aPHR

workplace privacy risks

improper workplace-monitoring procedures

Risk Management Process

1) Risk identification 2) Risk analysis and evaluation 3) System development 4) Program implementation 5) Monitoring and control 6) Review and modification

Accident investigation sequence

1) preliminary briefing 2) accident site visit and interviews 3) fact-finding 4) gathering evidence 5) documentation 6) conclusion and recommendations

The documentation that HR has kept pertaining to employee benefits should date back how many years in order to be compliant?

6 years

You are assessing the reliability of selection tests, tools, and methods. Which of the following are examples of errors that can lead to inconsistent results? (Choose two)

A biased interviewer evaluates the applicants An interviewer asks an applicant unrelated questions during an interview

Securities and Exchange Act (1934)

A company senior executive invests in the stock market

The manufacturing company you work for has recently lost some big clients and sales figures have dropped considerably. You have to put together a business case that outlines the change neededto resolve the underlying issue. What elements should you include to help management make an informed decision?

A description of what the problem is and how it affects the company's strategic objectives The scope of the suggested change, including the time and resources required An explanation of how the change will address the problem

There are several steps that take place before a bill is turned into law by the US Congress. The number of steps are performed directly after the bill is numbered, referred to a committee, and examined by a committee.

A subcommittee listens to the views of experts, officials, supporters, and opponents of the bill A subcommittee makes necessary amendments and recommends the bill to a full committee.

Line managers

Accept ultimate responsibility for the safety of their teams Monitor employees' safety habits and report hazards and incidents

Pay grades

All jobs within a certain group are compensated similarly Jobs with similar values are compensated similarly

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)

Allows employees to receive financial information about pension and health benefit plans

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 1993

Allows employees unpaid leave to care for a seriously ill spouse, child, or parent

A major financial institution is undergoing corporate restructuring and various departments are being divested. To recoup some of its losses, the organization is forced to retrench its employees. A departmental manager decided to dismiss a temporary employee who is physically-challenged, reasoning that his temporary status means he would soon be unemployed anyway. Which law has been violated?

American with Disabilities Act of 1990: addresses the needs of people with disabilities and protects them against discrimination in the workplace, including the hiring, advancement, and dismissal processes.

Which efforts are representative of an organization that embraces the spirit of inclusion and diversity?

An HR professional provides inclusiveness training to company leaders An organization fosters a respectful environment where all employees have the same opportunities

Which efforts help promote inclusion and diversity within the organization?

An HR team carries out annual monitoring and diversity audits at a company A company encourages its employees to call each other out on any personal biases that affect strategic thinking

Pension Protection Act (2006)

An employee is enrolled in a 401(k) plan without applying

Which approaches help employers communicate all the information employees need about compensation and benefits programs?

An employee uses a self-service application to access her payroll information A supervisor meets with an employee to explain how the Family Medical Leave Act works An organization provides detailed information on how the retirement benefit program is structured

Incidents of violence in the workplace can result in negative publicity and significant financial losses to the company. As an HR professional, what can you do to counter workplace violence?

Arrange for company parties and events to be held in alcohol-free locations Impose a zero tolerance policy for weapons in the workplace Set up a mental wellness program to help employees with psychological illnesses and other personal problems

HR

Assist in coordinating safety programs across various departments

What factors should you consider when measuring the recruiting and sourcing efforts of your workforce?

Average time it takes to recruit for a job opening If the company is viewed as a preferred place to work The selection rates and acceptance rates of applicants

Which policies could be applied to report unethical behavior?

Code of conduct Values statement

Your company is taking on a large project. While it offers new exciting opportunities for growth, there is also the risk that the current workforce won't meet the tight deadline. Which risk response serves in the business's best interest?

Commit to the project and hire additional staff on short-term contracts

What tool would you use to collect the data for analyzing shifting demographics?

Conduct a PEST audit: Used in environmental scans, during which internal and external data is collected for planning purposes. It is used to scan the environment for social factors that need to be addressed in the organization's strategic plan

Which succession planning strategy should you use to ensure that employees gain enough expertise to immediately fill key positions once they become available?

