e job and responsibilities D) requiring two employees to work overtime and weekends 2) What is a significant issue facing the Social Security program?...

MAN 3301-901 –S16 75 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR FINAL EXAM

1) Which of the following best defines Two in a Box?

A) providing two banking services to key customers

B) requiring applicants to interview with two managers

C) giving two executives the same job and responsibilities

D) requiring two employees to work overtime and weekends

2) What is a significant issue facing the Social Security program?

A) outsourcing of jobs

B) retiring baby-boomers

C) growing unemployment rate

D) rising workers' compensation costs

3) Which of the following is the LEAST likely purpose of unemployment insurance payments?

A) giving workers time to find equivalent jobs

B) minimizing the number of workers needing welfare

C) continuing worker health benefits to prevent financial distress

D) sustaining consumer spending during difficult economic times

4) Jack, a construction worker, slipped and fell at a job site. As a result, Jack injured his knee and needs physical therapy and medical care. Jack's medical expenses would most likely be covered by ________.

A) workers' compensation insurance

B) unemployment insurance

C) life insurance

D) Medicaid

5) Which of the following is LEAST likely to be an advantage of providing paid time off to employees?

A) simpler administration

B) more job sharing options

C) higher employee satisfaction

D) fewer last minute absences

6) Carson Enterprises is considering the idea of replacing personal leave and vacation time with paid time off. Which of the following best supports this decision?

A) Employees at Carson express satisfaction with the firm's current PPO.

B) Last minute absences are a significant problem among Carson employees.

C) Retirement plans held by Carson employees suffered during the recession.

D) Carson employees are given the opportunity to telecommute when needed.

7) Carson Enterprises is considering the idea of adding sabbaticals to its discretionary benefits plan. Which of the following best supports this decision?

A) Numerous employees at Carson have elderly parents who need medical attention.

B) The health and safety record at Carson has been problematic in recent years.

C) Many experienced employees at Carson have quit because of burnout.

D) The majority of Carson employees have small children in daycare.

8) Health care benefits represent the most expensive cost in the area of indirect financial compensation. Which of the following is NOT a factor that has combined to create this situation?

A) shrinking population

B) growing demand for medical care

C) inefficient administrative processes

D) increasingly expensive medical technology

9) Julie has health insurance through her employer. The managed-care health organization used by Julie's employer covers all services for a fixed fee. However, Julie may only use the doctors and health facilities chosen by the managed-care health organization. Julie is most likely a member of a(n) ________.

A) point-of-service

B) health maintenance organization

C) preferred provider organization

D) exclusive provider organization

10) Howard Paper Company, which employs 1,200 workers, is planning to establish a worksite medical clinic at its manufacturing facility. Which of the following best supports this decision?

A) Most Howard employees prefer the firm's PPO plan to the HMO option.

B) Few Howard employees understand how to utilize flexible spending accounts.

C) Vaccinations and minor injuries account for most weekday doctor visits by Howard employees.

D) OSHA investigations reveal that Howard requires most employees to wear protective equipment.

11) Jeff lost his job in November 2010. According to COBRA, Jeff may keep his employer's health care coverage until ________.

A) December 2010

B) May 2011

C) November 2011

D) May 2012

12) The primary reason for enacting ERISA was to ________.

A) force insurance companies to accept workers with preexisting medical conditions

B) extend long-term healthcare coverage to unemployed individuals

C) require employers to create employee retirement plans

D) strengthen current and future retirement programs

13) All of the following are true about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 EXCEPT that ________.

A) individuals cannot be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition

B) insurance companies cannot cancel a policy if the insured becomes sick

C) individuals who do not purchase health insurance will be fined

D) children over 21 cannot remain on their parents' policy

14) Which of the following is most likely an advantage of allowing employees to telecommute?

A) decreased cost of health insurance coverage

B) improved manager-employee relationships

C) decreased need for office space

D) improved team building

15) Which of the following is the LEAST likely advantage to firms that offer part-time employment?

A) reduced nonfinancial compensation

B) improved work-life balance

C) reduced worker turnover

D) improved productivity

16) In order to prove that an employer has violated the general duty clause, OSHA must prove all of the following exist EXCEPT that ________.

A) the hazard was likely to cause minor injuries

B) a condition in the workplace presented a hazard

C) a feasible means existed to reduce the hazard

D) the employer or its industry recognized the hazard

17) Thompson Manufacturing has been designated a recalcitrant employer by OSHA. As a result, Thompson will most likely ________.

