HR Glossary

205 HR terms clearly defined — from Absenteeism to Zero-Hours Contracts.

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All Categories Attendance Compensation Employee Engagement Employee Relations Employee Wellbeing Employment Law HR Analytics HR Compliance HR Metrics HR Operations HR Strategy HR Systems Learning & Development Leave Management Onboarding Payroll Payroll & Benefits Payroll & Compliance Performance Management Recruitment Talent Management
205
HR Terms Defined
21
HR Categories
25
Alphabet Letters
Showing all 205 HR terms
A
Absenteeism
Frequent or habitual absence from work without valid reason.
Attendance
A
Absence Management
Policies and processes for monitoring, managing, and reducing employee absence.
Attendance
A
Accrual
The gradual accumulation of leave entitlement over time.
Leave Management
A
Adoption Leave
Paid or unpaid leave granted to employees who adopt a child.
Leave Management
A
Age Discrimination
Treating an employee less favourably because of their age.
HR Compliance
A
Allowances
Additional payments made to employees to cover specific work-related expenses.
Payroll
A
Annual Leave
Paid time off granted to employees each year for rest and personal use.
Leave Management
A
Annual Performance Review
A formal yearly evaluation of an employee's performance against set objectives.
Performance Management
A
Applicant Tracking System
Software that manages the recruitment process from job posting to hiring.
Recruitment
A
Appraisal
A formal assessment of an employee's performance, skills, and development needs.
Performance Management
A
At-Will Employment
US employment doctrine allowing either party to end employment at any time.
HR Compliance
A
Attrition Rate
The rate at which employees leave an organisation over a given period, expressed as a percentage.
HR Metrics
A
Auto-Enrolment
Automatic enrolment of eligible employees into a workplace pension scheme.
Payroll & Benefits
B
Background Check
Verification of a candidate's employment history, credentials, and criminal record.
Recruitment
B
Base Salary
The fixed regular payment an employee receives, excluding bonuses and allowances.
Compensation
B
Benchmarking
Comparing HR metrics and practices against industry standards or competitors.
HR Strategy
B
Benefits Administration
The process of managing employee benefit programmes such as health insurance and pensions.
Payroll & Benefits
B
Bereavement Leave
Paid or unpaid leave granted to employees following the death of a close relative.
Leave Management
B
Biometric Attendance
Using fingerprint or facial recognition to record employee attendance.
Attendance
B
Bonus
Additional financial compensation paid to employees beyond their base salary.
Compensation
B
Burnout
A state of chronic workplace stress leading to physical and emotional exhaustion.
Employee Wellbeing
C
Candidate Experience
The overall experience a job applicant has during the hiring process.
Recruitment
C
Career Development
The ongoing process of managing an employee's career growth within an organization.
Learning & Development
C
Clock-In / Clock-Out
The process of recording an employee's start and end time for each working day.
Attendance
C
Coaching
A development approach in which a coach helps an individual improve performance.
Learning & Development
C
Collective Bargaining
Negotiation between employers and trade unions over pay and working conditions.
Employee Relations
C
Compensation
Total financial and non-financial rewards provided to employees for their work.
Compensation
C
Competency Framework
A structured set of behaviours and skills required for effective job performance.
Performance Management
C
Compliance
Adherence to employment laws, regulations, and internal HR policies.
HR Compliance
C
Contract of Employment
A legal agreement between an employer and employee outlining terms and conditions of work.
HR Compliance
C
Core HR
The foundational HR functions including employee records, payroll, and compliance.
HR Systems
C
Cost Per Hire
The average total cost of filling a vacancy, covering both external spend and internal effort.
HR Metrics
D
Data Privacy
Protection of employee personal data in accordance with privacy laws.
HR Compliance
D
Deductions
Amounts withheld from an employee's gross pay before they receive their net pay.
Payroll
D
Demotion
Moving an employee to a lower-level role, often accompanied by a pay reduction.
Employee Relations
D
Disciplinary Procedure
A formal process for addressing employee misconduct or performance issues.
