Introduction to HR Glossary
The HR profession is one that does not remain static, and for any working professional in this career, it is worth their weight in gold to know the technical vocabulary applied within HR. As an HR manager, recruiter, or business owner, being familiar with HR jargon can make communication more efficient, processes simpler, and compliance with labor regulations simpler.
This A-Z HR Glossary is a comprehensive list of HR must-haves, from hiring and payroll to staff motivation and compliance. Here goes with the essential terms every HR professional needs to know.
A – E: Essential HR Terms from Applicant Tracking to Employee Engagement
1. Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
An application solution to track and manage the recruitment process, from advertising a job to applying and CV monitoring.
2. Benefits Package
A package of benefits and perks offered to the workers, which could be medical coverage, sick pay, and pension plans.
3. Remuneration
The total amount of money received by an employee, including salary, allowance, and benefit.
4. Diversity and Inclusion (D&I)
Efforts to create a diversified and inclusive workplace where fair treatment and equal opportunities are given to every employee.
5. Employee Engagement
Degree of employee commitment and dedication to job and organization, typically tied to performance and retention.
F – J: From Flexible Work Arrangements to Job Analysis Explained
6. Flexible Work Arrangements
Policies permitting employees to work away from the traditional office, such as telecommuting, flexible work schedules, and flextime.
7. Grievance Procedure
Official process where employees may voice concern or grievance regarding work.
8. Harassment Policy
Directives for inappropriate work conduct, reporting, and responding to harassment.
9. Interview Process
A formal practice of employing job candidates through diverse interviewing methods, i.e., behavior, panel, or technical interview.
10. Job Analysis
Process of analyzing jobs occupations and activities with a view to forming genuine job descriptions and performance standards.
K – O: Key Concepts Like Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Onboarding
11. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Action applied to calculate the performance of a worker and the company, including sales increment, productivity boost, and growing customer satisfaction.
12. Trends in the labor market
Presented employment, wage rate, and job requirement within an industry or region.
13. Mentoring program
Formal programme under which older workers guide and monitor new staff so that they enhance their career competency.
14. Onboarding
The act of introducing new employees into an organisation and equipping them with what they need to perform well.
P – T: Payroll, Performance Management, and Talent Acquisition Defined
15. Payroll Processing
Administration of the employee salary, withholding tax, benefits, and bonus.
16. Performance Appraisal
Official assessment of the performance of an employee to determine areas of strength, areas for improvement, and career development opportunities.
17. Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
Process to recruit an external agency that is a talent acquisition specialist to undertake recruitment services.
18. Succession Planning
Process of identification and growth of future leaders in an organization to occupy critical posts when they become vacant.
19. Talent Acquisition
Process of recruiting, discovering, and sourcing talented personnel to fulfill an organization's manpower needs.
U – Z: Understanding Upskilling, Workforce Planning, and Zero-Hour Contracts
20. Upskilling
Process of development and training to update employees' current skills and familiarize them with industry trends.
21. Variable Pay
A pay plan in which the employee pay varies according to performance, incentives, or commissions.
22. Workforce Planning
An organizational planning system by which an organization acquires right people, skills, and workforce design to enable future growth.
23. Zero-Hour Contract
A contract of employment on which labourers are taken on an as-and-when basis with no assurance of hours or certain times.
HR Acronyms and Abbreviations: A Quick Guide
HR experts like to abbreviate words through acronyms and abbreviations for easy convenience. The most common HR abbreviations used are as mentioned below:
- ATS – Applicant Tracking System
- D&I – Diversity and Inclusion
- EEO – Equal Employment Opportunity
- FMLA – Family and Medical Leave Act
- HRIS – Human Resource Information System
- KPI – Key Performance Indicator
- L&D – Learning and Development
- RPO – Recruitment Process Outsourcing
- SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
- T&D – Training and Development
Essential Compliance and Legal HR Terms Every Professional Should Know
Critical Compliance and Legal HR Vocabulary All Professionals Should be Familiar with
Compliance in HR is necessary to stay clear of legal issues and maintain fair workplace practices. Below are some of the most important compliance terms:
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): Statute to prevent discrimination in the workplace based on race, gender, age, or disability.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): US statute which offers eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for family or medical purposes.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Federal administrative agency responsible for enforcing work place safety and health regulations.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): A contractual agreement that legally bars the employees from revealing confidential business details.
Whistleblower Protection: Legislation protecting the employees who report unethical or illegal work practices.
New HR Buzzwords: The Newest Trends in Human Resources
With evolving HR come evolving jargon and buzzwords. Some of the emerging HR buzzwords you should acquaint yourself with include the following:
People Analytics: Utilizing data for making better-informed workforce decisions and inspiring employees.
Gig Economy: A labor market where there are temporary and freelance work arrangements instead of full-time jobs.
Quiet Quitting: Workplace phenomenon where workers simply do what they have to do but give no extra.
Hybrid Work Model: A work model that combines remote and in-office work.
AI in HR: Application of artificial intelligence to handle recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement processes.
Final Thoughts
A close friend to HR jargon is essential to HR leaders to achieve people management success, regulatory compliance, and employee engagement. The A-Z HR Glossary is an easily accessible guide that will help you be well-updated and certain in your role as an HR professional.
Since HR is changing, it will be necessary to remain current with emerging trends, changes in the law, and innovative solutions to workforce issues. Bookmark this glossary and come back to it as necessary whenever you need an easy reference list of key HR terminology.
Do you have any other HR terms you’d like us to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