Conduct ongoing training for potential vacant positions

Which of the following actions relate to an organization's responsibilities?

Creating products or service and delivering them to customers Receiving and managing customer work or service orders

As an HR professional, part of your role involves managing employee personnel files. What type of information would you include in these files?

Documentation about the employee's current and past work performance A copy of the employee's salary structure Any reports from disciplinary hearings, including written warnings A copy of the employee's resume, and work permit, if required

What are the characteristics of an effective mentoring program?

Effective coordination Trained mentors and matched participants Effective assessments Support from leaders

Identify the key standards under OSHA

Emergency exits or additional exits must be provided Occupational noise exposure must not exceed 90 decibels for more than 8 hours process safety management needs to be in place to prevent injury from handling chemicals personal protective equipment must be provided and hazardous energy must be controlled

Compa-ratio

Employee base pay is compared to the midpoint of the pay range Recommendations are made for pay increases for promotion

Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002)

Employee reports suspected unethical and illegal activities within his department

National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

Employees who experience dangerous working conditions and are deciding whether to unionize unfair labor practices

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws

Employees who work in federal employment agencies Employees with disabilities discrimination in local and state employment agencies

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act

Employees who work more than 20 hours per week for companies with at least 100 employees mass layoffs

You are conducting succession planning, focusing on a period of one to three years into the future. What information should you base on your planning?

Employees with potential to tackle cross-functional tasks

A promotion opportunity has arisen with the company and you're considering various employees. One candidate is a Vietnam veteran who has 25 years of people management experience, and fits well within the company. Due to your professional relationship with the employee, you're aware that she's an advocate for multiple sclerosis, and is at risk of contracting the disease. Considering the demands for the new position, you opt against promoting her. Which Act have you violated?

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008: employers may not discriminate against employees based on information obtained through genetic testing.

What are some features of an applicant tracking system?

Helps companies easily locate applicants who match specified job criteria Records information about each applicants' gender and race Helps streamline recruitment, selection, and hiring processes

Which roles do performance improvement plans play in helping managers address employee performance problems?

Identify the support needed to correct performance Monitor and review the employee's progress Identify the performance to improve and set clear expectations of desired performance Specify consequences if performance isn't improved

Unemployment Compensation Amendments (UCA) 1992

Imposes a 20% federal income tax withholding requirement on retirement plan proceeds

Which steps are employers allowed to take while monitoring for safety and security?

Inform employees their calls are being monitored Read instant messages Monitor internet usage Monitor video surveillance

Which responsibilities does an organization have to contribute to an effective employee onboarding program?

Involve HR and other managers Start the process early Stagger the onboarding activities Include a job-specific orientation

Members of a trade union are engaging in protest action, demanding safer working conditions, after an accident occurred at one of an automobile manufacturer's assembly points. The employer wants to attempt to avert potential sabotage or or damage to the other facilities during the union protest, as well as prevent injury to employees who aren't participating in the protest. What should the employer do in this situation?

Issue a lockout on all members of the union.

As an HR professional, you're responsible for reviewing and managing the compensation packages and benefits programs your company offers its employees. What are the benefits of benchmarking during this process?

It helps the organization recruit high-quality candidates It helps the organization retain current employees It shows how top competitors set up and manage their benefits programs

Payroll functions

It must reflect payroll tax amounts payable to federal and state organizations It must calculate the exact amounts payable to employees It must manage payroll data securely

Retirement Equity Act (REA), 1984

Lowers age limits for participation and vesting in pension plans

Which statements about the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are true?

MSHA inspectors don't need a warrant to enter mine property Miners have the right to obtain an inspection of a mine where they believe an imminent danger exists Surface operations are inspected twice a year

Which accounting practices are best suited to working within a tight budget?

Making personnel decisions based on a prescribed budget Continually auditing expenditures in areas such as policy compliance and administrative duties

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was designed to be extremely comprehensive, and it's crucial to know when it applies. Consider an example: While performing routine maintenance on a boiler at a farm, the farmer's son is severely injured when a gas line catches fire as he enters the area where welding is being done. Is this scenario covered under the OSHA and why?

