Q&A Hero

Q: What is the National Labor Relations Act also known as? A. The Taft-Hartley Act B. The Wagner Act C. The Landrum-Griffin Act D. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act E. The Hatch Act

Q: Which of the following is a federal law passed in 1935 that supports collective bargaining and sets out the rights of employees to form unions? A. The Landrum-Griffin Act B. The Civil Rights Act C. The Wagner Act D. The Taft-Hartley Act E. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Q: What is society's goal for unions? A. To ensure that workers have a voice in how they are treated by their employers B. To influence the way pay and promotions are determined C. To make up for the wages the workers lose during a strike D. To retain as much control as they can over work rules and schedules E. To limit individual employees' bargaining power

Q: The checkoff provision and provisions related to union membership are ways to address: A. government regulations that require union membership to be offered free to all employees. B. management enticements to discourage employees from joining unions. C. union officials who misrepresent members' case to management. D. employees who benefit from union activities without belonging to a union. E. members who pay union fees but refuse to be bound by union rules.

Q: Which type of union security provision is illegal under the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act? A. Union shop B. Agency shop C. Closed shop D. Open shop E. Checkoff provision

Q: Which of the following types of union security arrangement is considered to be the strongest? A. Agency shop B. Maintenance of membership C. Union shop D. Closed shop E. Checkoff provision

Q: _____ rules do not require union membership but do require that employees who join the union remain members for a certain period of time, such as the length of the contract. A. Agency shop B. Union shop C. Closed shop D. Maintenance of membership E. Checkoff provision

Q: Which of the following is a union security arrangement that requires the payment of union dues but not union membership? A. Agency shop B. Union shop C. Closed shop D. Maintenance of membership E. Checkoff provision

Q: Which of the following is a union security arrangement that requires employees to join the union within a certain amount of time (30 days) after beginning employment? A. Agency shop B. Union shop C. Closed shop D. Maintenance of membership E. Checkoff provision

Q: A(n) _____ is a union security arrangement under which a person must be a union member before being hired. A. agency shop B. union shop C. closed shop D. maintenance of membership provision E. checkoff provision

Q: A contract provision under which the employer, on behalf of the union, automatically deducts union dues from employees' paychecks is known as a(n): A. checkoff provision. B. deductible-at-source provision. C. maintenance of membership provision. D. agency shop provision. E. union shop provision.

Q: Which of the following is true of the goals of labor unions? A. Labor unions try to consider employees as individuals so that pay and promotion decisions relate to performance differences. B. Labor unions have the goals of obtaining pay and working conditions that satisfy the management. C. They try to not have any pay differences based on seniority. D. Where workers are represented by a union, it is common for all employees in a particular job classification to be paid according to their appraisals. E. Unions focus on equal pay for equal work.

Q: In terms of the impact of unions on company performance, it can be concluded that companies wishing to become more competitive must: A. continually monitor their labor relations strategy. B. prohibit unions. C. actively encourage unions. D. deny collective bargaining rights to their employees. E. pay workers well above market rates.

Q: Which of the following is true of the effects of unions on company performance? A. As a result of the type of pay system favored by unions, employees are more inclined to compete than cooperate. B. Most studies show that union workers are less productive than nonunion workers. C. On average, union members receive higher wages and more generous benefits than nonunion workers. D. The introduction of a union invariably results in the employer paying lesser attention to employee ideas. E. Evidence shows that unions have a large positive effect on profits.

Q: Which of the following statements is true about unionization of government workers? A. Over two-thirds of government employees are union members. B. Executive Order 10988 denied collective bargaining rights for federal employees. C. Union membership among government workers has declined steadily since the 1970s. D. Strikes are illegal for federal workers and for state workers in most states. E. Most of the union growth among government employees has occurred among blue-collar workers.

Q: Which of the following statements is true of trends in union membership in the U.S. in relation to trends in other countries? A. In Western Europe, it is common to have union coverage rates of 80 to 90 percent. B. Coverage rates within the United States are much higher than in most other countries. C. U.S. employees tend to have a larger, more formal role in organizational decision making than in Western European countries. D. Worker representatives on boards of directors are much more common in the United States than in Western European countries. E. The union membership rate in the U.S. is second only to that of Denmark.

