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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
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True / False
1. The Federal Employment Liability Act (FELA) was passed in the year 1908.
a. True
b. False
2. The Federal Employment Liability Act (FELA) was enacted in recognition of the incredible number of casualties in the
mining industry.
a. True
b. False
3. Unemployment compensation litigation starts with the active worker’s application for benefits.
a. True
b. False
4. Workers’ compensation, as it has been instituted in virtually every state, is a statutory tradeoff.
a. True
b. False
5. Workers’ compensation has been left primarily to the states to administer.
a. True
b. False
6. For a person to be “fully insured” by social security, he or she must accrue a minimum of thirty quarters of
contributions.
a. True
b. False
7. Younger people must earn some social security credits to qualify for disability benefits.
a. True
b. False
8. Under the social security system, a worker is considered disabled when a severe physical or mental impairment
prevents that person from working for a year or more or is expected to result in the victim’s death.
a. True
b. False
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9. The provisions of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) apply to employee benefit plans established by
federal government.
a. True
b. False
10. Social Security is a state funded and administered program.
a. True
b. False
11. The two main features of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)—the imposition of standards for
fiduciary conduct and responsibility and the setting of minimum standards for pension plan requirements—have different
bases for their coverage.
a. True
b. False
12. Persons not normally considered fiduciaries, such as consultants or advisers, may be found to be fiduciaries when their
expertise is used in a managerial, administrative, or advisory capacity by the plan.
a. True
b. False
13. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act imposes standards of conduct and responsibility on fiduciaries of
benefit plans established or maintained by employers and unions engaged in or affecting interstate commerce.
a. True
b. False
14. Any individual with a claim against the fund used for benefit plans can directly seek legal remedies from the courts
without proceeding an internal arbitration.
a. True
b. False
Multiple Choice
15. The Federal Employment Liability Act is a federal law designed to protect and compensate the injured:
a. disabled workers.
b. railroad workers.
c. war veterans.
d. minors in employment.
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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
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16. In the case of a railroad worker accident brought to court in the 1900s, one of the defenses the railroad company used
against the plaintiff was the “fellow–servant” doctrine. What does this refer to?
a. The claims for such incidents are usually settled out-of-court, as between fellows.
b. The company is not a separate entity above the employee, but a colleague and a caretaker.
c. The injured employee had assumed responsibility of the risks involved.
d. The accident is attributed to the negligence of the co-worker.
17. Which of the following is not true of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)?
a. It sets standards of conduct and responsibility upon pension fund fiduciaries.
b. It applies to plans maintained solely for the purpose of complying with state workers’ compensation.
c. It requires pension plan administrators to disclose relevant financial information to employees and the
government.
d. It provides legal remedies to employees and their beneficiaries in the event of violations.
18. Which of the following is not true regarding minimum standards under the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act?
a. The minimum standards for pension plans must be met for the employee pension plans to qualify for preferential
tax treatment.
b. Preferential tax treatment enables an employer to deduct contributions to qualified benefit plans immediately.
c. ERISA does not consider the deductions as income to participating employees until they receive the payments
after retirement.
d. Compliance to ERISA minimum standards by qualifying their benefit plans is mandatory.
19. Benefits paid to employees out of work through no fault of their own and who are available for suitable work if and
when it becomes available falls under the category of:
a. unemployment compensation.
b. workers’ compensation.
c. welfare benefits.
d. pension plans.
20. The high level of fault which serves to disqualify an out-of-work worker from unemployment compensation is called:
a. employment-at-will.
b. negligence.
c. willful misconduct.
d. third-party recoveries.
21. An employee who quits his job under normal conditions is not eligible to apply for:
a. pension benefits.
b. retirement insurance benefits.
c. workers’ compensation.
d. unemployment benefits.