Employee Relations
D
Diversity and Inclusion
Creating a workplace that values and includes people of all backgrounds.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Assistance Programme
A confidential support service offering employees counselling and practical help.
Employee Wellbeing
E
Employee Benefits
Non-wage compensation provided to employees in addition to their salary.
Payroll & Benefits
E
Employee Engagement
The level of emotional commitment an employee has to their organization.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Experience
The sum of all interactions an employee has with their employer throughout their tenure.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Handbook
A document outlining company policies, procedures, and employee expectations.
HR Compliance
E
Employee Lifecycle
The stages an employee goes through from recruitment to departure.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Net Promoter Score
A metric measuring how likely employees are to recommend their employer.
HR Analytics
E
Employee Onboarding
The process of integrating a new hire into the organization.
Onboarding
E
Employee Retention
Strategies and practices used to keep valuable employees within an organization.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Self-Service
A portal allowing employees to manage their own HR data and requests.
HR Systems
E
Employer Branding
The reputation and image of an organization as an employer.
Recruitment
E
Employment Law
The body of law governing the relationship between employers and employees.
HR Compliance
E
ESI
India's contributory health insurance and social security scheme for lower-paid employees.
Payroll & Benefits
E
Exit Interview
A conversation with a departing employee to gather feedback about their experience.
Employee Relations
F
Final Pay
The last payroll payment made to an employee upon leaving an organization.
Payroll
F
Fixed-Term Contract
An employment contract with a specified end date.
HR Compliance
F
Flexible Working
Work arrangements that allow employees to vary their hours, location, or schedule.
HR Strategy
F
FMLA
US Family and Medical Leave Act allowing eligible employees unpaid leave.
Leave Management
F
Form 16
The annual salary TDS certificate Indian employers issue — renumbered as Form 130 from 1 April 2026.
Payroll & Benefits
F
Fringe Benefits
Non-cash perks provided to employees beyond salary, such as a company car or private health cover.
Payroll & Benefits
F
Furlough
A temporary, mandatory unpaid leave of absence due to economic or organizational factors.
Leave Management
G
GDPR
EU regulation governing the collection and processing of personal data.
HR Compliance
G
Gender Pay Gap
The difference in average earnings between men and women in an organization.
Compensation
G
Gratuity
End-of-service benefit paid to employees in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries.
Payroll & Benefits
G
Grievance Procedure
A formal process for employees to raise complaints or concerns about their workplace.
Employee Relations
G
Gross Pay
Total employee earnings before any deductions are applied.
Payroll
H
Headcount
The total number of employees in an organization at any given time.
HR Analytics
H
Headhunting
Proactively identifying and approaching passive candidates for senior roles.
Recruitment
H
Holiday Pay
Pay received by employees during their annual leave.
Leave Management
H
HR Analytics
Using data and metrics to improve HR decision-making and outcomes.
HR Analytics
H
HR Automation
Using software to automate repetitive HR tasks and workflows.
HR Systems
H
HR Business Partner
A senior HR professional who works closely with business leaders to align HR strategy.
HR Strategy
H
HR Compliance
Ensuring all HR practices and policies meet legal and regulatory requirements.
HR Compliance
H
HR KPIs
Key Performance Indicators used to measure HR department effectiveness.
HR Analytics
H
HR Metrics
Quantitative measures used to track the performance of HR activities.
HR Analytics
H
HR Outsourcing
Contracting external providers to deliver HR functions on behalf of a business.
HR Strategy
H
HRIS
Human Resource Information System — software for storing and managing HR data.
HR Systems
H
HRMS
Human Resource Management System — all-in-one software for HR operations.
HR Systems
H
Human Capital
The collective skills, knowledge, and experience of an organization's workforce.
HR Strategy
H
Hybrid Working
A working model combining office-based and remote work.
HR Strategy
I
Incentive Pay
Additional compensation tied to performance targets or company results.
Compensation
I
Independent Contractor
A self-employed individual engaged to provide services under a contract, not employment.
