Chapter 11 Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees

Overtime pay was established in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 for employees working over _ hours per week

40

What are some of the dos or conducting an effective appraisal and review

Allow sufficient time Include the employee in the process End the appraisal with positive suggestions

Place the three steps of training and development in order from first to last

Assess organization needs and employee skills for training gaps Design training activities to meet identified needs Evaluate the training's effectiveness

Which decisions are affected by performance appraisals

Compensation Training Promotion

List the steps in the performance appraisal process starting with the first step and proceeding to the last step

Establish performance standards Communicate the standards Evaluate performance to standard Discuss results with employee Take corrective action if needed Use results to make decision about pay or promotion

Which of the compensation system listed are likely to be effective in building cohesive teams

Gain-sharing Skill-based pay

Which pay system uses a tiered system of pay ranges based on know-how, problem solving, and accountability

Hay

Human resource management is critical to the success of the organization because:

It is an organization's people who have the creative ideas to keep it competitive Finding qualified employees has become more difficult

Most management training programs include several of the following

Job rotation On-the-job coaching

Rank the steps of the typical selection process starting with the first step and listing them in order to the last step

Obtain complete application forms Conduct initial and follow-up interviews Give employment tests Conduct background investigations Obtain results from physical exams Establish probationary periods

Understudy positions include titles like:

Undersecretary assistant

When previous performance is exceeded, a gain-sharing system provides:

a bonus

A controversial policy by the EEOC was _ action that is defined by increasing opportunities for minorities and women

affirmative

Performance appraisals are important to making good decision about:

compensation training promotion

Having more women and minorities at all levels of the organization lets businesses serve their increasingly female and minority _ better

customers

The need to hire, train, motivate, and supervise at least twice as many people is a(n) _ of job sharing

disadvantage

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits _ in hiring, firing, compensation or privileges of empowerment based on race, religion, creed, sex, or national origin

discrimination

Which of the following types of information can legally be obtained from a job application form

educational qualifications work experience

The continuing issue for human resource management under ADA is _

enforcement

A carefully managed compensation program provides employees with some sense of financial security through:

fringe benefits

The tasks in the selection process include:

gathering application information conducting interviews testing the applicants

Organizations can develop a diversified workforce whose managers include women and minorities by using:

networking mentoring

The training that is provided to new employees that initiates them into the organization's policies, practices, and objectives is called:

orientation

The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits employers from discriminating against _ individuals with disabilities

qualified

The American with Disabilities Acts of 1990 prohibits employers from discriminating against _ individuals with disabilities

qualified

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal for employers to discriminate based on:

race color religion

Employers must make _ accommodations for employees with disabilities under the ADA

reasonable

Fringe benefits that may provide incentives other than pay include:

recreation facilities country club memberships company cars

The set of activities for obtaining the right number of qualified people at the right time to fill the needs of the organization is:

recruitment

Employees promoted from within save costs for employers because they:

reduce recruiting costs know the company and are productive more quickly need less training

Human resource managers perform the vital functions of:

staffing an organization with employees able to meet organization goals ensuring that all of the HR functions comply with legal requirements

The _ addresses how all the functions of human resources management will meet the long-term needs of the organization

strategic plan

Lost training costs is a factor in _ employees

terminating

Increased flexibility in scheduling has become an important benefit for employers to offer because of:

the increase in single parent homes the increase in two-income families

Small business have difficulty recruiting qualified workers because:

their compensation may not be competitive

An advantage of hiring contingent workers is that:

they receive fewer benefits than permanent workers they reduce the cost

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 outlawed employment practices that discriminate against people over the age of:

40

When did the federal government pass legislation to regulate human resource decisions

Businesses did not exercise fair labor practices voluntarily

True or false: The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 affects businesses with 15 or more employees

False

True or false: The Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962 provided for unemployment benefits for unemployed workers

False

Which of the following tasks are part of a job analysis

Observing current employees on the job Discussing a job with managers

A human resource inventory should include which of the following types of information about employees

Specialized skills Demographics such as age and educational level Languages spoken

A job description specifies which of the following

The job's relation to other functions Objectives of the job Responsibilities and duties of the job

True or false: The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 limited management interference in the right of employees to have a collective bargaining agent

True

What three factors must be present in performance standards

Understandable Measurable Reasonable

The most controversial policy enforced by the EEOC was _ action, designed to right past wrongs

affirmative

The Older Workers Benefits Protection Act of 1990 protects older people from illegal _ discrimination

age

ERISA regulates and insures:

company retirement plans

Experts believe that determining how best to _ employees is today's greatest human resource management challenge because it affects the long term success of the company

compensate

An important factor in motivating employees to be productive is to have systems in place that:

compensate them fairly

Human resource managers must plan for future staffing needs so they:

constantly assess the labor supply

Managers see using _ workers as a way for weeding out poor workers and finding good hires

contingent

The period when all employees are expected to be at their job stations is called _ time

core

Employers must know and act in accordance with the legal rights of their employees or risk costly _

court cases

Internal sources for recruitment are less expensive than using outside sources and improves employee morale. They include:

department reorganizations promotions retained employees

The primary purpose of the appraisal is to improve employee performance by:

determining whether the employee is meeting job standards

The two main drawbacks of skilled-based pay are:

it is difficult to relate acquisition of skills to profits the pay system is complex

