Part A-
1. As discuassed in this week's material, most employment relationships in the united states are at-will. This means that absent a relevant exception an employee can be fired for any reason-no matter how irrational. Do you think at-will employment is fair? why or why not?
2. Criminal History it is clear that background checks are critical if employers want to avoid potential liability for negligent hiring, and potential liability under this cause of action creates incentives for employers to avoid ex-convicts to forestall these claims. do you think employers are reluctant to hire individuals with criminal records for this reason? Does this encourage recidivism? How-if all-do you think this system should change?
3. TESTINING IN THE WORKPLACE
Have you ever been administered a scored test of ability in an emplotyment context? Do you think the test did a good job measuring the skills needed to succeed at the job? How were the tests results used? How much leeway for managers to give weight criteria that--while not adequately measured by the test-are critical for success in a business context?
4. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Affirmative actionn is one of the most cotroversal topics in employment law. How is affirmative action often presented in Johnson v. Transportation Agency. Santa Clara County (ch 8, p 269)? When are racial preferences permitted?
5. UNPROTECTED CLASSES
Many students are surprised to learn that employees may be fired for any reason not expressly prohibited by the law. As we have seen, the law requires emloyers to accommodate a fairly wide range of employee behaviors and conditions. However, there are still classes of employees and behaviors that are not protected by the federal law, e.g., sexual orientation or political affliation. Should the law be expanded to cover additional classes and behaviors? Why or why not?
6. A LIVABLE WAGE
The federal minimum wage was last updated to $7.25 in 2009 is this enough money to live on? According yo a new study from the university of california berkeley labor center, federal and state taxes are currently subsidizing the wages of low-wage employees to the tune of 153 billion a year. is this fair? Should the law be changed? Or is it rrue that the minimum wage should be abolished/lowered for infringing on inividuals right t contract and for causing higher unemployment?
7. HAVE UNIONS SERVED THEIR PRPOSE
The percentage of the workplace that is a part of a union has been decreasing for decades (especially in the private sector),. Many laws have been passed that giive employees rights that unions cared deeply about , e.g., FMLA, OSH,Act, FSLA etc. Does that mean that unions are no longer needed? However, there is also evidence that an ever-increasing part of the pie is going to an ever smaller group of individuals. And unionized employees tend to make more and have stronger protections than non-union employees. Are unions necessary?
8. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
The class began with a discussion of at-well employment being the foundation principle of the employment relationship. The rest of the course complicated this principle by providing numerous exceptions. Based on your reading throughout the course, provide some best practices information about the ways that employers can protect themselves from lawsuits . Please go beyond staing that the employer should follow the law BA 370.
Part B-
1. Companies are starting to implement a reward startegy when compensating employees. Please given an example of a reward strategy for a company you or a family member work for and explain its benefits.
2. TALENTT MANAGEMENT
What is your definition of talent management?
Explain why companies are placing intense focus on attracting and retaining the best talent at all levels of an organization.
In your fictions company, what kind of talent management system would you develop?
3. SALES COMPENSATION PLAN.
Assume you take over a company and look to change the sales compensation plan.
What are some key indicators you will need to review and iplement for success of your new plan?
4. ANNUAL MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
What is an annual management incentive plan? Search the web for an example and discuss then effectiveness of the plan.
5. LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
Please provide an example how long term incentive plans have helped a company meet their strategic goals.
Explain wether or not you believe most long term incentives are attainable.
6.SERPS
What are supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPS) and why are they used?
Please locate a company on the web that uses a SERP describe its features.
7 ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
There are numerous types of organizational change the boards chief excutive officers (CEO's) and other key executiver and managers must deal with in these times.
Please pick one type of organizational change, and provide an example. Explain how you would deal with the situation.
8 REFLECTS &REVIEW
Review and reflects on what you learned in the past 8 weeks.
What is the must practica and easily applied leasson you learned?
What was the hardest to grasp? Why?
What else do you need to know about compensation?