HR Compliance
I
Induction
The formal process of introducing a new employee to the organization, their role and their colleagues.
Onboarding
I
Internal Mobility
The movement of employees across roles, departments, or locations within an organization.
Talent Management
I
Interview Process
The structured series of steps used to evaluate job candidates.
Recruitment
J
Job Description
A formal document outlining the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a role.
Recruitment
J
Job Evaluation
A systematic process for determining the relative worth of jobs within an organization.
Compensation
J
Job Grading
Grouping jobs of similar size and value into grades for pay structure purposes.
Compensation
J
Job Sharing
Two employees sharing the responsibilities of one full-time position.
HR Strategy
K
Key Performance Indicators
Measurable targets used to evaluate employee and organizational performance.
Performance Management
K
Knowledge Management
The process of capturing, organizing, and sharing organizational knowledge.
HR Strategy
L
Labor Law
The body of laws governing employment relationships and worker rights.
HR Compliance
L
Learning and Development
Training and development programmes that build employee skills and knowledge.
Learning & Development
L
Leave Management
The process of tracking and managing employee leave requests and balances.
Leave Management
L
Leave Accrual
The rate at which employees earn leave entitlement over time.
Leave Management
M
Management by Objectives
A goal-setting framework where managers and employees jointly set measurable objectives.
Performance Management
M
Maternity Leave
Statutory paid or unpaid leave granted to employees after giving birth.
Leave Management
M
Mentoring
A developmental relationship where an experienced professional guides a less experienced one.
Learning & Development
M
Merit Pay
A pay increase awarded to employees based on their individual performance.
Compensation
M
Minimum Wage
The lowest legal hourly wage an employer can pay an employee.
Payroll & Compliance
M
Misconduct
Employee behaviour that breaches workplace rules or standards.
Employee Relations
M
Multi-Generational Workforce
A workforce comprising employees from multiple generations with different work styles.
HR Strategy
N
National Insurance
UK social security contributions paid by employees and employers.
Payroll
N
NDA
Non-Disclosure Agreement — a contract protecting confidential business information.
HR Compliance
N
Net Pay
Take-home pay after all deductions have been subtracted from gross pay.
Payroll
N
New Hire Orientation
A structured programme welcoming new employees on their first day or week.
Onboarding
N
Notice Period
The period of warning either party must give before ending an employment contract.
Employment Law
O
Occupational Health
Medical services focused on maintaining employee health and fitness for work.
Employee Wellbeing
O
Offboarding
The process of managing an employee's departure from the organization.
HR Operations
O
OKR
Objectives and Key Results — a goal-setting framework used to align teams.
Performance Management
O
Onboarding Checklist
A structured list of tasks required to fully integrate a new employee.
Onboarding
O
Org Chart
A visual diagram showing an organization's structure and reporting relationships.
HR Operations
O
Organizational Design
Structuring an organization to best achieve its strategy and goals.
HR Strategy
O
Overtime
Hours worked beyond the standard working week, often paid at a premium rate.
Payroll
P
Parental Leave
Leave entitlement for parents following the birth or adoption of a child.
Leave Management
P
Paternity Leave
Paid leave granted to the partner of a new mother following childbirth or adoption.
Leave Management
P
Pay Equity
Equal pay for employees who perform the same or similar work.
Compensation
P
Pay Grade
A defined pay range associated with a job level or band.
Compensation
P
Pay Period
The recurring interval at which employees are paid.
Payroll
P
Pay Review
A periodic assessment of employee salaries to determine adjustments.
Compensation
P
Pay Slip
A document provided to employees detailing their pay and deductions.
Payroll
P
PAYE
Pay As You Earn — the UK system for deducting income tax and National Insurance from pay at source.
Payroll & Benefits
P
Payroll
The system for calculating and distributing employee compensation.
Payroll
P
Pension
A retirement savings scheme funded by employer and/or employee contributions.
Payroll & Benefits
P
People Analytics
The use of data science to understand and improve workforce performance and decisions.
HR Analytics
P
Performance Appraisal
A formal evaluation of an employee's performance against objectives and competencies.
