Q&A Hero

Q: Which of the following is NOT a protected characteristic by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964? A) sexual orientation B) race C) national origin D) religion

Q: Based upon the FLSA child labor provisions, what is the minimum age that a child must be in order to be legally employed? A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 19

Q: Which of the following examples is NOT considered a compensable work activity? A) A fireman plays checkers while waiting for an alarm. B) An employee attends an employer-mandated training. C) An employee travels from home before the regular workday and returns home at the end of the workday. D) An employee takes a 15-minute rest during work time.

Q: An employee has a regular hourly rate equal to $10 and works 45 hours within a period of 7 consecutive days. What is the total amount the employer should pay this employee for 45 work hours? A) $425 B) $450 C) $475 D) $500

Q: An employee has a regular hourly rate equal to $12. According to FLSA, how much should her/his employer pay this employee for each additional hour worked beyond the regular 40 hours within a period of 7 consecutive days? A) $12 B) $14 C) $16 D) $18

Q: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution made it illegal to restrict the freedom of religion, speech, and press, as well as protect the right of people to peacefully assemble? A) Article 1, Section 8 B) First Amendment C) Fifth Amendment D) Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1

Q: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, individual states, and Indian Tribes? A) First Amendment B) Fourteenth Amendment, Section 1 C) Fifth Amendment D) Article I, Section 8

Q: Briefly summarize right-to-work laws as well as the impact on unionization and compensation.

Q: Workers join unions to influence ________-related decisions, especially when they are dissatisfied with job security, wages, benefits, and supervisory practices.

Q: Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford have departed from which of the following bargaining patterns as they seek to secure higher hourly pay rates for automobile workers? A) guarded B) concessionary C) heightened D) compensationary

Q: The decline in union influence can be explained by which of the following reasons? A) a greater sense of social responsibility in today's society B) lower educational attainment of the workforce C) the cooperative nature of the union and management relationship in Germany D) foreign automobile manufacturers producing higher quality vehicles

Q: Many nonunion companies offer higher compensation than they would if unions were nonexistent. What is this phenomenon called? A) progressive compensation B) the spillover effect C) concessionary bargaining D) inter-industry compensation differentials

Q: Antidiscrimination laws have contributed to which of the following? A) some of the decline in union influence B) all of the decline in union influence C) stronger human capital D) spillover effect

Q: Jing is considering whether to take a job placement in Los Angeles, California or Mobile, Alabama. Before deciding, she is interested in understanding the cost-of-living differences between both places. Jing will consult a ________ comparison calculator to inform her decision.

Q: In which important way are relative pay and pay rate differentials consistent? A) magnitude B) direction C) absolute value D) direction and absolute value

Q: When considering cost-of-living differences between locations, which type of costs stand out? A) housing B) education C) health care D) food and energy

Q: In San Francisco, the typical pay in the installation, maintenance, and repair occupation exceeded the national average by 44 percent. In Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the rate was 9 percent less than the national average. What do these statistics represent? A) capital intensity effects B) pay rate differentials C) interindustry wage differentials D) relative pay differentials

Q: Why do pay rate differentials not fully match relative pay differentials? A) Pay relative differential measures control for the influence of various variables, and pay rate differentials do not. B) Pay rate differential measures control for the influence of various variables, and relative pay differentials do not. C) It is difficult to determine the reason for these measures not fully matching. D) The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) minimum wage provision influences relative pay differentials.

Q: Define what an occupation is. Using the example of pharmacists and a pharmacy technician in Chapter 2, explain the rationale for differences in pay within this occupation.

Q: What decision did Wal-Mart make due to the difficulty of hiring well-qualified workers, since the unemployment rate has declined? A) Wal-Mart has increased advertising to inform the public that it is a good place to work. B) Wal-Mart introduced incentive pay to augment base pay. C) Wal-Mart decided to offer employees health insurance. D) Wal-Mart substantially increased its starting pay rate.

Q: A common, but mistaken assumption, is that high demand for workers applies only to which kind of jobs? A) medical doctors B) low-skilled jobs C) highly skilled jobs D) information security analysts

Q: Which factors account for considerable variation in pay within occupations? A) employment laws B) interindustry wage differentials C) relevant labor market D) knowledge, skills, and abilities

Q: Which factors account for considerable variation in pay between occupations? A) employment laws B) interindustry wage differentials C) relevant labor market D) knowledge, skills, and abilities

Q: Define capital intensity and explain how it relates to compensation outcomes.

Q: On average, Gina would be more likely to earn ________ money if she were to work as a sales clerk for a department store rather than as an assembly technician in an aircraft engine manufacturing plant.

