2.6 Employer and Employee Relations {HL Only}

Which form of industrial action is used by employees who work according to the organization’s established policies, processes and procedures?

• Health and safety laws

• Work to rule

• Collective bargaining

• Slowdowns

Answer explanation

Work to rule is a form of industrial action used by employees who work according to an organization’s established set of policies, processes and procedures. Worker productivity is reduced as people refer to and abide by each and every rule set by the organization.

Which form of industrial action involves employees agreeing not to work beyond their contracted hours of employment?

• Overtime ban

• Work to rule

• Strike action

• Lockout

Answer explanation

An overtime ban is a form of industrial action by employees, in agreement with other members of their labour (trade) union, not to work beyond the hours that they are required as stipulated in their contract of employment.

Which organization is formed by worker representatives to advocate and protect their rights and interests?

• Arbitration

• Conciliation

• Labour union

• Industrial tribunal

Answer explanation

A labour union (or trade union) is an organization formed by worker members who appoint employee representatives to advocate for and protect their rights and interests in the workplace.

Which term refers to employee and employer representatives meeting to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment?

• Arbitration

• Conciliation

• Collective bargaining

• Industrial relations

Answer explanation

Collective bargaining is the process of employee and employer representatives meeting in order to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment, such as disputes over pay rises.

Which of the following is an option that employers can use as a threat or deterrent to workers in order to settle industrial disputes?

• Conciliation

• Collective bargaining

• Strike action

• Redundancies

Answer explanation

Employers can put pressure on labour unions and workers by threatening the use of layoffs or redundancies. Industrial unrest will cause a loss of productivity and profits, so employers can use redundancies as a deterrent to industrial conflict and get employees back to work.

Which form of industrial action involves a business closing for a short time in order to prevent employees from working and therefore being paid?

• Strike action

• No-strike agreement

• Go-slow

• Lockout

Answer explanation

A lockout (or closure) occurs when a business closes its doors / premises for a limited time in an attempt to prevent employees from working. Without work, they are not paid, which is an attempt to get them back to the negotiating table to resolve the conflict.

Which option is an extreme form of industrial action taken by workers when no other option has worked to resolve industrial disputes with employers?

• Strike action

• Lockout

• Arbitration

• Closure

Answer explanation

Strike action occurs when employees, through their trade unions, agree to refuse to go to work. This prevents the business organization from operating normally, forcing the employer to renegotiate the terms and conditions of employment.

Which option enables an independent entity to make a final decision to resolve disputes between employers and employees?

• Arbitration

• Trade union

• Collective bargaining

• Mediation

Answer explanation

Arbitration occurs when an independent entity (the arbitrator) makes a final decision in an industrial dispute between employer and employee representatives. The decision is binding by both parties, irrespective of the outcome being in favour of one party over the other.

Which action taken by employees is most likely to enable employers to be more likely to negotiate with employee representative?

• Conciliation

• Collective bargaining

• No-strike agreements

• Arbitration

Answer explanation

Employers are more likely to negotiate with employee representatives (such as labour union representatives) if workers sign or agree to a no-strike agreement.

Which entity is used to help both employee and employer representatives in the negotiation process, in order to resolve the dispute in a mutually beneficial way?

• Conciliator

• Government

• Labour union

• Arbitrator

Answer explanation

Conciliation is used to establish a mutually beneficial resolution to a dispute between employer and employees.