Competency: Employee Compensation and Benefits 1. Provide a description of the legal background of an organizational compensation and rewards system. 2. Discuss the legally required benefits that must be included within a compensation plan. 3. Discuss the discretionary benefits that could optionally be included within a compensation plan. 4. Discuss the perception of fairness in compensation and how it affects the productivity and morale of employees. 5. Trace the history from seniority dependent systems to performance based systems. 6. Discuss trends in benefits packages including rising health care costs and in emerging compensation issues. 7. Calculate labor costs to an organization by dollar, average, and percentage basis. 8. Calculate benefit costs to an organization by dollar, average, and percentage basis. 9. Define break-even point and calculate the effect that labor costs have on the break-even point for a firm. 10. Identify, design, and calculate grades and ranges for a salary scale. 11. Define benchmarking and describe its application to setting pay scales. 12. Define variable pay and identify the elements of successful pay-for-performance plans. 13. Define benefits and describe the different types of benefits offered by employers. 14. Differentiate between broadbanding, strategic compensation, and comparable worth. 15. Differentiate piecework plans, merit pay as an incentive, merit pay options, and incentives for professionals, recognitionbased awards, and online reward programs. 16. Write a personnel policy to include all benefits showing a cost benefit analysis. 17. Explain the steps in establishing pay rates. 18. Describe competency and team-based compensation programs. 19. Contrast Social Security, unemployment compensation, and worker s compensation benefits. Page 1
Competency: Governmental Regulations and Issues (discrimination laws, federal labor acts) 1. Describe law and the personnel function. 2. Describe the difference between equal employment and equal opportunity and discuss the importance of the Equal Employment Opportunities Act of 1972. 3. Define sexual harassment, hostile environment, discrimination, and reverse discrimination. 4. Define the two types of sexual harassment and how employers should respond to complaints. 5. Explain the requirement for verification of employability under IRCA, list the discrimination provisions, and describe the penalties for noncompliance. 6. Explain the scope and purpose of affirmative action and seniority s impact on affirmative action. 7. Describe affirmative action plans. 8. Establish the Human Resources role in the ethics relating to harassment, workplace safety, security of employee records, employee theft, affirmative action, comparable work, and employee privacy rights. 9. Explain habitual handicaps (e.g., tobacco, drugs, and alcohol) and legal rights. 10. Identify and define employee rights and responsibilities. 11. Define defamation, disclosure, and negligent hiring. 12. Explain the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees. 13. Define an independent contractor. 14. Explain the coverage and penalties of the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act). 15. Explain the intent and requirements for compliance with OSHA. 16. Discuss the requirements of the ADEA and describe its impact on early retirement programs. 17. Discuss the coverage of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN), Older Worker Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA), and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). 18. Identify the important components of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 and discuss how reasonable accommodation is made when managing individuals with disabilities. 19. Define work related injury and describe the basic concepts workers compensation. 20. Explain the purpose and provisions of the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act). 21. Explain workplace violence as a security issue and describe some components of an effective security program. 22. Explain the intent of the Privacy Act of 1974 and its effects on Human Resources. 23. Discuss the implications of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the pros and cons of employee drug testing. 24. Discuss the implications of and exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine. Page 2
Competency: Human Resource Planning (mission, vision, internal/external issues, future needs) 1. Define Human Resources planning and outline the Human Resources planning process. 2. Explain how Human Resources management participates in a company s strategic planning process. 3. Describe the goals, components, and major activities and policies within Human Resources. 4. Discuss group formation, techniques for building effective teams, and implement team operating procedures. 5. Recognize diversity and its impact on organizations. 6. Research and evaluate Human Resources policies and practices in relation to national culture, organizational characteristics, and Human Resources practices. 7. Compare and contrast the Human Resources role to support line and other staff management. 8. Examine the role and functions of human resource employees within an organization. 9. Examine the Human Resources challenges and potential remedies facing Human Resources and develop action plans that can be implemented in the organization. 10. Discuss Human Resources role in ensuring that ethics exist in an organization and are adhered to. 11. Discuss how changes in technology, workforce diversity, and skill requirements affect human resource management. Competency: Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (union management relations, employee rights, negotiating contracts) 1. Chart the history of management-labor relations including the history of organized labor. 2. Compare and contrast the various adversarial and cooperative approaches to labor relations. 3. Discuss the effect of current legislation regarding labor-management relations, such as Wagner and Taft-Hartley Acts. 4. Evaluate the findings of case law that prohibit specific acts committed by organized labor. 5. Evaluate the findings of case law that prohibit specific acts committed by management. 6. Formulate the steps of the union organizing process. 7. Break down the grievance process. 8. Examine the negotiation process and arbitration including binding and nonbinding arbitration. 9. Examine the role of the National Labor Relations Board in labor management dispute. 10. Describe the steps and components of the collective-bargaining process. 11. Examine impasses and strikes. 12. Define what is meant by the terms unions, mediation, and arbitration. 13. Assess the goals of management with regards to labor. 14. Examine the goals, structure, and management of labor unions. Page 3
