All the HR Terms You Need in One Place
This comprehensive glossary of human resource (HR) terms defines words and phrases frequently used by HR professionals. We would like to encourage you to share and make use of this library. If you have any suggestions of terms we have missed or neglected please contact us & we will include it in our next update.
A
Absenteeism
Frequent absence from work without valid reasons.
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Software for managing recruitment processes.
Assessment
Evaluation of employee performance, skills, and competencies.
At-Will Employment
Employment that can be terminated at any time by either party.
B
Benefits Package
Total of all benefits offered to employees.
Broadbanding
Consolidating salary grades into fewer, broader bands.
Buddy System
Pairing new employees with experienced colleagues.
Burnout
Physical and emotional exhaustion due to prolonged stress.
C
Career Development
Activities aimed at enhancing an employee's career growth.
Coaching
Guiding employees to improve performance and develop skills.
Competency Framework
Structure defining skills and attributes required for roles.
Conflict Resolution
Methods for resolving disagreements in the workplace.
D
Data Analytics
Analyzing data to make informed HR decisions.
Digital HR
Use of digital technologies to manage HR functions.
Downsizing
Reducing the number of employees to cut costs.
Due Diligence
Comprehensive appraisal of a business before making a decision.
E
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Programs to help employees with personal issues.
Employee Relations
Managing relationships between employers and employees.
Exempt Employee
Employees not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA.
Exit Strategy
Plan for managing the departure of an employee.
F
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
U.S. law setting minimum wage and overtime standards.
Flexible Staffing
Use of temporary or contract workers to meet business needs.
Formal Training
Structured training programs for specific skills or knowledge.
Future of Work
Trends and predictions about how work will evolve in the future.
G
Gamification
Use of game design elements in non-game contexts to engage employees.
Gig Economy
Labor market characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work.
Grievance
Formal complaint by an employee about workplace issues.
Gross Pay
Total earnings before any deductions.
H
Headcount
Total number of employees in an organization.
Health and Safety
Ensuring the physical and mental well-being of employees.
Hiring Freeze
Temporary suspension of hiring new employees.
HR Business Partner (HRBP)
HR professional who works closely with business leaders.
I
Inclusion
Creating a workplace where all individuals feel respected and valued.
Induction
Introduction and orientation of new employees to the organization.
Internal Recruitment
Filling positions with current employees rather than hiring externally.
Involuntary Termination
Employer-initiated termination of an employee's employment.
J
Job Analysis
Systematic study of job duties and requirements.
Job Description
Written statement outlining the responsibilities and qualifications of a job.
Job Evaluation
Method to determine the relative value of a job in an organization.
Job Rotation
Moving employees between different tasks to enhance skills and knowledge.
K
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Metrics used to evaluate success in achieving objectives.
Key Talent
Employees identified as crucial to the organization's success.
Knowledge Management
Process of creating, sharing, and managing organizational knowledge.
Knowledge Transfer
Sharing knowledge from one part of the organization to another.
L
Lateral Transfer
Moving an employee to a different position at the same organizational level.
Leadership Development
Programs aimed at developing employees' leadership abilities.
Learning and Development (L&D)
Activities focused on enhancing employees' skills and knowledge.
Learning Management System (LMS)
Software for administering, documenting, and delivering educational courses.
M
Market Rate
Average compensation for a specific job in a particular geographic area or industry.
Mediation
Process of resolving disputes with the help of a neutral third party.
Mentorship Program
Formal program pairing mentors with mentees for professional development.
Merit Pay
Compensation based on individual performance.
N
Nepotism
Favoritism granted to relatives or close friends in employment decisions.
New Hire Orientation
Program to introduce new employees to the organization and its policies.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Legal contract preventing employees from sharing confidential information.
Non-Exempt Employee
Employees entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA.
O
Onboarding
Process of integrating new employees into the organization.
Open-Door Policy
Encouraging employees to share concerns and suggestions with management.
Organizational Change
Process of altering an organization's structure, strategy, or operations.
Outplacement
Services provided to help terminated employees find new employment.
P
Performance Appraisal
Evaluation of an employee's job performance.
Policy Manual
Document outlining an organization's rules, regulations, and procedures.
Positive Reinforcement
Rewarding desirable behaviors to encourage their continuation.
Professional Development
Activities aimed at enhancing employees' skills and knowledge.
Q
Qualified Benefit Plan
Retirement or health benefit plan meeting specific legal requirements.
Quantitative Data
Numeric information used to measure and analyze variables.
Quarterly Review
Performance evaluation conducted every three months.
Quota System
Policy setting specific numerical targets, often for diversity hiring.
R
Reimbursement
Repayment for expenses incurred by employees on behalf of the organization.
Retention
Strategies to keep employees engaged and reduce turnover.
Reverse Mentoring
Junior employees mentoring senior staff, often on technology or new trends.
Role Clarity
Ensuring employees understand their job responsibilities and expectations.
S
Sabbatical
Extended leave from work, often for personal development or study.
Salary Range
Span of possible salaries for a particular job, from minimum to maximum.
Social Learning
Learning through interaction with colleagues and social networks.
Strategic HRM
Aligning HR strategies with business objectives to improve performance.
T
Talent Acquisition
Process of finding and hiring skilled employees.
Telecommuting
Working remotely using telecommunications technology.
Time Management
Effective organization of time to increase productivity.
Turnover
Rate at which employees leave an organization.
U
Unemployment Insurance
Benefits provided to employees who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Union
Organization representing workers' interests in negotiations with employers.
Upskilling
Training employees to enhance their current skill sets.
Utilization Rate
Measure of how effectively resources, including employees, are being used.
V
Vacation Leave
Paid time off granted to employees for rest and recreation.
Variable Pay
Compensation based on performance, such as bonuses or commissions.
Vision Statement
Description of what an organization aspires to achieve in the future.
Voluntary Turnover
Employees choosing to leave the organization on their own.
W
Wage
Payment for labor or services, typically calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis.
Wellness Programs
Initiatives aimed at promoting the health and well-being of employees.
Work-Life Balance
Equilibrium between personal life and work responsibilities.
Workplace Safety
Practices and policies to ensure the health and safety of employees.
X
X-Benefits
Exceptional or unique benefits offered by an organization.
X-Factor
Unique quality or talent that makes an employee stand out.
Xenodochial
Friendly and hospitable towards strangers.
Xenophobia
Dislike or prejudice against people from other countries.
Y
Yammer
Enterprise social networking service used for communication within organizations.
Yankee Bonds
Bonds issued by foreign entities in the United States.
Yield Ratio
Metric measuring the efficiency of recruitment efforts, such as the ratio of interviews to job offers.
YTD Earnings
Total earnings of an employee from the beginning of the year to the current date.
Z
Z-Generation (Gen Z)
People born from the late 1990s to early 2010s, following Millennials.
Zebra
Term sometimes used to refer to a hybrid or unconventional business model.
Zoning Ordinance
Local law regulating the use of land and buildings.
Zoom Fatigue
Tiredness or burnout resulting from excessive use of virtual meeting platforms.