When employees engage in an intimate relationship, HR should refer to organizational policy (A) and determine reporting relationships (B). At the SPHR level, the primary concerns are conflict of interest, power imbalance, and risk mitigation.

Policies—such as fraternization or conflict-of-interest policies—provide guidance on acceptable conduct, disclosure requirements, and corrective actions. Determining reporting relationships is essential to identify potential supervisory conflicts that could lead to favoritism, harassment claims, or retaliation.

Counseling employees (C) may be appropriate later but is not the first step. Doing nothing (D) ignores potential risk. Relocation (E) may be considered if a reporting conflict exists, but it is not an initial step.

SPHR exam content emphasizes proactive, policy-driven responses to workplace relationships to protect employees and the organization.

References :

HRCI SPHR Exam Content Outline — Functional Area: Employee Relations and Engagement (workplace conduct; conflict of interest).

HRCI SPHR Study Guide — Managing workplace relationships and risk.

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Before any compensation structure can be created, it is essential to define each role clearly. Job descriptions are the foundation of compensation design because they allow for accurate job evaluations, benchmarking, and internal equity assessments. Without them, you cannot determine market value or job classification reliably.

Extract from HRCI-aligned HR knowledge (Total Rewards domain):

The SPHR exam framework stresses the importance of “defining job roles as the foundation for compensation and performance systems.” Formal pay programs begin with role clarity—job descriptions drive internal equity, job evaluations, and external market comparisons.

Even the best-designed reward programs fail without awareness and understanding. A well-structured communication campaign ensures employees know the program exists, how it works, and how to earn rewards.

Extract from HRCI-aligned HR knowledge (Total Rewards):

SPHR-level strategies include “communication as a critical success factor in compensation programs.” Without proper rollout, recognition systems lose visibility, perceived fairness, and effectiveness.

To build a sustainable staffing plan, HR must start by identifying existing skills and capabilities. A skills inventory is a comprehensive internal scan that identifies gaps, strengths, and development needs, enabling the organization to prepare for growth, succession, and future workforce demands.

Extract from HRCI-aligned HR knowledge (Talent Planning and Acquisition domain):

SPHR-level HR strategy includes “conducting internal talent assessments to anticipate future organizational needs.” Developing an employee skills inventory is the first step in strategic workforce planning, forming the basis for recruitment, development, and succession actions.

To most effectively support organizational objectives, HR must participate in developing the organization’s strategic direction (D). At the SPHR level, HR is expected to be a strategic contributor, not merely a downstream implementer.

Strategic direction defines where the organization is going and how it will compete. HR’s participation ensures that people, leadership, structure, and culture considerations are integrated into strategic decisions from the outset. Without HR involvement, strategies may be unrealistic, under-resourced, or misaligned with workforce capability.

Staffing needs (A), succession planning (B), and corporate culture (C) are critical but are all derived from strategic direction. SPHR exam content stresses that HR adds the most value when it helps shape strategy rather than reacting to it.

References :

HRCI SPHR Exam Content Outline — Functional Area: Leadership and Strategy (strategic partnership; business alignment).

HRCI SPHR Study Guide — HR’s role in strategic planning.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows employers to mitigate penalties by taking corrective action. Completing new I-9s in a transparent manner shows a good faith effort, which is considered during audits or enforcement actions.

SPHR-level compliance strategies stress prompt correction and demonstrable intent to comply, particularly with documentation regulations like the I-9.

A: Retaining high performers and leaders ensures business continuity.

E: Organizational structure affects roles, decision-making, and operational alignment.

Post-merger HR priorities include retention, role clarity, and org design to support integration.