Competency: Performance Management 1. Define the role of coaching, counseling, and discipline within the employer/employee relationship. 2. Discuss active listening and the techniques used in its performance. 3. Determine the meaning of influence and how it is used to bolster performance. 4. Examine the importance of giving and receiving feedback. 5. List steps in counseling process and discuss counseling methods, techniques, and problems associated with the counseling process. 6. Contrast performance problems and personal problems. 7. Contrast deficiency in knowledge and deficiency in execution. 8. Identify how to implement specific steps of planned change, including employee agreement. 9. Identify the purpose and components of performance management systems. 10. Explain the steps in the appraisal process and discuss benefits/problems associated with performance appraisals. 11. Review the purposes, types of performance appraisals, and effective techniques for conducting performance appraisals. 12. Discuss methods for improvement of employee morale and motivation and discuss how motivation is linked to individual performance. 13. List the variables relating to employee behavior and discuss techniques to handle employee problems. 14. Define stress and identify the causes, physical effects, and symptoms of stress and burnout. 15. Examine the parameters of a legal disciplinary action. 16. Examine best practices for managing performance and creating compensation, training and benefit systems that drive bottom-line results, and make performance management systems more effective. Page 4
Competency: Staff (recruitment, selection, careers, EOE delivery) 1. Maintain confidentiality in dealing with personnel. 2. Develop programs to assist in meeting needs of separated and transitional employees. 3. Describe planning techniques used in hiring process (e.g., succession planning and forecasting). 4. Describe job analysis and the stages and methods used in the job analysis process. 5. List the components of job descriptions and write a job description. 6. Evaluate labor market statistics, costs, and the effectiveness of recruitment sources including internal and external recruiting. 7. Define what is meant by the term recruiting and discuss the legal implications of recruiting. 8. Discuss the employee selection process, testing, interviewing, and legal issues. 9. Create an employee selection, interview, and development system to include an upward mobility plan for all employees. 10. Describe the benefits and challenges of testing, reference checks, and interviews in the selection process. 11. Discuss the use of various types of interview questions and the problems associated with job interviews and means of correcting them. 12. Discuss audit requirements for recruitment practices, application reviews, and interview procedures. 13. Explain contingency factors affecting job offer (e.g., background checks, drug tests, and physical results). 14. Discuss impact and pros and cons of outsourcing/off shoring, plant closings, and layoffs. 15. Examine the development and implementation of an affirmative action program. 16. Examine Equal Employment Opportunity legislation and create an equal opportunity program to include women, minorities, and the handicapped. 17. Discover strategies to attract and retain top talent. 18. Discuss the impact of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other STDs on the work environment and on hiring practices. 19. Analyze the factors that help in determining job satisfaction. Page 5
Competency: Training and Development (performance mgmt., safe, quality improvement, health) 1. Define training and describe the impact training has on an organization and how quality-driven training creates a competitive advantage. 2. Discuss the purposes of the orientation and training of employees. 3. Differentiate factors affecting the planning and implementation of an employee training program. 4. Determine organizational and trainee needs. 5. Evaluate the various tools used to conduct a needs analysis. 6. Examine potential trainee problems and ways to resolve conflict. 7. Distinguish the different learning styles and how they are applicable to training. 8. Structure training objectives that are observable, measurable, attainable, and specific. 9. Design effective training curriculum using internal and external sources as needed. 10. Relate the purpose of a training plan and develop a training plan including the use of technology and visual aids. 11. Prepare and administer training delivery with focus on the trainees and the training environment. 12. Examine strategies for evaluating and improving the delivery of training. 13. Evaluate trends in training and development. 14. Identify benefits of continuous learning and/or professional development for employees. 15. Identify and implement online training resources. 16. Develop and analyze Human Resources safety and security programs, practices, and services to ensure compliance with regulations and employee protection. 17. Describe the methods and criteria involved in evaluating training programs. Page 6
References: Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Employee Compensation and Benefits, Labor Management Relations, Employee Training and Development, Performance Management Course Competencies. Technical College System of George, Atlanta, GA. Disney Human Resource Management Course Syllabus. 2010. Disney International Programs, Orlando, FL. Strategic Human Resource Management Course Syllabus. 2005. Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY. Human Resource Management Course Syllabus. 2009. Maryville College, Maryville, TN. Fundamentals of Human Resources Management. American Management Association, New York, NY. Human Resource Course Syllabus. 2011. PIMA Community College, Tucson, AZ. Human Resource Management Course Syllabus. Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winstead, CT. Human Resource Management Course Syllabus. Northcentral University/SCUPS, Prescott, AZ. Career Cluster Resources for Business, Management and Administration. 2012. National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. Washington, DC. Page 7