HRM Exam 3
Explain the four types of risk when firms venture abroad.
1. Cross-cultural risk arises from differences in business practices, communication styles, and many aspects of human behavior. 2. Country risk refers to the potentially adverse effects on company operations and profitability caused by developments in the political, legal, and economic environments in a foreign country. 3. Currency risk also known as financial risk is the adverse fluctuations in exchange rates. Currency risk arises because international transactions are often conducted in more than one national currency. 4. Commercial risk is the firm's potential loss or failure from poorly developed or executed business strategies, tactics, or procedures. Or specifically, when managers make poor choices in areas like the selection of business partners, timing of market entry, pricing, creation of product features, and promotional themes.
How is a bargaining unit determined?
A bargaining unit is a group of employees represented or seeking representation by a union. A bargaining unit is typically determined on the basis of a community of interest of the employees. Employees who have similar or the same interests regarding wages, hours, and other working conditions may be grouped together into a bargaining unit. Then a union and the employer may agree on the appropriate bargaining unit, but if they cannot agree then a determination is made by the NLRB.
Beginning in the 1980s, the NLRB has been involved in professional sports and brought an end to a 1995 strike in which sport?
Baseball
What actions should HR take before monitoring employee communications?
Before monitoring employee communications, HR and the employer should clearly develop clear policy addressing workplace privacy issues and communicate this policy to employees. Other policies that HR should inform its employees of are the business purpose exception that permits employers to monitor oral and electronic communications where there is a legitimate business purpose present. The second important exception to the ECPA is the consent exception where the employee gives the organization permission to monitor their communications. Therefore, HR must ensure that all employee monitoring is narrowly tailored and supported by a legitimate business justification. By advising employees that they will be monitored removes employees' reasonable expectation of privacy too.
HR policies and practices can affect employee engagement through job design, recruitment and selection, training, and development, and which of the following?
Compensation planning and performance management
Identify five factors that can cause cumulative trauma disorders.
Cumulative trauma disorders are usually caused by a combination of factors, including: 1. Repetitive motions 2. Awkward posture or body positions that are unnatural resting positions 3. Holding the same body position without moving or resting for long periods 4. Vibration, especially in cold weather (such as holding vibrating tools) 5. Mental stress that can cause muscles to tighten and restrict blood flow
Communication and which of the following are ways that management style causes an employee to be disengaged?
Decision making
Explain the difference between employee orientation and onboarding.
Employee orientation is the process of introducing new hires to their jobs. This orientation involves introducing new hires to their co-workers, responsibilities, and workplace procedures and policies. Onboarding is a series of events that includes orientation which helps prepare the employee to be successful in their job and engaged with the organization.
Define ergonomics and describe how it benefits employee health.
Ergonomics are the science of designing and arranging work areas so that people and things interact efficiently and safely. Implementing an ergonomic process is effective in reducing the risk of developing MSDs and RSIs in high-risk industries like office jobs, manufacturing, food processing, healthcare, and construction. One element of the ergonomic process includes encouraging early reporting of CTD symptoms because early reporting can prevent or reduce the progressions of symptoms, the development of serious injuries, and lost-time claims. Overall, ergonomics benefits employee health.
When deciding how to staff operations in another country, one choice is which of the following?
Expatriates
Rethinking your social media by doing which of the following is important when hiring globally?
Find out which social sites are the most popular in that country
What are five unfair labor practices as defined by the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947?
Five unfair labor practices as defined by the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 are: 1. Restraint or coercion of employees in the exercise of their rights 2. Charge of excessive initiation fees and dues 3. Persuasion of employers to discriminate against any of their employees 4. Refusal to bargain collectively with an employer 5. Participation in secondary boycotts
Which of the following compensation approaches pays employees based upon an equivalent compensation scale, regardless of their home country?
Global market approach
To create an engaging environment, ________________ should take the lead in identifying metrics, administering regular measurement, and designing and implementing policies and practices that help create engaged employees.
HR
At the end of World War II, the _______________________ adopted a declaration which defined their aims and purposes.
International Labour Conference
In October 1919, which of the following met to adopt the first conventions and appoint a governing body?
International Labour Conference
There are financial benefits to creating a culture of safety and wellness, such as higher productivity and which of the following?
