MHR 61346

Matthew, an electrician at Carver Industries, cut his hand while splicing wires. Matthew received first aid treatment before returning to work. Carver Industries is required by OSHA to report Matthew’s injury.

Succession planning is a type of management development program that focuses on planning and filling lower and middle-management positions.

Cloud computing basically means using statistical techniques, algorithms, and problem-solving to identify relationships among data for the purpose of solving particular problems.

Human resource managers assist line managers with recruiting, hiring, and compensation.

Health care costs have dropped significantly in recent years due to government intervention and the increased use of HMOs.

Conducting a demographic analysis of employees is one of the first steps that a firm should take when determining the labor and financial effects of retiring workers.

According to Vroom’s theory, if expectancy, instrumentality, or valence is equal to zero, there will be no employee motivation.

Workplace accidents occur more often during night shifts than during daytime shifts.

According to the Davis-Bacon Act, when employees work more than 40 hours per week, employers must pay overtime at a rate of at least one-and-a-half times the normal pay for any hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

To help to ensure success for expatriates on international assignment, companies should provide language training to their spouses.

In a career-oriented appraisal, a manager matches an employee’s strengths and weaknesses with a feasible career path and developmental needs.

Comfort, fit, durability, and convenience are primary concerns regarding personal protective equipment.

Firms can predict job performance and employee tenure by analyzing job application information, such as travel experience and education level.

Foreign service premiums compensate expatriates for exceptionally hard living and working conditions at certain foreign locations.

If an employee conducts a personal phone call at work, the employer can legally eavesdrop and monitor the phone call.

While laws exist to protect against discrimination in compensation based on gender and age, no law protects against such discrimination against persons with disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 does not list specific disabilities but provides impairment guidelines instead.

Competency-based job analysis focuses on the knowledge, skills, and behavior of a worker rather than the tasks associated with a particular job.

The alternation ranking method of performance appraisals can be problematic and unfair if all employees have excellent job performance.

Nonstructured interviews are preferred to directive interviews because they are more reliable and valid.

When designing a training evaluation study, most firms prefer to use a time series design instead of a controlled experiment because the time series design correlates change to training while the controlled experiment cannot.

The stipulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act apply to private employers of 50 or more employees.

If an employee earns an incentive in the form of a prize or cash award, the value of the award is not included when calculating the employee’s overtime pay.

According to research, less than one-third of all workers in the U.S. are mentally and emotionally invested in their work.

First impressions created from a candidate’s application forms or personal appearance rarely affect interviewer ratings of candidates.

The Change to Win Coalition was formed by several large unions that left the AFL-CIO due to concerns that the AFL-CIO was not aggressively organizing workers.

Procedural justice refers to the fairness of the process by which a decision is made.

Human resource metrics are used to assess a firm’s HR performance and to compare one firm’s HR performance with that of another firm.

Test validity in employment testing is demonstrated through criterion validity and content validity.

Strategic human resource management means formulating and executing HR systems that produce the employee competencies and behaviors a firm needs to achieve its strategic aims.

Sweet Leaf Tea, a Texas-based maker of bottled iced tea, is a small but fast-growing firm that has gained a loyal following for its use of fresh, organic ingredients in its beverages. Although beverage industry experts recommended that Sweet Leaf replace the organic cane sugar and honey it uses with less costly high-fructose corn syrup, Sweet Leaf refused because of the company’s mission to provide a high-quality, organic beverage to consumers. The 11-year old company has 50 employees, and its products are available in 30% of the U.S. market. Sweet Leaf Tea recently received multi-million dollar investments which will enable the business to expand its national presence.
Which of the following, if true, would best support the argument that Sweet Leaf Tea should implement a corporate-level strategy of concentration?
A) Sweet Leaf Tea can develop a national name by adding new product lines, such as organic snack foods and organic coffee.
B) Sweet Leaf Tea’s marketing research indicates that customers would purchase the organic beverages more frequently if the prices were lower.
C) Market data suggests that customers really only want the tea itself, not related products.
D) Sweet Leaf Tea’s competitors primarily focus their marketing and distribution efforts on regional grocery-store chains rather than big box national retailers.

