HR Glossary | HR Terminologies

Q: How can the HR terminologies benefit beginners?

The HR glossary, designed for newcomers, simplifies intricate HR jargons, aiding comprehension of policies and discussions.

Q: Is the HR jargons collection industry-specific?

The HR glossary covers a wide range of industries, adapting definitions to match HR needs across sectors.

Q: Can I suggest new terms for the HR glossary?

Many glossaries, including HR terminologies, welcome suggestions, ensuring a comprehensive language repository.

Q: Why should professionals refer to the HR terminologies?

Professionals benefit from the HR glossary by clarifying intricate HR jargons, promoting precise communication.

Q: Is the HR glossary available both online and offline?

Many HR terminologies are accessible online, but some can be downloaded or printed for offline convenience.

Q: How often are HR jargons updated in the glossary?

The HR glossary maintains updates to reflect evolving practices, incorporating new HR terminologies for accuracy.

Q: Who can benefit from the HR terminologies aside from professionals?

The HR glossary caters to employees, managers, and business owners, aiding their understanding of HR jargons.

Q: What distinguishes the HR glossary from general dictionaries?

Unlike regular dictionaries, the HR glossary focuses on HR terminologies, offering context-specific explanations.

Q: Are examples provided within the HR glossary for better understanding?

Yes, many definitions in the HR terminologies include practical examples, enhancing comprehension of the jargons.

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HR Glossary

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 for terms we have missed or neglected, please contact us, and we will include them in our next update.

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Attrition Rate

Attrition rate refers to the rate at which employees leave a company over a specific period of time, usually expressed as a percentage of the total workforce. This can include employees who resign voluntarily, retire, or are terminated by the company.

What is Applicant Flow Data?

Applicant flow data refers to demographic information collected during the recruitment process, such as gender, race, and age, to assess the diversity and inclusiveness of the applicant pool and ensure compliance with equal employment opportunity regulations.

Analytical Thinking

Analytical thinking refers to the mental process of separating an object into its component elements in order to understand the parts and their relationships.

What is At-Will Employment?

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at-will employment means “an employer can terminate an employee at any time for any reason, except an illegal one.”

What is Agile Organization?

An organization is referred to as agile if it responds quickly to changes in the environment or in the market. The needs of its customers, which want to be tailored rather than uniform services, are what the agile organization is focused on.

What is Alternate Dispute Resolution?

The term "alternative dispute resolution" refers to a number of informal procedures that, with the aid of a third party, assist disputing parties in resolving their differences without going to court.

Absence Management

Absence management refers to the policies and procedures that organizations implement to monitor and manage employee absences. It encompasses tracking absences, identifying patterns, and addressing issues related to employee absenteeism.

What is Affirmative Action?

A set of policies that aim to promote equal employment opportunities for individuals of an underrepresented group, such as women and minorities.

What is Ageism?

The definition of ageism is stereotyping, discrimination, or prejudice against individuals or groups based on their age.

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created as a law in 1990 which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all sectors of public life.

What is Annuity?

An annuity is a long-term contract with an insurance company that guarantees the employee a steady stream of income at a future date, most frequently after retirement.

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What is Buzz Marketing?

Buzz marketing is a viral marketing strategy that seeks to engage customers directly and naturally as opposed to making a direct sales pitch. Word-of-mouth marketing is the technique buzz campaigns employ the most.

What is Bumping?

Bumping is a practice used by many companies to reserve a talent pool during downsizing, wherein, a senior-level employee, whose position has been selected for elimination, is offered the option of accepting an alternative position of lesser seniority within the organization.

What is Broadbanding?

Broadbanding is a method for the evaluation and construction of a job grading structure that exchanges a large number of narrow salary ranges for a smaller number of broader salary ranges. Broadbanding aids in establishing what is required to pay for a specific position.

What is Buddy System?

A buddy system is a form of employee orientation whereby newly hired employees are assigned to another employee who shows the new employee the ropes, introduces him or her to co-workers, gives personal assistance, and answers questions on an as-needed basis.

What is Business Agility?

Business agility is a company’s ability to adapt to a changing situation while still maintaining its vision.

What is Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)?

Business process outsourcing is a term that refers to a process of hiring other companies to do a set of business activities or a single function related to the company's business. It allows companies to save costs and focus on core activities.

