Human Resources Management Concepts, Exams of Advanced Education

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APHR Certification Exam Questions and

Answers

________ provides employers with a means of determining if an employment selection criteria has an adverse impact on a protected group. - Answer- Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures What act requires employers with at least 50 employees to provide up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave for certain events during a 12 month period? - Answer- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) The Age Discrimination Act prohibits arbitrary age discrimination against employees or applicants age ____ and older - Answer- 40 Title VII applies to all employees with ___ or more employees - Answer- 15 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of what 5 categories? - Answer- 1. Race

2. Color
3. Religion
4. Sex
5. National Origin Job Posting - Answer- When jobs with their requirements, salary range, grade, and description of major activities is placed on a bulletin board of qualified applicants to see the availability of the position What is the best predictor of future performance? - Answer- past performance The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects workers at which age(s)? - Answer- 40 + Constructive Discharge - Answer- When an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Unless there is a proven BFOQ, which topic is not legal for an interviewer to ask a candidate? A. Employment history gap B. Felony convictions

C. Felony convictions D. Worker's compensation - Answer- Workers Compensation Which agency has the primary responsibility for enforcing the anti-discrimination laws in the private sector workplace? A. US Department of Labor (USDOL) B. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) C. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) D. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) - Answer- B. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) I-9 Forms are required to be used by the employer to prove the new worker's ___ and ____ (select 2) A. Identity B. Unemployment Insurance C. Eligibility D. Taxable withholdings - Answer- A. Identity B. Eligibility Under the ADA guidelines, what is the earliest point in the onboarding process where the employer may require the applicant to take a medical exam? A. Any point as there are no restrictions per ADA B. Post offer C. Post-hire D. Pre-interview - Answer- B. Post offer Many organizations employ this technique to allow workers to compete for advancement when vacancies occur: - Answer- A. Job posting B. Job evaluation C. Job enlargement D. Job analysis What act requires employers with 100 or more employees to give 60 days notice of a plant closing or large-scale lay off? - Answer- Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) What act requires employers with group health plans to offer continued coverage with employees and their dependents under certain circumstances where coverage would otherwise end? - Answer- Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) What act is the principal federal law governing wage garnishments? - Answer- Consumer credit protection act Job description - Answer- A formal document that describes the essential functions of a particular job

Unemployment insurance - Answer- An employee benefit administered through joint federal-state program designed to provide qualifying workers with financial security while they are temporarily unemployed Job specifications - Answer- Organized information gathered through the job analysis and allow meaningful comparison of jobs for evaluation and pricing Griggs v. Duke Power Co. - Answer- The landmark case that established rules on pre- employment testing that selection testing that selection testing must be job related True or False Alcoholism is treated as a disability under the ADA - Answer- True Conducting background checks is the best defense from what kind of charge? - Answer- Negligent hiring Implied Contract - Answer- Written or oral communications stating that the employer will follow certain discharge procedures or will terminate employees only for good cause can create an employment contract that discharged employees can use to challenge the employers claim of at-will employment The best defense an employer has in a defamation of character lawsuit arising from providing reference information - Answer- The information given was the truth How many years does FLSA require that basic record-keeping (name, address, sex, date of birth, occupation, pay, and hours worked) be kept? - Answer- 3 years Which act is intentional- disparate treatment or disparate impact? - Answer- Disparate treatment What should orientation programs do in order to reduce information overload? - Answer- Be modularized and spread out over a period of time The heavy use of employee referrals for filling jobs vacancies could violate non discrimination laws. How? - Answer- It perpetuates an undesirable status quo of underrepresented classes of workers Underutilization is having fewer minorities or women in a job classification than would be expected based on: - Answer- Their availability in the reasonable recruitment area which of the following is considered an intrinsic reward? A. Pay B. Complimentary supervision C. Working conditions D. The job itself - Answer- D. The job itself

Which position is considered an HR specialist? A. Personnel administrator B. Human Resource Manager C. Human Resource Team Leader D. Industrial relations director - Answer- D. Industrial relations director Employers commonly implement what rule as a holiday absence control practice? - Answer- Require employers to work the day before and after a holiday to be eligible for holiday pay The most important factor contributing to the success of a Total Quality Management program in an organization is: - Answer- Organizational culture supports the TQM program What will most effectively minimize employee-relations difficulties? - Answer- Maintain an open line of direct and factual communication with employees What is the most common problem associated with the use of employee attitude surveys? - Answer- Survey results are not responded to by management Which of the following activities of an organization would not be a part of social responsibility? A. Diversity training B. Civil Rights Act compliance C. Corporate giving D. Environment Protection - Answer- Civil Rights Act Compliance HR Audit - Answer- Formal Research effort to evaluate the current state of human resource management within the organization Total Quality Management - Answer- A customer-driven quality improvement approach that recognized the only way to eliminate waste is to improve work processes Benchmarking - Answer- Comparing internal measures of productivity performance to similar measures in other organizations A performance appraisal system that incorporates receiving feedback from representatives of virtually all persons who interact wit the employee being evaluated is known as _____________________ feedback - Answer- 360 degree Job enlargement - Answer- Increasing the variety of an employee's job duties Reducing the workforce of an organization by simply not replacing those employees who retire or quit is known as: - Answer- Attrition