An employer that uses a screen-reading program to meet the needs of a blind employee is most likely ________.
A) making a reasonable accommodation
B) fulfilling job analysis requirements
C) identifying essential job functions
D) complying with Title VII rules

Carter Vacuums needs to hire 20 new employees to fill positions at its manufacturing facility. The HR department wants to minimize the costs related to screening applicants but also wants the assessment method to be highly valid to the specific jobs. Which of the following would be the best choice for Carter Vacuums?
A) structured interviews
B) cognitive ability tests
C) assessment centers
D) work samples

Which of the following best describes the point method of job evaluation?
A) ranking each job relative to all other jobs based on pay grade
B) categorizing jobs into grades and classes based on specific rules
C) deciding which jobs have a higher number of compensable factors
D) identifying and quantifying the compensable factors present in a job

Which term refers to systematically identifying and eliminating workplace dangers by focusing on the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment?
A) occupational safety program
B) job hazard analysis
C) operational safety review
D) risk management

________ is reducing, usually dramatically, the number of people employed by a firm.
A) Career development
B) Coaching
C) Transfer
D) Downsizing

Jana owns a dry cleaning business and employs 25 people. She needs a safety and accident checklist that is specific to the dry cleaning industry. Jana would most likely find the information she needs on the ________ Web site.
A) SBA
B) O*NET
C) EEOC
D) OSHA

The purpose of the Web site of “FirstStep Employment Law Advisor” is to help small employers to ________.
A) determine which state regulations are relevant to their business
B) file their tax forms and pay their federal and state taxes
C) realize which federal laws apply to their business
D) receive legal advice for specific HR problems

________ is “the process of assessing exposures to loss within an operation and determining how best to eliminate, manage or otherwise reduce the risk of an adverse event from having a negative impact on the business.”
A) Workplace safety
B) Security
C) Crisis management
D) Risk management

Which of the following requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees?
A) Civil Rights Act of 1991
B) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
C) Equal Pay Act
D) Disability Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

According to surveys, at work, fair treatment reflects concrete actions such as, “Employees are treated with respect and ________.”
A) properly served
B) treated fairly
C) terminated
D) not abused

Rebekah was hired soon after graduation and assigned to complete a management trainee program. She will move to various jobs each month for a nine-month period of time. Her employer is utilizing the ________ form of training.
A) job rotation
B) understudy
C) job expansion
D) informal learning

What are the two main components of organizational justice?
A) distributive justice and normative judgments
B) procedural justice and distributive justice
C) normative justice and ethical treatment
D) interactional justice and ethical justice

Which legislation was responsible for the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
A) Equal Pay Act of 1963
B) Civil Rights Act of 1866
C) Executive Orders 11246 and 11375
D) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act

Which of the following is the primary advantage of using management assessment centers in the selection process?
A) Development costs are very low.
B) Minimal time is required for test administration.
C) Industrial psychologists are involved in the testing process.
D) Experts observe and appraise each candidate’s leadership potential.

Sweet Leaf Tea, a Texas-based maker of bottled iced tea, is a small but fast-growing firm that has gained a loyal following for its use of fresh, organic ingredients in its beverages. Although beverage industry experts recommended that Sweet Leaf replace the organic cane sugar and honey it uses with less costly high-fructose corn syrup, Sweet Leaf refused because of the company’s mission to provide a high-quality, organic beverage to consumers. The 11-year old company has 50 employees, and its products are available in 30% of the U.S. market. Sweet Leaf Tea recently received multi-million dollar investments which will enable the business to expand its national presence.
Which of the following, if true, would most likely undermine the argument that Sweet Leaf Tea should implement a corporate-level strategy of vertical integration?
A) Sweet Leaf Tea lacks the facilities or knowledge to produce the raw ingredients for its beverages.
B) Market research suggests that Sweet Leaf Tea customers primarily purchase only one flavor of tea.
C) Most loyal customers of Sweet Leaf Tea purchase the beverage at neighborhood convenience stores.
D) Sugar farmers used by Sweet Leaf Tea have agreed to a fixed price for the next five years so that the company can keep prices low.

The fourth step in conducting a job analysis most likely involves collecting data about all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A) required employee abilities
B) typical working conditions
C) employee turnover rates
D) specific job activities

Which of the following measures reliability by administering two different yet comparable tests and then comparing the two test scores?
A) retest estimate
B) equivalent form estimate
C) internal comparison estimate
D) criterion validity measurement

Who contributes funds for workers’ compensation benefits?
A) state governments
B) federal government
C) insurance providers
D) employers

According to OSHA, employers must report occupational injuries that result in any of the following EXCEPT ________.
A) first aid treatment
B) loss of consciousness
C) restriction of motion
D) transfer to another job

All of the following are characteristics of a job posting EXCEPT ________.
A) listing the job’s attributes
B) providing the job’s pay rate
C) publicizing the open job to employees
D) indicating the preferred number of applicants

Which term refers to ranking of employees from best to worst on a trait or traits, choosing highest than lowest until all are ranked?
A) performance management
B) paired comparison
C) alternation ranking
D) direction sharing

Which of the following gives employees the right to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining?
A) Equal Pay Act
B) Civil Rights Act
C) Fair Labor Standards Act
D) National Labor Relations Act

