• Q: What is HRM?

  • A: Human resource management is the set of organizational activities directed at attracting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce.

• Q: Why has the importance of HRM increased in recent decades?

  • A: Due to increased legal complexities, the value of human resources in productivity improvement, and awareness of costs related to poor HR management.

• Q: What is job analysis?

  • A: A systematic analysis of jobs within an organization, consisting of a job description and job specification.

• Q: What are the components of job analysis?

  • A: Job description (duties, working conditions, tools) and job specification (skills, abilities, credentials).

• Q: What does HR demand forecasting involve?

  • A: Assessing trends in past HR usage, future organizational plans, and economic trends to predict future HR needs.

• Q: What is internal recruiting?

  • A: Considering current employees as candidates for job openings.

• Q: What are some external recruiting methods?

  • A: Advertising, campus interviews, employment agencies, referrals, and online job postings.

• Q: What is the main goal of the selection process?

  • A: To gather information that predicts job success and hire candidates likely to succeed.

• Q: What is behavior-based interviewing?

  • A: A technique focusing on past behavior to predict future performance, asking candidates to describe previous situations and actions.

• Q: What challenges can arise from the hiring process?

  • A: High costs from hiring mistakes, including training, low productivity, and the need to recruit replacements.

Flashcard 1
Q: What is the purpose of new employee orientation?
A: To introduce new employees to the company's policies, programs, co-workers, supervisors, and job nature, which influences job satisfaction, performance, and retention.

Flashcard 2
Q: What is a needs analysis in training?
A: It assesses the organization's job-related needs and the capabilities of the current workforce to determine necessary training programs.

Flashcard 3
Q: What is on-the-job training?
A: A training method where employees learn in actual work situations, often with guidance from a supervisor or experienced employee.

Flashcard 4
Q: What is job rotation?
A: A training method where employees are moved between different jobs to learn a wide array of tasks and acquire more skills.

Flashcard 5
Q: What is off-the-job training?
A: Training conducted away from the work site, often in a classroom or simulated environment.

Flashcard 6
Q: What is a 360-degree feedback system?
A: An appraisal method that gathers performance information from supervisors, subordinates, and co-workers for a comprehensive evaluation.

Flashcard 7
Q: What is the difference between objective and subjective performance measures?
A: Objective measures use quantifiable data (e.g., sales numbers), while subjective measures rely on personal judgment (e.g., ratings).

Flashcard 8
Q: What are some common methods for appraising employee performance?
A: Simple ranking, forced distribution, graphic rating scale, and critical incident method.

Flashcard 9
Q: What does compensation encompass?
A: It includes base salary, incentives, bonuses, benefits, and other rewards provided for employee performance.

Flashcard 10
Q: How can education impact compensation?
A: Higher education levels typically lead to higher salaries and lower unemployment rates, but many low-paying jobs are held by individuals with advanced degrees.

Flashcard 11
Q: What is the debate surrounding executive compensation?
A: The disparity between CEO pay and average worker salaries, with calls for greater accountability and fairness in executive pay packages.

Flashcard 12
Q: What are individual incentive programs?
A: Pay programs that reward employees for outstanding performance, typically applied in settings where performance can be objectively assessed.

Individual Incentives

Q: What are individual incentives in the workplace? A: Individual incentives include rewards like additional time off or recognition points that can be converted into money for merchandise or trips.

Q: What is a workforce management system? A: A system used to schedule productive staff during peak times and display performance metrics at cash registers.

Team and Group Incentives

Q: What are profit-sharing plans? A: Incentive programs that distribute profits earned above a certain level among all employees.

Q: What is gainsharing? A: A plan that distributes bonuses to employees when a company's costs are reduced through greater efficiency or productivity.

Benefits

Q: What are employee benefits? A: Rewards and incentives provided in addition to wages, representing a meaningful form of compensation.

Q: What are some sought-after benefits other than money? A: Gift cards, extra vacation days, and career coaching.

Mandated Protection Plans

Q: What does employment insurance provide? A: Basic subsistence payments to unemployed individuals actively seeking work, including parental leave coverage.

Q: What is the Canada Pension Plan (CPP)? A: A program providing income for retirees, funded through payroll taxes.

Optional Protection Plans

Q: What has expanded in health insurance coverage? A: Coverage now includes vision care, mental health services, dental care, and prescription drugs.

Q: What is paid time off? A: Time allocated for vacation, sick leave, or personal business, typically varying by employee seniority.

Legal Context of HRM

Q: What key legal issues impact HRM? A: Equal employment opportunity, comparable worth, sexual harassment, employee safety and health, and retirement regulations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Q: What is the purpose of the Canadian Human Rights Act? A: To ensure equal job opportunity and prohibit discrimination based on various characteristics.

Q: Who does the Employment Equity Act protect? A: Women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

Comparable Worth

Q: What is the concept of comparable worth? A: It advocates for equal pay for jobs that are of comparable value to the employer.