Under Equal Pay Act the law allows for establishment of different wages. Name these four allowances - Answer- 1. Seniority

2. Merit
3. Performance
4. Geographic difference Under FMLA, once an employee is ready to return to work, they may be denied reinstatement if they meet certain conditions. Name the three conditions - Answer- 1. Key employee (top 10% salaried employee)
5. Reinstatement would result in a serious economic injury to the company
6. The company does not promptly respond to a notice of reinstatement Action Plans - Answer- Define actions/tasks, due date(s), person(s), responsibility, and outcome HR Generalist - Answer- Focused on the big picture, not just one specific area HR Specialist - Answer- Focused on one specific area of human resources Green Circle Rates - Answer- Pay rates that are below the minimum salary range Red Circle Rates - Answer- Pay rates that are above the maximum of the pay range What is the term that refers to situations where pay differences between employees in different jobs are so small that internal inequities occur? - Answer- Compression A job wit duties that can be clearly identified, defined, and compared to other jobs in the marketplace are called ________ jobs. - Answer- Benchmark jobs What is the term for benefit plans that allow employees to choose their own mix of benefits or levels of coverage? - Answer- Flexible benefit plans What term describes a lump sum payment for performance in excess of a predetermined standard - Answer- Bonus What term describes compensation for the scale of products or services, usually calculated as a percentage of the scale? - Answer- Commission True or False: Whether an employee is paid an hourly, piece, salary, commission, or other basis, the employee's regular rate of pay for determining overtime pay must be calculated as a rate per hour - Answer- True True or False:

On-Call employees required to remain on or close to the employer's premises that they cannot use this time effectively for their own purposes are not considered to be working while on call. - Answer- False- This is called "engaged to wait" Differential Pay - Answer- Adjustments to base pay made to address factors that create pay inequities (I.e. less desirable shifts, unpleasant or arduous work) A permanent increase of base salary paid for an individual's outstanding performance is called? - Answer- Merit Pay Name the reward system that pays employees based on individual business unit or corporate performance, or a combination of these factors. - Answer- Performance- based pay In what pay structure does each job have a single rate of pay? - Answer- Fixed rate Name the principal data-gathering agency of the federal government in the field of Labor economics - Answer- The Bureau of Labor Statistics Rewards that derive from sources external to the job itself are called? - Answer- Extrinsic Rewards What is it called when an apparently neutral compensation practice results in unintentional wage discrimination for a protected group? - Answer- Disparate Impact Under COBRA, former employees can continue their insurance coverage should they terminate their employment. There is ONE exception that allows employers to terminate coverage. Name that exception. - Answer- Gross misconduct What is the pay statute of limitations for recovery of pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act? - Answer- 2 years. Normally 3 years if a willful violation An executive exemption position to the FLSA if the employee: - Answer- Directs the work at least two other full-time employees Psychological and intellectual rewards inherent in the job itself, such as the opportunity to perform meaningful work or gain a sense of accomplishment are called what kind of rewards? - Answer- Intrinsic rewards Which provides employees with financial protection in the event of a disabling workplace injury or illness and protects employers from potentially costing damage suits? - Answer- Worker's compensation Which act requires the payment of minimum wages for the locale in which workers are employed in a federally sponsored public works? - Answer- Davis-Bacon Act