Q: Which of the following is a reason for the decline in union membership in the U.S.? A. Much recent job growth has occurred among men and younger workers, who are less likely than women and middle-aged workers to join unions B. Human resource practices that result in lower pay for unionized than for nonunionized workers C. Management efforts to control costs in response to international competition D. Much recent business growth has been in the North, where workers are less likely to join unions E. Government regulation banning unionization

Q: Which of the following is true of the trend in union membership in the United States? A. Union membership as a percentage of civilian employment has risen significantly. B. Union membership is higher in the private sector than in the public sector. C. Since the 1980s, union membership among government workers has held steady, while declines have occurred in the private sector. D. Total union membership now stands at about 30 percent of all employment. E. The share of employees who belong to unions has increased marginally since the 1960s.

Q: A union steward: A. influences the way pay and promotions are determined. B. deducts union dues from employees paychecks. C. is the strongest union security arrangement. D. is employed as an independent contractor. E. represents employees when they file grievances alleging contract violations.

Q: John works at a factory of a large manufacturing company and is a member of the local chapter of a national industrial union. He believes his supervisor is not living up to the terms of the recently negotiated contract. In order to seek resolution to his grievance, John should first contact: A. the regional office of his labor union. B. law enforcement officials. C. the AFL-CIO. D. his union steward. E. the local Chamber of Commerce.

Q: Which of the following is true of local unions? A. Administration of a contract largely takes place at the local union level. B. They always play the most critical role in negotiating the terms of a collective bargaining contract. C. Typically, the local union's president, vice president, and treasurer are the same as in the national union. D. Local unions are usually not involved in the negotiation for work rules in a collective bargaining contract. E. The participation of individual members in local unions is limited.

Q: Which of the following is true of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)? A. It is the largest labor union in the U.S. B. It represents labor's interests in public policy issues. C. It is the only association of unions existing in the U.S. today. D. It is part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. E. It consists of about seven national and international unions.

Q: Most national unions are affiliated with the _____, an association that seeks to advance the shared interests of its member unions at the national level. A. NLRA B. Change to Win C. AFL-CIO D. Chamber of Commerce E. National Association of Manufacturers

Q: How is an industrial union different from a craft union? A. All the members of an industrial union have a particular skill or occupation. B. An industrial union is often responsible for training its members through apprenticeships. C. An industrial union organizes as many employees in as wide a range of skills. D. An industrial union represents a particular occupation. E. An industrial union's members change employers more often.

Q: Which of the following is a characteristic of an industrial union? A. All the members are in the same occupation. B. Union leaders try to limit the number of members in order to maintain high wages. C. Members are linked by their work in a particular industry. D. Members change employers more frequently than in other types of unions. E. It is often responsible for training its members through apprenticeships.

Q: Which of the following is true of craft unions? A. It represents many different occupations. B. Membership in the union is the result of working for a particular employer in the industry. C. Changing employers is not very common. D. It is often responsible for training members through apprenticeships. E. It consists of members who are linked by their work in a particular industry.

Q: A labor union all of whose members have a particular skill or occupation is known as a(n) _____ union. A. common B. industrial C. craft D. regional E. employer's

Q: Which of the following decisions in labor relations involves day-to-day activities in which union members and the organizations managers may have disagreements? A. Administering contracts B. Formulating labor relations strategy C. Lobbying for labor law changes D. Negotiating contracts E. Implementing labor laws

Q: The labor relations decision regarding _____ in a union setting involves decisions about pay structure, job security, work rules, workplace safety, and many other issues. These decisions affect workers' and the employer's situation for the term of the contract. A. administering contracts B. formulating labor relations strategy C. lobbying for labor law changes D. negotiating contracts E. implementing labor laws

Q: In the context of the three levels of decisions involved in labor relations, which of the following management decisions relates to whether the organization will work with unions or develop (or maintain) nonunion operations? A. Negotiating contracts B. Formulating labor relations strategy C. Engaging in corporate governance D. Administering contracts E. Relationship management

Q: Which of the following defines labor relations? A. It is an association that seeks to advance the shared interests of its member unions at the national level. B. It is the election of an employee by union members to represent them in ensuring that the terms of the labor contract are enforced. C. It is a contract provision under which the employer, on behalf of the union, automatically deducts union dues from employees paychecks. D. It is the field that emphasizes skills that managers and union leaders can use to minimize costly forms of conflict and seek win-win solutions to disagreements. E. It is an alternative form of union membership in which members receive discounts on insurance and credit cards rather than representation in collective bargaining.