Lower health insurance premiums
Which of the following refers to a company's possible loss or failure from poorly developed or executed business strategies, tactics, or procedures?
commercial risk
From 1957 to 1959, the McClellan Committee held hearings on the problem of labor ________________________.
corruption
One of the risks of international business is known as ______________________ risk and refers to the potentially adverse effects on company operations and profitability caused by developments in the political, legal, and economic environment in a foreign country.
country
The first unions in America were __________ unions.
craft
Creating tangible metrics to measure safety and encouraging reporting of incidences are ways that HR professionals can do which of the following?
create a culture of safety
The work of the Commission on International Labour Legislation led to the inclusion of which of following to the treaty of Versailles?
labor matters
The ____________________ approach pays employees based on the salary structure of the host country plus an additional compensation for expenses incurred by employees.
local-plus
Due process is a term that means an employee has a right to be informed of unsatisfactory performance, to defend themselves, and to do which of the following?
make improvements
One of the highest turnover rates is in which of the following occupations?
manufacturing
Every __________ seconds, a worker is injured on the job.
seven
A/an _______________________ disease is primarily contracted as a result of exposure to risk factors arising from work activity.
occupational
If a company has a foreign operation and decides to open another one, they typically hire which of the following?
third-country nationals (TCNs)
Another cybersecurity best practice is to employ _____________ controls.
third-party
Cross-cultural risk can be divided into four categories, one being which of the following?
negotiation patterns
Which of the following is NOT a reason that workers have to join a union?
not getting along with co-workers
One reason organizations may be motivated to go international is to seek opportunities for growth through which of the following?
market diversification
List the eight steps in the process of organizing a union.
1. Establish appropriate bargaining unit. 2. Obtain signatures of employees on authorization cards (minimum 30%) 3. If over 50% of signatures are obtained, the union may request the employer to consent to union recognition without an election. 4. If more than 30%, but less than 50% of employees sign an authorization card, or if the employer refuses to consent, then the election is contested by the employer. 5. The union and the employer both conduct a campaign, trying to persuade employees to vote a certain way. 6. Secret-ballot election is held (supervised by NLRB). 7. If a majority of the employees elect the union, then the union is recognized as the official bargaining agent of the employees and the employer must engage in collective bargaining with the union. 8. If a majority of employees reject the union, then the issue cannot be voted on again for at least twelve months.
What are the four categories of employee engagement, and what attitudes or behaviors are exhibited in each?
1. Highly engaged Attitudes and behaviors for highly engaged employees are that they feel a strong personal alignment to the mission, vision, and objectives of the organization. Due to the emotional connection employees actively pursue opportunities to improve the general work environment. 2. Moderately engaged Employees possess positives attitudes toward work and may engage in productive behaviors, but they are not fully invested in their commitment. Passive 3. Passive employees work and go through the motions without having any interest in the work they are doing. Theses employees do not create a positive environment for progress and innovation. 4. Actively disengaged Employees feel disconnected and unsatisfied with their work which leads to poor attitudes, lots of emotions, and a lack of performance.
Union membership grew to 34.8% in the ________________.
1950s
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in which of the following years?
1970
OSHA estimates that work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are responsible for _____________ of all lost workdays.
34%
About ____________ of those responding to recent engagement surveys believe that engagement is significantly related to trust in management and the relationship with the immediate supervisor.
80%
What is a pulse survey, and what are the advantages compared to traditional surveys?
A pulse survey is a short list of engagement questions that are frequently administered and provides quick feedback to managers. Pulse surveys have many advantages like how they are mobile friendly platforms and managers can immediately see results on a dashboard. The immediate results can allow managers to determine priorities and how to communicate best with employees.
Explain the difference between a secondary boycott and a hot cargo agreement.
A secondary boycott is an attempt to stop others from purchasing products from, performing services for, or otherwise doing business with a company that does business with another company that is involved in a labor dispute. Hot cargo agreements involve employers committing themselves in advance to boycott any other employer involved in a dispute with the union. The main difference between a secondary boycott and a hot cargo agreement is that hot cargo agreements involve commitment in advance and secondary boycotts do not.
Describe five commonly used measures of employee engagement.
Annual surveys (73%) Surveys typically ask employees to rate their own level of engagement and self-reported data is useful because it provides insights into how employees are perceiving their level of commitment to an organization. Exit interviews (59%) Exit interviews are individual conversations between employees and managers. Or they are done by tracking metrics like productivity, consumer satisfaction, or quality. Retention rates (45%) Is a metric that calculates the percentage of users who continue using your service or product after a given period of time. One-on-ones with managers (42%) With these employees can have a one-to-one conversation with their manager about the projects or tasks they are working on and can express areas of interest within the company that they have. Performance management system (41%) An effective performance management system focuses on identifying, dealing, and measuring employee performance. Key aspects include how organizational strategies are connected to the performance management system and how to address performance concerns or problems with individuals.
Assume that you are an HR manager and are preparing to send an employee on an expatriate assignment. What types of development would you provide for the employee before they go?