Q: Which of the following is typically the case for companies that operate in product markets where there is relatively little competition from other companies? A) lower wages and lower profits B) lower wages and higher profits C) higher wages and higher profits D) higher wages and lower profits

Q: Compared to the duration of most training in capital intensive industries, service industry training tends to be which of the following? A) the same cost B) shorter C) longer D) higher cost

Q: Which term best describes the extent to which companies' operations are based on the use of large-scale equipment? A) manufacturing capital intensity B) human capital intensity C) capital intensity D) financial capital intensity

Q: John and Mark hold equivalent secretarial jobs, but John, who makes 20 percent more than Mark, is employed by a manufacturing firm while Mark is employed by a department store. Based on this information, which of the following best explains this pay differential? A) interindustry wage differentials B) differences in human capital intensity C) merit exception of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 D) John's stronger negotiation skills

Q: What is a constituency? How does it affect the HR department?

Q: Which stakeholder group turns to compensation professionals for advice about appropriate pay rates for jobs?

Q: Which of the following group is a stakeholder within a company? A) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission B) Department of Labor C) prospective employees D) line managers

Q: The success of HR departments depends on how well they serve the interests of which of the following stakeholder groups? A) employees, line managers, executives, unions, and the U.S. government B) unions and the U.S. government C) executives and shareholders D) employees and line managers

Q: This group is directly involved in producing goods and delivering services for a company. A) staff employees B) line employees C) managers D) executives

Q: Due to the recent economic downturn, XYZ Co. decided to shut down one of its appliance manufacturing plants in the United States, and therefore around 300 workers were laid off. XYZ Co. has chosen to award laid-off workers 6 months of ________ pay.

Q: Employment ________ occurs when an employee's agreement to perform work is ended, whether it is voluntarily or involuntarily.

Q: Companies that implement ________ and ________ plans generally increase the amount of classroom and on-the-job training as these types of plans make training necessary rather than optional.

Q: The demand for human resource professionals is ________.

Q: Oftentimes, companies use this method to trim their payroll responsibilities by encouraging higher paid workers with more seniority to voluntarily leave the company earlier than previously planned. A) resignation plans B) severance plans C) early retirement programs D) employee expenditure plans

Q: Which type of professional is involved in the compensation functions such as building job structures, market competitive pay systems, and merit pay structures? A) compensation generalist B) HR specialist C) compensation specialist D) HR generalist

Q: This agreement describes the terms of employment that are set between management and union bargaining representatives. A) employee relationship agreement B) collective bargaining agreement C) joint employment agreement D) workplace requisite agreement

Q: What are the three goals of compensation professionals?

Q: Which of the following represents the pay rate differences for jobs and employee contributions of unequal worth to a company? A) merit pay B) incentive pay C) retention pay D) pay structures

Q: These compensation systems go a long way in attracting and retaining the most qualified employees and are based upon market and compensation surveys. A) internally consistent compensation systems B) market-competitive pay systems C) job evaluation compensation systems D) externally consistent compensation systems

Q: What do compensation managers use to recognize differences in the relative worth of jobs and to establish pay differentials based upon management priorities? A) job evaluation B) internal consistency C) job analysis D) strategic analysis

Q: Sandra's position changed from supervisor at the planning department to supervisor at the new projects department. In terms of career development, which of the following describes Sandra's situation? A) maintaining focus with less responsibilities B) making a lateral move across the company's hierarchy C) moving upward through a company's hierarchy D) maintaining the focus and assuming greater responsibilities

Q: Jason works at a call center for an insurance company, and he has been answering calls regarding auto insurance. Recently, he started to attend a training program about home insurance. Upon successful completion of this training program, Jason will be able to handle home insurance questions and queries as well. If this insurance company has a compensation policy that rewards Jason's completion of this training, then what type of pay system does it employ? A) incentive pay B) merit pay C) seniority pay D) pay-for-knowledge

Q: What type of pay system rewards employees for partially or completely attaining a predetermined work objective? A) seniority pay B) merit pay C) incentive pay D) skill-based pay

Q: Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are typically based on which index? A) Producer Price Index B) Consumer Price Index C) Employment Cost Index D) Employee Benefit Index

Q: This law made it illegal to pay women less for performing equal work as men. A) Equal Pay Act of 1963 B) Civil Rights Act of 1964 C) Davis - Bacon Act of 1931 D) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

Q: What are the three questions that compensation professionals should answer to help determine whether they are making a strategic contribution to the company?