No, if only immediate members of the employer's family are employed on the farm

What are some forms of corporate restructuring?

Often involves changes to a company's debt-servicing schedule Moves from a top-down hierarchical structure, to a flatter organizational structure Redefines job requirements and expectations of employees Helps an organization adjust to current economic conditions

Which strategies help to ensure employee involvement?

Organizing employee teams that are right for the teams activities Redesigning a job to be in line with a company's objectives Encouraging employees to contribute suggestions

Which activities are associated with implementing an affirmative action plan?

Outlining how the program will be monitored nd reviewed Establishing objectives to increase the number of women and minorities in the workplace Assigning responsibility for program tasks and results Providing a description of the problem and how the organization plans to address it

What else should the organization do to preserve the security of its data?

Password-protect all work-provided computers Make regular backups of data at a particular point in time and store it on a secure, separate drive

You want to use compensable factors, such as skill and working conditions, to evaluate the relative value of a job. Which evaluation method should you use?

Point factor method

For an organization to remain competitive, its employees' health and wellness must be well looked after. Healthcare plans reduce illness and absenteeism, and increase productivity and morale. Which are common types of health care plans offered to employees?

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Indemnity plans

Although fire prevention and workplace security plans provide measures that organizations can take to prevent fires and workplace violence, an emergency or disaster can still occur. What are the elements of an emergency response plan?

Procedures and responsibilities Training Notification Record-keeping

As an HR professional, which strategies can you use to manage employees during the change management process?

Promote employee participation in the change process Educate employees about the various aspects of the change Anticipate resistance to change and find ways to deal with it

Which of the following are key elements of corporate governance? (Choose two)

Protection of whistleblowers Independence of auditors

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 1996

Protects personal health from disclosure, destruction, alteration, and loss

What strategies should you implement to ensure high retention rates?

Provide personal development opportunities to help employees advance Treat all employees in a fair and equitable manner Clearly communicate expectations and responsibilities to employees Respect all employees regardless of position

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

Provides dependent children coverage up to the age of 26

What two actions should be taken to prevent incidents of sexual harassment?

Providing harassment training to all employees Dispersing the company's zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment to all employees

A company that employs fifty or more people needs to retain records relating to family medical leave for a period of three years. Which types of records should be included in an employee's "medical file" according to this regulation?

Records of any notices to employees, such as a written warning The hours of leave taken that's considered Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) Basic employee-specific information and the calendar days when leave was taken A record of any leave-related disputes as well as a record of any premium benefit payments made to the employee

An HR team has been tasked with promoting diversity and inclusion within a large auto retailer. While the company prides itself on its fair hiring practices and inclusive culture, the HR team is facing some opposition from employees, predominantly men, who don't believe that inclusiveness training is relevant or necessary. What should the team do?

Reiterate and clarify the difference between diversity and inclusiveness to employees

Identify the outcomes of the performance management process

Renumeration for satisfactory performance in form of increases or incentives Plans for employee development as well as for career or succession development Employee advancement recommendations or opportunities for promotion Measures that can be undertaken to discipline employees whose performance is inferior

Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) 1990

Requires employers to advise released workers 40 years of age and over to get legal counsel

Which examples demonstrate two correct ways to conduct termination meetings?

Responding to all questions from the departing employee Offering reemployment suggestions to the departing employee

Safety committees

Review safety programs and provides feedback for improvement

Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory

Satisfiers are factors that motivate and dissatisfiers are factors that demotivate.

McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y

Some people are motivated by basic needs, while others assume people are competitive

What features should you consider when you develop a succession program?

Succession planning has been built into the annual performance review Mentoring and development programs are available to develop internal talent The succession plan is aligned to the company's strategic goals

Which rules apply when the employer forces a lockout?