A) receive a stern warning

B) close its facilities immediately

C) experience numerous inspections

D) downsize its staff and hire contractors

18) Foley Foods is a mid-size food processing facility that has had a significant increase in business lately. The firm needs to hire additional workers and develop a second shift to meet productivity needs. The HR manager at Foley Foods recommends implementing a safety program. Which of the following best supports the implementation of a safety program?

A) At the end of each year, high performing employees at Foley Foods are given bonuses.

B) As a government contractor, Foley Foods must have an employee assistance program.

C) Workers' compensation costs increased significantly in the last year at Foley Foods.

D) Foley Foods' main competitor recently received an OSHA penalty and citation.

19) Foley Foods is a mid-size food processing facility that has had a significant increase in business lately. The firm needs to hire additional workers and develop a second shift to meet productivity needs. The HR manager at Foley Foods recommends implementing a safety program. Which of the following suggests that a safety program would be beneficial to Foley Foods?

A) Foley Foods recently became a smoke-free workplace.

B) Foley Foods will be hiring new workers for the night shift.

C) Employees at Foley Foods use simulators during training programs.

D) Managers at Foley Foods will soon be conducting performance appraisals.

20) Foley Foods is a mid-size food processing facility that has had a significant increase in business lately. The firm needs to hire additional workers and develop a second shift to meet productivity needs. The HR manager at Foley Foods recommends implementing a safety program. Which of the following most likely undermines the need for a safety program?

A) Foley Foods has a high employee turnover rate.

B) All machines at Foley Foods are equipped with safety interlocks.

C) Foley Foods' workers' compensation costs are the highest in the industry.

D) Employees at Foley Foods have the option of wearing safety goggles and other PPE.

21) Foley Foods is a mid-size food processing facility that has had a significant increase in business lately. The firm needs to hire additional workers and develop a second shift to meet productivity needs. The HR manager at Foley Foods recommends implementing a safety program. Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to this decision?

A) How many OSHA citations has Foley Foods received?

B) What engineering controls are used at Foley Foods?

C) What is the annual accident rate at Foley Foods?

D) How does Foley Foods recruit safety engineers?

22) Which of the following is most likely to reduce the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?

A) resting the hand and wrist in a neutral position

B) performing similar activities regularly each day

C) positioning computer monitors above eye level

D) keeping keyboards below elbow level

23) Tanya is a data entry specialist who spends most of her day at a computer workstation. She has recently experienced a weak grip, wrist numbness, and sensitivity to cold. Which of the following recommendations is LEAST likely to benefit Tanya?

A) placing the monitor above eye level

B) taking periodic exercise breaks

C) alternating tasks during the day

D) adjusting her chair height

24) Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of ergonomics?

A) encouraging ethical work behavior

B) monitoring worker productivity

C) promoting good posture

D) studying fatigue issues

25) According to research, which of the following most likely occurs from using ergonomics?

A) improved workplace security

B) lowered selection costs

C) improved recruitment

D) lowered injury rate

26) George, a project manager at a publishing firm, is experiencing many stress-related symptoms. Which of the following is the best advice an HR manager could give George?

A) Focus on making work a priority.

B) Recognize your own limitations.

C) Keep your problems to yourself.

D) Handle work issues immediately.

27) The National Auto Group is going to develop a wellness program. What is the first step in the process?

A) conducting a health-risk assessment of employees

B) developing incentives for employee participation

C) establishing an on-site health clinic

D) requiring substance abuse tests

28 Why is health care coverage tailored to a specific region an increasingly popular benefit for expatriates?

A) American insurance carriers refuse to provide coverage in risky markets.

B) The rising cost of health insurance has forced firms to use cheaper options.

C) American healthcare legislation conflicts with foreign insurance firms.

D) Healthcare systems in emerging markets vary in cost and quality.

29) Physical fitness programs are the most commonly offered wellness program provided by employers.

a. true

b. false

30) Substance abuse is an HR concern because substance abusers have high rates of absenteeism and turnover.

a. true

b. false

31) A ________ is a prehire collective bargaining agreement between construction firm owners and one or more labor organizations establishing the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.

