Human Resources & Labor Relations Flashcards

A municipal employee files a grievance claiming the city violated a provision of the collective bargaining agreement. What is the FIRST step in most contractual grievance procedures?

Answer: Informal discussion between the employee and immediate supervisor

Most CBA grievance procedures require an informal discussion with the immediate supervisor as Step 1 before escalating to formal levels.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which municipal employees are generally classified as NON-exempt and therefore entitled to overtime pay?

Answer: Clerical staff performing routine administrative tasks

Clerical staff performing routine tasks typically meet the FLSA non-exempt classification and must receive overtime pay for hours over 40 per week.

Which doctrine holds that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice?

Answer: At-will employment doctrine

At-will employment is the default rule in most U.S. states, allowing either party to end employment without cause or notice.

A city is experiencing budget shortfalls and must reduce its workforce. Which process provides unionized employees protection against arbitrary selection for layoff?

Answer: Reduction-in-force (RIF) procedure based on seniority

RIF procedures, commonly based on seniority, protect unionized employees by establishing objective criteria for layoff order.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would cause:

Answer: Undue hardship to the employer

The ADA requires reasonable accommodation unless it imposes an undue hardship, considering factors such as cost, resources, and impact on operations.

In public sector labor relations, an impasse occurs when:

Answer: The parties fail to reach agreement after good-faith bargaining

An impasse is declared when good-faith negotiations have reached a deadlock and neither party can move toward agreement.

Which Equal Employment Opportunity concept refers to a facially neutral policy that disproportionately excludes members of a protected class?

Answer: Disparate impact

Disparate impact (also called adverse impact) occurs when a neutral policy has a disproportionate negative effect on a protected group.