Question 1

Johnny Damon, the human resource manager at Damon Electric Utility, wants to reduce the pay for one of his employees. The pay is included in the employee's employment contract. How can Mr. Damon legally change the employee's pay?

Accepted Answer

A)   get the employee to agree to the change and provide a new benefit
B)   adjust the pay unilaterally, as Mr. Damon is the human resource manager
C)   get a lawyer to make the change
D)   get top management to make the change A

Question 2

Because personnel files are the employer's property, an employee may be barred from seeing his or her file.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

When a supervisor decides to dismiss an employee, which of the following suggestions should NOT be followed?

Accepted Answer

A)   keep an open mind in case the subordinate offers an acceptable plan to correct his or her disciplinary problem
B)   avoid mixing the good with the bad
C)   keep the termination meeting businesslike and fairly brief
D)   avoid bringing personal feelings into the discussion A

Question 4

With an open-door policy, decisions tend to be consistent across managers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What is a key characteristic of an implied employment contract?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is valid only if in writing.
B)   It contains terms that judges read into employment contracts when the written contract does not expressly deal with the matter.
C)   It exists after an employee passes his or her probation period.
D)   It covers approximately 90 percent of the Canadian workforce.

Question 6

An ombudsperson solves problems through negotiation and mediation activities between supervisors and subordinates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Organizations are required by law to comply with ethical guidelines.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Employee rights are granted to workers by the courts, legislatures, and/or employers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Under a step-review appeal procedure, the last step involves which of the following employee groups?

Accepted Answer

A)   human resources specialists
B)   top management
C)   a tribunal of middle managers
D)   a jury consisting of equal numbers of supervisory and nonsupervisory employees

Question 10

The employment-at-will doctrine states that either the employee or the employer may terminate the employment relationship for any reason.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The HR department is responsible for developing disciplinary policies and procedures.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What is the term for discipline programs designed to motivate an employee to correct his or her misconduct voluntarily?

Accepted Answer

A)   hot-stove programs
B)   progressive discipline programs
C)   respect-discipline programs
D)   step-help programs

Question 13

Positive discipline is based on a mutual problem-solving approach, but resolutions are still mandated by the HR department.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

One of the major reasons for investigative interviews is to establish the facts surrounding an employee's offence.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Scenario 13.2
Woodbridge Group Inc. (WG), a Canadian consultancy firm, is having a hard time keeping all its employees as a result of the last recession. Most of its clients are based in the United States, and tighter restrictions there have led to some clients severing business ties with WG. With the loss of business, the company claims it cannot afford to continue paying employees even though the company is still profitable. Management is planning to let some of them go, and plans to give them four weeks' pay in lieu of notice. While these employees are not unionized, they do have contracts that entitle them to fixed amounts of weeks worked for each year they have been with WG.
-Refer to Scenario 13.2. WG wants to avoid being sued for wrongful dismissal as it may cost the company more than what is stipulated in the contract. Which of the following is NOT accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)   nonmanagerial employees are usually entitled to up to 12 months' notice
B)   managerial employees may be entitled to as much as 24 months' notice
C)   an employer needs just cause to terminate a nonunionized employee
D)   legal and court fees can be very costly and potentially embarrassing

Question 16

Tammy Faye, a university student, is doing research on cases decided by the Supreme Court on employee dismissals for threatening coworkers on the job. Which of the following regimes of employment law is Tammy researching?

Accepted Answer

A)   criminal law
B)   common law
C)   statutory regulation
D)   Supreme Court law

Question 17

In order to be effective, employee discipline must take place as soon as possible after the problem is verified.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Susan is a fast-track employee slotted for a vice-president position. Her next job assignment is a foreign position in a South American country as director of your manufacturing division. Unfortunately, this position requires supervising foreign male managers who are largely opposed to supervision by females. To not send Susan on this assignment would "short-step" her promotion to vice-president, and possibly be viewed as discriminatory. How would you handle this ethical situation? Be specific.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Susan is a fast-track employee slotted for...

Question 19

What are some of the pros and cons of "open-door" policies?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the pros and...

Question 20

In a recent Society for Human Resource Management study, which of the following factors was found to be the most important driver of employee trust and loyalty?

Accepted Answer

A)   the existence of a code of conduct
B)   perception of ethical conduct by fellow employees
C)   perceptions of ethical behaviour by leaders in organizations
D)   fair pay

Exam 13: Employee Rights and Discipline

Johnny Damon, the human resource manager at Damon Electric Utility, wants to reduce the pay for one of his employees. The pay is included in the employee's employment contract. How can Mr. Damon legally change the employee's pay?

Because personnel files are the employer's property, an employee may be barred from seeing his or her file.

When a supervisor decides to dismiss an employee, which of the following suggestions should NOT be followed?

With an open-door policy, decisions tend to be consistent across managers.

What is a key characteristic of an implied employment contract?

An ombudsperson solves problems through negotiation and mediation activities between supervisors and subordinates.

Organizations are required by law to comply with ethical guidelines.

Employee rights are granted to workers by the courts, legislatures, and/or employers.

Under a step-review appeal procedure, the last step involves which of the following employee groups?

The employment-at-will doctrine states that either the employee or the employer may terminate the employment relationship for any reason.

The HR department is responsible for developing disciplinary policies and procedures.

What is the term for discipline programs designed to motivate an employee to correct his or her misconduct voluntarily?

Positive discipline is based on a mutual problem-solving approach, but resolutions are still mandated by the HR department.

One of the major reasons for investigative interviews is to establish the facts surrounding an employee's offence.

Tammy Faye, a university student, is doing research on cases decided by the Supreme Court on employee dismissals for threatening coworkers on the job. Which of the following regimes of employment law is Tammy researching?

In order to be effective, employee discipline must take place as soon as possible after the problem is verified.

What are some of the pros and cons of "open-door" policies?

In a recent Society for Human Resource Management study, which of the following factors was found to be the most important driver of employee trust and loyalty?