The lockout may occur when bargaining is at a stand-still The lockout solely supports the employer's bargaining position The employer must continue to bargain in good faith

You need a good understanding of the current marketplace situation and talent pool availability in order to implement effective workforce planning. What should you consider when examining the labor market?

The number of new graduates joining the workforce in the next year The current employment and unemployment rate in the area and industry If new competitors are entering the market The current rate of compensation, based on skills and region

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, or the OFCCP, mandates that certain requirements remain adhered to in how the records of job seekers that apply via the internet are retained. Which potential applicants are covered by the OFCCP's Internet Application rule?

Those whom the employer deems potentially suitable for the job vacancy that's being advertised Those who don't exclude themselves from the employer's recruitment and interviewing process and are willing to participate in it. Those who demonstrate via the Internet or other digital channel that they're interested in applying for a vacancy

What information should you make employees aware of regarding the company's benefits and compensation programs?

What happens to employee benefits upon termination of employment How the employer notifies employees about changes to a benefit The proportion an employer pays towards benefits When payouts contain employer and employee contributions

Under ERISA, what communications requirement must you follow in relation to employees' benefits and compensation programs?

Whether employees can adjust the benefits during the year

Your organization has developed a new product. What strategies can you use to successfully launch this product in a new market?

You perform several beta tests before the full launch Your coordinate training sessions to prepare employees to cope with change

Indemnity plan (fee for service)

allow covered employees to visit any hospital or qualified physician as needed and then submit the claims to the insurance company for the health services

Which benefits program is most suitable for supporting the psychological wellbeing of employees?

an employee assistance program

What are some key legal considerations associated with employee handbooks?

appropriate language effective disclaimers controlled distribution

How can you perform a job analysis?

ask managers to complete an open-ended questionnaire related to the position observe existing employees who are performing the same job function and record your findings ask employees to maintain a diary to track their day-to-day work activities

Skinner's Behavioral Reinforcement Theory

conduct is fueled by its consequences, so management can control future behavior by using various reactions to current behavior

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

employees from another nation national origin or religion discrimination, or segregation sex-based pay discrimination

What are some actions you would take when implementing an affirmative action plan?

establishing objectives to increase minority representation providing details on placement problems outlining internal audit and reporting systems addressing obstacles to achieving placements

What does a disaster recovery plan set out to achive?

identify and recover IT-based storage systems identify backups for recovering vitally important data

Adam's Equity Theory

individuals want to be treated equally

security risks

theft of financial assets

Employers at a large paint manufacturing plant have issued a statement, warning that unionization will result in the loss of jobs and reduced employee benefits. When an employee join a union regardless and decides to participate in sanctioned union activities, she is dismissed from duty. What is this an example of?

wrongful termination

HR professionals are often required to work as a team, in their department, and within the broader organization. As such, it is important to develop good communication skills. Which are features of effective team communication?

Good emotional intelligence skills A positive attitude

McClelland's Theory

High performers set achievable goals and address a problem rather than leave the outcome to chance.

Which steps are involved in the strategic compensation process?

Analyze current pay rates and business strategies Consider requirements of business strategy Strategically evaluate the compensable factors relevant to business strategy

Which functions are typically performed by an HRIS?

Automating payroll and accounting activities Storing data related to employee productivity Identifying required employee skills and experiences

As HR manager of a software company, you have been tasked with developing a strategic compensation plan for the business. You're busy with the third step of the process, which involves forecasting the compensation market. Which activities should you perform?

Complete a cross-impact analysis to assess the impact on interacting trends on the compensation strategy Analyze current pay rates and business strategies Conduct pay surveys to gather data for evaluating and ranking job positions

Managers

Conduct a needs analysis, set safety goals and policies, and review current performance

Business continuity risks

Deliberate disruptions

You're concerned because a substantial number of employees left your company voluntarily last year, including several high-performing employees. you'd like to assess the employee relations program at the company using turnover rate as a metric. How can you do this?

Divide the number of employees who exited the company during the year, by the average number of employees during the year, and then multiply that number by 100.

