×

Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

HRCI SPHR Exam Questions

Page 4 of 60

61.

Common payroll deductions seen when administering payroll include:

Select all that apply. There are 3 correct answers.

  • Voluntary

  • Involuntary

  • Statutory

  • Wage garnishment

  • Mandatory

Understanding common deduction types is important for HR professionals. When processing payroll, there are three types of deductions commonly seen. This includes the following:

  • Voluntary deductions - Voluntary deductions are those deductions elected by employees. This includes health plan premiums (medical, dental, vision, employee 401k contributions, etc.
  • Statutory deductions - Statutory deductions are deductions that are required by law. This includes federal and state taxes, unemployment insurance (in some states), Social Security, Medicare, and disability insurance (in some states).
  • Involuntary deductions - Involuntary deductions are those that are mandated by a court order or tax levy. This includes child support garnishments and other debt-related garnishments.

62.

When considering auditory learners, which statement accurately reflects their optimal information retention?

  • Auditory learners retain information best when delivered in their own voice.

  • Auditory learners prefer written information for optimal retention.

  • Auditory learners excel with visual aids in information delivery.

  • Auditory learners are best suited for kinesthetic learning experiences.

Correct answer: Auditory learners retain information best when delivered in their own voice.

Auditory learners use their sense of hearing to absorb information. They retain information best when it is delivered in their own voice.

63.

Which of the following best describes allowing employees to move between jobs within the organization so they can acquire new skills?

  • Job rotation

  • Job enrichment

  • Job sharing

  • Jon enlargement

Correct answer: Job rotation

An employer may allow employees to move between jobs within the organization, or job rotate so that they can acquire new skills and be well versed in many different aspects of the company.

64.

The Delphi technique describes:

  • A method of solving problems by using participants who never actually meet

  • A way to come up with new ideas by tapping into the brainwaves of college students

  • A form of idea generating that requires participants to compete with one another

  • A voting system that forces all leaders to agree on a certain subject before moving to another

Correct answer: A method of solving problems by using participants who never actually meet

The Delphi method is a forecasting process that allows a group of participants to solve a problem by using remote tools like surveys, polls, and questionnaires. While they may never meet or work together in person, the participants effectively work through problems and come up with solutions by repeating the process and getting feedback from the facilitator. Eventually, an agreeable solution occurs.

65.

Temporary workers provide several flexible staffing options. Which of these is not a typical temporary worker category?

  • Job sharing

  • Traditional

  • On-call workers

  • Payrolling

Correct answer: Job sharing

Temporary workers within an organization can include traditional, on-call workers, payrolling, and seasonal workers. Job sharing is a flexible staffing option where two part-time employees' complementary abilities share a full-time position.

66.

Which of the following requires that employers keep records of applicants based on sex and race?

  • UGESP

  • OSHA

  • VVERA

  • PEO

Correct answer: UGESP

The Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (UGESP) were issued in 1978 in order to help employers and employment agencies comply with federal EEO legislation on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. The UGESP requires that employers keep records of sex and race for all applicants that apply for a job within their organization

67.

The eighty percent rule protects members of what group against adverse impact?

  • Any protected class

  • Women

  • African Americans

  • Persons with disabilities

Correct answer: Any protected class

Any protected class is protected from adverse impact under the 80 percent, or 4/5ths, rule. This rule states that adverse impact occurs when the selection rate of a protected class is less than 80 percent of the group with the highest selection rate.

68.

The amount of compensation that the employer and the employee agree will be paid for the completion of specific job tasks is referred to as:

  • Base pay

  • Performance-based compensation

  • Pay differential

  • Variable compensation

Correct answer: Base pay

Base pay is the amount of compensation that the employer and the employee agree will be paid for the completion of specific job tasks. Base pay does not include benefits, bonuses, or additional compensation.

69.

Which of the following is not an indirect compensation method?

  • Base pay

  • Vacation

  • Sick leave

  • 401(k)

Correct answer: Base pay

Base pay is the correct answer as it is considered direction compensation and considered a wage or salary. Indirect compensation includes benefits such as paid vacation and sick time, pensions plans,  or 401(k)'s.

70.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act deemed that pregnant women should receive the same treatment as what other employees?

  • Employees with any other short-term disability

  • All employees

  • Other employees who are or have been pregnant

  • Employees with any other long-term disability

Correct answer: Employees with any other short-term disability

In 1978 Congress amended Title VII to include the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). This act clarified that pregnant women are entitled to the same benefits and treatments as other employees with short-term disability and cannot be discriminated against on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical condition.

71.

Sam runs a convenience store and staffs 26 people throughout the year. Is he required to file an EEO-1?

  • No, because he has less than 100 employees

  • No, because he has less than 50 employees

  • Yes, because he has more than 25 employees

  • Yes, because all private businesses must file the EEO-1

Correct answer: No, because he has less than 100 employees

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) jointly created a form, called the EEO-1 report or survey, that employers must use in order to show their compliance with both agencies' regulations, such as race and gender within their company. However, private employers with less than 100 employees do not have to file the report.

72.

