Free Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) Employee Relations and Lifecycle Questions and Answers

Question 1

A former employee, who was terminated three months ago, submits a written request to inspect their personnel file. Under the California Labor Code, what is the employer's obligation regarding the timeframe for providing access?

Accepted Answer

The employer must provide access no later than 30 calendar days from receiving the written request.

Answer

California Labor Code section 1198.5 requires employers to provide current and former employees with access to their personnel files within 30 calendar days of receiving a written request. This timeframe can be extended to 35 days only if both parties mutually agree in writing.

Question 2

A California-based company with 80 employees is planning a mass layoff that will affect 55 employees at a single site of employment. Which of the following actions is required under the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (Cal-WARN) Act?

Accepted Answer

Provide 60 days' advance written notice to affected employees and government entities.

Answer

The Cal-WARN Act applies to employers with 75 or more employees (full-time or part-time). It is triggered by a mass layoff, which is defined as a layoff of 50 or more employees within a 30-day period. The Act requires employers to give at least 60 days' advance written notice to affected employees and various state and local government entities.

Question 3

During an interview for a management position at a California company, a candidate voluntarily discloses, without being prompted, that their previous salary was $90,000. According to California's salary history ban (Labor Code 432.3), how may the employer use this information?

Accepted Answer

The employer may consider the voluntarily disclosed information when determining the salary offer.

Answer

California Labor Code section 432.3 prohibits employers from asking about a candidate's salary history. However, if an applicant voluntarily and without prompting discloses that information, the employer is permitted to consider it when determining the salary for the position. The key is that the disclosure must be entirely voluntary.

Question 4

A California employer is providing a reference for a former employee who was terminated for misconduct. Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the employer's legal protection against defamation claims?

Accepted Answer

Employers have a qualified privilege, protecting them if they provide truthful information without malice.

Answer

California law provides employers with a "qualified privilege" when giving references. This means they are protected from defamation claims as long as the information they share about job performance or eligibility for rehire is based on credible evidence, provided upon request to a prospective employer, and communicated without malice (i.e., not with reckless disregard for the truth or a desire to harm).

Question 5

Which of the following is a recognized exception to the at-will employment doctrine in California, where an employer's own policies or statements create a reasonable expectation of job security?

Accepted Answer

The implied contract exception.

Answer

While employment in California is presumed to be "at-will," courts recognize an implied contract exception. This occurs when an employer's conduct, such as statements in an employee handbook, long-term positive performance reviews, or verbal assurances, creates an implied promise not to terminate the employee without good cause.

PHRca - Professional in Human Resources - California Practice Test

PHRca - Professional in Human Resources - California Practice Test

Free Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) Employee Relations and Lifecycle Questions and Answers