CALA CALA Human Resources & Staffing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'progressive discipline' in the context of assisted living HR management?
- A training program that increases in complexity over time
- A graduated series of corrective actions escalating in severity for repeated policy violations (Correct answer)
- A pay increase structure based on performance
- An orientation program for new employees
Correct answer: A graduated series of corrective actions escalating in severity for repeated policy violations
Progressive discipline is a corrective process that uses increasingly serious consequences—such as verbal warning, written warning, suspension, then termination—for repeated or serious policy violations.
Question 2: An assisted living employee reports that a supervisor is creating a hostile work environment based on their religion. Who should handle the initial investigation?
- The accused supervisor
- The HR department or a designated neutral investigator (Correct answer)
- The resident care team
- The state licensing board
Correct answer: The HR department or a designated neutral investigator
HR or a designated neutral party should investigate workplace harassment complaints to ensure objectivity and legal compliance.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of conducting a background check on prospective assisted living employees?
- To verify educational credentials only
- To screen for criminal history that may pose a risk to vulnerable residents (Correct answer)
- To assess credit worthiness for benefit eligibility
- To confirm salary history
Correct answer: To screen for criminal history that may pose a risk to vulnerable residents
Background checks in assisted living primarily screen for criminal history—especially abuse, neglect, or exploitation—to protect the safety of vulnerable residents.
Question 4: Which staffing approach uses a pool of trained facility staff who can work in different departments or positions as needed?
- Agency staffing
- Float pool (Correct answer)
- PRN staffing
- Contract staffing
Correct answer: Float pool
A float pool consists of trained facility employees who are cross-trained to work in multiple areas or departments based on daily census and staffing needs.
Question 5: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what is an employer required to provide to a qualified employee with a disability?
- A separate workspace
- Reasonable accommodation unless it causes undue hardship (Correct answer)
- Full medical leave without limit
- Promotion priority over non-disabled employees
Correct answer: Reasonable accommodation unless it causes undue hardship
The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the organization.
Question 6: What information is a CALA administrator legally prohibited from requesting on an employment application under most US state laws?
- Applicant's work history
- Applicant's professional references
- Applicant's date of birth or age (Correct answer)
- Applicant's availability to work
Correct answer: Applicant's date of birth or age
Requesting an applicant's date of birth or age on applications can expose employers to age discrimination claims under the ADEA and many state laws.
CALA CALA Human Resources & Staffing 2
What is 'progressive discipline' in the context of assisted living HR management?