Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Practice Exam

In what situation does joint employment occur?

1. When an independent contractor works for multiple companies.

2. When an organization shares responsibility for workers with an alternative staffing supplier.

3. When employees have dual roles within the same organization.

4. When a company provides opportunities for interns.

The correct answer is: When an organization shares responsibility for workers with an alternative staffing supplier.

Joint employment occurs when two or more companies share responsibility for an employee or a group of employees. This can happen in situations like when an organization collaborates with a staffing agency or alternative staffing supplier to hire workers. Under these circumstances, both the organization and the staffing supplier may be considered joint employers because they exert control over the terms of employment, such as work hours, job duties, and payment. In this context, it is important to recognize that joint employment involves a shared relationship, which encompasses both employer influence on the employee's work conditions and legal obligations such as wage and hour compliance. This concept is particularly relevant in regulations that address employee rights and employer responsibilities. The other scenarios do not accurately represent joint employment. For example, having an independent contractor work for multiple companies does not create shared responsibility over employment conditions. Similarly, when employees have dual roles within the same organization, this is a single employer situation rather than a joint employment situation. Lastly, providing opportunities for interns does not inherently involve multiple employers sharing responsibility for the interns' employment status.