aPHR HR Ethics and Professional Standards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the SHRM Code of Ethics for HR professionals?
- To establish legal penalties for HR misconduct
- To provide a framework of values and standards guiding ethical HR practice (Correct answer)
- To replace federal employment laws with industry guidelines
- To create a ranking system for HR professional certifications
Correct answer: To provide a framework of values and standards guiding ethical HR practice
The SHRM Code of Ethics provides a framework of core values and professional standards that guide HR professionals in ethical decision-making and conduct.
Question 2: Which ethical principle requires HR professionals to handle employee personal information with discretion and limit access to those with a legitimate business need?
- Transparency
- Fairness
- Confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Accountability
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Confidentiality obligates HR professionals to protect sensitive employee data and share it only with those who have a legitimate need to know.
Question 3: An HR manager is asked to interview candidates for a position and one applicant is a close personal friend. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Proceed with the interview but score the friend more strictly to compensate
- Disclose the relationship to a supervisor and recuse themselves from the hiring decision (Correct answer)
- Interview the candidate normally since personal relationships do not affect professional judgment
- Decline to interview any candidates until the friend withdraws the application
Correct answer: Disclose the relationship to a supervisor and recuse themselves from the hiring decision
Disclosing the relationship and recusing oneself removes the conflict of interest and ensures the hiring process remains fair and unbiased.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'conflict of interest' in HR practice?
- A disagreement between an HR professional and a department manager over a policy
- A situation where an HR professional's personal interests could improperly influence their professional decisions (Correct answer)
- A legal dispute between two employees that HR must mediate
- A difference of opinion between HR and senior leadership on compensation strategy
Correct answer: A situation where an HR professional's personal interests could improperly influence their professional decisions
A conflict of interest arises when an HR professional's personal interests have the potential to improperly influence their objective professional judgment.
Question 5: Under the principle of professional integrity, which behavior is most appropriate for an HR professional?
- Sharing confidential salary data with employees who request it to promote pay transparency
- Telling a job applicant they were rejected because management preferred a younger candidate
- Accurately representing HR policies to employees even when the policies are unpopular (Correct answer)
- Adjusting a performance review score at a manager's request to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Accurately representing HR policies to employees even when the policies are unpopular
Professional integrity requires HR to honestly and accurately communicate policies, even when they are difficult or unpopular, rather than distorting information to avoid conflict.
Question 6: An HR professional discovers that a senior manager is inflating performance ratings for their favorite employees. The most ethical first step is to:
- Immediately terminate the manager's employment
- Alert the affected employees so they know their ratings are inaccurate
- Document the findings and report the concern through appropriate internal channels (Correct answer)
- Ignore the issue because performance ratings are the manager's sole responsibility
Correct answer: Document the findings and report the concern through appropriate internal channels
Documenting the concern and reporting it through proper channels (such as to a supervisor, HR director, or ethics hotline) upholds the HR professional's duty to protect the integrity of organizational processes.
Question 7: The SHRM ethical principle of 'Professional Development' requires HR practitioners to:
- Develop training programs for all employees annually
- Continuously expand their HR knowledge and competencies to stay current and effective (Correct answer)
- Obtain a minimum of two HR certifications during their career
- Mentor at least one junior HR professional per year
Correct answer: Continuously expand their HR knowledge and competencies to stay current and effective
The Professional Development principle obligates HR professionals to commit to ongoing learning and growth so they can serve their organizations with current, accurate expertise.
aPHR HR Ethics and Professional Standards 1
What is the primary purpose of the SHRM Code of Ethics for HR professionals?