Answers
How do we define labour relations? Does it matter whether we define
the term narrowly or more broadly? Correct Answer-A) Labour relations
can be defined as the relationship between a union and an employer.
B) Labour relations should be defined more broadly because narrowly
defining the term can mask important details about what labour relations
is.
C) Moreover, labour relations is the study of the employment
relationship and acknowledges that the employment relationship is one
of power and that inherent power disparities exist between employers
and workers.
Does labour relations bring a different perspective to work than human
resource management? Correct Answer-Human resource management
typically deals with non-unionized work environments, whereas labour
relations focuses on unions and their impact on workplaces. Although
relevant to one another, labour relations has its own priorities and
principles.
What are labour and capital? And how do their interests converge and
conflict in the employment relationship? Correct Answer-A) Labour
refers to the part of the population that trades its time for the wages
required to support itself.
,B) Capital is wealth in the form of money or property to purchase
investments, such as businesses, from which income can be drawn
without the need to perform labour.
C) Their interests converge in that the duties and obligations of
employers and employees are asymmetrical. More specifically,
employers issue commands, and employees obey them.
Furthermore, employers seek to cheapen and intensify labour to increase
profit. Therefore, employers' interests lie in maximizing profit, while
workers' interests lie in maximizing wages.
How is employment a social, as well as an economic, relationship?
Correct Answer-The employment relationship is both social and
economic because not only do employers sell their labour for
remuneration, but by accepting employment they are also accepting
managerial authority and agreeing to comply with managerial rules and
direction.
What is a labour market and how does it work? Correct Answer-A) A
labour market is where employers buy and workers sell the workers'
capacity to work.
B) The labour markets is largely influenced by supply and demand for
labourers. For instance, wages rates increase when there is a shortage of
workers. Conversely, wage rates might decrease if there is a surplus of
labour.
, What sorts of challenges and tasks face employers when trying to turn
the capacity to work into actual work? Correct Answer-Employers face
three main tasks when utilizing employees' capacity to work:
1) defining the nature of the job
2) matching the employee to the job
3) regulating the performance and behaviour of the employee on the job
What are the common law duties and obligations of employers and
employees? Correct Answer-Common law duties of employers include:
a) work and remuneration
-to provide employees with the wage and work opportunities agreed
upon.
b) notice of termination
-Unless specified in a written contract, or there is just cause, a
reasonable notice (or pay in lieu of) is required.
c) (reasonably) safe worksite.
Common law duties and obligations of workers include:
a) Duty to obey