A) final-offer arbitration

B) project labor agreement

C) premeditated labor mediation

D) construction contract consortium

32) Critics of project labor agreements (PLAs) say the agreements do all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) increase costs

B) are unfair to municipalities struggling to fund public works projects

C) limit competition

D) discriminate against union companies

33) Unionized machinists who perform essential jobs at a boat manufacturing plant decide to strike for higher wages. As a result, the plant is forced to shut down until an agreement can be reached. The labor union is most likely using a strategy of ________.

A) union salting

B) pulling the union through

C) public awareness campaigns

D) strategically located union members

34) A restaurant worker labor union is training union organizers to apply for jobs at fast food restaurants in the Chicago area. Once hired, the union organizers will actively work to unionize employees at the restaurant. This strategy is best described as ________.

A) broadbanding

B) union salting

C) flooding the community

D) raising public awareness

35) The local union is primarily responsible for ________.

A) actively lobbying at national and state levels

B) publishing the union newspaper

C) administering the collective bargaining agreement

D) engaging in collective bargaining at the national level

36) The AFL-CIO's major activities include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A) improving the image of organized labor

B) resolving disputes between local unions

C) engaging in collective bargaining

D) policing internal affairs of member unions

37) In conducting a legal campaign to discourage employees from voting for the union, management would most likely ________.

A) tell workers the benefits of remaining union-free

B) threaten workers with loss of their jobs to influence the votes

C) incite racial or religious prejudice by making inflammatory campaign appeals

D) make speeches to assembled employees on company time within 24 hours before an election

38) Which of the following is LEAST likely to lead to the NLRB declaring an election campaign invalid?

A) A union threatens loss of jobs or benefits to influence employees' votes or union activities.

B) An employer misstates campaign facts when the other party does not have a chance to reply.

C) A union incites religious prejudice with inflammatory campaign appeals.

D) An employer discusses with workers the negative aspects of unionization.

39) Which of the following is NOT one of the four major bargaining structures?

A) one company dealing with a single union

B) several companies dealing with a single union

C) several unions dealing with a single company

D) one bargaining unit dealing with several unions

40) A machinists union and an employer are involved in collective bargaining. The bargaining issues have already been determined. What is the most likely next step in the process?

A) ratifying an agreement

B) preparing for negotiations

C) negotiating an agreement

D) overcoming breakdowns

41) Which of the following is LEAST likely to appear in a management rights section of a labor agreement?

A) power to discipline for cause

B) freedom to select company objectives

C) power to determine union security

D) freedom to determine how to use the firm's material assets

42) What is the main purpose of union security provisions in a collective bargaining agreement?

A) addressing compensation issues that are usually problematic

B) ensuring that the union continues to perform its functions

C) identifying the union's bargaining representatives

D) establishing management's rights in negotiations

43) In labor agreements, seniority is an important issue because it ________.

A) addresses family and child-care problems

B) establishes the process for filing grievances

C) provides the basis of promotion decisions

D) determines the need for retirement plans

44) Which of the following is typically LEAST useful during the negotiating phase of collective bargaining?

A) give-and-take attitude

B) neutral meeting location

C) clear communication

D) media involvement

45) A lockout is particularly effective in all of the following cases EXCEPT when the ________.

A) union is weak

B) union treasury is low

C) business relies on global sales

D) business has excessive inventories

46) Approximately ________ U.S. workers depend almost entirely on the continued goodwill of their employer.

A) two out of every three

B) one out of every two

C) two out of every five

D) four out of every ten

47) What did your author identify as the most important metric in HR today?

A) performance rate of all employees

B) turnover rate of high-level managers

C) acceptance rate of new college graduates

D) retention rate of most qualified employees

48) Which of the following is an exception made by courts regarding the employment-at-will doctrine?

A) prohibiting termination on the grounds of public policy

B) permitting claims based on good faith and fair dealing

C) permitting employees to bring claims based on statements made in employment handbooks

D) all of the above

49) The primary purpose of disciplinary action is to ________.

A) chastise employees for breaking rules

B) prevent unionized employees from striking

C) alter behavior that hinders organizational goals

D) initiate useful discussion and feedback from managers

50) Parker Pharmaceuticals is a corporation that employs over 400 workers. As the firm continues to grow, the need for discipline among employees has become more critical. The HR department and top executives are planning to revamp the disciplinary action process that is currently in place at Parker. Which of the following most likely undermines a decision to use the hot stove rule approach to discipline?

