SHRM Employee Relations & Engagement 3

Question 1

What is the key difference between mediation and arbitration in workplace dispute resolution?

Accepted Answer

A mediator facilitates agreement while an arbitrator renders a binding decision

Answer

In mediation the neutral party helps the disputants reach their own agreement, whereas in arbitration the arbitrator decides the outcome, which is typically binding.

Question 2

Which metric best measures the effectiveness of an employee engagement initiative over time?

Accepted Answer

Pre- and post-initiative engagement survey scores correlated with retention and productivity data

Answer

Comparing engagement scores before and after an initiative and linking them to business outcomes (retention, productivity) provides the most meaningful measure of effectiveness.

Question 3

An employee discloses a disability and requests a schedule change as an accommodation. What is HR's next step under the ADA?

Accepted Answer

Engage in the interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations

Answer

The ADA requires employers to engage in an interactive, good-faith dialogue with the employee to identify effective and reasonable accommodations.

Question 4

Which leadership behavior is most likely to undermine employee psychological safety?

Accepted Answer

Publicly criticizing employees for mistakes in team meetings

Answer

Publicly criticizing employees discourages risk-taking and speaking up, which erodes the psychological safety needed for engagement and innovation.

Question 5

What does a high absenteeism rate most commonly signal in an employee relations context?

Accepted Answer

Underlying issues such as low morale, poor management, or workplace stress

Answer

Elevated absenteeism often reflects organizational problems such as burnout, poor leadership, or a toxic work environment rather than individual laziness.

SHRM - Society for Human Resource Management Practice Test

SHRM - Society for Human Resource Management Practice Test

SHRM Employee Relations & Engagement 3