What is Bullying (workplace bullying)?

Workplace bullying is a word used to describe recurrent, physically harmful mistreatment of one or more people (the targets) at work by one or more perpetrators. It is a pattern of ongoing mistreatment at work by others that hurts the victim physically or emotionally. Bullying at work is typically carried out by someone who has authority over the victim.

What is Business Continuity Planning?

The management procedure for developing systems of prevention and recovery is known as business continuity planning. It offers a strategic and operational structure that guarantees the business can endure any interruption of regular business activities or loss of such functions.

What is Basic Salary?

Basic salary, also called base salary, is the amount of money a salaried employee regularly earns before any additions or deductions are applied to their earnings.

What is Boomerang Employee?

A boomerang employee is an employee who leaves a company they work for, but then later returns to work for the company once again.

What is Boolean Search in Recruitment?

Boolean search is a structured search method that enables the user to include words or expressions like AND, OR, and NOT to define, limit, and broaden the search results.

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Campus Recruitment

Campus recruitment, also known as campus hiring or college recruiting, refers to the process of recruiting and hiring students or graduates directly from educational institutions such as colleges and universities.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits refer to the monetary and non-monetary rewards provided by an employer to employees in exchange for their work, including salaries, bonuses, insurance, and other perks.

Contract Employees

A contract employee, also known as a temporary employee or a contingent worker, is an individual who is hired by an organization on a fixed-term basis or for a specific project or assignment. Unlike permanent employees who are typically employed on an ongoing basis, contract employees have a predetermined duration of employment, which could range from a few weeks to several months or even years, depending on the nature of the contract. Contract employees are engaged to fulfill short-term business needs, respond to fluctuations in workload, or address specific project requirements. They may be hired directly by the organization or through staffing agencies, consulting firms, or freelance platforms. Contract employment offers flexibility to both employers and employees, allowing organizations to access specialized skills and expertise for a limited period, while providing workers with opportunities to work on diverse projects and gain experience in various industries. The terms and conditions of contract employment, including the duration of the contract, compensation, responsibilities, and other relevant details, are typically outlined in a written contract or agreement. This contract establishes the legal relationship between the employer and the contract employee and sets clear expectations for both parties. Contract employees may work full-time or part-time, depending on the nature of the contract and the organization's needs. While they are not entitled to the same benefits and job security as permanent employees, contract employees may receive competitive compensation and have the opportunity to negotiate specific terms based on their skills and experience. Overall, contract employees play a crucial role in today's workforce by providing organizations with the flexibility and agility to adapt to changing business demands and by offering workers diverse opportunities to showcase their talents and contribute to various projects.

What is Candidate Experience in Recruitment?

The definition of candidate experience is the impression a job seeker has of an employer based on their interactions with that employer during the whole hiring process. This covers all points of interaction during the hiring process, such as job searching, application review, interviewing, and onboarding.

Candidate Vetting

Candidate vetting is the thorough process of evaluating and assessing job applicants to determine their suitability for a specific role within an organization. It involves scrutinizing qualifications, skills, experiences, and personal attributes to make informed hiring decisions.

Core Competencies

The fundamental skills and qualifications required for an employee to successfully fit in a role. This also relates to the critical strengths of the business that provide differentiation from others in the industry. The core competencies of the business emerge from those of the workforce.

Curriculum Vitae

A curriculum vitae (CV) is a comprehensive summary of a person's educational background, work experience, skills, and achievements, typically used for job applications.

What is Candidate Journey?

The candidate journey is the set of experiences that job seekers and candidates go through during their job hunt.

Co-employment

An arrangement whereby two organizations have some legal responsibility or oversight for the same employee. This may be in the case of a staffing firm or employment services provider subsidizing part of the wages of employees while they perform work for a company.

Churn Rate

Churn rate refers to the rate at which employees leave an organization, highlighting turnover within the workforce. It is a key metric used by recruiters and hirers to assess the stability and retention of talent within an organization, helping them make informed hiring and retention strategies.

What is Candidate Relationship Management?

Candidate relationship management (CRM) is a method for managing and improving relationships with current and potential future job candidates. CRM technology is used to automate communication processes with the candidates, encourage their engagement and improve candidate experience.

What is Conflict Management at Workplace?

