authorization Card (union)

a card signed by prospective union members specifying their interest in having a designated union represent them

Escape Clause

a contract provision that permits one party to terminate the agreement when one or more specified events occur

Request for Proposal (RFP)

a document that requests price quotas for and suggestions and other info about the provision of products and/or services from vendors considered eligable to supply them

Open Shop

a labor agreement provision in which employees are not required to join the union and do not need to pay dues and fees if they are not union members

Agency Shop

a labor agreement provision requiring employees to pay union dues and fees even if they do not join the union

Boycott

a legal labor action in which employees refuse to purchase the products or services of a specific employer

Work Slowdown

a legal labor action in which employees work at a slower-than-normal pace

Picketing

a legal labor action in which union employees promote grievances at the entrance to the employer's property

Mediation

a nonbinding, structured process in which a third party assists management and union negotiators to reach an agreement. Advice, not a final, mandated decision, results

Dues Check-Off

a process by which employers withhold union dues from the paychecks of union members

Grievance Process

a process explained in union contracts and designed to resolve employee complaints

Right-to-Work Law

a state law that prhibits a requirement that employees join a union

Union Steward

a union member elected by other union members to represent unionized employees within a work unit

Labor Contract

a written agreement, covering a specific time period, that explains management's expectations for employees and limits to management's authority; aka collective bargaining agreement

Compulsory Arbitration

an action in which an arbitrator is appointed by the government to make a binding decision for the parties negotiating the contract

Voluntary Arbitration

an action in which both parties submit a dispute to an external, disinterested third party for binding or nonbinding resolution after the presentation of evidence and related discussion

Grievance

an allegation that a work requirement or management action violates the union contract

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

an arrangement in which future wage increases are tied to the consumer price index that reflects changes in consumer purchasing power

Union (employee)

an organization comprising employees who act together to promote and protect their mutual interests through collective bargaining

Mandatory Items (collective bargaining)

concerns over which labor and management must negotiate if either party wants to do so

Permissible Items (collective bargaining)

concerns that may be negotiated if both parties agree to do so

Seniority

employee status based on length of employment with an organization

Stakeholders

groups, individuals, and organizations that are directly affected by an organization

Corporate (social) Responsibility

relates to an organization's efforts to address its commitments to its constituencies including guests, employees, other businesses including suppliers and investors, and society and the community at large

Concession (collective bargaining)

the act of conceding (yielding) something as a labor contract is negotiated

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

the number of an organization's employees if all employees worked full time. Calculated as the total labor hours utilized divided by the average number of labor hours in a workweek

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

the organiztion that conducts union representation elections

Outplacement Assistance

the process of helping employees secure new employement

Collective Bargaining

the process of negotiating and administering writeen agreements between union and management officials

Diversity

the range of human characteristics and dimensions that impact employee's' values, opportunies, and perceptions of themselves and others at work

Attrition

the reduction in an organization's workforce because of voluntary or involuntary employee separation

Downsizing

the reduction of staff or labor hours to create greater operating efficiencies

Union Shop

the requirement that nonunion workers must just and pay dues to the union

Offshoring

the transfer of jobs from an organization in one country to an organization in another country

Outsourcing

the transfer of responsibility to perform services that have been (or could be) undertaken by the organization;s employees to an external service provider

Voluntary Recognition (union)

this occurs when a an employer agrees that signed authorization cards have been received from a majority of employees

Mandatory Recognition (union)

union recognition that occurs after the NLRB conducts a secret ballot election and confirms a majority of employees want to be represented by the union