IDRL 215 Exam Prep Questions and
Answers
How do we define labour relations? Does it matter whether we define the term narrowly or
more broadly? - ANSWERS-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?
- ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-
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
-must listen to their employer and complete the work that is asked of them.
b) Obligation of good faith and fidelity
-must act in a professional manner that promotes business interests.
c) Obligation to perform work competently
-must be able to perform work assigned by the employer competently.
d) Requirement to provide resignation notice
-must inform the employer of their intent to quit.
How does government differ from the state? - ANSWERS-The state can be defined as the
government and their agencies. Like the government, the state enacts and comprise the legal
context of labour management relations.
However, the state also acts as an employer. Furthermore, states can try to influence the values
and beliefs of parties and provide different forms of support to facilitate positive labour
relations.
Answers
How do we define labour relations? Does it matter whether we define the term narrowly or
more broadly? - ANSWERS-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?
- ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-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? - ANSWERS-
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
-must listen to their employer and complete the work that is asked of them.
b) Obligation of good faith and fidelity
-must act in a professional manner that promotes business interests.
c) Obligation to perform work competently
-must be able to perform work assigned by the employer competently.
d) Requirement to provide resignation notice
-must inform the employer of their intent to quit.
How does government differ from the state? - ANSWERS-The state can be defined as the
government and their agencies. Like the government, the state enacts and comprise the legal
context of labour management relations.
However, the state also acts as an employer. Furthermore, states can try to influence the values
and beliefs of parties and provide different forms of support to facilitate positive labour
relations.