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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
Retirement Plans
22. Which of the following is not true of unemployment claims litigations?
a. Unemployment compensation litigation usually starts with a terminated worker’s application for benefits.
b. The unemployment claim is usually evaluated in the first instance by an unemployment office or agency in the
area where the worker resides.
c. Regardless of whether the decision is favorable or unfavorable, an appeal is not possible.
d. Unemployment benefits are paid for by a tax on the wages of the workers and an equal levy on the employer’s
total payroll.
23. The unemployment claim is usually evaluated in the first instance by an unemployment officer or agency in the area
where the:
a. employee was terminated.
b. office is located.
c. employee was hired.
d. worker resides.
24. Sophisticated employers recognize that unemployment compensation claims must be considered within the context of
the company’s:
a. compensation benefits strategy.
b. insurance plans.
c. total human resource strategy.
d. corporate policy.
25. In Label Systems Corp. v. Aghamohammadi, the defendants were terminated from employment alleging willful and
felonious misconduct. The plaintiff filed a three-count complaint against the defendants and the defendants
counterclaimed against the plaintiff by filing a third-party complaint. The jury in this case found that the plaintiffs were
liable for vexatious litigation. The trial court denied several post-trial motions filed by both parties, awarded Label
Systems $19,460.17 in punitive damages, and rendered judgment in accordance with the jury’s verdict. The Supreme
Court concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying the plaintiffs’:
a. default judgment.
b. punitive damages.
c. motion to dismiss.
d. motion for remittitur.
26. An employee’s injury must be work-related in order to be eligible for:
a. medicare.
b. unemployment compensation.
c. workers’ compensation.
d. insurance benefits.
27. The disqualifications of an out-of-work employee include:
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a. unemployment.
b. current welfare benefits.
c. willful misconduct.
d. whistleblowing.
28. Which of the following is not a contentious case of injury or illness covered under workers compensation?
a. Injuries resulting from faulty design of the machinery used in the production floor.
b. An employee killed by a stranger when the employee is on a vacation.
c. Injuries occurring when the employee is “on the road,” especially if the trip began from the employee’s home.
d. Chronic illnesses such as lung disease, especially if contributing factors include workplace hazards (e.g., dust) in
combination with personal behavior (e.g., smoking).
29. Verona Meyer was employed by Sonrise at Burger King. On April 26, 1995 during the course of her employment, she
lost her footing and struck her lower abdomen on the corner of a table. Later that evening, Verona went to the hospital and
delivered a baby, Patricia. In April 1998, the Meyers, on behalf of themselves and their daughter filed a suit against
Sonrise for negligence and unsafe working conditions. The Washington Supreme Court in this case, upholding Patricia’s
right to a remedy because she is a person exercising her retroactive right to recover for prenatal injuries:
a. did not recognize fetus as a person in the whole sense.
b. agreed that the fetus’ injury occurred simultaneously with the mother’s.
c. expressly agreed to allow the employer to bar pregnant employees from the workplace.
d. ruled her case as vexatious litigation against the employer.
30. In Meyer v. Burger King Corporation, the Washington Supreme Court declined to limit the child’s remedy to the
provisions of the:
a. Fair Labor Standards Act.
b. Workers’ Compensation Act.
c. National Labor Relations Act.
d. Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
31. In the 1990 case of Adams Fruit Co., Inc. v. Barrett, the Supreme Court held that workers could bring suit for
violations of specific federal legislation despite the fact that:
a. the employer has filed for bankruptcy protection.
b. the employer was willing to provide reemployment to retrenched employees.
c. the injury inflicted was not proven to be work-related.
d. they had received benefits under the state workers’ compensation law.
32. The Jones Act is applicable to:
a. sailors.
b. retirees.
c. medical professionals.
d. war veterans.
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33. Although ERISA has sweeping preemptive impact on most state laws, it specifically exempts _____ from its
preemptive powers.
a. state workers’ compensation laws
b. retired pensioners’ benefit laws
c. immigrant laborers’ compensation laws
d. health care providers’ compensation laws
34. The Social Security system was originally formed as:
a. a benefit and health insurance plan.
b. retirement and survivor’s insurance.
c. social welfare benefits for minorities.
d. a voluntary retirement and health insurance plan.
