hr management practice may 2015

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Page 1 of 6 SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE Time: 3 Hours Date: May 2015 Mark Allocation: 100 Marks Number of Pages: 6 Examiner’s instructions: 1. Answer ALL questions in both Sections A and B, ONE question from Section C and ALL QUESTIONS from Section C. 2. Lay your work out clearly, using headings, sub-headings and paragraph numbers. 3. The examination should be conducted in strict silence. 4. This is a closed book exam. No books or notes may be consulted during the exam by a student, except a simple dual language translation dictionary e.g. English/Xhosa, English/Afrikaans etc. 5. Ensure that your SAIM Number and your ID Number are both indicated on your Answer Booklet. No names should be recorded anywhere on the Answer Booklet. 6. Failure to observe the rules and regulations set down by the SAIM will be considered cheating and you will be disqualified from this examination and any future SAIM examinations.

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Page 1: HR Management Practice May 2015

Page 1 of 6

SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Time: 3 Hours Date: May 2015

Mark Allocation: 100 Marks Number of Pages: 6

Examiner’s instructions:

1. Answer ALL questions in both Sections A and B, ONE question from Section C and ALL

QUESTIONS from Section C.

2. Lay your work out clearly, using headings, sub-headings and paragraph numbers.

3. The examination should be conducted in strict silence.

4. This is a closed book exam. No books or notes may be consulted during the exam by a student,

except a simple dual language translation dictionary e.g. English/Xhosa, English/Afrikaans etc.

5. Ensure that your SAIM Number and your ID Number are both indicated on your Answer

Booklet. No names should be recorded anywhere on the Answer Booklet.

6. Failure to observe the rules and regulations set down by the SAIM will be considered cheating

and you will be disqualified from this examination and any future SAIM examinations.

Page 2: HR Management Practice May 2015

Page 2 of 6

SECTION A

Answer ALL the questions. 10 MARKS

QUESTION 1 [5 marks]

Various options are given for each of the following questions/statements. Read through the

questions/statements and decide on the correct option. Each question has only one correct option.

Record your answer as follows for example: 1.5 b

1.1. In which of the following cases is an employer allowed to conduct an HIV test?

a) Before the employer appoints a successful candidate in a position.

b) If an employee chooses not to belong to a medical fund.

c) If justifiable by the Labour Court.

d) If requested by the employee.

1.2. Which one of the following does not oblige employees to become union members, but it may

provide that non-members who are eligible for union membership are obliged to pay a

subscription?

a) An agency shop agreement.

b) A closed shop agreement.

c) A union agreement.

a) A bargaining union agreement.

1.3. Which one of the following statements is true?

a) Attractiveness of certain positions in the industry might lead to an increase in the demand

for certain positions

b) Oversupply and under supply of labour might lead to a shift in the supply of labour.

c) The law of demand and supply postulates that, as the price of labour increases, the quantity

of labour demanded will increase.

d) Where the number of labour units supplied changes rapidly with a change in the wage rate,

supply is described as inelastic.

1.4. What is the main objective of the State as the protector of public interest and the promoter of a

sound economic system?

b) To maintain industrial peace.

c) To resolve individual disputes.

d) To legalise retrenchments.

e) To legalise union membership.

1.5. Which body in South Africa brings together labour, business, government and development

actors in order to ensure consensus on all matters relation to economic policy and to consider

all proposed labour legislation?

Page 3: HR Management Practice May 2015

Page 3 of 6

a) COSATU

b) NEDLAC

c) FEDUSA

d) NACTU

QUESTION 2 [5 marks]

A True or False option is given for each of the following statements. Read through the statements and

decide on the correct option. Each question has only one correct option. Record your answer as follows

for example: 1.5 True

2.1. One of the main aims of the Skills Development Act is to improve productivity and competitiveness.

2.2. Breach of confidentiality is not a good reason for an employer to dismiss an employee.

2.3. The general public is one of the parties to the labour relationship.

2.4. One of the requirements for a fair disciplinary hearing is to give the employee the opportunity to

call witnesses.

2.5. The term ‘Affirmative Action’ refers to the purposeful and planned placement or development of

competent or potentially competent persons in positions from which they were debarred in the

past, in an attempt to redress past disadvantages and to render the workforce more representative

of the population, on local and national levels.

SECTION B. 50 MARKS

Answer ALL the questions

QUESTION 3 [10 marks]

3.1. Discuss the employer’s duties in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993

as amended by the Occupational Health and Safety amendment Act 181 of 1993. (6 marks)

3.2. In terms of Section 19 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers have to establish

Health and Safety Committees if two or more Health and Safety Representatives were appointed.

