Chapter 17—Employee Rights: Working Toward Mutual Respect
1. Affirmative Action was originally designed to correct past discriminatory practices against minorities
and women.
2. Laws in the area of employee rights change rapidly and an attorney should be consulted concerning
updated information on federal, state, and local regulations.
3. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on age.
4. Companies should be concerned with respecting employee rights.
5. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act requires employers to hold jobs open for pregnant women initially
regardless of how long jobs are held open for nonpregnant individuals.
6. The Family Medical Leave Act allows an eligible employee to take 15 weeks of unpaid leave for a
personal illness.
7. The Wagner Act calls for management to stop interfering with union organizing efforts and defined
unfair labor practices.
8. Workers’ compensation is funded through taxes paid by the employee.
9. If you feel that you have had your rights violated, you should first attempt to work out a solution with
your employer before resorting to outside help.
10. The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women who have the same background and qualifications be
paid the same wages for equivalent work.
11. Health standards address the role of the working environment in the development of diseases and
illnesses such as cancer and black lung.
12. To qualify for exemption, employees usually need to meet certain tests regarding job duties and be
paid more than $455 per week.
13. The employee has the right to refuse to work if a danger exists that is considered life threatening.
14. Not everyone is entitled to overtime pay when working more than 40 hours a week.
15. Funding for Social Security benefits will continue to be an issue in the 21st century due to the large
number of individuals who will be receiving benefits.
16. All employers and employees are required to participate in Social Security.
17. Workers’ compensation pays benefits to those who are involuntarily unemployed.
18. Requests for sexual favors on the job are sexual harassment if the requests are welcomed.
19. Employers have found that by offering more than the minimum benefits required, they are better able
to attract and retain good employees.
20. Employment at will means that an employee serves at the discretion of an employer and can be
terminated at any time for any reason.
21. Public employees at work have fewer rights to free speech than do private employees.
22. A union is a group or association of workers who collectively bargain with employers for improved
working conditions related to employment.
23. Employers can discriminate against smokers by not hiring them.
24. In general, employers do not have the right to search employee packages, files, desks, and cars.
25. The working conditions most often bargained for in negotiations between unions and management are
hours, wages, and benefits.
26. Dress codes that are reasonably related to the business needs of a company
a.
Violate employee rights and are illegal
b.
Are no longer in existence in American businesses today
c.
Have generally been upheld by courts, particularly if they are clear, consistently enforced,
and communicated
27. Protection from termination for reporting illegal activities at work is generally afforded only to
a.
Private employees
b.
State and federal employees and employees in publicly traded companies
c.
Neither answer is correct.
28. A company is required to hold a job open for a woman on maternity leave the same length of time that
jobs are held open for
a.
employees who are on sick leave or disability but not pregnant
b.
employees out on sick leave or disability but are pregnant
c.
all employees
29. Employers can legally discriminate if they are able to prove the existence of
a.
Bona fide occupational qualifications
b.
Bonsai qualifications
c.
Boutique occupational qualifications
30. The right for employees to form unions and collectively bargain with management on employment
issues was established by the
a.
Landrum-Griffin Act
b.
Taft-Hartley Act
c.
Wagner Act
31. Sexual harassment can be committed by
a.
Men only
b.
Women only
c.
Both men and women
32. The act that protects individuals from discrimination because of a disability is the
a.
Americans with Disabilities Act
b.
Immigration Reform and Control Act
c.
The Davis Bacon Act
33. The Occupational Safety and Health Act
a.
Is concerned only with the health and safety of federal employees
b.
Sets health and safety standards for American businesses
c.
Was passed in 1950
34. Companies are concerned with the health and safety of employees because
a.
Employment-related injuries and diseases cost companies money
b.
Healthy workers are more productive
c.
Both answers are correct
35. Companies who do business with the federal, state and local government are required to develop and
implement
a.
An affirmative action program
b.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender discrimination program
c.
Both answers are required
36. Employees who quit
a.
Are allowed to draw unemployment compensation
b.
Are not allowed to draw unemployment compensation
c.
Are allowed to draw workers’ compensation
37. The act that regulates employee benefits is called the
a.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
b.
The Walsh-Healy Act
c.
The Fair Labor Standards Act
38. The employment at will doctrine
a.
Is becoming stronger in the United States
b.
Has been banned in the United States
c.
Is eroding in the United States
39. The Family Medical Leave Act requires that
a.
Male and female employees with equivalent backgrounds and experience be paid equal
wages for equivalent work
b.
Employers extend medical benefits to employees who would otherwise be ineligible for
health care coverage
c.
Neither answer is correct.
40. The Americans with Disabilities Act
a.
Prohibits discrimination against employees with disabilities
b.
Requires all companies to hire disabled people even if they are not the most qualified
c.
Was passed 15 years ago
41. ____________________ compensates those who have been physically or mentally injured on the job.
42. ____________________ is the process of making a difference in treatment based on a factor other
than individual merit.
43. ____________________ generally refers to hazards that can result in a direct injury, whereas health
refers to the role of the working environment in the development of diseases and illnesses.
44. The concept that an employee serves at the discretion of an employer and can be terminated at any
time for any reason is called ____________________.
45. The act that mandates retirement, survivors’, and disability insurance is the ____________________.
46. The act that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin is
____________________.
47. The ____________________ allows states to prohibit both the closed and the union shop contract
agreements and gives the worker the choice of union membership.
48. The act responsible for setting the minimum wage, equal-pay, overtime, and child-labor standards is
the ____________________.
49. The act that regulates safety and health in the workplace is called the ____________________.
50. ____________________ is the publication of a false statement tending to harm the reputation of a
person.