As an HR manager proper training is crucial to expatriate success. Before sending an employee on an expatriate assignment the HR manager should provide the employee with the following types of development: Develop a clear set of objectives and expectations Make sure that selection procedures are valid. Know the predictive factors for success and use these in making the selection Provide language and cultural training for the employee and the family Offer counseling and career assistance for the spouse Establish career planning systems that reward international assignments
Choose an organization and state three ways that they can create a culture of engagement.
As an organization, Lululemon could could create a culture of engagement by: 1. Encourage a work life balance by providing flexible opportunities, eliminate expectations of working long hours, and match employee charitable contributions. 2. Enhance career development opportunities by having regular conversations with employees about their career goals, create formal employee recognition programs, and provide tuition assistance programs for employees to further their education. 3. Create an inclusive work environment where there is a zero-tolerance culture for discrimination, provide mentor programs for women and minority groups, and increase the representation of women and minorities in senior leadership positions.
Which of the following is an exception under the ECPA that permits employers to monitor oral and electronic employee communications when there is a legitimate business purpose?
Business purpose exception
Describe the four types of firms in Global HRM.
Multinational enterprises (MNEs). An organization operating in several countries but managed from one (home) country. Typically, any organization that derives a quarter of its revenue from operations outside of its home country is considered a multinational enterprise. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The definition for these varies by country. In the European Union, a business with fewer than two hundred fifty employees is considered an SME. In the U.S. a SME has fewer than five hundred employees. Born-global firms. These are business organizations that from their inception seek to derive significant competitive advantage from the use of resources and the sale of outputs in multiple countries. Nongovernmental organizations. These are nonprofit organizations that pursue special causes and serve as advocates for social issues, politics, education, and research across borders.
__________________ account for one of every three dollars spent of worker's compensation.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
What is NIOSH, and what is their mandate?
NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It is a federal government agency that conducts research and makes recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illnesses. NIOSH has a mandate to assure every man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources.
The passage of which of the following gave employees the right to organize and join a union?
National Labor Relations Act of 1935
Describe the order of priority for OSHA inspections.
OSHA standards and regulations are enforced through a combination of reporting, inspections, investigations, citations, and fines. OSHA seeks to focus its inspection resources on the most hazardous workplaces as follows: 1. Imminent danger situations 2. Severe injuries and illnesses based on OSHA reports 3. Worker complaints 4. Referrals of hazards from other federal, state, or local agencies, individuals, organizations, or the media 5. Targeted inspections aimed at high-hazard industries or individual workplaces 6. Follow-up inspections.
Gloves, safety goggles, masks, earplugs, and full-body suits are all examples of which of the following?
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
"Belief that the organization will be successful in the future" and "Understanding of how the employee fits into the company" are two sources of employee engagement according to which of the following?
Quantum Workplace
Some of the most common cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are caused by performing the same motions over and over and are known as which of the following?
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs)
Describe the four stages of culture shock.
Stage 1: The Honeymoon. In this stage, there is a feeling of excitement about all of the new experiences. Stage 2: Irritation. In stage two, the newness has started to wear off, and there might be feelings of irritation or annoyance, or longing for things the way they used to be. Its typically a time of stress. Stage 3: Gradual Adjustment: During this stage you become able to read verbal cues and begin dealing with things that seemed like an annoyance before with logical reasoning or even humor. Stage 4: Feeling at home. In the final stage the new culture is starting to feel like home, and a sense of belonging starts to occur. You no longer feel out of your comfort zone.
What is a team orientation, and how does it impact employee engagement?
Team orientation is the degree to which organizational members stress collaboration and cooperation in performing work activities and in making decisions. Organizations that emphasize team orientations have higher levels of employee performance and employees like being part of a team. Being on a team helps positively improve employee engagement because it is one ways for employees to feel heard and valued.
What types of HR policies and practices can positively impact employee engagement?
The HR policies and practices that can impact employee engagement include job design, recruitment and selection, training and development, and compensation planning and performance management. Recruitment and selection is key because employee engagement needs to be a part of the employer value proposition. HR should target applicants who are likely to view the type of work they would be doing interesting and engaging. Training and development is also key. By providing effective onboarding programs employees can understand how their roles contribute to the success of the organization and its important to provide new ways to build skillsets and stimulate career development.
Define and describe the behavioral dimension of employee engagement.
The behavioral dimension is what people think of when they try to describe or visualize employee engagement. The behavioral aspect of engagement is the only dimension that can be externally observed, and it is the tangible result when an employee commits their resources with passion, focus, intensity, and determination.
A Gallup survey indicates that one in two U.S. adults had left a job to get away from their ________________.
manager
How would you make the business case for promoting workplace health?