Q: Organizations formed for the purpose of representing their members' interests in dealing with employers are known as: A. employee guilds. B. sororities. C. lobbies. D. member clubs. E. labor unions.

Q: The traditional understanding of union-management relations is that the two parties are mutually beneficial to each other.

Q: According to data from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the largest share of arbitration cases involved wages.

Q: Courts generally avoid reviewing arbitrators' decisions and focus only on whether the grievance involved an issue that is subject to arbitration under the contract.

Q: Bargaining over a new contract typically occurs only about every three years.

Q: Mediation is the most formal and least used method of conflict resolution.

Q: During a strike, the union members do not receive pay from their employer, but the union may be able to make up for some of the lost pay.

Q: The relative bargaining power of labor and management during contract negotiations depends on each party's ability to withstand a strike.

Q: Integrative bargaining focuses on establishing a relationship of trust.

Q: Associate union membership is linked to an employees workplace.

Q: An outside party cannot be barred from holding an election for more than three years.

Q: If at least 30 percent of an organization's employees sign an authorization card, the union may request that the employer voluntarily recognize the union.

Q: Enforcement of the National Labor Relations Act rests with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Q: Right-to-work laws grant both the employee and employer the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without cause or notice.

Q: Originally, the NLRA did not list any unfair labor practices by unions.

Q: Joining a union, whether recognized by the employer or not, is an activity protected under the NLRA.

Q: Under a checkoff provision, a person must be a union member before being hired.

Q: In their labor relations, managers prefer to increase wages and benefits and to give maximum control to workers over work rules and schedules.

Q: Most studies have found that union workers are more productive than nonunion workers.

Q: Unlike union membership for workers in businesses, union membership among government workers has remained strong.

Q: On average, unionized workers receive higher pay than their nonunionized counterparts.

Q: Contrary to public perception, services industries such as finance, insurance, and real estate have higher union representation than manufacturing.

Q: A union steward is a person hired by management to monitor union activity and report violations, if any.

Q: The AFL-CIO is by far the largest labor union in the U.S.

Q: A craft union's bargaining power depends greatly on the control it can exercise over the supply of its workers.

Q: What is the importance of benefits as a part of employee compensation?

Q: Which one of the following statements is true of employee benefits? A. Employees generally have a thorough understanding of what benefits they have and what the market value of these benefits is. B. Employees significantly underestimate the cost and value of their benefits. C. Employers do an effective job of communicating the cost and value of benefits to their employees. D. Employees, for the most part, are just not interested in their benefits. E. Employers have very limited options for communicating information about benefits.

Q: The funds required by an organization to pay retirement benefits are reported as _____ in the financial statement. A. current assets B. current liabilities C. accounts receivable D. bad debt E. future cost obligations

Q: Which of the following is a requirement set for employers under the FASB standards? A. Employers must fund benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. B. Benefits must not appear as future cost obligations. C. Employers should encourage employees to participate in management functions. D. Financial statements should be made in such a way that outsiders cannot understand them. E. Employers must set aside the funds they expect to need for benefits to be paid after retirement.

Q: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which of the following employers is most likely to face legal challenges? A. An employer who switches to a risk-based policy after hiring a disabled employee. B. An employer who sets guidelines for using waivers C. An employer who discriminates against workers over age 40 in providing pay or benefits. D. An employer who has risk-based insurance and then hires an employee with a disability E. An employer who does not have risk-based insurance

Q: Under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, employers wishing to use early-retirement waivers must adhere to which of the following guidelines? A. Inform employees that they may consult with a lawyer before signing B. Allow employees not more than 48 hours before signing the retirement agreement C. Make ADEA waivers compulsory D. Provide lesser benefits than would otherwise be available upon retirement E. Provide employees annual bonus and health insurance after the retirement

Q: Which of the following criteria is an organization required to meet while offering early retirement incentives? A. Set an age at which retirement benefits stop growing B. Ask female employees to pay more to defined-benefit plans C. Should not coerce employees to retire. D. Ask employees to sign compulsory waiver under ADEA E. Provide employees not more than 48 hours to make an early retirement decision

Q: Which one of the following is an advantage of a qualified plan in retirement benefits? A. An immediate tax deduction for the funds employees contribute to the plan B. Taxable earnings on the money in the retirement fund C. Tax-free withdrawals for highly compensated employees D. Employees need not contribute to the fund E. Allows an organization to set up a retirement plan that provides benefits exclusively to its owners and top managers