Conflict management is the use of techniques to resolve disagreements or control the level of discord. Conflict resolution techniques include facilitating meetings for the conflicting parties to identify the problem, discuss resolutions and create superordinate goals that require cooperation from conflicting parties.

What is Compliance?

Compliance generally refers to the obligation of employees to business policies, and of the business to laws, regulations, and codes of practice.

Corporate Governance

Corporate governance refers to the system of rules, practices, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled. It encompasses the mechanisms through which companies, and their stakeholders, interact.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the ethical and voluntary initiatives taken by businesses and organizations to address their impact on society and the environment. It involves incorporating responsible practices into their operations and decision-making processes, aiming to contribute positively to the well-being of employees, communities, and the broader society.

What is a Cafeteria Plan?

A cafeteria plan is a benefit plan that an employer offers to its employees to choose from a variety of pre-tax benefits.

What is Confidentiality Agreement?

A legally binding document that prevents the employee from discussing commercial-in-confidence or other sensitive proprietary information with anyone else. This may be defined as people external to the firm, but may also include not disclosing information to other employees, (such as in the case of a worker's compensation settlement or disciplinary action).

What is Crowdsourcing?

The use of a large, voluntary community (such as social media) to generate ideas, new products, or other contributions, as opposed to using traditional means.

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What are Daily Work Records?

A daily work record is the log of job tasks employees do over a period of time. The period of time is defined by the company. A daily work record is useful in keeping a track of the employee’s tasks and gives an insight into employees' productivity.

What is Delayering?

Delayering is the process of removing layers of hierarchy between the highest and lowest levels in an organization in order to boost operational efficiency, decrease the wage bill and remove red tape. Delayering typically removes middle managers, providing senior managers with easier reach over the organization as a whole.

What is the concept of Dual labor markets?

The segmentation of the workforce into primary and secondary sectors. The primary sector is the core workforce, most likely to progress and develop themselves and the business. The secondary sector is usually lower skilled, lower paid, and less likely to move up the ranks of the business.

What is Disability Income Insurance?

Disability income insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides income replacement benefits to individuals who become disabled and are unable to work.

What is Disciplinary Action?

Disciplinary action is a formal process that employers use to address and correct employee behavior or performance that does not meet expected standards.

What is Disparate Effect?

A disparate effect is the result of an employment policy or practice that has an adverse impact; this result is often exclusion or discrimination. When a legal review of contested employment practices finds a disparate effect on hiring, advancement, termination, or compensation, the employer may be held liable and face fines or other penalties.

What is the De minimis rule?

De minimum comes from Latin when referring to something of minimum importance. In business, it is linked to any benefit, property, or service provided to an employee that has so little value that accounting for it would be unreasonable or administratively impracticable.

What is Discrimination at Workplaces?

Discrimination in the workplace refers to the unfair treatment or unfavorable actions taken against employees or job applicants based on certain protected characteristics or attributes.

What is Deferred compensation?

Deferred compensation refers to a portion of salary or compensation that is paid to an employee at a later date. It means that part of the compensation is postponed for a certain time. This is usually done in order to defer tax to a future date when the rate is lower.

What is Downsizing?

The process of terminating multiple employees simultaneously, due to their positions being eliminated or organizational restructuring.

What is Data Breach?

A data breach is a cyber attack in which sensitive, confidential, or otherwise protected data has been accessed or disclosed in an unauthorized fashion. Data breaches can occur in any size organization, from small businesses to major corporations. They may involve personal health information, personally identifiable information, trade secrets, or other confidential information.

Deferred Compensation

Deferred compensation is a financial strategy where a portion of an employee's income is paid out at a later date, typically to provide benefits during retirement or other significant life events.

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What is Equity Theory?

Equity theory is a theory of motivation that suggests that employee motivation at work is driven largely by their sense of fairness. Employees create a mental ledger of the inputs and outcomes of their job and then use this ledger to compare the ratio of their inputs and outputs to others.

Employee-Employer Relationship

The employee-employer relationship is a dynamic interaction between an individual hired to perform work and the organization that employs and compensates them for their contributions.

Employee Referrals

Employee referrals is the practice of current employees recommending individuals they know for job positions within their organization.