A) Parker supervisors desire flexibility in any disciplinary system.

B) Some Parker employees belong to labor unions while other do not.

C) The Parker ombudsperson handles most grievance procedures.

D) Most disciplinary issues at Parker are related to insubordination.

51) Parker Pharmaceuticals is a corporation that employs over 400 workers. As the firm continues to grow, the need for discipline among employees has become more critical. The HR department and top executives are planning to revamp the disciplinary action process that is currently in place at Parker. Which of the following best supports a decision to use the progressive disciplinary action approach?

A) Major violations and terminations rarely occur at Parker.

B) Parker wants an informal procedure for disciplining employees.

C) Managers at Parker have been inconsistent with disciplining employees.

D) Chronic tardiness is the primary disciplinary issue among Parker employees.

52) Parker Pharmaceuticals is a corporation that employs over 400 workers. As the firm continues to grow, the need for discipline among employees has become more critical. The HR department and top executives are planning to revamp the disciplinary action process that is currently in place at Parker. Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to selecting a new disciplinary action process for Parker?

A) Are managers applying discipline consistently and fairly?

B) Are managers able to apply discipline impersonally to all employees?

C) Does Parker want to use punishment or encouragement to create discipline?

D) Does Parker have similar discipline problems as other pharmaceutical firms?

53) Which of the following is a drawback to the hot stove approach?

A) lacks timeliness

B) too impersonal

C) lacks flexibility

D) too subjective

54) Consider the following situation: When an employee violates a rule, the manager issues an oral reminder. Repetition brings a written reminder, and the third violation results in the worker having to take one, two, or three days off (with pay) to think about the situation. During the first two steps, the manager tries to encourage the employee to solve the problem. If the third step is taken, upon the worker's return, the worker and the supervisor meet to agree that the employee will not violate a rule again or the employee will leave the firm. What form of disciplinary action is being taken?

A) disciplinary action without punishment

B) hot stove approach

C) progressive disciplinary action

D) progressive discipline

55) Which of the following is LEAST likely to help a firm protect itself against suits claiming discriminatory disciplinary actions?

A) basing decisions solely on performance

B) disciplining in the presence of co-workers

C) training managers how to avoid bias claims

D) developing written policies barring unfair treatment

56) In organizations of any size, management should ________.

A) use outside consultants for termination procedures

B) explain what actions warrant termination

C) avoid terminating union workers

D) handle terminations formally

57) Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding resignations in the workplace?

A) The most qualified employees are often the ones who resign because they are more mobile.

B) When turnover is excessive, the firm must do something to slow it.

C) If a firm commits to making its environment a good place to work, workers will not leave.

D) A certain amount of turnover is healthy for a typical organization.

58) What is the most common reason that a CEO is terminated?

A) stock and bond markets fluctuate

B) board of directors lacks confidence

C) consumers have different philosophy

D) law enforcement discovers insider trading

59) Lisa, an HR manager, has been informed that her employer will be downsizing. Lisa's responsibility is to help the company prepare for downsizing by determining which workers should be laid off. All of the following are important for Lisa to do EXCEPT ________.

A) targeting older workers who earn high salaries to save the firm money

B) ensuring that protected workers are not disproportionately affected

C) utilizing objective, job-related criteria to make layoff decisions

D) preparing to deal with COBRA and ERISA requirements

60) What is the primary reason that firms provide severance pay to employees who are involuntarily terminated?

A) ensuring that current employees remain with the firm

B) preventing terminated employees from suing the firm

C) complying with federal laws that require severance pay

D) expressing concern and support for terminated employees

61) What has been a result of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act?

A) U.S. firms have not been allowed to conduct any business overseas.

B) European and Asian firms have stopped bribing public officials.

C) U.S. firms have lost contracts because they cannot pay bribes.

D) European and Asian governments have passed bribery laws.

62) How are many U.S. firms preventing FCPA breaches?

A) moving corporate headquarters

B) conducting business online

C) using internal audit teams

D) bribing foreign officials

63) Dailey Enterprises is a mid-sized business that is considering expanding its operations globally. Which of the following is LEAST likely to occur as a result of Dailey globalizing?

