HRIR 3021 Exam 1 (Textbook Quizzes) (Chapters 2-4)

Identify the condition in which most of the debate focuses on discriminatory consequences and the plaintiff need not prove an employer's intent to discriminate. A. Disparate impact B. Disparate treatment C. Reasonable accommodation D. Affirmative action E. Corrective action

A. Disparate impact

What was one step Congress took during the COVID-19 pandemic to lessen the blow to those impacted? A. Expanded unemployment eligibility to independent contractors, gig workers, and the self-employed. B. Passed a law allowing companies to offer flexible work arrangements C. Provided food assistance to the unemployed D. Extended unemployment benefits for one month E. Required small businesses to open in order to spur the economy

A. Expanded unemployment eligibility to independent contractors, gig workers, and the self-employed.

Korrine is a line manager at Nortex Inc. She is assigned the task of understanding and gathering detailed information about the requirements of carrying out a certain job. Information gathered by Korrine will be used to provide essential knowledge for staffing, training, performance appraisal, and other HR activities. What most likely corresponds to the task undertaken by Korrine? A. Job analysis B. Job definition C. Job training D. Job swapping E. Job rotation

A. Job analysis

Kathy is a human resource specialist. To gain competency in her field, she keeps up with business news related to human resource management. One area of the news she pays attention to is coverage of the cases the Supreme Court hears each year. Why would stories about the Supreme Court be relevant for Kathy's career? A. The Supreme Court may issue rulings that interpret employment law. B. The Supreme Court may pass laws regulating employment practices. C. The Supreme Court may issue executive orders related to employee safety. D. The Supreme Court may require federal contractors to engage in affirmative action. E. Decisions made by the Supreme Court cannot be overturned by the federal government.

A. The Supreme Court may issue rulings that interpret employment law.

What is the objective of job enlargement? A. To make jobs less repetitive and more interesting B. To increase efficiency by identifying the best way to perform a job C. To decrease the burden of decision-making responsibilities for employees D. To assess the relative dollar value of each job to an organization E. To decrease the impact a job has on the lives of other people

A. To make jobs less repetitive and more interesting

Donatello's Pizza is known for its quick service. To make a pizza, employees must prepare the dough and add the sauce and toppings. Cooking happens next, followed by packaging. In this scenario, the employees of Donatello's Pizza are engaged in A. Work processes. B. Task identities. C. Group dynamics. D. Job analyses. E. Ergonomic activities.

A. Work processes.

Kieran, a compensation analyst, is not employed directly by any company. He works for several clients based on their requirements. Kieran would be classified as a(n) A. Permanent employee. B. Independent contractor. C. Part-time employee. D. Contract company worker. E. Temporary worker.

B. Independent contractor.

Which statement about telework is true? A. It is easy to measure the degree to which companies permit telework. B. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, almost half of U.S. workers worked remotely with some frequency. C. Telework involves work that is primarily done over the phone, while telecommuting involves all types of work that can be done remotely. D. Employers who allow telecommuting still need to provide as many offices as before so that employees have a place to work when they come in. E. Telecommuting is not a good option for the disabled.

B. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, almost half of U.S. workers worked remotely with some frequency.

A survey of employee satisfaction among a county's 9-1-1 dispatchers found that employees struggle to keep up with calls, feel little or no control over their situation, and constantly worry about making mistakes. A suggestion is made to simplify the jobs in order to deal with these sources of dissatisfaction. Why would simplifying the jobs be beneficial in this case? A. The employees face few challenges already. B. The costs of employee errors are severe. C. The scope for employee errors is minimal. D. The employees will be better able to engage in multitasking. E. The information-processing requirements of the job are minimal.