Sexual Harassment

Q: What constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace? A: Unwelcome sexual advances or conduct creating a hostile environment.

Employee Safety and Health

Q: What is the right to refuse unsafe work? A: Employees can refuse tasks they believe are unsafe, with legal procedures for resolving disputes.

Retirement

Q: What are defined benefit (DB) pension plans? A: Pension plans that guarantee a specific income during retirement, preferred by employees but challenging for employers.

Q: What distinguishes defined contribution (DC) pension plans? A: Employers contribute a fixed amount, and the retirement income depends on the fund's performance, creating uncertainty for employees.

Flashcard 1
Q: What does workforce diversity refer to?
A: The range of workers' attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors that differ by gender, race, age, ethnicity, physical ability, and other characteristics.

Flashcard 2
Q: What percentage of Canada's population is expected to be visible minorities by 2036?
A: Between 24.5% and 30%.

Flashcard 3
Q: How can diversity be a competitive advantage for organizations?
A: By hiring the best talent from diverse groups, leading to a higher-quality workforce and innovative products.

Flashcard 4
Q: Which Canadian company has 64% of its workforce as women?
A: Royal Bank of Canada.

Flashcard 5
Q: What is the term used for workers who require extensive and specialized training, such as computer scientists and engineers?
A: Knowledge workers.

Flashcard 6
Q: What is the "half-life" of technical education in engineering?
A: About three years, indicating the need for continuous training.

Flashcard 7
Q: What are contingent workers?
A: Workers who are employed on something other than a permanent or full-time basis, including part-time workers and independent contractors.

Flashcard 8
Q: What issues can arise with contingent foreign workers in the agriculture sector?
A: Reports of poor living conditions, lack of PPE, and pressure to work while symptomatic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flashcard 9
Q: What are some categories of contingent workers?
A: Part-time workers, independent contractors, temporary employees, and guest workers.

Flashcard 10
Q: What is collective bargaining?
A: The process by which union leaders and company management negotiate terms and conditions of employment for workers.

Flashcard 11
Q: What historical event led to the formation of the Canadian labour movement?
A: The Industrial Revolution.

Flashcard 12
Q: What is the current union density in the private sector in Canada?
A: Approximately 16%.

Flashcard 13
Q: Why have unions had less success in recent years?
A: Due to a more diverse workforce, increased service sector employment, aggressive company opposition, and improved employee involvement.

Flashcard 14
Q: What percentage of public-sector workers are typically unionized?
A: About 75%.

Flashcard 15
Q: What is the significance of the merger between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union?
A: It led to the formation of a new union called Unifor, responding to challenges faced by unions.

• Q: What is a common reason for union organizing?
  A: Firms expanding into new geographical areas.

• Q: What is a closed shop?
  A: A workplace where only union members can be hired.

• Q: Define craft unions.
  A: Unions organized by specific trades that require specialized skills.

• Q: What occurs during the collective bargaining process?
  A: Negotiation of contract terms between union representatives and management.

• Q: What is an impasse in bargaining?
  A: A situation where management and labor cannot reach an agreement after several sessions.

• Q: Describe a union shop.
  A: Employers can hire non-union workers, but they must join the union within a stipulated period.

• Q: What are sympathy strikes?
  A: Strikes initiated by one union in support of another union's strike.

• Q: What is the primary goal of a labor union?
  A: To negotiate better working conditions, pay, and benefits for its members.

• Q: How does mediation differ from arbitration?
  A: Mediation involves advising parties without imposing a settlement, while arbitration involves imposing a settlement.

• Q: What is the role of the Manitoba Labour Board in union certification?
  A: It determines the appropriateness of the bargaining unit and conducts certification votes.

• Q: What is human resource management (HRM)?
  A: The set of organizational activities aimed at attracting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce.

• Q: What are the three steps in planning for human resources?
  A: Conducting job analysis, forecasting demand and supply, and matching HR supply and demand.

• Q: What is the difference between internal and external recruiting?
  A: Internal recruiting considers current employees for new positions, while external recruiting attracts candidates from outside the organization.

• Q: Name some common selection techniques in recruiting.
  A: Application forms, tests, and interviews.

• Q: Why are wages and salaries important in HRM?
  A: Competitive compensation is crucial for attracting and retaining skilled workers.

• Q: What are some key legal issues in HRM?
  A: Equal opportunity and pay, sexual harassment laws, and occupational health and safety regulations.

• Q: How is workforce diversity beneficial for organizations?
  A: It is viewed as a competitive advantage and enhances organizational effectiveness.

• Q: What historical trends have affected unionism in Canada?
  A: Declining membership since the mid-1970s and a shift toward collaboration with management.

• Q: What did the Privy Council Order 1003 establish?
  A: It gave unions the right to bargain collectively.

• Q: What is an impasse in the collective bargaining process?
  A: A situation where both parties cannot reach an agreement after several negotiation sessions.