Which act requires employers with at least 50 employees to provide up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave for certain events in a 12-month period? - Answer- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Which act requires that employers provide employees with specific information concerning benefit plans? - Answer- Employee Retirement Income Act (ERISA) What term is used to describe when employees are compensated similarly to perform jobs that require similar skills, efforts, and responsibility under similar working conditions? - Answer- Comparable worth FLSA prohibits employing persons between what ages for hazardous jobs, such as meat packing and logging - Answer- Under age 18 The portion of earnings left after deductions required by law are called? - Answer- Disposable earnings What is a draw? (Sales representatives) - Answer- Money that is paid on a regular basis but that must be earned from commissions or paid back Only one group of non-exempt employees are allowed to receive "compensatory time off." Name this group and give one example of a profession/occupation covered by this law. - Answer- Public sector employees (police, firefighters, emergency workers) If an employee is off on a paid holiday, such as Memorial Day, must the holiday hours be counted in calculating hours for overtime pay? - Answer- No; only hours actually worked must be counted Which act prohibits wage discrimination by requiring equal pay for equal work? - Answer- Equal Pay Act of 1963 The Social Security Act provides 4 types of benefits to workers. Name these 4 types - Answer- 1. Retirement Income

2. Disability
3. Survivor's Benefits
4. Hospital/Medical Insurance (Medicare) FLSA is the broadest piece of labor legislation. Name the 5 areas it covers. - Answer- 1. Employee Status
5. Child Labor
6. Minimum Wage
7. Overtime Pay
8. Record Keeping Name the major tests under FLSA to determine exempt status - Answer- 1. Executive
9. Administrative

3. Outside Sales
4. Professional
5. Computer Employee
6. Highly Compensated Employees What are raises called that are given to workers to match the inflammation rate to maintain a level of purchasing power? - Answer- Cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) What is it called when an organization compares its pay programs with its competitors within the same area or community? - Answer- External Pay Name THREE events that will end COBRA coverage. - Answer- 1. The qualifying time period has elapsed
7. The former employee becomes eligible for insurance coverage under another plan
8. The employee fails to pay the costs of coverage Who are whistleblowers protected by? - Answer- Whistleblowers Protection Act of 1989 Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002 A handicapped person is someone who has a disability history of disability is treated as if they have a disability or is associated with someone who has a disability. A variety of health maladies, non-serious by themselves, can be lumped together for a serious of health conditions under what act? - Answer- ADA Organizational Communication - Answer- Information that is designed to enhance organizational performance that flows downward, upward, horizontal, informally, and formally Vision Statement - Answer- A long-term picture of what the business is to become and what it will look like when it gets there. Organizational Development (OD) - Answer- an effort that is planned, organization- wide, and managed from the top, intended to increase organizational effectiveness and health through planned interventions in the organization's process, using behavioral science knowledge Flat Organization Structure - Answer- an organization structure that has few layers of management and leaves employees empowered to act autonomously as a self- managing workforce Histogram - Answer- A type of graph that uses bars of different heights and groups them by shape and size Type of frequency distribution Independent Contractor - Answer- An employee who bears the cost of social security because they are self managed

Cost-per-hire - Answer- A calculation that shows the effectiveness at hiring employees CPH = Total hiring cost/ Number hired Key Performance Indicators (KPI) - Answer- Help track its progress towards successful business Balance Sheet - Answer- Statement of financial position; summary of an organization's financial position at any given time Turnover - Answer- The net result of the exit of some employees and entrance of others in the same workforce Strategic Planning - Answer- The process of detaining what an organization's mission is and how it plans to achieve the goals that are associated with the mission Human Resource Information System (HRIS) - Answer- The methods used by an organization to collect, store, analyze, report, and evaluate information and data on people, jobs, and costs Organizational Culture - Answer- Involves values and the behaviors that contribute to unique social and psychological environment of an organization Charts, graphs, and spreadsheets - Answer- Help display quantitative information in a visual format Matrix Structure - Answer- Couples a functional organization with a project or product organization. Remain organized by function, but the staff assigned to a particular function may temporarily work on various projects under direction of a project manager What is the true purpose of the Fair Standards Act (FLSA)? - Answer- To define the basic standards of minimum wages and overtime pay How is Social Security funded? - Answer- Payroll taxes through FICA The most common way for a company to establish its external equity within a local wage market is to use - Answer- Wage surveys What does Unemployment insurance provide? - Answer- Financial security for temporary unemployment What is the purpose of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)?

• Answer- Continued group health insurance coverage for an employee and their dependents where coverage would otherwise end Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which unpaid situation is covered?

