aPHR HR Ethics and Professional Standards 3

Question 1

An HR professional is asked by the CEO to falsify an employee's termination reason in the personnel file to reduce the risk of an unemployment claim. HR should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse to falsify the record and explain the legal and ethical risks of doing so

Answer

HR professionals must refuse requests to falsify records, as doing so is both unethical and potentially illegal, and they have a duty to advise leadership of the associated risks.

Question 2

Which of the following situations most clearly illustrates a 'whistleblowing' scenario in the HR context?

Accepted Answer

An HR professional reporting suspected illegal discrimination practices to the EEOC after internal channels fail

Answer

Whistleblowing involves reporting illegal or seriously unethical conduct — such as discrimination — to external authorities when internal reporting mechanisms have been exhausted or are inadequate.

Question 3

When business cost-cutting goals conflict with ethical HR practices, the most appropriate HR response is to:

Accepted Answer

Present leadership with the ethical, legal, and reputational risks of actions that compromise employee rights

Answer

HR's ethical role includes advising leadership on the risks — legal, reputational, and human — of decisions that conflict with ethical standards, enabling informed decision-making.

Question 4

What is the purpose of an ethics hotline or anonymous reporting system in an organization?

Accepted Answer

To provide employees with a safe channel to report ethical concerns or misconduct without fear of retaliation

Answer

Ethics hotlines give employees a confidential avenue to report concerns or misconduct, which is critical to fostering a culture of integrity and reducing fear of retaliation.

Question 5

Under the SHRM ethical principle of 'Equity and Justice,' HR professionals are expected to:

Accepted Answer

Create and enforce practices that are free from bias and provide all individuals with fair treatment

Answer

Equity and Justice requires HR to design and administer practices that are impartial and fair, free from unlawful bias, ensuring all individuals are treated with dignity and without discrimination.

aPHR - Associate Professional in Human Resources Practice Test

aPHR - Associate Professional in Human Resources Practice Test

aPHR HR Ethics and Professional Standards 3