Dick’s Sporting Goods is a sports and fitness retailer with over 300 stores in 34 states. After beginning as a small bait and tackle shop in 1948, Dick’s has grown to become a leader in the sports and fitness retail industry. Many career opportunities are available in Dick’s in areas as diverse as IT, product development, merchandising, and store management. Top management at Dick’s realizes the importance of hiring and retaining quality employees. As a result, the firm has decided to implement policies, practices, and programs that support employees’ career needs.
All of the following questions are relevant to Dick’s Sporting Goods’ decision to implement a career development program EXCEPT:
A) What is the average length of time that an employee works for Dick’s Sporting Goods?
B) How would the profits of Dick’s Sporting Goods be affected by a change in hiring practices?
C) What are the career needs and opportunities available to minorities and women employed by Dick’s Sporting Goods?
D) What will be the effect on recruiting and placement if employees’ interests and attitudes are taken into consideration by the HR department at Dick’s Sporting Goods?

The current global average of employee engagement is:
A) 23%
B) 44%
C) 61%
D) 83%

Which of the following statements most likely suggests that an employee is engaged?
A) “I work with intensity.”
B) “I take frequent breaks.”
C) “I daydream at my desk.”
D) “I enjoy talking to co-workers.”

Race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is a motivating factor in a particular termination case, but the employee would have been terminated for failure to perform anyway. Which of the following most likely exists in this situation?
A) mixed motive
B) disparate impact
C) liability defense
D) burden of proof

Which of the following Web sites was developed by the U.S. Department of Labor and serves as a source for managers who need to write job descriptions?
A) bls.gov
B) opm.gov
C) usajobs.gov
D) onetcenter.org

Mark Caffrey, vice president of sales at Samson Pharmaceuticals, manages a sales team of ten employees. Members of Mark’s sales force vary in experience level. Four members of the sales team have worked at Samson for less than one year. The other six salespeople have been with Samson anywhere from three to seven years. Mark recently received the annual sales report and noticed that sales have been dropping steadily over the last year. Mark is considering the idea of providing training to his sales team as a way to boost sales.
Which of the following best supports the argument that the drop in Samson’s sales can be solved through training?
A) Attitude surveys sent to Samson personnel suggest that the firm’s elimination of year-end bonuses has angered many employees.
B) Recent studies suggest that sales of name-brand pharmaceuticals, such as Samson, are dropping as more people are choosing to use generic drugs instead.
C) The rising costs associated with college recruiting have forced Samson to hire sales associates through online job sites.
D) Members of the sales team have expressed that they do not fully understand the benefits and side effects of the latest medications released by Samson.

Which of the following terms refers to a lump-sum payment given to employees as a reward for moving from one assignment to another?
A) hardship allowance
B) foreign service premium
C) cost-of-living allowance
D) mobility premium

Which of the following industries has one of the highest turnover rates, at around 100% per year?
A) food services
B) financial services
C) healthcare services
D) educational services

Which of the following is the most likely outcome of using the same questions with all candidates being interviewed?
A) responses improved
B) weaknesses revealed
C) reliability limited
D) bias reduced

You are a supervisor at a large manufacturing firm. What should and shouldn’t you do during organizing and preelection campaigns?

In a brief essay, describe the forced distribution method. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the forced distribution method?

What benefits are required by federal or state laws? What benefits are discretionary on the part of employers? Describe the basic nature of several of these benefits.

In a brief essay, discuss some of the reasons for declining union membership. Do you think this is good or bad for the U.S. economy and U.S. businesses? Why?

Explain the advantages of employee stock ownership plans.

What are the two primary arguments available to employers when defending against sexual harassment liability? What two defenses are available to employers fighting discriminatory practice allegations?

What are the essential steps of the performance appraisal process?

What steps can employers take to prevent the entry or spread of infectious diseases in the workplace?

What is organizational culture? How can managers influence the ethical nature of a firm’s culture?

How can employers protect themselves against negligent hiring?

In a brief essay, explain what workforce planning is and how it fits with the organization’s strategic planning.

Industrial psychologists often emphasize the “big five” personality dimensions in personnel testing. List and explain the meaning of the big five dimensions. How do personality traits correlate with job performance?

On-demand workers are a developing part of the workforce. In a brief essay, explain what on-demand workers are and how they impact organizations.

What is the significance of Title VII? What has been the effect of Title VII on the modern workforce and diversity management?

What three ways can selection interviews be classified? How does each classification affect an interview?

What are the three types of benefits provided by Social Security?

Why are tests and other screening tools an important aspect of employee selection? What rights do test takers have during the testing process?