HRCI Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Question 1

Which motivation theory, building on Maslow's hierarchy, organizes human needs into three categories: existence, relatedness, and growth?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

ERG Theory. Clayton Alderfer developed ERG Theory by condensing Maslow's five levels into three: Existence (physiological and safety needs), Relatedness (social and esteem needs), and Growth (self-actualization and higher esteem). Unlike Maslow's strictly hierarchical model, ERG allows for simultaneous need activation.

Question 2

By what other name is the National Labor Relations Act commonly known?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The Wagner Act. The National Labor Relations Act is widely referred to as the Wagner Act, named after Senator Robert F. Wagner, its primary sponsor. It established the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively.

Question 3

What strategy is most effective for unlocking the full potential of employees who are primarily motivated by achievement?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Assigning them tasks that are challenging yet realistically achievable.. Achievement-motivated employees thrive when given tasks that stretch their capabilities while remaining within reach. Challenging assignments tap into their drive to excel, while the attainability of the goal ensures there is a realistic path to success—together maximizing motivation, performance, and growth.

Question 4

You are creating a pre-departure checklist for someone starting an international assignment. Which of the following items is the least critical to include?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Company site orientation. While a site orientation can be helpful, it is the least critical item on a pre-departure checklist. Having the proper visa, necessary vaccinations, and temporary housing arranged are all essential practical requirements that must be addressed before departure.

Question 5

You are the HR manager and report directly to the company president, who recently lost his sister to cancer. An employee comes to you in distress because her sister, living in another state, has been diagnosed with a fast-moving cancer and given fewer than six months to live. The employee wants to spend that remaining time caring for her sister. She was already told by both an HR rep and her manager that this situation does not qualify for FMLA coverage. Her department is entering its busiest season, and the manager is reluctant to grant any other leave. The employee is also worried about finances while away and asks whether the company could classify her separation as a layoff so she could collect unemployment insurance, which she believes would cover her expenses during this period. After expressing genuine sympathy, which response is most appropriate?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Tell the employee that it is up to the state, not the company, whether unemployment insurance will be granted and that, while you personally sympathize with her circumstances, it is not possible to code the termination as a layoff.. The correct response acknowledges the employee's difficult situation with genuine compassion while providing accurate information: unemployment insurance eligibility is determined by the state, not the company. It also makes clear that misclassifying the termination as a layoff is not an option, avoiding falsification of company records. The option involving possible presidential approval is wrong because it suggests the code could be changed under certain conditions — that is misleading and violates policy. The pure advocacy option ignores the HR professional's responsibility to uphold company policy. The policy-only response fails because it omits genuine empathy, which the question explicitly requires.

Question 6

What is the compa-ratio for an employee who is earning $75,000 annually, while the midpoint for the position is set at $85,000 per year?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

88 percent. The compa-ratio is a measure used in compensation management to compare an employee's salary to the midpoint of the salary range for their position. It is calculated by dividing the employee's salary by the midpoint and multiplying by 100.

In this case, the employee is earning $75,000 annually, while the midpoint for the position is set at $85,000 per year. To calculate the compa-ratio, we divide $75,000 by $85,000 and multiply by 100.

$75,000 / $85,000 * 100 = 0.8824 * 100 = 88.24

Rounding the compa-ratio to the nearest whole number, we get 88 percent.

Therefore, the correct answer is D) 88 percent.

Question 7

As HR manager, you are looking for innovative ways to enhance employee benefits at minimal additional cost. Your company already has a Premium Only Plan (POP) in place. What would be your most likely recommendation?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

FSAs. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is the most suitable recommendation when a POP is already in place. FSAs allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for qualified medical or dependent care expenses, reducing taxable income and enhancing benefits without significant employer cost. ESOPs are retirement ownership plans unrelated to this scenario. PCAs and PNGs are not standard employee benefit terms in this context.

Question 8

ERISA enforcement is divided among three government agencies. Which of the following is NOT one of the agencies responsible for enforcing ERISA?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

FDIC. The FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) insures bank deposits and promotes financial system stability—it is not an ERISA enforcement agency. ERISA is enforced by the Department of Labor, the IRS, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Question 9

According to the global performance management process, company systems should be aligned in phases across all stages EXCEPT which one?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Defining global business strategy and objectives. Defining global business strategy and objectives sets the overall organizational direction and is not itself a phase in which company systems are aligned. The other three stages—performance planning, linking rewards, and conducting appraisals—each require alignment of organizational systems.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT influenced by demographic factors?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Functional strategies. Functional strategies — the specific plans within individual business functions such as marketing, finance, or HR — are primarily shaped by internal factors like organizational goals and capabilities, not external demographic considerations. Business unit and corporate strategies, as well as government and regulatory agencies, are all influenced by demographic factors.

HRCI Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

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