aPHR Associate Professional in Human Resources 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An employee consistently arrives 20 minutes late and has received two verbal warnings. According to progressive discipline, what is the appropriate next step?
- Immediate termination
- A written warning documenting the behavior and consequences (Correct answer)
- Demotion to a lower-paying position
- Suspension without pay for two weeks
Correct answer: A written warning documenting the behavior and consequences
Progressive discipline typically escalates from verbal warning to written warning to suspension before termination, allowing employees the opportunity to correct behavior.
Question 2: Which document summarizes an organization's policies on acceptable use of technology, internet, and company devices?
- Employee handbook
- Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) (Correct answer)
- Non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
- Job description
Correct answer: Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) outlines rules governing employees' use of company technology resources including computers, email, and internet access.
Question 3: Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which employer action is an example of disparate impact discrimination?
- A manager openly refusing to hire women for warehouse roles
- A neutral written test that disproportionately screens out a protected class with no job-related justification (Correct answer)
- Paying male and female employees different wages for the same work
- A supervisor harassing employees based on their religion
Correct answer: A neutral written test that disproportionately screens out a protected class with no job-related justification
Disparate impact occurs when a facially neutral employment practice disproportionately affects a protected group and cannot be justified as a business necessity.
Question 4: Which onboarding activity is most effective at helping new employees understand organizational culture and unwritten norms?
- Completing benefits enrollment paperwork
- Being paired with a buddy or mentor from the team (Correct answer)
- Watching a compliance training video
- Reviewing the employee handbook independently
Correct answer: Being paired with a buddy or mentor from the team
Buddy or mentor programs accelerate cultural socialization by giving new hires direct access to an experienced colleague who can explain informal norms and organizational expectations.
Question 5: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 primarily addressed which issue?
- Requiring equal pay for equal work regardless of gender
- Resetting the statute of limitations for pay discrimination claims with each discriminatory paycheck (Correct answer)
- Mandating pay transparency in all federal contractor organizations
- Establishing penalties for employers who retaliate against pay equity complaints
Correct answer: Resetting the statute of limitations for pay discrimination claims with each discriminatory paycheck
The Lilly Ledbetter Act clarifies that each discriminatory paycheck resets the 180-day filing period for pay discrimination claims, overturning a Supreme Court ruling that had restricted such claims.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a protected class under federal EEO laws?
- National origin
- Political affiliation (Correct answer)
- Religion
- Sex
Correct answer: Political affiliation
Political affiliation is not a protected class under federal EEO laws, although some state and local laws may offer such protections.
Question 7: A company conducts an annual engagement survey showing low scores in 'manager communication.' Which HR intervention is most directly targeted at this issue?
- Increasing base salaries by 5%
- Providing manager training on active listening and feedback delivery (Correct answer)
- Implementing a new performance management software
- Expanding employee benefit offerings
Correct answer: Providing manager training on active listening and feedback delivery
Training managers in communication skills directly addresses the root cause identified in the engagement survey — poor communication between managers and employees.
aPHR Associate Professional in Human Resources 5
An employee consistently arrives 20 minutes late and has received two verbal warnings.
According to progressive discipline, what is the appropriate next step?