Question

$thumbnail?appId=YMailNorrin&downloadWhen$

By comparing forecasts for labor supply and demand for specific jobs, planners can ascertain whether there will be a labor surplus or a labor shortage for certain job categories. The second step in human resource planning is to define specific goals regarding a desired end and provide benchmarks for determining the relative success of a program aimed at addressing labor surpluses or shortages. There are a number of strategies for addressing the issue of a labor surplus that vary according to expense, speed, effectiveness, amount of human suffering, and irrevocability. There should be a specific timetable for achieving goals.

Each question below gives an option for reducing an expected labor surplus. For each question select correct answer based on the speed and amount of human suffering described in the question.

1. In 2015, Argo-Tech purchased the power accessories division of TRW Inc. All employees eligible to retire were encouraged and sometimes forced to do so.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

2. In September 2015, the Progressive Insurance Companies announced a reorganization to increase efficiencies and reduce cost. In November 2015, Progressive announced a reduction-in-force of 340 people.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

3. When GM downsized its Janesville assembly plant in Wisconsin, some employees were offered an opportunity to stay on board and share job responsibilities with other workers.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

4. When a restaurant chain has an employee surplus as one of its locations, it many allow the extra employees to work at another location where there is not a surplus.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

5. Cedaredge Town Council trustees regularly hire new animal control officers. However. In February 2016, the trustees discussed the possibility of not hiring for the position for that calendar year.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

6. With a shortfall in its operating budget, John Carroll University in Cleveland asked administrators to take unpaid leave.

(Click to select)  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: High; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Moderate; Speed: Slow  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Fast  Human Suffering: Low; Speed: Slow

Answer 1

Answer to 1:

Agro-Tech has purchased new and automated instruments due to which they don't require more workforce. This led to downsizing of the company. In downsizing, Human Suffering is High and the Speed is Fast.

Answer to 2:

Progressive Insurance Companies also going through downsizing to reduce their cost. In this case also, the Human Suffering will be High and Speed is Fast.

Answer to 3:

In GM, after downsizing, some employees were given opportunity to share job responsibilities with others. This is nothing but work sharing and in work sharing, Human Suffering is Moderate and Speed is Fast.

Answer to 4:

The restaurant chain wanted to transfer their extra employees to some other location where there is need of workforce. This is transfer of employees and in this case, Human Suffering is Moderate and Speed is Fast.

Answer to 5:

In this case, there is no hiring of workforce for a particular month which means there is hiring freeze. Hence, in this case, Human Suffering is Low and Speed is Slow.

Answer to 6:

In this case, the employees are asked to take unpaid leaves to reduce operational costs. Hence, the Human Suffering is Moderate and Speed is Slow.