Performance Management
P
Performance Management
The ongoing process of setting goals, monitoring progress, and reviewing employee performance.
Performance Management
P
Performance Review
A formal meeting to discuss and evaluate an employee's performance over a period.
Performance Management
P
Personal Development Plan
An action plan for developing specific skills and achieving career goals.
Learning & Development
P
Probation Period
An initial period for assessing a new employee's suitability for a role.
HR Compliance
P
Profit Sharing
A scheme distributing a portion of company profits to employees.
Compensation
P
Provident Fund (EPF)
India's mandatory retirement savings scheme, funded by matched employee and employer contributions.
Payroll & Benefits
Q
Quiet Quitting
When employees do the minimum required at work without formal resignation.
Employee Engagement
Q
Qualifications Verification
Checking that a candidate's educational and professional credentials are genuine.
Recruitment
R
Recruitment
The process of attracting, selecting, and hiring suitable candidates for open roles.
Recruitment
R
Redundancy
The termination of employment because a role is no longer needed.
HR Compliance
R
Remote Work
Working from a location other than the main office, typically from home.
HR Strategy
R
Resignation
The voluntary termination of employment initiated by the employee.
HR Operations
R
Reskilling
Training employees in entirely new skills to prepare them for different roles.
Learning & Development
R
Retention Bonus
A financial incentive paid to encourage key employees to remain with the organization.
Compensation
R
Return to Work
The process of supporting an employee back to work after a period of absence.
HR Operations
R
Right to Work
A legal check confirming an employee is permitted to work in a specific country.
HR Compliance
S
Salary
A fixed regular payment made to an employee, typically expressed as an annual amount.
Compensation
S
Salary Band
A defined pay range with minimum and maximum values for a job level.
Compensation
S
Severance Pay
Compensation paid to employees upon termination of employment.
Payroll
S
Shift Management
The planning and management of employee work shifts and rotas.
Attendance
S
Sick Leave
Paid or unpaid time off work due to illness or medical reasons.
Leave Management
S
Skills Gap
The difference between the skills employees currently have and those the business needs.
Learning & Development
S
SMART Goals
Goal-setting framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Performance Management
S
Staff Turnover
The rate at which employees leave and are replaced in an organization.
HR Analytics
S
Statutory Leave
Leave entitlements mandated by law that employers must provide to all eligible employees.
Leave Management
S
Succession Planning
Identifying and developing internal candidates to fill key leadership roles.
Talent Management
T
Talent Acquisition
The strategic approach to attracting, identifying, and hiring skilled employees.
Recruitment
T
Talent Management
The strategy for attracting, developing, retaining, and deploying employees.
Talent Management
T
Talent Pipeline
A pool of pre-qualified candidates available for future hiring needs.
Recruitment
T
Team Building
Activities and initiatives designed to improve team cohesion and performance.
HR Strategy
T
Termination
The ending of an employee's employment, whether voluntary or involuntary.
HR Operations
T
Time and Attendance
The tracking of employee working hours, breaks, and absences.
Attendance
T
Time to Hire
The number of days from when a candidate applies to when they accept an offer.
HR Analytics
T
Total Compensation
The complete value of all pay, benefits, and perks provided to an employee.
Compensation
T
Training
Structured programmes that develop specific job-related skills and knowledge.
Learning & Development
T
Turnover Rate
The percentage of employees who leave an organization over a given period.
HR Analytics
U
Unfair Dismissal
A dismissal that does not follow fair procedures or lacks a valid reason.
HR Compliance
U
Unpaid Leave
Time off work that is not paid, taken beyond paid leave entitlements.
Leave Management
U
Upskilling
Developing employees' existing skills to a higher level to meet evolving demands.
Learning & Development
V
Variable Pay
Pay that fluctuates based on performance, results, or other factors.
Compensation
V
Voluntary Benefits
Optional benefits that employees can choose to purchase at reduced group rates.
Payroll & Benefits
V
Voluntary Redundancy
A scheme where employees can choose to leave the organization in exchange for a severance package.