Q: Which of the following organizations strictly limits the definition of "independent contractors," so that employers cannot avoid legal obligations by classifying workers as self-employed when the organization receives the benefits of a permanent employee? A. The Internal Revenue Service B. The FBGC C. The ERISA D. Employee Benefit Research Institute E. The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Q: Which of the following options can be legally adopted by organizations looking to restructure the workforce to minimize the expense of benefits? A. Use more independent contractors rather than hire additional employees. B. Limit the coverage on life insurance, based upon the employee's age. C. Use more full-time rather than part-time employees. D. Recruit new employees instead of demanding overtime from the existing employees. E. Substitute HMO and PPO plans with traditional health insurance plans.

Q: Which of the following actions help organizations reduce the cost of health care benefits offered to employees? A. By increasing the amount employers pay for deductibles and coinsurance B. By selecting traditional health insurance over HMO and PPO as a preferred option C. By expanding the coverage for different types of claims D. By paying some or all of the difference in cost between an HMO or PPO plan E. By shifting from traditional health insurance plans to PPOs and CDHPs

Q: Which of the following is true of the cost of benefits? A. Data about costs help employers to select the kinds of benefits to offer. B. The lowest-cost items tend to offer the most room for savings. C. Non-negotiable benefits tend to help the employer save more. D. Cost control is easier when economic growth slows. E. Concern over costs has prompted many employers to shift from PPOs to traditional health insurance.

Q: How do cafeteria-style plans increase costs for employers? A. Employers pay much higher premium on HMO than a preferred health care plan. B. Employers are required to pay higher insurance premium for laid-off workers. C. Contribution to PGBC to fund the retirement plan increases under this plan. D. Employees select the kind of benefits they expect to need the most. E. The employers bear the cost of providing employees with benefits they do not value.

Q: A _____ pension plan allows pension benefits for key employees, such as highly paid managers, to exceed a government-specified share of total pension benefits. A. top-heavy B. multiemployer C. special draw rights D. deferred E. defined-contribution

Q: Benefit plans that permit employees to choose the types and amounts of benefits they want from a set of alternatives are called: A. preferred provider plans. B. cafeteria-style plans. C. pay-or-play plans. D. flexible spending accounts. E. cash balance plans.

Q: The guarantee that when employees become participants in a pension plan and work a specified number of years, they will receive a pension at retirement age, regardless of whether they remained with the employer is referred to as _____. A. special drawing rights B. quid pro quo C. laissez-faire D. benchmarking E. vesting rights

Q: Which of the following was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974?A. Employee Benefit Security AdministrationB. Federal Trade CommissionC. Merit Systems Protection BoardD. Federal Retirement Thrift Investment BoardE. Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation

Q: To encourage learning and attract the kinds of employees who wish to develop their knowledge and skills, many organizations offer: A. tuition reimbursement programs. B. flexible schedules. C. paid leaves for more than 2 weeks. D. quarterly promotions. E. college savings plans.

Q: Elder care benefits typically give emphasis to: A. providing a direct financial assistance. B. providing tax exemptions on medical bills of the dependent elders. C. setting up an elderly care facility close to the work place. D. providing information and support. E. providing vouchers and discounts to help employees access the existing elderly care facilities.

Q: Which of the following is true of 529 savings plans? A. They are mandated by the federal government. B. They are designed to support the primary education expenses of workers' children. C. They provide education to employees' children at a subsidized rate. D. They provide information about the education standards in different colleges to employees to help them enroll their children in better institutions. E. They allow parents and other family members to defer taxes on the earnings of their deposits.

Q: Which of the following is true of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974?A. It was introduced as a bill by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.B. It established vesting rights related to pensions.C. It prohibits the movement of retirement savings when changing employers.D. It makes it mandatory to operate a day-care center at or near the workplace.E. It establishes the setting up flexible spending accounts for dependent care.

Q: The _____ is a report that describes a pension plan's funding, eligibility requirements, risks, and other details. A. mission statement B. balanced scorecard C. labor law posting D. "top-heavy" plan E. summary plan description

Q: Defined-benefit plans must meet the funding requirements of the _____. A. Employee Retirement Income Security Act B. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act C. Social Security Act D. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act E. Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Q: For an organization with _____, switching from a defined-benefit plan can produce great savings in pension benefits. A. many experienced employees B. a few skilled employees C. many young employees D. many retired employees E. highly skilled employees