Ch.8 Business 110

federation

A collection of unions banded together to achieve common goals.

performance appraisal

A comparison of actual performance with expected performance to assess an employee's contributions to the organization.

programmed instruction

A form of computer-assisted off-the-job training.

mentoring

A form of on-the-job training in which a senior manager or other experienced employee provides job- and career-related information to a mentee.

apprenticeship

A form of on-the-job training that combines specific job instruction with classroom instruction.

grievance

A formal complaint by a union worker that management has violated the contract.

What is a labor union and how is it organized, what is collective bargaining, and what are some of the key negotiation issues?

A labor union is an organization that represents workers in dealing with management over disputes involving wages, hours, and working conditions. A company is unionized through an organizing drive that begins either inside, with a small group of existing employees, or outside, with an established union that targets the employer. When the union gets signed authorization cards from 30 percent of the firm's employees, the NLRB conducts a union certification election. A majority vote is needed to certify the union as the exclusive bargaining agent. The union and the employer then begin collective bargaining and have one year in which to reach an agreement. Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating, administering, and interpreting labor agreements. Both union and management negotiators prepare a bargaining proposal. The two sides meet and exchange demands and ideas. Bargaining consists of compromises and concessions that lead to a tentative agreement. Top management then approves or disapproves the agreement for the management team. Union members vote to either approve or reject the contract. The key issues included in a union contract are wage increases, fringe benefits, and job security.

job specification

A list of the skills, knowledge, and abilities a person must have to fill a job.

What are the key laws and federal agencies affecting human resource management and labor relations?

A number of federal laws affect human resource management. Federal law prohibits discrimination based on age, race, gender, color, national origin, religion, or disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act bans discrimination against disabled workers and requires employers to change the work environment to accommodate the disabled. The Family and Medical Leave Act requires employers, with certain exceptions, to provide employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave a year. The leave can be for the birth or adoption of a child or due to serious illness of the worker or a family member. Federal agencies that deal with human resource administration are the EEOC, OSHA, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), and the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. The EEOC and OFCCP are primary agencies for the enforcement of employment discrimination laws, OSHA enforces safety regulations, and the Wage and Hour Division enforces the minimum wage and related laws. Many companies employ affirmative action and safety officers to ensure compliance with antidiscrimination and workplace safety laws. The Wagner and Taft-Hartley Acts govern the union-management relationship, in part through the functions performed by the National Labor Relations Board. The law gives workers the right to form and join labor unions and obligates the employer to deal with the union fairly.

How are performance appraisals used to evaluate employee performance?

A performance appraisal compares an employee's actual performance with the expected performance. Performance appraisals serve several purposes, but are typically used to determine an employee's compensation, training needs, and advancement opportunities.

simulation

A scaled-down version or mock-up of equipment, processes, or a work environment.

competitive advantage

A set of unique features of an organization that are perceived by customers and potential customers as significant and superior to the competition.

job analysis

A study of the tasks required to do a particular job well.

training and development

Activities that provide learning situations in which an employee acquires additional knowledge or skills to increase job performance.

incentive pay

Additional pay for attaining a specific goal.

shop steward

An elected union official that represents union members to management when workers have complaints.

job fair

An event, typically one or two days, held at a convention center to bring together job seekers and firms that are searching for employees.

selection interview

An in-depth discussion of an applicant's work experience, skills and abilities, education, and career interests.

labor union

An organization that represents workers in dealing with management.

local union

Branch of a national union that represents workers in a specific plant or geographic area.

management rights clause

Clause in a labor agreement that gives management the right to manage the business except as specified in the contract.

human resource planning

Creating a strategy for meeting current and future human resource needs.

What are the types of compensation and methods for paying workers?

Direct pay is the hourly wage or monthly salary paid to an employee. In addition to the base wage or salary, direct pay may include bonuses and profit shares. Indirect pay consists of various benefits and services. Some benefits are required by law and include unemployment compensation, worker's compensation, and Social Security. Many employers also offer benefits not required by law. These include paid vacations and holidays, pensions, health and other insurance, employee wellness programs, and college tuition reimbursement.

succession planning

Examination of current employees to identify people who can fill vacancies and be promoted.

What types of training and development do organizations offer their employees?

Formal training (usually classroom in nature and off-the-job) takes place shortly after being hired. Development programs prepare employees to assume positions of increasing authority and responsibility. Job rotation, executive education programs, mentoring, and special-project assignments are examples of employee development programs.

unemployment compensation

Government payment to unemployed former workers.

What trends and issues are affecting human resource management and labor relations?