Employee

A person under a contract to provide work to a business in return for wages or salary. Employees are differentiated from other workers such as contractors in that the business has the legal right to dictate the conditions, hours, and manner of work performed.

What is employee management?

Employee management is the process of overseeing and guiding employees within an organization to achieve its goals. Recruitment and selection are critical aspects of employee management.

What is Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

Employee Assistance Programs help employees deal with the problems that impact their job. It is a counseling and consulting program where employees put forward the problems they are facing.

Enterprise Resource planning (ERP)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), in simple words, is like the "brain" of a business. It's a powerful software system that helps companies manage and organize all their important information and processes in one place.

Employee Experience

Employee experience is the holistic sum of all interactions, feelings, and perceptions that an individual has throughout their journey within an organization

What is E-recruitment?

E-recruitment, also known as online recruitment, refers to the use of web-based technology for the various processes of attracting, assessing, selecting, recruiting, and onboarding job candidates.

What is Employee Handbook?

A written document that provides employees with guidance and information on the employer’s mission, values, policies, procedures, and code of conduct.

Employment Contracts

Employment contracts are legally binding agreements between employers and employees that outline the terms and conditions of employment. They specify job roles, responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and other crucial details, providing clarity and legal protection for both parties in the employment relationship.

Exempt Employee

Understanding the classification of exempt employees is fundamental for recruiters and hirers to ensure compliance with labor laws and effective workforce management. Exempt employees are typically salaried and not entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This classification includes roles such as executives, administrators, professionals, computer employees, and outside sales employees. Accurate classification is crucial to avoid legal and financial repercussions, as misclassification can lead to penalties and back pay for overtime.

What is Employee Database?

An employee database is a digital filing cabinet HR professionals use to store critical employee data, including name, job position, salary, hire date, and other work-related information.

What are Employee Assessments?

Employee assessments are performance appraisals or reviews used to evaluate employees' performance and productivity. These tests assess personality, aptitude, and skills.

Employee Satisfaction Survey

An Employee Satisfaction Survey is a tool used to measure how content and engaged employees are with their job, work environment, and the organization as a whole. It gathers feedback on various aspects such as job satisfaction, management support, and workplace culture, helping employers identify areas for improvement and enhance the overall employee experience.

Employee Engagement Survey

An Employee Engagement Survey is a vital tool for organizations to assess employee engagement, satisfaction, and morale. It includes questions on job satisfaction, management effectiveness, communication, work-life balance, professional development, and company culture.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) in the workplace refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions and effectively navigate and respond to the emotions of others. It involves being aware of and in control of one's emotions, as well as being empathetic and skilled in interpersonal interactions.

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What is Factor Comparison?

Factor comparison is a scientific method designed to rank job roles based on a breakdown of factors rather than the role as a whole. The ultimate goal of factor comparison is to assign the relative parts of each job role a financial value i.e. the amount of compensation offered for that part of the role.

What is future of work?

The future of work describes changes in how work will get done over the next decade, influenced by technological, generational, and social shifts.

What are Floating Holidays?

Floating holidays are paid vacation days that employees can schedule themselves. They are mostly used by employees who celebrate cultural or religious holidays not included in the set of ten federally recognized paid holidays.

What is Facebook Recruiting?

Facebook recruiting is the phenomenon of recruiting through the Facebook platform. You can source, attract, convert and hire potential candidates from the social platform.

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Gig Economy

A gig economy is an economy where organizations rely more on freelancers and independent contractors instead of full-time employees. Temporary positions and flexible jobs are common.

What is Gamification in Recruitment?

Gamification is the integration of games or game-like elements into business processes to boost employee participation and engagement. Gamification applies the same principles which attract people to recreational games such as football, chess, or Minecraft to the workplace.

What is Golden Parachute?

A golden parachute is a contractual agreement between an organization and a high-ranking executive that specifies the benefits the employee will receive in the event of termination. A golden parachute package may include severance pay, retirement benefits, continued enrollment in pension plans, stock options, bonuses and paid health insurance.

What is a Gag Clause?

A gag clause is a contractual stipend that prevents employees from disclosing certain sensitive information about a business, the way it operates, its intellectual and physical assets, and any future innovations.

What is Gross Misconduct?

Gross misconduct refers to an employee's negative behavior or action so serious that it calls for the employee's summary dismissal without the usual contractual obligations of a notice period.

