Exam 6: Managing Employee Separations, Downsizing, and Outplacement

Job-search assistance and emotional support are two functions of a firm's job design services.

________ is a company strategy to reduce the scale and scope of its business in order to improve the company's financial performance.

Additional Case 6.2 Terra Alta employs nearly 15,000 workers worldwide. The firm wants to reduce its workforce through an early retirement program. The firm has hired you to organize and implement the program. Employees over age 58 are eligible, but managers don't want to lose key older employees. Program eligibility should be limited to a short period of time. Terra Alta managers need a fairly accurate estimate of how many employees will participate in the program. Terra Alta expects a legal and humane program that avoids litigation issues. Employees should have an accurate picture of their future if they decide to accept early retirement. -Refer to Additional Case 6.2.How could Terra Alta most likely prevent key,older workers from leaving?

When conducting exit interviews,the interviewer should be one of the employee's former supervisors.

Transferring and relocating employees are both ways to reduce employee costs through which function?

Sanford Enterprises provides outplacement assistance through its HR department.The firm is most likely attempting to:

As the head of the HR department for a large technology-production company,you have been notified that the company is preparing for a mass layoff.Which of the following should be your greatest priority in preparing for the layoff?

Your CEO asks you,as the director of HR,to lead a layoff planning session.What layoff alternatives are available to the firm? If layoffs are necessary,what separation costs would the firm most likely incur?

A layoff is typically implemented by an organization when:

As the director of HR,you have the responsibility of implementing a layoff for a medium-sized company.List the key issues that must be settled in the implementation.

Employers can force an employee to retire if the employee is 65 years of age or older.

The use of performance as a layoff criterion:

Studies show that approximately ________ of voluntary employee separations are avoidable.

It is most likely true that early retirement programs:

Glenda has been an employee at your curtain manufacturing company for over 6 years.During the past six months,Glenda's productivity has decreased by almost 15 percent as documented by her manager.In addition,you need to reduce the workforce in order to trim employee costs.Your best option is to:

A firm with too many management layers and bureaucratic work processes would most likely benefit from:

Elizabeth is a 59-year-old account representative at a large bank.Due to the increasing popularity of online banking,the bank has more employees than it needs.Recently,the bank has offered early retirement to account representatives between the ages of 55 and 65 who have been with the company for a minimum of 15 years.Four employees,including Elizabeth,meet these requirements.It is most likely that:

Additional Case 6.2 Terra Alta employs nearly 15,000 workers worldwide. The firm wants to reduce its workforce through an early retirement program. The firm has hired you to organize and implement the program. Employees over age 58 are eligible, but managers don't want to lose key older employees. Program eligibility should be limited to a short period of time. Terra Alta managers need a fairly accurate estimate of how many employees will participate in the program. Terra Alta expects a legal and humane program that avoids litigation issues. Employees should have an accurate picture of their future if they decide to accept early retirement. -Refer to Additional Case 6.2.How could Terra Alta best manage the number of participants in the early retirement program?

If a business is downsizing,it is most likely:

You are the head of an HR department for a large department store.The general manager,Frank,comes to you claiming that a pay freeze is needed in order to reduce costs to the store.Frank wants to freeze pay for the retail staff but not for department line managers.What would be your most appropriate response?