1. Employees have enjoyed steadily improving work conditions.
a. True
b. False
2. The social contract has been changing to reflect society’s expanded expectations of business.
a. True
b. False
3. The new social contract is driven by globalization and the declining labor movement.
a. True
b. False
4. Labor unions have vigorously pursued civil liberties for employees in the workplace, but have not had much success.
a. True
b. False
5. Belief in the “good cause norm” is a primary principle underlying the doctrine of employment–at-will.
a. True
b. False
6. Court decisions are gradually eroding the employment-at-will doctrine.
a. True
b. False
7. Most bad reasons for firing employees are already illegal.
a. True
b. False
8. The concept of due process is a basis for the employment-at-will doctrine.
a. True
b. False
9. Due process is one of the most frequently proclaimed employee rights issues of the last decade.
a. True
b. False
10. The success of peer review panels depends on whether the panelists are elected or appointed
a. True
b. False
11. The trend toward using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is growing.
a. True
b. False
12. Some employers are requiring that their new hires sign contracts that waive their right to sue the firm and accept
mandatory arbitration to settle disputes.
a. True
b. False
13. Whistle-blowing is primarily a due process issue.
a. True
b. False
14. Studies of whistle-blowers indicate that many are praised by their peers and managers, and often receive promotions
for their actions.
a. True
b. False
15. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act makes whistle-blowing much easier.
a. True
b. False
16. The False Claims Act is relatively new legislation, passed in response to the scandals of Enron, WorldCom, and
others.
a. True
b. False
17. Whistle-blowing against abuse of government by private companies is making a comeback, due to the False Claims
Act.
a. True
b. False
18. A good way to avert whistle-blowing is for management to make a visible effort to listen and be responsive to
employees’ concerns.
a. True
b. False
19. One recommendation for dismissing employees is to fire employees in common work areas.
a. True
b. False
20. A major exception to the employment-at-will doctrine is the public policy exception.
a. True
b. False
21. The new social contract is being driven by
a. the employee rights movement.
b. technology.
c. deregulation.
d. global competition.
22. Workers’ trust in their employers is
a. at an all-time high.
b. a reciprocal relationship.
c. based on the employee rights movement.
d. higher in small companies than in large firms.
23. Today’s employees are looking for
a. competitive pay and benefits.
b. opportunities for professional growth.
c. meaningful work.
d. all of these.
24. Which one of the following is not a difference between the old social contract and the new?
a. lifetime careers with one employer vs. fewer life careers
b. loyalty to employer vs. loyalty to self and profession
c. focus on team accomplishments vs. focus on team building
d. stable positions vs. temporary assignments
25. The new social contract is placing on employees more responsibility for
a. planning their retirement funding.
b. career management.
c. their own successful career/job and future in the employment relationship.
d. their co-workers’ advancement in the organization.
26. All the following are true of the new social contract except
a. focus on teambuilding projects
b. communication through technology
c. pay that reflects contributions
d. loyalty to employer
27. The new free agent workers will be
a. highly educated scientists and managers.
b. more proactive about their work environments.
c. more loyal to good employers than were their predecessors.
d. willing to move overseas to pursue good opportunities.
28. Private corporations have not had to recognize employee rights because
a. they are exempted from doing so by federal law.
b. society has honored the corporation’s private property rights.
c. employees have never demanded them.
d. management has been separated from ownership.
29. Employee rights are
a. encompassed in private property law.
b. guaranteed by the Constitution.
c. spelled out in labor union contracts.
d. justifiable claims that utility cannot override.
30. Rights provided by law are called
a. inherent rights.
b. statutory rights.
c. enterprise rights.
d. negotiated rights.
31. Workers’ rights provided through union contracts are established
a. by law.
b. through collective bargaining.
c. by the employer.
d. within an overarching framework of common law.
32. Enterprise rights are derived from
a. employer promises.
b. labor demands.
c. negotiated contracts.
d. the labor market.
33. Employee rights can be based on any of the following except
a. economic grounds.
b. religious grounds.
c. legal grounds.
d. ethical grounds.
34. The belief that employees should only be discharged for good reasons is the
a. justice as fairness principle.
b. employment-at-will doctrine.
c. good cause norm.
d. sphere of justice principle.
35. Under the employment-at-will doctrine, the only illegal reason for firing someone is
a. fraud.
b. discrimination.
c. belonging to a union.
d. poor financial performance.
36. The idea that the relationship between a worker and employer is voluntary and can be terminated at any time, by either
party, is the
a. employment-at-will doctrine.
b. due process principle.
c. corporate governance system.
d. arbitrary employment doctrine.
37. The exception that protects employees from being fired because they refuse to commit crimes or take advantage of
privileges to which they are entitled by law is
a. common law.
b. the employee protection principle.
c. the public policy exception.
d. the fair employment loophole.
38. ____ was protection for federal employees who expose illegal, corrupt, or wasteful government activities.
a. Employment-At–Will Doctrine
b. False Claims Act
c. Civil Service Reform Act
d. Michigan Whistle-Blowers Protection Act
39. Employer promises that they may not even know they made are called
a. inherent intentions.
b. implied contracts.
c. public policies.
d. good faith promises.
40. If employers do not give unsatisfactory employees every reasonable opportunity to improve their performance before
being fired, the company may have violated
a. the worker’s right to free speech.
b. the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
c. fair trade agreements.
d. the good faith principle.
41. The good cause norm is the opposite of
a. the employment at will doctrine.
b. the reason for wrongful discharge.
c. the belief that employees should be discharged only for good reasons.
d. based on private property rights.
42. Which of the following is not an action that managers should take when terminating employees?
a. Fire employees in a private space
b. Email the employee the termination
c. Preserve the employee’s dignity
d. Use transparent criteria for layoffs
43. The right to receive an impartial review of one’s complaints and to be dealt with fairly is known as
a. the right to a fair and speedy trial.
b. the right to trial by a jury of one’s peers.
c. good faith bargaining.
d. due process.