What is Gender Pay Gap?

The term is used to describe the traditionally higher average wages and salaries males earn over females.

Who are Gig Workers?

Gig workers are a group of contingent workers (such as independent contractors, freelancers and contract firm workers) in a temporary employment relationship who provide project-based, on-demand labor. Hiring gig workers allows organizations to adjust headcounts based on business requirements, access niche skills, and quickly fill talent gaps.

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Headhunting

Headhunting is a specialized recruitment strategy used to identify and attract highly skilled professionals who may not be actively seeking new job opportunities. Instead of relying on traditional job postings, headhunters proactively seek out potential candidates, often referred to as "passive candidates," who possess the specific skills and qualifications required for critical positions within an organization. The headhunting process involves extensive research and networking to identify potential candidates who are excelling in their current roles and have the potential to bring significant value to the hiring company. Once identified, headhunters reach out to these candidates directly, often through personalized messages, to present them with career opportunities that align with their expertise and aspirations. Headhunting is commonly used for executive-level positions and in industries where specialized skills and expertise are in high demand. It requires a strategic and targeted approach, as well as the ability to build strong relationships with candidates to entice them to consider new opportunities.

Human Resource Planning

Human resource planning refers to the process of strategically aligning an organization's human resources with its overall business goals and objectives. It involves forecasting future workforce needs, assessing current workforce capabilities, and implementing strategies to bridge the gap between demand and supply of talent within an organization.

Human Resource Consulting

Human resource consulting refers to the professional services provided by external consultants or consulting firms to assist organizations in optimizing their HR practices, processes, and strategies. These consultants bring specialized knowledge, experience, and expertise to support recruiters, hirers, and talent sourcers in addressing HR challenges and achieving their organizational objectives. Human resource consulting encompasses a wide range of services, including HR strategy development, talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, organizational development, and compliance.

HR Connect

HR connect typically refer to the network of relationships and interactions within the field of human resources (HR). It encompasses the connections between HR professionals, departments, organizations, and various stakeholders involved in managing and supporting an organization's workforce.

Human Resource Management

Human resource management is the practice of administering policies and programs that optimize employee performance and advance the employer's business goals. Such programs include employee recruitment, training, compensation, benefits, and professional development.

What is HR Audit?

HR Audit is the process of evaluating the performance of Human Resource Department and its activities undertaken, and the policies followed towards the accomplishment of organizational goals. HR Audit is conducted to identify the lapses, shortcomings, gaps in the implementation of HR functions and suggesting the remedial actions, if any.

What is Human Resource Outsourcing?

A contractual agreement between an employer and an external third-party provider whereby the employer transfers responsibility and management for certain HR, benefit or training-related functions or services to the external provider.

What is Hawthorne Effect?

Hawthorne effect is a term used to describe employees' tendency to work harder and perform better when they are aware that they are being observed. Examples have shown how the application of employee observation through the show of concern and recognition affects their motivation as much as improving their work conditions does.

HR Survey

An HR survey is a systematic and structured method of collecting feedback, opinions, and insights from employees and other stakeholders within an organization. It involves the use of surveys and questionnaires to gather data on various HR-related aspects, such as employee satisfaction, engagement, performance management, organizational culture, and more. HR surveys serve as valuable tools for assessing the needs and concerns of employees, identifying areas for improvement, and making informed decisions to enhance HR practices and strategies. By leveraging the power of data and feedback, HR surveys enable organizations to better understand their workforce, align HR initiatives with organizational goals, and create a positive and productive work environment.

Who is an HR Business Partner?

HR Business Partner are HR professionals who work closely with an organisation’s senior leaders in order to develop an HR strategy that closely supports the overall aims of the organisation. The process of alignment is known as HR business partnering and may involve the HR business partner sitting on the board of directors or working closely with the board of directors and C-suite.

Human Resource Management System

A Human Resource Management System (HRMS), also known as Human Resource Information System (HRIS) or Human Capital Management (HCM) software, is a comprehensive suite of tools, applications, and processes designed to streamline and automate the management of an organization's human resources. It serves as a centralized repository for storing and managing employee data, facilitating efficient HR operations.

