1.
In an employment situation an employee grievance can be more closely defined as: ‘a personal complaint of dissatisfaction by an employee that management behaviour, or that of another employee, has been unfair and unjust’
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
An employee grievance refers to a personal complaint of dissatisfaction by an employee regarding unfair and unjust behavior from either management or another employee. This statement accurately defines an employee grievance, making the answer "True" correct.
2.
The overall aims of having a procedure in place to effectively deal with complaints and disagreements are mainly: (Select three)
Correct Answer(s)
A. To demonstrate that the organisation takes complaints by employees seriously and deals with them professionally and in a business-like manner
B. To deal with complaints quickly in order to prevent them escalating to a serious or widespread conflict
C. To prevent disenchanted employees who feel badly or unfairly treated from leaving the organisation
Explanation
Having a procedure in place to effectively deal with complaints and disagreements serves several important aims. Firstly, it demonstrates that the organization values and respects its employees by taking their complaints seriously and handling them in a professional and business-like manner. Secondly, it aims to address complaints promptly to prevent them from escalating into more serious or widespread conflicts that could disrupt the workplace. Lastly, having an effective procedure in place can help retain employees who may feel disenchanted or unfairly treated, reducing the risk of them leaving the organization.
3.
All grievances are valid, if an employee does not have clear grounds to complain.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
This statement is false because not all grievances are valid. In order for a grievance to be valid, an employee must have clear grounds to complain. Without clear grounds, the grievance may be seen as baseless or unfounded. Therefore, it is important for employees to have valid reasons for lodging a complaint in order for it to be considered legitimate.
4.
If complaints and feelings of dissatisfaction are not dealt with they can fester and generally cause serious damage to the employment relationship.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
If complaints and feelings of dissatisfaction are not addressed, they can become worse over time and have negative effects on the relationship between an employee and their employer. Ignoring these issues can lead to increased tension, decreased morale, and a breakdown in communication. It is important for employers to address and resolve complaints in order to maintain a healthy and productive work environment.
5.
Employee discipline is the reverse situation to grievances as it refers to a complaint by management against an employee.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Employee discipline refers to the actions taken by management to correct or address an employee's behavior or performance issues. It involves addressing misconduct, enforcing rules and policies, and imposing penalties or corrective measures. In contrast, grievances refer to complaints made by employees against management or the organization. Therefore, the statement that employee discipline is the reverse situation to grievances is true, as it implies that while grievances involve employees complaining against management, employee discipline involves management complaining against an employee.
6.
The purpose of discipline is to punish or impose sanctions on employees.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
The purpose of discipline is not solely to punish or impose sanctions on employees. While punishment may be one aspect of discipline, its primary purpose is to correct behavior, improve performance, and maintain a positive work environment. Discipline can involve various strategies such as coaching, counseling, and training, aimed at guiding employees towards better behavior and performance. It is important to view discipline as a constructive process rather than just a means of punishment.
7.
To comply with fairness and reasonableness in the achieving of standards there are three clear principles that should be maintained, which are:
Correct Answer(s)
A. Employees should know the standards of behaviour and performance that are expected of them and any rules within these
C. Employees should be given clear indication of where they are falling short of the standards or rules which are being broken
D. Employees should be given an opportunity to improve before any disciplinary action is taken against them, except in cases of gross misconduct
Explanation
The answer states three clear principles that should be maintained to comply with fairness and reasonableness in achieving standards. These principles include: employees should know the standards of behavior and performance expected of them and any rules within these, employees should be given a clear indication of where they are falling short of the standards or rules being broken, and employees should be given an opportunity to improve before any disciplinary action is taken against them, except in cases of gross misconduct. These principles promote orderly employment relations and ensure that issues are handled fairly, reasonably, and consistently.
8.
Informal disciplinary action is where a manager may issue a formal warning to an employee when a minor offence has taken place.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Informal disciplinary action is not where a manager may issue a formal warning to an employee. It is actually a less severe form of discipline, where a manager may address a minor offense through informal means such as counseling, coaching, or verbal warnings. This type of action does not involve formal written warnings or official disciplinary procedures. Therefore, the correct answer is False.
9.
A ______ awarded where there has been no marked improvement in behaviour or where an offence is sufficiently serious to justify going straight to this stage.
Correct Answer
B. Final written warning
Explanation
A final written warning is awarded in cases where there has been no significant improvement in behavior or when the offense committed is serious enough to warrant skipping any previous stages of warning. It serves as a strong disciplinary action before dismissal, indicating that further misconduct may result in termination of employment.
10.
The compensatory awards for unfair dismissal are reviewed and amended annually.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The statement suggests that the compensatory awards for unfair dismissal are subject to annual review and amendments. This implies that the amount of compensation awarded for unfair dismissal can change on a yearly basis. Therefore, the correct answer is True, indicating that the statement is accurate and the compensatory awards for unfair dismissal are indeed reviewed and amended annually.
11.
In all situations where an employee’s performance or conduct is an issue, the approach should be a supportive one and the aim of the discipline process should at all times be corrective rather than punitive.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The explanation for the given correct answer is that when an employee's performance or conduct is problematic, it is important to approach the situation in a supportive manner. The goal of the discipline process should always be to correct the behavior or performance issue rather than to punish the employee. This approach helps create a positive work environment and fosters growth and improvement among employees.