aPHR case studies
aPHR · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) is an entry-level HR certification awarded by HRCI, designed for people who are new to the field, transitioning into HR from another function, or still completing their education. It validates foundational knowledge rather than years of experience, so it suits coordinators, administrators, assistants, and career changers who want a recognized credential before they have accumulated substantial HR work history. The aPHR case studies are 6 cases and about 4,772 words.
1Cleaning Up 22 Incomplete I-9s Before an Audit
Ridgeline Components is a 140-employee parts manufacturer. Last month HR migrated from paper files to a new HRIS, and while keying records the new HR generalist found that 22 of 140 I-9 forms are incomplete: nine are missing Section 2 entirely (some for employees hired in 2022), five have no document numbers recorded, and eight have no form on file at all.
824 words, about 4 min2The Referral, the Skipped Panel, and the Top-of-Band Offer
Cedar & Vine is a 90-person digital agency hiring one Customer Success Manager. The posted band is 62,000– 80,000.
747 words, about 4 min3Three Salaried 'Assistant Managers' and a Pay Compression Problem
Nordic Freight Repair is a 200-employee equipment service company. Three branch 'Assistant Managers' each earn a 52,000 salary and typically work 50 hours a week.
749 words, about 4 min4A $60,000 Leadership Program That Moved Nothing
Lakeshore Support is a 300-employee contact center. Voluntary turnover is 34% overall and 42% among agents in their first 90 days.
791 words, about 4 min5The Safety Complaint, the Write-Up, and the Shift Change
At a 120-employee distribution warehouse, a night-shift associate reported to his supervisor that a guard was missing from a conveyor pinch point and that two people had nearly caught gloves in it. The supervisor told him to 'stop complaining and keep the line moving,' and the guard was not replaced for nine days.
847 words, about 4 min6The Safety Incentive That Made Near-Misses Disappear
Prairie Metalworks is a 260-employee fabricator. Eighteen months ago the plant introduced a quarterly safety bonus: if a department records zero recordable injuries for the quarter, every employee in it receives 250.
814 words, about 4 min