Discuss the employer’s relationship with the Health and Safety Committee and the role of such a

committee. (4 marks)

QUESTION 4 [10 marks]

4.1. Define the following terms:

a) Wage flexibility (1 mark)

b) Numerical flexibility (1 mark)

c) Functional flexibility (1 mark)

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d) Work time flexibility (1 mark)

4.2. In your view, what are the problems that can be experienced with the implementation of Affirmative

Action? (6 marks)

QUESTION 5 [10 marks]

5.1. Distinguish between retrenchment and redundancy. (6 marks)

5.2. The effectiveness of communication is of importance in any relationship, thus also in the labour

relationship. List four (4) techniques that can be applied by the receiver to improve communication.

(4 marks)

QUESTION 6 [10 marks]

6.1. Name five external influences on the labour relationship. (5 Marks)

6.2. What effect will the Labour Relations Act have on the recruitment and interviewing of employees?

(5 marks)

QUESTION 7 [10 marks]

7.1. The National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) came into being on 18

February 1995. List the main objectives of NEDLAC, as set out in the National Economic

Development and Labour Council Act 35 of 1994. (10 marks)

SECTION C

Answer ONE (1) of the following two (2) questions. 20 MARKS

QUESTION 8 [20 marks]

8.1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of centralised and decentralised bargaining.

(20 marks)

QUESTION 9 [20 marks]

9.1. The main argument pertaining to the dismissal of strikers is that, even though the freedom to strike

may be entrenched in law, the employers still holds the right at common law to dismiss employees

who engage in strike action since, by refusing to work, they have effectively breached their

individual contract of employment. Discuss the question of dismissal versus the right to strike.

(20 marks)

SECTION D. 20 MARKS

Page 5: HR Management Practice May 2015

Page 5 of 6

Answer ALL the questions

Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow.

NEASA lockout to continue 'despite threats’ (31 JUL 2014)

The National Employers’ Association of South Africa’s (NEASE’s) members will continue their lockout of workers who participated in the recent metal industry protest, despite threats, it said on Thursday.

The association was adamant the decision by its members to lockout workers would stand, despite threats from both the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and union federation COSATU.

COSATU in the Western Cape had threatened to close down companies participating in the lockout, and NUMSA had threatened to take NEASA to court if it did not suspend the lockout of its members.

NEASA said the lockout was legal and enjoyed the same constitutional protection as the right to strike.

NEASA chief executive Gerhard Papenfus said companies in the metals industry had endured a violent four-week strike. Employees had been prevented from working through violence and intimidation.

“There were instances where employees were dragged out of offices and assaulted,” he said, adding that NUMSA stood for a one-sided form of democracy.

“They are very quick to claim the benefits of their version of democracy and are very quick to point out any so-called undemocratic behaviour.” ‘Open up the books’ When he announced the end of the strike on Tuesday, NUMSA general secretary Irvin Jim said employers represented by NEASA, who had long claimed they could not afford more than an 8% increase, were expected to implement the agreement. “Failure to do so would be violating this commitment by employers,” Jim said, adding that, where companies claim they can’t afford the increases, they must apply for exemption and “open up the books”. Papenfus said the differences would not be resolved through threats and legal action, but through appropriate channels. On Tuesday, six unions in the metals and engineering sector signed a wage deal with most employers.

Jim said the victory was massive given the “pittance offer at the point of deadlock”. At the start of the week, Jim, announced that the strike that had begun on July 1 was over, and urged all members to return to work on Tuesday. NEASA refused to sign the offer, saying it had been side-lined in the negotiation process facilitated by the Labour Department. As a result, NEASA, which had 22 members and employed about 70 000 workers, continued its lockout. Mail and Guardian. 2014. NEASA’s lockout to continue 'despite threats' [Online] Available at:

http://mg.co.za/article/2014-07-31-neasa-lock-out-to-continue-despite-threats [Accessed: 8 April 2015]

Page 6: HR Management Practice May 2015

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QUESTION 9 [20 marks]

9.1 Distinguish between a strike and a lockout in terms of the Labour Relations Act of 1995 by defining

the main elements of each. (15 marks)

9.2 Describe the procedures that NEASA had to follow to continue with the lock-out action. (5 marks)

OVERALL MARKS FOR EXAM PAPER: 100 MARKS