HR Compliance
W
Whistleblowing
Reporting illegal or unethical activity within an organization.
HR Compliance
W
Work-Life Balance
The equilibrium between an employee's professional and personal life.
Employee Wellbeing
W
Workforce Analytics
Using data to analyze and optimize workforce composition and performance.
HR Analytics
W
Workforce Planning
The process of forecasting and planning an organization's future workforce needs.
HR Strategy
W
Working Hours
The number of hours employees are required or permitted to work per week.
HR Compliance
W
Workplace Safety
Policies and practices designed to protect employees from workplace hazards.
HR Compliance
W
WPS (Wage Protection System)
The UAE's electronic salary transfer system that private-sector employers must pay wages through.
Payroll & Benefits
3
360-Degree Feedback
A performance feedback method gathering input from peers, managers, and direct reports.
Performance Management
A
Absence Rate
The percentage of scheduled working days lost to employee absence.
HR Analytics
B
Buddy Programme
A scheme pairing new employees with experienced colleagues for informal support.
Onboarding
C
Career Pathing
Mapping potential progression routes within an organization for employees.
Talent Management
C
Company Culture
The shared values, beliefs, and behaviours that define how an organization operates.
HR Strategy
C
Compressed Working Week
Working full-time hours in fewer than five days per week.
HR Strategy
C
Contingent Workforce
Workers engaged on a non-permanent basis including contractors and freelancers.
HR Strategy
E
Employee Records
Documentation and data maintained for each employee throughout their employment.
HR Systems
E
Employer of Record
A third-party organization that legally employs workers on behalf of another company.
HR Compliance
H
HR Policy
A formal statement of rules governing employee behaviour and HR processes.
HR Compliance
J
Job Posting
An advertisement for a job vacancy shared on job boards or company careers pages.
Recruitment
L
Labor Relations
The relationship between employers, employees, and trade unions.
Employee Relations
M
Micromanagement
Excessive supervision of employees' work with little trust or autonomy.
HR Strategy
O
Onboarding Software
Technology that automates and streamlines the new employee onboarding process.
HR Systems
P
Pay Transparency
Openly sharing information about pay ranges and compensation decisions.
Compensation
R
Reference Check
Contacting a candidate's previous employers to verify their performance and conduct.
Recruitment
S
Salary Benchmarking
Comparing internal salaries against market rates for equivalent roles.
Compensation
S
Social Security
Government-mandated contributions funding welfare benefits for employees.
Payroll
T
Talent Review
A structured process for evaluating and calibrating employee performance and potential.
Talent Management
W
Workforce Management
The set of processes for optimizing employee productivity and labor cost.
HR Systems
W
Worker Classification
Determining whether a worker is an employee, worker, or independent contractor.
HR Compliance
E
Employee Value Proposition
The unique set of benefits an employer offers in exchange for an employee's skills and time.
HR Strategy
G
Gainsharing
A group incentive scheme sharing productivity or cost savings with employees.
Compensation
H
HR Software
Technology platforms that automate and streamline HR functions and processes.
HR Systems
L
Lump Sum Payment
A single one-time payment made to an employee outside the regular payroll cycle.
Payroll
N
Non-Compete Clause
A contractual restriction preventing employees from joining competitors after leaving.
HR Compliance
P
People Operations
A modern, employee-centric approach to HR focused on enabling the workforce.
HR Strategy
P
Position Management
Tracking authorized headcount positions within an organization's structure.
HR Systems
R
Recognition Programme
A structured initiative for acknowledging and rewarding employee contributions.
Employee Engagement
S
Shift Allowance
Additional pay provided to employees who work unsociable or irregular hours.
Payroll
W
Wellbeing Programme
A set of employer initiatives supporting employees' physical and mental health.
Employee Wellbeing
Z
Zero-Hours Contract
An employment contract with no guaranteed minimum hours of work.
HR Compliance
Z
Zero Tolerance Policy
A workplace policy that applies consistent, strict consequences for specific violations.
HR Compliance

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