B. The costs of employee errors are severe.

Barney, an employee with the U.S. Postal Service, was deployed to Iraq to serve in the U.S. Army for two years. After the completion of his military duties, he resumed work at the post office. He was reemployed with an increase in pay. Which law protected Barney by requiring that his employer reemploy him with the seniority, status, and pay rate he would have earned if he had stayed on the job during the time of his deployment? A. Vocational Rehabilitation Act B. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) C. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) D. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) E. Occupational Safety and Health Act

B. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)

How has the use of employee empowerment affected the recruitment process in the United States.? A. It has enhanced the need for people with working knowledge of operating different kinds of machinery. B. It has substantially increased employment opportunities for workers with less education. C. It has shifted the focus away from technical skills to general cognitive and interpersonal skills. D. It has significantly reduced recruitment costs by using low-cost strategies, though it hinders innovation. E. It has made the recruitment process less time-consuming.

C. It has shifted the focus away from technical skills to general cognitive and interpersonal skills.

Which statement about work flow analysis is true? A. Information cannot be considered to be an input because it is not tangible. B. All outputs must be strictly measured in terms of quantity. C. Outputs may be tangible or intangible products of the work processes. D. Quality standards are not a key criterion in the process of work flow analysis. E. Inputs and outputs are only the two stages required to represent a complete work flow cycle.

C. Outputs may be tangible or intangible products of the work processes.

Acen is a computer software development company in the United States. Acen and other companies in the industry are pressing the federal government for immigration laws that allow for a greater supply of foreign-born workers. What is the main reason these companies cite for that effort? A. There is a lack of adequate technology in the United States. B. Undocumented immigrants work harder than U.S. citizens. C. Qualified technical workers are scarce in the United States. D. U.S. workers do not want this physically demanding work. E. The size of the U.S. workforce is declining.

C. Qualified technical workers are scarce in the United States.

Portia's use of illegal drugs limits her ability to walk properly. The elevator at her office was not working for many months, so Portia needed to climb two flights of stairs and had difficulty getting to her desk. She tried suing her company under the Americans with Disabilities Act, arguing that her company discriminates against individuals who cannot perform major life activities. Which statement would weaken Portia's argument? A. Portia is not a senior employee. B. The ADA prohibits discrimination only against workers who are over the age of 40. C. The ADA does not cover conditions of substance abuse. D. Portia is not pregnant. E. The ADA applies only to the decisions or actions of the government.

C. The ADA does not cover conditions of substance abuse.

Which statement is correct regarding skilled knowledge workers? A. They do not have considerable autonomy to make decisions. B. They are most likely to experience a lack of opportunities in a slow economy. C. They are not easily replaced because they own the knowledge that the company requires to produce its products. D. They are not expected to be technically efficient and are only involved in direct interactions with customers. E. They do not have a lot of job opportunities because employers can simply order these employees to perform tasks.

C. They are not easily replaced because they own the knowledge that the company requires to produce its products.

In which example is disparate treatment considered legal? A. In a particular retail outlet, male workers are employed to handle all of the sales. B. In an electrical company, only male workers are employed to work as electricians. C. In a vehicle manufacturing company, only male workers are employed in all departments. D. In a shopping mall, only female workers are employed to clean the women's restroom. E. In a particular hospital, only female nurses are appointed.

D. In a shopping mall, only female workers are employed to clean the women's restroom.

Which statement characterizes the Age Discrimination in Employment Act? A. It favors the idea of coercing employees to accept early retirement incentives. B. It permits an employer to reduce the fringe benefits to all employees over 40. C. It permits companies to lay off older workers when the economy is slow. D. It outlaws making employment decisions based on age in people over 40. E. It recommends early retirement incentive programs wherein employees agree not to sue the company for ageism.

D. It outlaws making employment decisions based on age in people over 40.

The manager of an electronics store gives her staff the authority to resolve customer complaints. She lets the staff decide whether to issue refunds or replace merchandise in case of consumer grievances. Which job design technique is the manager implementing in her store? A. Job sharing B. Job extension C. Job rotation D. Job enrichment E. Job evaluation

D. Job enrichment

Which statement about avoiding discrimination is true? A. A bona fide occupational qualification is a merely preferred qualification for performing a job. B. Proving disparate impact in court requires showing an employer's intent. C. Proving disparate treatment in court does not require the plaintiff showing an employer's intent. D. Reasonable accommodation is provided subject to the condition of undue hardship. E. If the four-fifths rule is satisfied, substantial evidence of discrimination exists.

