Final answer:
The statement is false; employment laws greatly affect HR practices in the US by setting guidelines on workers' rights, workplace safety, and employment conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that employment laws have limited effect on HR practices in the United States is false. Employment laws significantly influence how human resources operate, ranging from hiring and firing to workplace safety and discrimination. For example, laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act set strict guidelines for employers regarding workers' rights, working conditions, and benefits. Additionally, employment laws can impact the way businesses manage labor costs and how they structure their workforce to comply with legal requirements.
In a comparison to France, where stringent labor laws impose high costs on businesses attempting to lay off workers, prompting companies to limit hiring, similar principles can apply in the U.S. if comparable laws were enacted. Further evidence of the influence of legal environments on labor markets is indicated by differences in union membership between the U.S. and other high-income countries, suggesting that legal and cultural factors can shape the practices of employment. Therefore, employment laws have a profound effect on HR practices, contrary to the question's assertion.