Range spread

Dollar ranges are established for different roles Different roles are given different pay ranges

Employers are required to communicate information about compensation and benefits to their employees. Which examples are techniques employers can use to ensure employees receive all the information they need about compensation and benefits programs?

Employees receive detailed information about how their performance will be appraised A company uses a third party to provide employee self-service applications An employee asks a supervisor to clarify how retirement contributions are calculated

Positive employee relations could be challenging to incorporate into any organization's culture. Which strategies can organizations use to build positive employee relations?

Encouraging employee involvement Ensuring employee-management cooperation Providing meaningful recognition Ensuring continuous communication

Which of the following statements describe the purpose of organizational branding?

Establishes a unique company identity that consumers can easily recognize Brings together an organization's purpose, values, and strengths

Which techniques can employers apply when implementing a retention program?

Fair compensation with adequate benefits Ensure engaged leadership Provide meaningful work and workplace flexibility

Pay ranges

Market survey data is referenced to establish the midpoint pay range Upper and lower limits of compensation are established

Which accounting processes should you follow for tracking and reporting purposes?

Monitor expenditures continually Have managers make adjustments to stay within budget

Which are steps in the task process analysis?

Observe employees to see what tasks they perform Create a task flowchart detailing each step and decision point Ask employees to complete a job-analysis form

Suppose an employee, Shannon, has been employed at your company for three years, during which time Shannon's performance appraisals - which form part of the company's performance management process - confirm her standard of performance has consistently been more than acceptable. Which performance outcome is appropriate in this scenario?

Offer the employee an opportunity for promotion

Which professional development method should you apply to enable employees to perform tasks that are a grade above their current skillset?

Stretch assignments: development opportunity which employees are allotted duties that a level higher than their current skill set or function

What are the elements of a business continuity program?

Testing and exercises Business impact analysis Plan development Recovery streategies

What data should you include when calculating the cost per hire to fill the payroll assistant positions?

The cost of referral agencies, advertising, and travel

Identify four types of pre-employment record types that HR should retain.

The employee's application for employment and resume A copy of records associated with an employee having been demoted, promoted, transferred, or terminated Notes taken during the applicant's job interview Any records pertaining to a request by the employee for reasonable accommodations

Broadbanding

The number of pay grades is reduced to help streamline administration Fewer pay grades are established

What methods are suitable for evaluating training?

Using questionnaires to receive feedback Using benefit to cost ratio formula Using critical incident reports to assess negative and positive events Using pre- and post-tests to determine the progress of the learners

What information must be communicated to employees about benefits and compensation?

What happens to benefits upon termination of employment The proportion employees can pay toward a specific benefit When payouts only contain employee contributions The form in which benefit surveys are conducted

In the event of a strategic plan being implemented, what is an important consideration of HR?

Whether employees possess the skillset to execute the planned activities

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

allow covered employees a wide range of services on a prepaid basis from health organizations that belong to the plan

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

allow covered employees to visit healthcare professionals in the PPO's network for a negotiated prediscounted price.

What is the vest way to handle volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA)?

balance planning with flexibility

Which benefits program offers the best coverage for workplace injuries?

disability insurance

Which bargaining approaches are common when negotiating contracts?

distributive interest-based integrative

employee health and safety risks

ergonomic strains

Content validity

measures how effectively the selection tool's subject matter describes the knowledge and expertise to do a specific job

Construct validity

measures how effectively the tool analyzes the prescribed characteristics

Which key principle risks should organizations prioritize?

privacy safety

Retirement Equity Act of 1984

requires written approval from a spouse if the participant does not want to provide survivor benefits in his or her retirement plan.

You work for a relatively young company in the e-commerce industry that is looking to increase its market share. What are the best ways to evaluate and improve your business practices?

research e-commerce publications and trade journals benchmark your business processes against top competitors who yield best results

compliance risks

sexual harrassment

Vroom's Expectancy Theory

the decision to exert effort depends on expectation, instrumentality, and valance

Benchmarking

the practice of comparing job salaries and benefits against similar jobs in the industry

Divesting a business

when a company disposes some or all of its business units in order to cut costs