35. Which of the following is not a category under the Social Security system?
a. Retirement insurance benefits
b. Medicare
c. Unemployment benefits
d. Disability
36. The original and the main purpose of the Social Security system is to provide partial replacement of earnings when:
a. an employee is discharged due to work-related injuries.
b. a worker decides it is time to retire.
c. a family loses an earning member to work-related accident.
d. a minority worker is unable to find “profitable” employment.
37. Under the Social Security system, monthly benefits are payable to a retired insured worker from age _____ onward.
a. fifty-five
b. fifty-eight
c. sixty-two
d. sixty-five
38. For a person to be “fully insured” by social security, he or she must accrue a minimum of _____ quarters of
contributions.
a. twenty
b. forty
c. fifty
d. thirty-five
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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
Retirement Plans
39. A worker who applies for social security benefits and is receiving them at age sixty-five is automatically covered
under part A of:
a. Medicare benefits.
b. unemployment compensation.
c. workers’ compensation.
d. disability benefits.
40. Under Part B of Medicare benefits, one-fourth of the premium is paid by the _____, whereas the other three-fourths
are covered by the _____ general revenues.
a. employer; state government’s
b. beneficiary; federal government’s
c. state government; employer’s
d. employer; pension commission’s
41. How much should a worker be credited when he becomes disabled between the ages of thirty-one and forty-two?
a. Twenty-five quarters
b. Thirty-two quarters
c. Twenty quarters
d. Forty-five quarters
42. In Baker v. Commissioner of Social Sec., the plaintiff was:
a. found disabled under the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
b. provided benefits after appeal.
c. denied benefits.
d. disabled under the meaning of the Social Security Act.
43. Welfare plans usually provide participating employees and their beneficiaries with all of the following except:
a. unemployment benefits.
b. medical coverage.
c. pension benefits.
d. death benefits.
44. What kind of benefit is provided for disabled people under Social Security?
a. Subsidized housing
b. Legal assistance
c. Vocational rehabilitation
d. Anti-discriminatory privileges
45. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) sets the standards for pension plans on all of the following
aspects except:
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a. fiduciary conduct.
b. asset management.
c. information disclosure.
d. plan taxation.
46. Which one of the following is not true of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)?
a. It sets the minimum standards and requirements that the pension plan must meet.
b. It seeks to ensure that all employees covered by pension plans receive the benefits due them under the plans.
c. It does not apply to employee benefit plans that are established by federal, state, or local government employers.
d. It requires an employer to provide a pension plan for its employees.
47. The minimum standards for pension plans must be met for the plan to qualify for:
a. liquidity benefits.
b. preferential tax treatment.
c. federal accreditation.
d. FELA status.
48. The fiduciary duties and conduct standards apply to any employee benefit plan established or maintained by an
employer or in an industry or activity engaged in or affecting:
a. interstate commerce.
b. health care.
c. internal security.
d. international trade.
49. In Ruby v. Sandia Corp., the plaintiff lost:
a. his disability benefits.
b. his pension.
c. his workers’ compensation benefits.
d. All of these answers.
Subjective Short Answer
50. Which are the two enactments that predated the National Labor Relations Act and Workers’ Compensation laws?
51. What is the purpose of Federal Employment Liability Act (FELA)?
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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
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52. What can disqualify an out-of-work worker from receiving unemployment compensation?
53. Define unemployment compensation.
54. Define willful misconduct.
55. When are workers’ compensation benefits awarded?
56. What constitutes disability under the Social Security system?
57. What are the three major benefits that fall under the Social Security system?
58. What is the main purpose of Social Security?
59. What are the two types of benefit plans established under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)?
Essay
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Chapter 21: The Employee’s Safety Nets: Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security, and
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60. Explain the concept of litigating unemployment claims.
61. Discuss workers’ compensation.
62. Explain the three major categories of the Social Security system.
63. Explain the role of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
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64. Explain the concept of a fiduciary.