A) improved selection process

B) some protection against domestic business cycles

C) increased competitiveness

D) increased profitability

64) Murphy Enterprises recently acquired a controlling interest in Mexico's leading clothing retailer. Murphy plans to open additional retail stores in the next three years. Some of Murphy's top executives advocate the idea of transferring U.S. managers to Mexico to oversee the construction and opening of the new stores. Another group of Murphy executives believe that host-country nationals should manage the project. Which of the following best supports a decision to fill management positions with expatriates?

A) Murphy needs to ensure that Mexico operations are closely linked to headquarters.

B) Most Murphy expatriates resign within one year of their return to the United States.

C) Murphy wants to develop close community relationships in Mexico.

D) Employees hired by Murphy are provided extensive training.

65) Murphy Enterprises recently acquired a controlling interest in Mexico's leading clothing retailer. Murphy plans to open additional retail stores in the next three years. Some of Murphy's top executives advocate the idea of transferring U.S. managers to Mexico to oversee the construction and opening of the new stores. Another group of Murphy executives believe that host-country nationals should manage the project. Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to the decision to fill management positions in Mexico with expatriates or host-country nationals?

A) What are Murphy's anticipated relocation costs for using expatriates?

B) What degree of corporate control does Murphy want in Mexico?

C) What is the global safety and health record for Murphy?

D) What is the attrition rate for Murphy's expatriates?

66) Murphy Enterprises recently acquired a controlling interest in Mexico's leading clothing retailer. Murphy plans to open additional retail stores in the next three years. Some of Murphy's top executives advocate the idea of transferring U.S. managers to Mexico to oversee the construction and opening of the new stores. Another group of Murphy executives believe that host-country nationals should manage the project. Which of the following best supports a decision to fill management positions in Mexico with host-country nationals?

A) Murphy's marketing department created a new advertising campaign for the Mexican audience.

B) Murphy's HR department is translating the firm's e-learning programs from English to Spanish.

C) Murphy plans to direct operations in Mexico from the firm's U.S. headquarters.

D) Murphy is establishing a fully functioning HR department in Mexico.

67) All of the following are primary HR concerns associated with ethnocentric staffing EXCEPT ________.

A) handling repatriation issues

B) selecting experienced local managers

C) developing global compensation packages

D) training managers for foreign assignments

68) Monique is a manager at a firm based in Chicago. She has recently been selected to manage the firm's Singapore office along with three other managers from the Chicago office. The firm hopes that the American managers will effectively represent the views of the home office and will link the Singapore office to the Chicago office. Which type of staffing approach is most likely being used by Monique's employer?

A) polycentric

B) regiocentric

C) ethnocentric

D) geocentric

69) Tyler is a corporate HR manager at a global corporation that uses the polycentric staffing approach. Which of the following most likely describes the focus of Tyler's job?

A) handling adjustment issues when home-country nationals return from assignment

B) coordinating relevant activities with their counterparts in each foreign operation

C) developing appropriate expatriate compensation packages

D) selecting and training managers for foreign assignments

70) Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the regiocentric staffing approach?

A) Each region develops a common set of employment practices.

B) Promotions from the region to headquarters rarely occur.

C) Each region actively recruits third-country nationals.

D) Some autonomy exists in regional decision making.

71) Which of the following occurs in the first stage of the expatriate selection process?

A) creating a candidate pool from a database

B) conducting personal and family assessments

C) determining technical and managerial skills

D) conducting a thorough background investigation

72) According to studies, which of the following best explains why expatriates leave their firms within one year of completing an international assignment?

A) discord among family and friends

B) desire to spend more time overseas

C) inadequate financial compensation

D) inability to utilize skills learned abroad

73) Mary has been on assignment in Japan for one year, and she will soon be returning to work at her firm's Dallas headquarters. Which of the following would most likely improve Mary's repatriation experience?

A) career planning discussions

B) polycentric staffing options

C) e-learning opportunities

D) workforce reorganizations

74) All of the following are characteristics of an effective in-house repatriation program EXCEPT ________.

A) recognition of the employee's overseas contribution

B) clarification of the employee's position at the firm

C) reorganization of the employee's work environment

D) utilization of the employee's new international skills

75) Which of the following is most likely a FALSE statement regarding virtual teams?

A) Dispersed team members often do not feel as connected or committed to the team.

B) Cultural differences complicate the communication among virtual team members.

C) Maintaining impersonal relationships on virtual teams increases group productivity.

D) Communication problems correlate to the number of time zones separating team members.