HR Outsourcing

HR Outsourcing, or Human Resources Outsourcing, refers to the practice of delegating various HR functions and tasks to external service providers. In this arrangement, organizations partner with specialized HR outsourcing companies to manage specific aspects of their human resources operations. This can include functions such as payroll processing, benefits administration, recruitment, employee training, performance management, and more. The concept of HR outsourcing stems from the idea that certain HR tasks can be handled more efficiently and effectively by dedicated experts, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations and strategic goals. Instead of maintaining an in-house HR department, organizations can leverage the expertise of outsourcing providers to handle day-to-day HR responsibilities. HR outsourcing comes in various forms, ranging from administrative and operational tasks to more strategic functions. It can also involve different levels of outsourcing, from selective outsourcing of specific functions to comprehensive outsourcing of the entire HR department.

HR Software

HR software is a digital tool for organizing, administering, and achieving an organization's entire HR objectives. HR managers and staff may more effectively devote their time and resources to more fruitful, profitable tasks thanks to HR software.

Human Resource

Human Resources is a term used for a company’s department responsible for different activities related to recruiting, hiring and managing employees.

High Income Skills

High-income skills are specialized abilities or expertise that enable individuals to command higher wages compared to the average salary.

Human Resource Development

Human resource development (HRD) refers to the process of enhancing and developing the skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies of individuals within an organization. It involves a systematic approach to improving human capital, maximizing employee potential, and fostering continuous learning and growth.

What is Human Resource Information System?

Human Resource Information System is a software that is used for carrying out HR processes such as data tracking, self-service for employees, analyzing data for better understanding and training for employee improvement, and managing benefits and compensations.

Headhunter

Headhunter, also known as an executive recruiter, refers to a company or an individual that provides services for tracking and recruiting qualified candidates for various positions.

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Internship

An internship is a temporary work opportunity provided by organizations to students or professionals, allowing them to gain practical experience in a specific field or industry.

Insubordination

Insubordination refers to an employee’s intentional refusal to obey an employer’s lawful and reasonable orders. An act of insubordination often results in disciplinary action for the employee, up to and including termination.

Interview Tools

Interview tools are software or platforms that facilitate the process of conducting, recording, and analyzing interviews, often offering features like scheduling, video conferencing, and data management.

Inbound Recruitment

Inbound recruitment is a strategic approach where companies focus on attracting and engaging potential candidates rather than actively seeking them out through traditional recruitment methods.

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What is Lateral hiring?

Lateral hiring, also known as horizontal hiring, is the process of hiring an employee for a role that is at the same level of seniority or rank as their current position, but with different responsibilities, job duties, or within a different department or division of the organization.

Layoff

A layoff is when a company lets employees go and suspends their employment due to financial constraints or restructuring.

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What is Management Training?

It is a training activity that focuses on improving an individual’s skills as a leader and manager. There may be an emphasis on soft skills, such as communication and empathy, which enable better teamwork and more progressive relationships with the people they manage.

Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is an essential benefit for working mothers, providing them the necessary time off from work to give birth, recover physically and emotionally, and bond with their newborns.

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What is Negotiation?

Negotiation refers to a type of bargaining between two or more parties with the aim of overstepping differences and reaching an understanding, often called compromise, to everyone's satisfaction. In companies negotiation is carried out in situations like wages negotiation at the time of recruitment, negotiations with unions regarding their requests, resolving employee conflicts, making downsizing decisions, etc.

Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Neurodiversity in the workplace embraces and values the unique strengths and perspectives of individuals with diverse neurological conditions, fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation.

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Organizational Structure

Organizational structure is a system that outlines how certain activities are directed in order to achieve the goals of an organization. These activities can include rules, roles, and responsibilities. The structure also determines how information flows between the different levels within the company.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the business practice of delegating specific tasks, functions, or processes to external service providers instead of handling them in-house. This strategy allows companies to focus on their core competencies while benefiting from the expertise, efficiency, and cost savings offered by specialized third-party providers. Commonly outsourced functions include IT services, customer support, manufacturing, and human resources. By leveraging outsourcing, businesses can reduce operational costs, improve productivity, and gain access to a global talent pool, making it a valuable approach for achieving strategic business objectives.

