PHR Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PHR facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How is the negotiating unit determined during the union-building process? → By the National Labor Relations Board
2. Which type of stock plan gives employees the right to buy company shares at a fixed price after a vesting period? → Stock options
3. An incentive plan that rewards employees for cost savings shared with the company is called: → Gainsharing
4. What is the primary goal of a succession planning program? → Identify and develop internal candidates for key future roles
5. Which of the following administers the provisions of the various executive orders that fall under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978? → FLRA
6. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act regulates concentrations of _______________ power. → Union and employer
7. Andragogy, as defined by Malcolm Knowles, primarily describes the principles of: → Adult learning
8. What does the 70-20-10 model suggest about how people develop? → 70% from experience, 20% from others, 10% from formal training
9. Under OSHA, what must employers maintain to record workplace injuries and illnesses? → OSHA 300 log
10. In the context of performance management, 'calibration sessions' are conducted to: → Ensure rating consistency and fairness across managers and departments
11. What does ERISA primarily regulate? → Employee retirement and welfare benefit plans
12. Which federal agency is responsible for enforcing antidiscrimination laws and handling charges? → EEOC
13. What is the purpose of an audit trail in an HRIS? → To track who accessed or changed data and when
14. When linking performance ratings to merit pay increases, HR should ensure the system demonstrates: → A clear, transparent connection between performance level and pay differentiation
15. According to which motivation theory, employees are motivated by success, but they weigh the expected benefit against the effort required to accomplish it? → Vroom's expectancy theory
16. What is 'personally identifiable information' (PII) in an HR context? → Data that can identify a specific individual, like an SSN
17. Which of the following questions should be answered before choosing an HRIS system? → All of the above
18. Which concept describes HR's role as a contributor to organizational profitability and strategy? → Strategic business partner
19. What is the name given to an employee who files a complaint with a federal agency alleging that their employer has engaged in illegal activity? → Whistle-blower
20. A company wants new hires to be productive faster. Which L&D initiative most directly addresses this? → A structured onboarding program
21. Which adult learning principle suggests learners are more motivated when training addresses immediate, real-world problems? → Orientation to learning (problem-centered)
22. A structured interview is preferred over an unstructured interview primarily because it: → Improves validity and reduces bias
23. A 'leniency error' in performance appraisals refers to a rater tendency to: → Rate all employees higher than their actual performance warrants
24. Which incentive plan pays employees a share of cost savings achieved through improved productivity, often via the Scanlon or Rucker formula? → Gainsharing
25. Which type of benefit is legally mandated for most U.S. employers? → Social Security and Medicare contributions
26. Which of the following is a key advantage of a cafeteria (Section 125) benefit plan? → Employees choose benefits with pre-tax dollars
27. Which federal agency is responsible for enforcing antidiscrimination laws and handling charges? → EEOC
28. What is 'transfer of training'? → The application of learned skills and knowledge to the job
29. Which type of learning evaluation is conducted DURING program development to improve it? → Formative evaluation
30. Which approach to decision-making relies on collecting and analyzing data rather than intuition alone? → Evidence-based decision-making