The HR manager for a customer service company notices that a large percentage of employees are quitting before they meet the six-month mark. How can HR determine what is happening to make corrections and retain more workers?

  • Conduct stay interviews with employees immediately before the six-month mark 

  • Ask supervisors why their employees are leaving

  • Find out if the job is not challenging people enough

  • Conduct a pulse survey to get more information

Correct answer: Conduct stay interviews with employees immediately before the six-month mark

Instead of waiting for employees to quit, HR can be proactive and hold individual meetings with employees who are nearing the six-month mark. HR should be mindful of what is happening at this point. Are there pay concerns, extra responsibilities placed on employees, or something else making people want to quit?

73.

What term describes the unique set of offerings, associations, and values that compel talent to want to work for the company?

  • Value proposition

  • Employer value

  • Culture

  • Upward mobility

Correct answer: Value proposition

Commonly used to attract and retain talent, the employer value proposition is a message developed that captures the unique brand, culture, values, offerings, and benefits of working for a particular company. The value proposition is part of the company's brand.

74.

Assessments from co-workers, subordinates, and perhaps even outside customers are included with those of supervisors in the formal review processes. This is known as a:

  • 360° review

  • Comprehensive review

  • Focal review

  • Scaled appraisal

Correct answer: 360° review

The process of reviewing employees' work performance is known as a performance appraisal, evaluation, or review. A 360 review is a formal version of assessment from others, both within an organization or department and outside of the organization or department. Feedback may be collected from such sources as customers, vendors, supervisors, peers and subordinates.

75.

Leader guides, manuals, and handouts are all types of:

  • Training materials

  • Instructional methods

  • Active training methods

  • Program delivery mechanisms

Correct answer: Training materials

Training materials support instruction and should be geared towards the subject matter and the needs of the participants. Some types of materials include the following: leader guides, manuals, and handouts.

76.

Human Resources can help organizations avoid making risky choices by one of several methods. In a hazardous work environment, certain preventative measures such as lock-out/tag-out, and protective equipment is an example of what method?

  • Mitigation and reduction

  • Vendor outsourcing

  • Transferring

  • Abatement and elimination

Correct answer: Mitigation and reduction

In this particular case, the best course of action is to mitigate and reduce the risk to employees with safety procedures. None of the other choices allow the company to operate without additional risk to employees and the business. Other risk management techniques include:

  • Abate/eliminate the risk
  • Transfer the risk
  • Accept the risk

77.

If an interviewer asks a candidate to describe how they may handle a specific job-related situation, what type of interview question would they be asking?

  • Situational

  • Patterned

  • Stress

  • Directive

Correct answer: Situational

A situational interview question asks a candidate to describe how they may handle a specific job-related situation. This type of question allows the candidate to quickly answer a question using their problem-solving skills and also shows the interviewer how the candidate would handle an on the job issue.

78.

A large company disposes of a business investment after it is shown to no longer be profitable for the last two years. This is an example of:

  • Divestiture

  • Dissolving

  • Designing

  • Departmentalization

Correct answer: Divestiture

Divestiture is the correct term which refers to the disposal of a business unit, investment, or ownership of some property that no longer serves the organizational goals, typically by a parent company. This form of restructuring allows for companies to sell pieces of their business to focus on core products or brands.

79.

Which of the following best defines systems thinking?

  • The ability to look at the big picture and how each process integrates with the others

  • The beliefs that color perceptions and influence how individuals perceive and respond to the world around them

  • The ability of groups to openly communicate their ideas and develop them

  • The elevated level of proficiency and dedication to lifelong learning in a chosen field

Correct answer: The ability to look at the big picture and how each process integrates with the others

Learning organizations allow knowledge to be originated, obtained, and freely shared which in turn promotes innovation in response to environmental changes that can affect the ability of the organization being competitive.

Peter Senge identified five disciplines that enable organizations to increase their ability to realize desired results, cultivate new ways of thinking, expand on individual ideas, and encourage continuous lifelong learning in the organization. These disciplines are as follows:

  • Systems Thinking: Systems thinking the ability to look at the big picture and how each process integrates with the others.
  • Personal Mastery: Personal mastery describes how an individual looks at the world combined with their clear goal.
  • Mental Models: Mental models refer to an individual's assumptions that affect perceptions and reactions to the world.
  • Building a Shared Vision: A shared vision is built on interaction with employees. This pushes for ownership at every level which feeds innovation.
  • Team Learning: Team learning is when shared vision and personal mastery combine. It provides a sage environment where real learning can take place.

80.

Employer unfair labor practices include which of the following?

Select all that apply. There are 3 correct answers. 

  • Refuse to bargain in good faith

  • Interfere with unionization efforts

  • Discrimination against employees

  • Featherbedding

  • Engaging in prohibited strikes

The National Labor Relations Act defines activities considered to be employer and employee unfair labor practices. Employer unfair labor practices include:

  • Interfere with, restrain, or coerce unionization efforts
  • Dominate or assist a labor organization
  • Discriminate against employees
  • Discriminate against NLRB activity
  • Refuse to bargain in good faith
  • Enter into a hot-cargo agreement
×