Organizational Culture

Organizational culture encompasses the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that define how employees interact and work within a company. It plays a crucial role in shaping the work environment, influencing employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Understanding the different types of organizational culture—such as clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy—helps in aligning business goals with cultural values.

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is a goal-setting framework linking company objectives with measurable results to track progress, aligning goals with daily work.

What is Occupational Stress?

The physiological and physical effects of negative activity in the workplace as a result of many factors including external events, internal events, job demands and colleague behaviour.

What is an Offer Letter?

An offer letter is a document which is given to a candidate after he has been selected for the position. The letter clearly, mentions the salary package, designation, department and other benefits that he will be entitled to, if he joins the company.

Onboarding

Onboarding is the process and activities you give new employees to create a sense of belonging, and knowledge of your organization, and help them get fully started in their new role.

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Participative leadership

Participative leadership, also known as democratic leadership, is a management style that actively involves team members in decision-making processes. This approach values the contributions and ideas of employees, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. By leveraging diverse perspectives and collective intelligence, participative leadership enhances decision-making quality, boosts employee engagement and satisfaction, and drives innovation. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of participative leadership, offering insights and strategies for recruiters and hirers to implement and sustain this leadership style effectively within their organizations.

What is Pre-employment Testing?

Pre-employment testing is a process used by employers to assess job candidates before they are hired. It typically involves various assessments and evaluations, such as aptitude tests, personality tests, and physical exams.

Paternity Leave

Paternity leave is an essential benefit that supports new fathers in taking time off work to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. Understand the legal aspects, including federal and state regulations, and learn how to design effective employer-sponsored paternity leave policies.

Psychometric Testing

Psychometric testing in recruitment involves standardized assessments to measure candidates' cognitive abilities, personality traits, and skills for informed hiring decisions.

Performance Management

Performance management is a strategic and systematic process that helps organizations align their resources, systems, and employees to achieve strategic objectives. It involves a continuous cycle of setting goals, monitoring progress, providing feedback, and evaluating outcomes to ensure employees are contributing effectively to the organization's goals.

What is People Analytics?

People analytics is the use of employee and candidate's data to understand their impact on business goals and assess the effectiveness of hiring and HR initiatives.

Paycheck

A paycheck is a check that an employee is given as payment for services rendered. To know more about, read our article...

What is Payroll?

Payroll refers to the company's list of employees and the total compensation provided to them for a fixed time period which includes fixed salary, bonuses and deductions. Payroll taxes affect the net income of a company.

Paycheck Calculator

A paycheck calculator is designed for individuals to estimate their net pay by accounting for various deductions and withholdings.

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Quiet Quitting

Doing the bare minimum duties required for one's job without dedicating any additional time, energy, or enthusiasm beyond what is absolutely necessary.

What is Queen Bee Syndrome?

Queen Bee Syndrome is defined as a situation where high ranking women in positions of authority treat the women who work below them more critically than their male counterparts.

Quiet Firing

Quiet firing, also known as silent termination or silent firing, refers to a situation where an employee is effectively pushed out or forced to leave their job without any formal termination or explicit communication from the employer. It is a subtle form of employee dismissal where the employer or manager creates circumstances that make the employee feel compelled to resign or leave on their own accord.

What is Quality Management?

A system to make sure that a product or service meets standards of excellence, and that the process by which the product or service is created is efficient and effective as well.

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Recruitment and Selection

Recruitment is the process of attracting a pool of potential candidates for a job opening, while selection involves assessing and choosing the best-fit candidate from that pool.

Reverse Recruitment

Reverse recruitment refers to the process where job seekers evaluate and select potential employers based on various criteria, reversing the traditional employer-driven hiring approach.

Reference Letter

A reference letter is a written document vouching for a person's qualifications and character. Often requested for job applications, academic programs, or volunteer positions, a strong reference letter can significantly boost your candidacy. It should be written by someone familiar with your work, like a former employer, professor, or colleague. The letter should detail your skills, achievements, and work ethic, providing specific examples to showcase your strengths. A well-written reference letter can be a valuable asset in your professional or academic journey.

Remote Hiring

Remote hiring refers to the process of recruiting and hiring employees for positions that allow them to work from a location outside the traditional office space. Instead of requiring employees to be physically present at a specific office, remote hiring enables companies to hire talent from anywhere in the world, as long as they have the necessary skills and qualifications to perform the job effectively.