Employment test required of applicants should always be directly related to the _

job

A study of what employees do who hold various job titles is a(n) _

job analysis

Observing current employees doing a job, discussing the job with managers, and keeping activity diaries are part of the process of:

job analysis

The purpose of _ is to give managers a variety of assignments to develop a broad picture of the organization as a whole

job rotation

The training where employees can learn skills before attempting them on the job using equipment that duplicates job conditions is:

job simulation

Employees working 1 to 34 hours are considered _ or contingent workers

part-time

The human resources management function that provides information for decisions about training, promotion, and compensation is:

performance appraisal

A wage based on the number of items produces is a(n) _ system

piecework

Managers often need training in special skills such as time management, _ and human relations skills

planning

Human resource management is the _ of determining human resource needs that will achieve organizational goals

process

Three principles companies must understand in developing a more diverse management group are:

the need to do it early to attract and retain them bringing a more diverse group to management will increase long-term profitability that they will serve their increasingly diverse customers better

_ job transfers allow employees to develop and display new skills and learn more about the company overall instead of moving to a new firm

lateral

Flatter organizations today often reassign an employee to a new job at the same level, which is known as a(n):

lateral transfer

Changes in the _ are one factor created by government that has affected traditional human resources management practices

law

The primary reason employers have become more thorough in doing background checks is:

that employee turnover and replacement has become too costly

At the end of the selection process, a(n) _ period can make it easier to dismiss a new employee if necessary

trial

_ training is done in classrooms on equipment similar to that used on the job to teach employees proper methods and safety procedures before assuming a specific job

vestibule

Human resources staff must regularly assess the organization's strategic plans and the organization's human resources inventory to:

assure that enough trained workers are available to achieve organization goals

Investigating an applicant's work record, school record, and credit rating are often part of doing a(n) _

background investigation

In skill-based pay, _ pay is raised when new skills are learned and applied

base

Companies that use flextime say that an advantage is that it:

boosts productivity

Fringe benefits plans that allow employees to choose the benefits they want up to a certain dollar amount is a(n) _-_ program

cafeteria style

According to the American with Disabilities Act, medical tests:

cannot be given just to screen out individuals with disabilities

The roles and responsibilities of HRM professionals have evolved primarily because:

changes in the law have written traditional practices organizations recognize that employees are their ultimate resource

Companies offer soft benefits because they understand that:

employees value work-life balance employees will spend more time at work employees need time with their families

The changes in the U.S. workforce that create challenges for human resource managers include:

employees who want leisure time increased concert over health care benefits more single-parent homes

Equal _ laws limit the kinds of questions that can appear on employment applications so that people's rights are not violated

employment

Most states now limit the at-will doctrine to protect employees from wrongful _

firing

Discussing an employee's successes and areas that need improvement can provide managers an opportunity to:

guide the employee to better performance hear the employee's views on how to improve the job

The ADA of 2008 adds new disabilities such as _ to ADA coverage

heart disease epilepsy cancer

A difficult task is measuring and rewarding _ performance on teams while at the same time rewarding team performance

individual

The schedule that lets two or more part-time workers share one full-time job is:

job-sharing

The purpose of a probationary period is to:

let the new employee prove their value to the organization make it easier to terminate the employee who is not performing well reduce the probability of legal action by the employee

Examples of fringe benefits that provide additional compensation to employees beyond wages include:

life insurance paid vacation sick days

Trade unions require a new worker to serve as an apprentice to:

limit entry to the union ensure excellence and maintain standards

Women often have more difficulty than men in networking or finding mentors, since most senior managers are _

male

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act outlaws _ retirement in most organizations. This prevents workers from being force to retire sooner than they want to

mandatory

The accelerating cost of administering benefits programs has led to:

many organizations outsourcing that function

Another employee who introduces lower-level employees to the right people and act as a sponsor within the organization is a(n):

mentor

It is important to plan and prepare all interviewers for the interview because:

missteps and illegal questions can lead to lawsuits based on anti-discrimination laws

