In periods when there are more qualified candidates than job openings,

Question

In periods when there are more qualified candidates than job openings, human resource departments may develop employee retention myopia, discounting the effect of their shortsightedness on everything from daily product sales to effective succession planning. In addition, despite conflicting evidence about whether demographic trends related to baby boomer retirements may or may not constitute a code red, every human resource department does face a potential threat from that phenomenon, and should continue to focus sharply on the retention of its most talented and productive employees. While some issues in employee retention, such as defined expectations and clear supervision, now seem codified, the landscape appears to shift more elusively and continuously in the area of benefits. As noted in the influential tenth annual MetLife study of benefits, employee level of engagement in the issue of benefits has burgeoned. Ten years ago, according to the study, employees were far less likely to consider, let alone calculate, the true value of benefits when assessing an employment offer. Currently, they are more likely to appreciate what their employer provides, even if they personally have to incur some portion of the cost of those benefits.

Finally, the keen interest in benefits and the attribution of a quantifiable value to them is now common among younger workers as well as older ones. The study also suggests that while wage and salary issues continue to rate as the pre-eminent factor in employee loyalty, medical and retirement benefits are a close second and third and rank above the opportunity for advancement. More stunningly or perhaps soberingly—employees rate nonmedical benefits such as vision, life, and disability insurances on a par with the importance of opportunity for advancement. Study data also suggest the increasing value of voluntary benefits in achieving human capital goals. Increasingly, personalized benefits, geared to the needs of particular age groups, have come to the fore as a factor in employee satisfaction and retention. Particularly in those companies where a serious talent or skills shortage prevails, and in those positions where long-term, costly training is needed, personalized benefits may tip the human capital balance. 
    1 
 1. In the passage, the author’s chief concern is to

(A) suggest that benefits may be more important than ever in employee retention. 
(B) analyze the influential tenth annual MetLife study of benefits. 
(C) suggest the often overlooked role of personalized benefits in employee retention. 
(D) stress the need for continuity of benefits in periods of high unemployment. 
(E) urge employers to continue to offer the same benefits as always.

2 
 2. It can be inferred that the author

(A) is an expert in employee benefits.
(B) may be relying too heavily on a single source.
(C) has wide ranging knowledge of the benefits field. 
(D) is most likely employed by a benefits company. 
(E) believes baby boomer retirements are not a problem.

3 
 3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a reason for focusing on benefits as a method of employee retention?

(A) the importance of employee retention to effective succession planning 
(B) the costs of training new employees 
(C) the continuous change in what employees want and value in terms of benefits 
(D) predominance of benefits in the hiring discussion 
(E) a new desire among employees for personalized benefits

4 
 4. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?

(A) Younger workers paid less attention to benefits in the past. 
(B) The amount of employee interest in benefits has wavered in recent years. 
(C) Most employees are not willing to take on additional copays for most benefits. 
(D) Having life and disability insurance is less important than the opportunity for advancement. 
(E) Voluntary benefits must be personalized to the ages and life stages of employees.

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 150 Date: 15-Apr-2021
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2021 .  Click here for Details

pradiptirastogi · Answer

Can you please post official explanation for question 2?

Basshead · Answer

1. In the passage, the author’s chief concern is to

(A) suggest that benefits may be more important than ever in employee retention. 
(B) analyze the influential tenth annual MetLife study of benefits.
(C) suggest the often overlooked role of personalized benefits in employee retention.
(D) stress the need for continuity of benefits in periods of high unemployment.
(E) urge employers to continue to offer the same benefits as always.

2. It can be inferred that the author

(A) is an expert in employee benefits.
 (B) may be relying too heavily on a single source. 
(C) has wide ranging knowledge of the benefits field.
(D) is most likely employed by a benefits company.
(E) believes baby boomer retirements are not a problem.

I chose choice B based on process of elimination. It's between B and C -- B seems like the better choice. The author frequently references a study, suggesting that he/she is not an expert within the field.