Q: Apple Computer's use of a differentiation strategy promotes both ________ and ________.

Q: Strategic management involves distinguishing between ________ and ________ in attempting to achieve company goals, thus making strategic management an imprecise process.

Q: Saudi Arabia, which is one of the top oil producing countries in the world, continues to pump crude oil even as demand for oil decreases. This activity is considered to be a(n) ________ to other oil producing countries such as the United States.

Q: Which of these actions would HR encourage in attempting to create a lowest-cost competitive strategy? A) an employee's long-term focus B) unpredictable employee behavior C) high concern for the quantity of output D) high concern for the quality of output

Q: A company using this competitive strategy seeks to offer a product or service that is completely unique from other competitors in their market segment. A) differentiation strategy B) defender strategy C) prospector strategy D) lowest-cost strategy

Q: Ryanair uses one type of aircraft in its fleet and requires their passengers to carry their luggage to the plane. Which of the following competitive strategies does Ryanair use? A) differentiation strategy B) high quality strategy C) brand notoriety D) lowest-cost strategy

Q: Which of the following competitive strategies does Apple Computer use? A) lowest-cost strategy B) differentiation strategy C) total quality management strategy D) human capital strategy

Q: This term suggests that a loss is likely for the firm, and that the individual will be left with little control. A) reverse opportunity B) negative equity C) threat D) foreclosure

Q: Discerning threats and opportunities is the main focus of which activity? A) human resource planning B) environmental scanning C) job evaluation D) job analysis

Q: ________ and ________ programs are key to giving employees the necessary knowledge and skills to use new workplace technology effectively.

Q: Cash and equipment such as a mass spectrometer in a research lab are examples of which of the following? A) non liquid assets B) organizational structure C) capital D) liquid assets

Q: In GE's human resource leadership program (HRLP), successful participants will achieve which of the following? A) gain an understanding of the depth of specialization for each (HR) function B) gain an understanding of HR and the production and service sides of the business and help to determine the strategic capabilities of the company's workforce C) gain an understanding of the depth of specialization for each HR function D) gain an understanding of HR from a generalist's perspective

Q: As a strategic business partner, HR and compensation professionals today need to think most like whom? A) vice president of human resources B) chief financial officer (CFO) C) chief executive officer (CEO) D) comptroller

Q: Which of following enables companies to generate income, higher company stock prices, economic value, strong positive brand identity, and reputation? A) capital B) assets C) competency D) human capital

Q: Compensation represents both the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards employees receive for performing their jobs. Together, both intrinsic and extrinsic compensation describe a company's total compensation system. Briefly describe both types of rewards and indicate the professionals who are responsible for managing them.

Q: ________ compensation refers to the mental state of employees as a result of their performance on the job.

Q: Which of the following refers to the planned use of company resources-financial capital, equipment capital, and human capital-to promote and sustain competitive advantage? A) strategic analysis B) comparative analysis C) 360 degree analysis D) competitive business strategy

Q: This concept describes a company's success when the company acquires or develops capabilities that facilitate outperforming the competition. A) differentiation B) capital C) compensation practices D) competitive advantage

Q: Since the economic recession (2007-2009) ended, fewer companies have offered pay increases and, those that do, are offering lower amounts. Approximately, how much have pay increases been? A) less than 2 percent B) 2 percent up to 2.9 percent C) 3 percent up to 3.9 percent D) 4 percent or more

Q: Which of the following is an example of a monetary reward? A) medical insurance B) vacations C) day care assistance D) spot bonus

Q: Protection programs are what type of compensation benefits? A) external B) non-monetary C) internal D) monetary

Q: ________ refers to the design and implementation of compensation systems to reinforce the objectives of both HR strategies and competitive business strategies. A) Extrinsic compensation B) Strategic compensation C) Strategic analysis D) Intrinsic compensation

Q: (p. 444 - 447) Define a corporate crisis. Outline an effective crisis management plan for a public relations manager.

Q: (p. 443 - 444) How is the public protected through government regulations?

Q: (p. 440 - 443) Evaluate public opion influencing strategies used by business organization, such as public service announcements, image advertisements, and issue advertisements.

Q: (p. 439 - 440) What new challenges emerge when public relations strategies take on a global perspective?

Q: (p. 436 - 439) As new technologies have emerged, the variety of available channels of communication has grown dramatically. Discuss the new technology-enhanced channels for public relations and how they have affected the discipline.

Q: (p. 434 - 436) Why do firms create public relations departments? Outline the structure and activities of a typical department.

Q: (p. 433 - 434) Define the general public. How do firms and the public affect one another?