The process of establishing and maintaining contacts in and outside the organization is called _

networking

Training and occurs away from the workplace to develop a variety of skills and personal development activities such as time management, stress management, or conflict management is:

off-the-job-training

The ability to provide a large number of employees with consistent content tailored to specific training needs at convenient times is the key advantage to:

online training

The activity that initiates new employees into the organization, it's policies and procedures, and its objectives is a(n):

orientation program

Many companies have resorted to _ certain functions to be done by other companies because of the costs of terminating employees

outsourcing

One way the 2008 Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act responded to new issues that arose after the initial law as passed was to:

overturn Supreme Court rulings that reduced protections

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 specified that employers must:

provide safety equipment to employees limit exposure to hazardous substances

Companies need to select the best employees who apply because the cost of _ employees who leave is very high

replacing

The choice of a pay system that is fair and competitive in today's labor market is important to an organization's survival because it:

retains valued employees motivates workers to perform well

If a manager really supports the team process, he needs to give teams freedom to _ themselves when they have successfully managed themselves and achieved their goals

reward

Fixed compensation computed on weekly, biweekly, or monthly pay periods is:

salary

Using an assessment center for testing applicants' ability to perform tasks actually required in the job:

satisfies legal requirements can make the selection process more efficient

The process of gathering information and deciding who should be hired is called:

selection

The Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 authorized the EEOC to:

set guidelines for employers' administration of EEO

On-the-job training lets the employee learn by _ an experienced employee and then imitating them

shadowing

Fringe benefits such as on site concierge services, free haircuts, and free breakfasts are called:

soft benefits

A written summary of the minimum qualifications or skills required for workers to do a particular job is called a job _

specification

Employees often request more fringe benefits instead of salary, in order to avoid higher

taxes

Fringe benefits, include sick-leave pay, vacation pay, pension plans, and health plans have had an effect on:

the cost of compensation to the employee the retention of employees the cost of compensation to the employer

The job analysis yields two important statements

the job specifications the job description

_ unions in skilled crafts require a new worker to serve as an apprentice for several years to ensure excellence

trade

Improving an employee's short-term ability to perform needed skills is _, whereas focusing on long-term abilities is _

training development

The training program during which a learner works alongside an experience employee to master skills and procedure is a(n) _ program

apprentice

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 specified that men and women doing _ jobs must be paid the same wage

equal

Provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and its amendments include:

establishment of the 40 hour work week overtime pay for more than 40 hours per week establish of a minimum wage

Companies trying to downsize sometimes offer special early retirement benefits known as a(n) _ to encourage long-term employees with higher salaries to leave

golden handshake

A well-designed training program often leads to:

greater job satisfaction higher retention rates increased productivity

Exit interviews can be helpful to a company because:

information can prevent the loss of good people in the future

It is important in management development to:

monitor participants' managerial skills over time

When a lower-level manager is taught needed skills and given direction and advice by more senior manager, it is:

on-the-job coaching

Managers use the information on performance appraisals to make the decision about:

promotions compensation termination of employment

Companies that use job-sharing plans sometimes must _ fringe benefits

prorate

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate against certain groups of people called:

protected classes

Human resource management is important to the success of today's businesses. It is responsible for hiring the most _ people to meet a company's need for skilled workers

qualified

A benefit of job-sharing is _ of experienced employees who might otherwise have retired

retention

Discrimination against whites or males is defined as _ discrimination

reverse

Contingent workers may be hired when:

the economy is uncertain

A challenge for human resources managers because of the change from traditional manufacturing to service and high-tech manufacturing industries is:

the need to retain workers

Flextime is a system that allows employees some freedom to choose which hours to work as long as they:

work the required number of hours complete their assigned tasks

The once prevailing doctrine in the United States was "empowerment at will" meaning that employers had as much freedom to fire workers as workers had to leave voluntarily. Some states and court decisions have changed that to protect employees from:

wrongful termination

A performance review that seeks opinions from all around the employee, including those under, above, and on the same level is a(n):

360-degree performance review

True or false: The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 provides cash payments for living expenses for unemployed workers

False

The federal law that requires employers to verify employment eligibility of new hires, including American citizens is the:

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Training and development are the activities that attempt to:

Improve productivity retain workers without pay increases increase and employee's ability to perform

What factors in the labor force are affecting the future labor supply

More women entering the workforce Workers getting older Becoming more technically orientated

List the five steps in human resource planning in order from first to last, the the first step at the top

Preparing a human resource inventory Preparing a job analysis Assessing future human resources demand Assessing future human resources supply Establishing a strategic plan

Identify some of the challenges in human resource management

Shift in employee attitudes toward work Retirement of baby boomers Increase in overseas labor pools

True or false: Human resources professionals are responsible for assuring that the company acts within laws that regulate safety and discrimination

True

The selection process is often long and difficult, but is worth it due to the:

high costs of replacing employees

Sometimes people with necessary skills are not available, and then companies must:

hire and train internally

Workers who are _ -_ can choose their own hours, interrupt work for child care, or take time out for personal reasons

home based

An important provision of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act is:

protection of job applicants and workers over 40 from discrimination in employment protection of workers over 40 from discrimination in hiring enforcement by the EEOC

In firms with more than 15 employees, the Civil Rights Act of 1991 provides for:

punitive damages for victims of international discrimination a jury trial for victims of international discrimination

There are many challenges from _ a diverse pool of applicants

recruiting

Using actual job tasks in employment testing can:

satisfy legal requirements make the process more efficient