Chapter 13

Question 1

Employee Rights

Answer 1

Guarantees of fair treatment that become rights when they are granted to employees by the courts, legislatures, or employers.

Question 2

Negligence

Answer 2

The failure to provide reasonable care when such failure results in injury to consumers or other employees.

Question 3

Psychological Contract

Answer 3

Expectations of a fair exchange of employment obligations between an employee and an employer.

Question 4

Employment-At-Will Relationship

Answer 4

The right of an employer to fire an employee without giving a reason and the right of an employee to quit when he or she chooses.

Question 5

Wrongful Discharge

Answer 5

A discharge, or termination, of an employee that is illegal.

Question 6

Whistle-Blowing

Answer 6

Complaints to governmental agencies by employees about their employers’ illegal or immoral acts or practices.

Question 7

Constructive Discharge

Answer 7

An employee’s voluntary termination of his or her employment because of harsh, unreasonable employment conditions placed on the individual by the employer.

Question 8

Impairment Testing

Answer 8

Also called fitness-for-duty or performance-based testing, it measures whether an employee is alter enough to work.

Question 9

Discipline

Answer 9

A tool, used to correct and mold the practices of employees to help the perform better so they conform to acceptable standards.

Question 10

Progressive Discipline

Answer 10

The application of corrective measures by increasing degrees.

Question 11

Positive, or nonpunitive, discipline

Answer 11

A system of discipline that focuses on early correction of employee misconduct, with the employee taking total responsibility for correcting the problem.

Question 12

Due Process

Answer 12

Procedures that constitute fair treatment, such as allowing an employee to tell his or her story about an alleged infraction and defend against it.

Question 13

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Answer 13

A term applied to different employee complaint or dispute resolution methods that do not involve going to court.

Question 14

Step-Review System

Answer 14

A system for reviewing employee complaints and disputes by successively higher levels of management.

Question 15

Peer-Review System

Answer 15

A system for reviewing employee complaints that utilizes a group composed of equal numbers of employee representatives and management appointees. The group weights evidence, considers arguments, and, after deliberation, votes to render a final decision.

Question 16

Open-Door Policy

Answer 16

A policy of settling grievances that identifies various levels of management above the immediate supervisor for employee contact.

Question 17

Ombudsman

Answer 17

A designated individual from whom employees may seek counsel for resolution of their complaints.

Question 18

Mediation

Answer 18

The use of an impartial neutral to reach a compromise decision in employment disputes.

Question 19

Mediator

Answer 19

A third party in an employment dispute who meets with one party and then the other to suggest compromise solutions or to recommend concessions from each side that will lead to an agreement.

Question 20

Ethics

Answer 20

A set of standards of conduct and moral judgments that help to determine right and wrong behavior.

Question 21

Electronic Communications Privacy Act (1986)

Answer 21

Prohibits the interception, recording, or disclosure of wire, electronic, and aural communications through any electronic, mechanical or other device. An interception takes place when an employer monitors a telephone call while it is occurring. Permits employer monitoring for legitimate business reasons.

Question 22

Privacy Act (1974)

Answer 22

Applies to federal agencies and to organizations supplying goods or services to the federal government; gives individuals the right to examine their personnel records for accuracy. Employers who willfully violate the act are subject to civil suits.

Question 23

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act — The Buckley Amendment (1974)

Answer 23

Prohibits educational institutions from supplying information about students without prior consent. Students have the right to inspect their educational records.

Question 24

Fair Credit Reporting Act

Answer 24

Permits job applicants and employees to know of the existence and context of any credit files maintained on them. Employees have the right to know of the existence and nature of an investigative consumer report compiled by the employer.