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a reason for focusing on benefits as a method of employee retention?

(A) the importance of employee retention to effective succession planning
(B) the costs of training new employees
(C) the continuous change in what employees want and value in terms of benefits
 (D) predominance of benefits in the hiring discussion 
(E) a new desire among employees for personalized benefits

4. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?

(A) Younger workers paid less attention to benefits in the past. 
(B) The amount of employee interest in benefits has wavered in recent years.
(C) Most employees are not willing to take on additional copays for most benefits.
(D) Having life and disability insurance is less important than the opportunity for advancement.
(E) Voluntary benefits must be personalized to the ages and life stages of employees.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. It can be inferred that the author

Explanation

Choice (B)  is the correct answer because the writer refers to the MetLife study specifically three times and also suggests no other source for facts or claims beyond the MetLife study.

Choice (A)  must be ruled out because nothing in the passage suggests this nor is any such claim made.

Choice (C)  must be ruled out because nothing in the passage suggests this and there are no facts that could lead to this conclusion.

Choice (D)  presents a tempting possibility; this answer constitutes a reasonable conjecture but is, nevertheless, not supported by any fact in the passage.

Choice (E)  should be eliminated because the author makes it clear in the first paragraph that baby boomer retirements are at least a  “potential threat”  if not a code red.

The correct answer is (B).

sheldongeorge · Answer

In Q.1 passage only talks about metlife study 10 years ago ... so (A) - more important than EVER - is too extreme. IMO ans should be (C) 
 Sajjad1994  pls give OE for Q.1 and Q.3

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. In the passage, the author’s chief concern is to

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

Choice (A)  presents the focus of the entire first paragraph. Furthermore, all points made in the article have to do with the relationship between benefits and what employees want or value.

Choice (B)  is not correct. The author does rely heavily on information from this study to make his or her point; indeed, the study may inform the entire passage, though that is not certain. Nevertheless, the study is used in the service of making a larger point: That benefits may be more important than ever in retaining employees.

Choice (C)  is tempting; the author does mention this, but it is the focus of a single paragraph, the last paragraph, and not the entire passage.

Choice (D)  is incorrect because the passage never says that. Instead, it makes the point that human resource departments may undervalue the importance of benefits at times when hiring is easier, presumably as a result of high unemployment.

Choice (E)  should be eliminated because the author suggests a shifting landscape of benefits; therefore, while benefits remain as important as ever, if not more important, the desired benefits themselves have changed.

The correct answer is (A).

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a reason for focusing on benefits as a method of employee retention?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

Choice (D)  is the only reason not mentioned in the passage.

Choice (A)  is mentioned in  paragraph 1  as a reason to focus on retention.

Choice (B)  is mentioned as a reason to focus on retention in the final paragraph.

Choice (C)  is incorrect because the change in employee wants and values is mentioned in  paragraph 2 , where the author implies that human resource departments must keep up with such change.

Choice (E)  should be eliminated because the author does mention this desire and implies that a competent human resources department will keep up with it in order to retain employees.

The correct answer is (D).

medha312 · Answer

please explain Q4. Thanks!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

4. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

At the end of  paragraph 2 , the author mentions that a keen interest in benefits is now common among younger workers, which suggests this wasn’t the case in the past.

Choice (B)  is not correct. The author says in  paragraph 2  that the level of employee interest in benefits has burgeoned, that is, increased dramatically.

Choice (C)  is incorrect because the author makes it clear that employees appreciate their benefits even when they have to come up with some portion of the cost.

Choice (D)  is incorrect because the author states that employees now rate life and disability benefits on a par with opportunity for advancement.

Choice (E)  should be eliminated because the author concludes by noting the  “increasing value”  of voluntary or personalized benefits and their value in creating employee satisfaction and contributing to retention.

The correct answer is (A).

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

In periods when there are more qualified candidates than job openings,

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

In periods when there are more qualified candidates than job openings,

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards