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SPHR Questions - Part 8

Jenny Clarke

Tue, 04 Nov 2025

1. Heather's organization works with a labor union work force. Heather has heard rumors that the union has been trying to create a hot cargo agreement with a supplier. What is a hot cargo agreement?

A) It forces suppliers to join the union.
B) It's a threat that the union will slow down processing orders for non-union shops.
C) It's an agreement that an employer will stop doing business with a non-union business.
D) It's an agreement to rush orders for union-based businesses.



2. Management and union representatives are working through a collective bargaining agreement. What term is used in this process to describe arbitration that is used to resolve conflicts around contract language in the collective bargaining agreement?

A) Decisions
B) Interest arbitration
C) Ad hoc arbitration
D) Permanent arbitration



3. Which of the following union security clauses requires that all employees join the union within a grace period specified by the contract?

A) Agency shop clause
B) Maintenance of membership clause
C) Union shop clause
D) Closed shop clause



4. Which of the following occurs when employees stop working and stay in the building?

A) Strike
B) Lockout
C) Wildcat strike
D) Sit-down strike



5. Beth is a HR Professional for her organization and she's discussing the risk of growing her organization's business. What is risk and why would it be considered inHR for organizational growth?

A) Risk is an uncertain event or condition that can have a positive or negative effect on the goals of an organization.
B) Risk is an adverse event that can halt, hinder, or hurt the objectives of a business.
C) Risk is a negative event that an organization must consider when adding new employees to grow a company.
D) Risk is an uncertain event or condition that may help or hinder an organization. Adding employees can help positive risks or amplify negative risk events.



1. Right Answer: C
Explanation: Answer option C is correct.A hot cargo agreement is an agreement an employer makes to stop doing business with other, usually non-union based businesses.Answer options A, B, and D are incorrect. These are'nt valid definitions of a hot cargo agreement.Guide, HR Certification Institute, ISBN: 978-1-586-44149-4, Section III, The US HR Body of Knowledge.Chapter: Employee and Labor RelationsObjective: Union Organization

2. Right Answer: B
Explanation: Answer option B is correct.When there is arbitration between management and the union regarding contract language, it is commonly referred to as interest arbitration.Answer option A is incorrect. Decisions describe the resolution of grievances based on the interpretation of the contract.Answer option C is incorrect. Ad hoc arbitration isn't technically a term associated with contract language. Ad hoc arbitrators, however, is. Ad hoc arbitrators describe the ability of either management or union to be forced to use an arbitrator which they're not happy with.Answer option D is incorrect. Permanent arbitration isn't technically a term associated with contract language. Permanent arbitrators, however, are. Permanent arbitrators describer an arbitrator that stays with the party (management or union) for the duration of the contract.Guide, HR Certification Institute, ISBN: 978-1-586-44149-4, Section III, The US HR Body of Knowledge.Chapter: Employee and Labor RelationsObjective: Union Organization

3. Right Answer: C
Explanation: Answer option C is correct.The union shop clause requires that all employees join the union within a grace period specified by the contract.Answer option A is incorrect. The agency shop clause specifies that all employees must either join the union or pay union dues if they choose not to join the union.Answer option B is incorrect. The maintenance of membership clause allows employees to choose whether to join the union, but once they join, they must remain members until the expiration of the contract.Answer option D is incorrect. The closed shop clause requires that all new hires be members of the union before they are hired.Chapter: Employee and Labor RelationsObjective: Union Organization

4. Right Answer: D
Explanation: Answer option D is correct.A sit-down strike occurs when employees stop working and stay in the building. This is considered as an unlawful strike.Answer option A is incorrect. A strike occurs when the union decides to stop working.Answer option B is incorrect. A lockout occurs when management shuts down operations to keep the union from working.Answer option C is incorrect. A wildcat strike occurs in violation of a contract clause prohibiting strikes during the term of the contract.Chapter: Employee and Labor RelationsObjective: Union Organization

5. Right Answer: D
Explanation: Answer option D is correct.Risk is uncertain - and in uncertainty lies opportunity. When an organization looks to grow and new employees may be added to the business, new employees can bring risk to the organization's operations, goals, and endeavors.Answer option A is incorrect. This is a correct definition of risk, but it does not address the human resource-related risk events.Answer option B is incorrect. Risk can be positive or negative, not just adverse.Answer option C is incorrect. Risk isn't always negative. Risk can be positive or negative.Certification Institute, ISBN: 978-1-586-44149-4, Section III, The US HR Body of Knowledge.Chapter: Risk Management -Objective: Risk Identification

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