There are many reasons that promoting workplace health can benefit a business and the employees who work for it. For the organization it helps reduce turnover, reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and lowers healthcare/insurance costs. For the employee it leads to increased job satisfaction, improved health, and improved sense of well-being. A business can operate at its highest efficiency by promoting workplace health and save on insurance costs and lower the risk of fines and litigation.
Explain the rights that employees have as defined by OSHA.
Under OSHA employees rights include: - Working conditions that do not post a risk of serious harm. - Receive information and training (in a language workers can understand) about chemical and other hazards, methods to prevent harm, and OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. - Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses. - Get copies of test results done to find and measure hazards in the workplace. - File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not following OSHA rules. When requested, OSHA will keep all identities confidential. - Use their rights under the law without retaliation. If an employee is fired, demoted, transferred or retaliated against in any way for using their rights under the law, they can file a complaint with OSHA. This complaint must be filed within thirty days of the alleged retaliation.
If a union member attempts to coerce a fellow employee to join a union, it is considered which of the following?
Unfair labor practice
In 2015, which of the following went on strike in what was the largest oil refinery strike in 35 years to improve the safety of working conditions?
United Steelworkers (USW)
An employer wanting to monitor company email, computer usage, or phone calls, or use video surveillance, is related to workplace violence, property theft, and which of the following?
accidents and injuries
There are four profiles of engaged employees: highly engaged, moderately engaged, passive, and which of the following?
actively disengaged
The LMRA of 1947 gave employees the right to engage in ______________.
anti-union speech
An onboard company, ServiceNow, advises companies to use which of the following to reduce administrative work to provide more time for making people connections with new hires?
automation
Which of the following is a group of employees who have the same or similar interests concerning wages, hours, and other working conditions?
bargaining unit
Employee engagement surveys should focus on ______________.
behaviors
The Railway Labor Act of 1926 was the first major federal labor legislation and paved the way for which of the following?
collective bargaining
An advantage to employing host-country nationals is that they possess knowledge of the local __________________________.
culture
It is important to become a student of ________________ to become effective in managing global diversity.
culture
When ________________ fluctuate significantly, the value of the firm's earnings can be reduced.
currencies
Each ___________________ in an organization should have its own disaster plan.
department
Biases can be removed by which of the following?
education
Effective __________________________ that back up those who have to detect, diagnose, and respond to hazardous situations can help to ensure that minor incidents will not become major ones.
emergency procedures
After losing sales to Amazon, the resignation of the CEO, and high employee turnover, Best Buy hired Hubert Joly as CEO who focused on _________________________ and as a result saw a drastic fall in employee turnover, a boost in the sale of shares, and improved customer experiences.
employee engagement
Which of the following is not uncommon in conducting surveys?
employee pushback
Employee engagement directly correlates with _________________ and business results.
employee turnover
Surveys often include which of the following?
employees rate their own engagement or self-reported data
After OSHA has made an inspection, the employer has ________ days to respond in writing, identifying any problems found and corrective actions taken.
five
Which of the following is a claim by an employee or the union that the employer is not complying with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement?
grievance
There are three main categories of bargaining topics: mandatory items, permissive items, and which of the following?
illegal subjects
The Norris-LaGuardia Act of 1932 was passed to remedy a long history of _____________________ hostility.
management
If companies want to reduce employee turnover, they should make every effort to convey clear guidelines as to what the new employee's responsibilities are, and this may be accomplished by thorough and effective ____________________ programs.
onboarding
In a right-to-work state, a union workplace is considered which of the following?
open shop
Which of the following does an employer have to provide free of cost according to OSHA?
personal protective equipment (PPE)
Violence in the workplace is which of the following?
possible at a place of employment
According to a recent Gallup meta-analysis, businesses in the top quartile of employee engagement are more productive, have fewer safety problems, have less absenteeism, have better customer service feedback, and are more __________________.
profitable
Half of all ______________ attacks are targeted at small businesses.
ransomware
Which of the following is a benefit to the employer for promoting workplace health?
reduced absenteeism
At Airbnb employee experience is the key to __________________.
retention
Managers and union representatives spend most of their time in the ____________________.
routine administration of labor agreements
Overall, which of the following are less common in Europe than in the U.S.?
self-evaluation methods
Which of the following should NOT be avoided in international performance management?
sensitivity to an individual's culture
In Arab countries, doing which of the following can be an insult?
showing the soles of your shoes
Which of the following legislation greatly frustrates expats?
the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
NORA research priorities are influenced by: The number of workers at risk for a particular injury or illness, the seriousness of a hazard or problem, and which of the following?
the change that new data or approaches can make a difference
Which of the following is the first stage of "culture shock"?
the honeymoon
If a terminated employee shouts that the supervisor would regret it as they leave the premises, it is an example of which of the following?
workplace violence
Which of the following is the illegal firing of an employee?
wrongful discharge