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affirmative action programs
Programs established by organizations to expand job opportunities for women and minorities.
agency shop
Workers don’t have to join a union but must pay union dues.
apprenticeship
A form of on-the-job training that combines specific job instruction with classroom instruction.
arbitration
Settling labor-management disputes through a third party. The decision is final and binding.
collective bargaining
Negotiating a labor agreement.
competitive advantage
A set of unique features of an organization that are perceived by customers and potential customers as significant and superior to the competition.
conciliation
Negotiation process in which a specialist in labor-management negotiations acts as a go-between for management and the unions and helps focus on the problems.
contingent worker
Person who prefers temporary employment, either part-time or full-time.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Processes discrimination complaints, issues regulations regarding discrimination, and disseminates information.
federation
A collection of unions banded together to achieve common goals.
grievance
A formal complaint by a union worker that management has violated the contract.
human resource (HR) management
The process of hiring, developing, motivating, and evaluating employees to achieve organizational goals.
human resource planning
Creating a strategy for meeting current and future human resource needs.
incentive pay
Additional pay for attaining a specific goal.
job analysis
A study of the tasks required to do a particular job well.
job description
The tasks and responsibilities of a job.
job fair
An event, typically one or two days, held at a convention center to bring together job seekers and firms that are searching for employees.
job rotation
Reassignment of workers to several different jobs over time so that they can learn the basics of each job.
job specification
A list of the skills, knowledge, and abilities a person must have to fill a job.
labor union
An organization that represents workers in dealing with management.
local union
Branch of a national union that represents workers in a specific plant or geographic area.
management rights clause
Clause in a labor agreement that gives management the right to manage the business except as specified in the contract.
mediation
Negotiation process in which a specialist facilitates labor-management contract discussions and suggests compromises.
mentoring
A form of on-the-job training in which a senior manager or other experienced employee provides job- and career-related information to a mentee.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Sets workplace safety and health standards and assures compliance.
open shop
Workers do not have to join the union or pay union dues.
orientation
Presentation to get the new employee ready to perform his or her job.
performance appraisal
A comparison of actual performance with expected performance to assess an employee’s contributions to the organization.
programmed instruction
A form of computer-assisted off-the-job training.
protected classes
The specific groups who have legal protection against employment discrimination; include women, African-Americans, Native Americans, and others.
recruitment
The attempt to find and attract qualified applicants in the external labor market.
recruitment branding
Presenting an accurate and positive image of the firm to those being recruited.
right-to-work law
State laws that an employee does not have to join a union.
selection
The process of determining which persons in the applicant pool possess the qualifications necessary to be successful on the job.
selection interview
An in-depth discussion of an applicant’s work experience, skills and abilities, education, and career interests.
selective strike strategy
Strike at a critical plant that typically stops operations system-wide.
shop steward
An elected union official that represents union members to management when workers have complaints.
simulation
A scaled-down version or mock-up of equipment, processes, or a work environment.
succession planning
Examination of current employees to identify people who can fill vacancies and be promoted.
training and development
Activities that provide learning situations in which an employee acquires additional knowledge or skills to increase job performance.
unemployment compensation
Government payment to unemployed former workers.
union shop
Nonunion workers can be hired but must join the union later.
worker’s compensation
Pay for lost work time due to employment-related injuries.
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