A. Brother has a serious health condition B. Wife gives birth C. Chronically ill mother-in-law D. Chaperone a child's overnight field trip - Answer- Wife gives birth The ______ provides all Americans access to quality, affordable healthcare - Answer- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) A job with duties that can be clearly identified, defined, and compared to other jobs in the marketplace is referred to as a - Answer- Benchmark Job Which of the following is a permanent increase in base salary for an individual's outstanding performance? A. Skill-based pay B. Piece-rate pay C. Merit Pay D. Commissions - Answer- Merit Pay Base wages that are adjusted due to change in the rate of inflation are best known as: - Answer- Cost of Living Adjustments Per IRS regulations, upon completing 5 years of service, an employee working a "graded vesting" 401(k) plan, will be ____ % vested. - Answer- 80% Who enforces HIPPA violations? - Answer- HHS XYZ Corporation is designing pay grades and ranges for new business entity they recently acquired. The MOST important task to accomplish to form the basis for the new grades and ranges is to complete the: - Answer- Job evaluation When planning to select a vendor to outsource some aspects of HR, the first step is: - Answer- Obtain understanding of the organization and its needs XYZ Corporation is designing pay grades and ranges for a new business entity they recently acquired. The first task to accomplish to form the basis for the new grades and ranges is to complete the - Answer- Job descriptions Which job evaluation system is LEAST used by employers in the United States - Answer- Factor Comparison Adults learn best when the material is - Answer- Integrated with their experience Gaming training and simulation is most often directed toward improvements in: - Answer- Decision-making

The more popular term for correspondence classes is called? - Answer- Distance learning What is the common term for collecting information to determine whether training is required and if so, what type of training will best fill the requirement? - Answer- Needs analysis What type of training style/technique is interactive, self-paced, and uses software training tools? - Answer- Computer-based training or E-learning A popular method for selecting managerial candidates. Typically takes place off-site, has 1-3 selectors, involves: psychological tests, in-basket exercises, group discussions, role plays, business games, and in-depth interviews - Answer- Assessment centers What is the common term for requiring students to participate in a process that may involve:

1. Deciding which material gets first attention
2. Assigning tasks to subordinates
3. Dictating responses to letters in a role-play environment - Answer- In-basket exercise A popular method for preparing lower-level employees for advancement is by exposing them to new challenges by placing them, for short durations, in different jobs. This is also a common method for dealing with positions of high stress or fatigue. - Answer- Job rotation These jobs combine part-time employment with part-time school attendance. Common programs include: after school programs, short-hour programs, and permanent openings for graduates. Name this concept. - Answer- Work-study programs, or co-op programs What is another term for supervised on-the-job training that is combined with formal classroom instruction - Answer- Apprenticeship training Name the more common term for "retraining" where employees are prepared for jobs other than the ones they were hired to do? - Answer- Cross-training A training course or class that simulates or mimics the actual job function is called what type of training? - Answer- Vestibule training Succession planning - Answer- forecasting managerial and executive vacancies and developing/ or identifying potential promotion candidates XYZ company normally develops their training programs haphazardly as problems arise. They want to move towards a well-organized centralized training function. What should XYZ do first? - Answer- Conduct a needs analysis

A development methodology that gradually builds new duties or more challenging responsibilities into an employee's current position. It allows employees to acquire new skills while on-the-job. - Answer- Job enrichment Orientation Program - Answer- a program that gives accurate, relevant information about the job and the organization that a new employee will need Another term for your in-house technical gurus who were chosen to act as trainers because of their technical skill, sincerity, enthusiasm, and interpersonal skills - Answer- Subject Matter Experts (SME's) ______, along with job descriptions, record the skills required for each job and how well currently employees are doing - Answer- Performance evaluations An employer should carefully review training facilities and materials for necessary accommodations in order to avoid liability concerning what Act? - Answer- Americans with Disability Act True or False: Time spent in training courses within the regular workday is considered time worked. - Answer- True What type of seating arrangement is most appropriate for a training program designed to enhance group problem solving skills? - Answer- Circle style What is the most appropriate training method for training supervisors for handling discipline and discharge incidents - Answer- Role-play What is it called when a rater gives an excellent employee top ratings in all areas or gives an unsatisfactory employee low ratings in all areas? - Answer- Halo/Horn effect A supervisor gives an employee a very high rating on "quality of work". The supervisor then allows that rating to influence the rating on "quantity of work". The supervisor is guilty of: - Answer- Halo effect In which phase of ADDIE does the program designer identify the goals of the program?

• Answer- Needs analysis Which of the following is not found in the Design Phase: A. Create storyboards B. Create prototypes C. Identify instructional methods and processes D. Anticipate technological change - Answer- D. Anticipate technological change Which performance appraisal type is considered an alternative performance evaluation system? A. Management by objectives (MBO) system

B. Subordinate Reviews C. Critical incident reports D. Forced distribution - Answer- B. Subordinate reviews Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) - Answer- A common group benefit plan coverage where insurance pays for loss of covered individual's permanent disfigurement, permanent loss of, or loss of a member or function of the body, or death Action learning - Answer-