Human resource managers recognize that diverse workforces create an environment that nurtures creative decision-making, effective problem-solving, more agility in adapting to change, and a strong competitive advantage. Therefore, firms are becoming committed to recruiting and hiring a diverse workforce. To maximize efficiency, many firms are outsourcing HR functions and using technology to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Firms are also striving to hire employees who possess qualities that match those of the corporate culture. Although labor unions have faced declining membership in the last several decades, enrollment of service workers into labor unions may increase as low-wage earners seek improved working conditions, pay, and health benefits.

How are grievances between management and labor resolved, and what tactics are used to force a contract settlement?

In most labor agreements, the grievance procedure consists of three or four steps. In the initial step, the employee files a grievance; this is an oral and/or written presentation to the supervisor and may involve a union steward as representative of the grievant. Steps two and three involve meetings of the employee, one or more union officials, the appropriate supervisor, and one or more management officials. If the grievance is not resolved at step three, either party (union or management) can request that an arbitrator, or neutral third party, hear and decide the grievance. The arbitrator reviews the grievance at a hearing and then makes the decision, which is presented in a document called the award. When a union contract expires and a new agreement has not been reached, the union may impose economic pressure on the firm. These tactics may take the form of strikes, boycotts, picketing, or corporate campaigns. Similarly, employers may implement lockouts, hire replacements, or move production to another facility to place pressure on a union to accept a new contract.

collective bargaining

Negotiating a labor agreement.

mediation

Negotiation process in which a specialist facilitates labor-management contract discussions and suggests compromises.

conciliation

Negotiation process in which a specialist in labor-management negotiations acts as a go-between for management and the unions and helps focus on the problems.

union shop

Nonunion workers can be hired but must join the union later.

worker's compensation

Pay for lost work time due to employment-related injuries.

contingent worker

Person who prefers temporary employment, either part-time or full-time.

orientation

Presentation to get the new employee ready to perform his or her job.

recruitment branding

Presenting an accurate and positive image of the firm to those being recruited.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Processes discrimination complaints, issues regulations regarding discrimination, and disseminates information.

affirmative action programs

Programs established by organizations to expand job opportunities for women and minorities.

job rotation

Reassignment of workers to several different jobs over time so that they can learn the basics of each job.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Sets workplace safety and health standards and assures compliance.

arbitration

Settling labor-management disputes through a third party. The decision is final and binding.

right-to-work law

State laws that an employee does not have to join a union.

selective strike strategy

Strike at a critical plant that typically stops operations system-wide.

recruitment

The attempt to find and attract qualified applicants in the external labor market.

What is the human resource management process, and how are human resource needs determined?

The human resource management process consists of a sequence of activities that begins with the job analysis and HR planning; progresses to employee recruitment and selection; then focuses on employee training, performance appraisal, and compensation; and ends when the employee leaves the organization. Creating a strategy for meeting human resource needs is called human resource planning, which begins with the job analysis. Job analysis is a process of studying a job to determine its tasks and duties for setting pay, determining employee job performance, specifying hiring requirements, and designing training programs.Information from the job analysis is used to prepare a job description, which lists the tasks and responsibilities of the job. A job specification describes the skills, knowledge, and abilities a person needs to fill the job described in the job description. By examining the human resource demand forecast and the internal supply forecast, human resource professionals can determine if the company faces a personnel surplus or shortage.

selection

The process of determining which persons in the applicant pool possess the qualifications necessary to be successful on the job.

human resource (HR) management

The process of hiring, developing, motivating, and evaluating employees to achieve organizational goals.

protected classes

The specific groups who have legal protection against employment discrimination; include women, African-Americans, Native Americans, and others.

job description

The tasks and responsibilities of a job.

How do firms select qualified applicants?

Typically, an applicant submits an application or résumé and then receives a short, structured interview. If an applicant makes it past the initial screening, he or she may be asked to take an aptitude, personality, or skills test. The next step is the selection interview, which is an in-depth discussion of the applicant's work experience, skills and abilities, education, and career interests. If the applicant passes the selection interview, most firms conduct background checks and talk with their references. Physical exams and drug testing may also be part of the selection process.

How do firms recruit applicants?

When a job vacancy occurs, most firms begin by trying to fill the job from within the ranks of their own employees, known as the internal labor market. If a suitable internal candidate is not available, the firm turns to the external labor market. Firms use local media to recruit nontechnical, unskilled, and nonsupervisory workers. To locate highly trained recruits, employers use college recruiters, executive search firms, job fairs, and company websites to promote job openings. During the job search process, firms present an accurate and positive image of the company to those being recruited, called recruitment branding.

open shop

Workers do not have to join the union or pay union dues.

agency shop

Workers don't have to join a union but must pay union dues.