D. Reasonable accommodation is provided subject to the condition of undue hardship.

The agency that is responsible for tracking changes in the composition of the U.S. labor force and forecasting employment trends is the A. National Statistics Association. B. Occupational Outlook Bureau. C. U.S. Census Bureau. D. Bureau of Economic Analysis. E. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

E. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What is one reason for creating high-performance work systems? A. There is a drive toward low-cost strategy in the labor market. B. Employees prefer the implementation of a standard 40-hour workweek. C. Competitors are looking for ways to standardize prices in their respective industries. D. Employers are looking for employees who are competent and skilled at one particular task. E. Customers are demanding high-quality and customized products.

E. Customers are demanding high-quality and customized products.

Which scenario qualifies as a compressed workweek? A. Employees are required to be at work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can choose additional hours before or after this period. B. Two part-time employees work in different shifts and share the tasks of a specific job. C. Employees work in the office two days a week and work from home the other three days. D. Employees can choose to work away from a centrally located work area. E. Employees work 10 hours a day so that they work fewer days per week to reach 40 hours.

E. Employees work 10 hours a day so that they work fewer days per week to reach 40 hours.

Managing cultural diversity involves A. Forming different pay structures for various groups. B. Creating separate career tracks for employees with families. C. Avoiding the use of affirmative action policies. D. Reducing cultural diversity through selective hiring. E. Encouraging career development for women and minorities.

E. Encouraging career development for women and minorities.

James and Alissa are both newly hired nurses at Memorial Hospital. However, James is paid more than Alissa. According to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, what will strengthen the fact that the pay difference is a legal one? A. James is more skilled than Alissa because he is a male. B. Alissa is not an American citizen. C. James is younger than Alissa. D. Alissa is pregnant. E. James works the night shift.

E. James works the night shift.

What is a basic difference between job specifications and job descriptions? A. Job specifications define tasks, and job descriptions define responsibilities. B. Job specifications list observable actions, and job descriptions describe general qualities. C. Job specifications look at a job's activities, and job descriptions look at the qualities needed to do the job. D. Job descriptions define tasks, and job specifications define responsibilities. E. Job descriptions look at a job's activities, and job specifications look at the qualities needed to do the job.

E. Job descriptions look at a job's activities, and job specifications look at the qualities needed to do the job.

Which statement is true of employee empowerment? A. Proper training must be provided only to supervisors so that they can exert their wider authority. B. Managers should ensure that employees are not linked to resources outside the organization, such as customers. C. Employee empowerment shifts the recruiting focus away from cognitive and interpersonal skills toward general technical skills. D. Employee empowerment prevents holding employees accountable for the products and services they developed. E. Jobs must be designed to give employees the necessary latitude for making a variety of decisions.

E. Jobs must be designed to give employees the necessary latitude for making a variety of decisions.

What is the most common reason why U.S. organizations hire employees in foreign countries? A. Lack of technology in the United States. B. Lack of demand for their products in the United States. C. Poor quality of labor in the United States. D. Governmental pressure E. Low cost of labor in foreign countries

E. Low cost of labor in foreign countries

The structure of Eduardo Hospital is strongly based on function. Which statement best describes staff positions at this hospital? A. Positions require more cognitive ability than at other hospitals. B. Most positions are structured around teamwork. C. Employees have broad authority for decision making. D. Employees work in teams to care for groups of patients. E. Positions are highly specialized.

E. Positions are highly specialized.

When Marty started working for Concrete Construction, two of her coworkers made a point of telling sex-related jokes around her, and they occasionally ran their fingers through her hair and suggested meeting up after work. Marty felt very uncomfortable. What grounds would she have for complaining to the human resource department about her co-workers? A. Their behavior violates Executive Order 11246. B. Their behavior violates the Thirteenth Amendment. C. Their behavior probably violates the OSH Act. D. Their behavior could be considered quid pro quo harassment. E. Their behavior could be considered creation of a hostile working environment.

E. Their behavior could be considered creation of a hostile working environment.

To prove disparate treatment in court, a plaintiff in a discrimination lawsuit must show an employer's intent. True False

True