What is Recruitment Process Outsourcing(RPO)?

Recruitment process outsourcing refers to a form of business process outsourcing where the company outsources the recruiting process to an an external service provider.

Recruitment Analytics

Recruitment analytics refers to the systematic analysis of data related to the hiring process to optimize and improve talent acquisition strategies.

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Situational Leadership

Situational Leadership is a flexible and adaptive leadership model developed by Dr. Paul Hersey and Dr. Ken Blanchard. It emphasizes the need for leaders to adjust their style based on the competence and commitment levels of their team members. By tailoring their approach—ranging from providing clear directives to offering support and encouragement—leaders can effectively guide their employees through different stages of development. This adaptability ensures that team members receive the appropriate level of guidance and motivation, fostering better performance, increased engagement, and higher retention rates. Situational Leadership is particularly valuable in dynamic work environments where the needs of team members can vary widely.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is a systematic process through which an organization defines its strategy or direction and makes decisions on allocating resources to pursue this strategy. It involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions.

What is Soft Skills?

Soft skills are those related to behavioral and interpersonal abilities, such as the ability to effectively communicate, problem-solve, collaborate and organize.

What is Skills Gap?

Skills gap refers to the difference between the skills required for a job and the skills employers actually possesses. Because of skills gap employee might not be able to perform the complete job.

Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave from work refers to a deliberate, planned break granted by an employer to an employee, usually after a specific period of continuous employment. This leave is distinct from regular vacation time as it is typically longer and is intended for more substantial pursuits, such as academic research, creative projects, volunteer work, travel, or further education.

Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy where the leader's primary focus is on serving and supporting the needs of others, empowering them to reach their full potential.

Social Security

Social Security is a federal program providing financial aid to retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors of deceased workers. Established in 1935, it ensures economic security for millions of Americans by offering stable income during retirement, disability, or after a primary wage earner's death.

SaaS Recruitment

SaaS recruitment is the strategic process of identifying, attracting, and onboarding qualified professionals with specialized skills to drive sales and success in the Software as a Service industry.

What is Social Media Recruitment?

Social media recruiting is a recruitment strategy that combines elements of employer branding and recruitment marketing to connect with and attract active and passive candidates on the digital platforms they frequent.

Scope of Work

A scope of work (SOW) is a project's foundational document, outlining deliverables, timelines, costs, and expectations for all involved. Acting like a roadmap, it ensures everyone is aligned on what will be produced (reports, websites, etc.), when it will be completed (with deadlines and milestones), and for how much (budget breakdown). This clear communication reduces misunderstandings, improves project management, enhances client satisfaction, and even clarifies expectations for recruiters by defining project requirements. In essence, a well-defined SOW sets the stage for project success.

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Talent Scouting

Talent scouting is a proactive strategy for finding individuals with exceptional skills and potential that match an organization's needs. It goes beyond traditional recruitment, targeting hidden talent and fostering long-term growth. Talent scouts use their expertise to identify, connect with, and nurture these promising candidates, contributing to the organization's innovation and success.

Talent Pool

A talent pool refers to a collection of prospective candidates who have been identified, evaluated, and categorized based on their skills, qualifications, and potential fit for specific roles within an organization.

Talent Acquisition

Talent acquisition refers to the strategic process of identifying, attracting, and acquiring skilled individuals to fill specific job positions within an organization. It involves activities such as job posting, candidate sourcing, screening and assessment, interviewing, and ultimately selecting and hiring candidates who align with the organization's requirements and culture.

Talent Pipeline

A talent pipeline is a strategic and continuous process of identifying, attracting, developing, and retaining a pool of skilled individuals with the potential to fill key roles within an organization.

What is Time-to-fill?

Time-to-fill is a metric which measures the average number of days it takes to fill a position, from job requisition to job acceptance.

What is Turnover Rate?

Turnover is the rate at which employees move in and out of a company. This metric is measured by the number of separations in a month divided by the average number of employees on payroll, multiplied by 100.

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Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Learn about Unemployment Insurance (UI), eligibility, application process, benefit calculation, and key metrics used to measure unemployment rates.

What is Upskilling?

Upskilling refers to employee training that builds on existing skills. An example would be intermediate and advanced training for a particular skill, such as coding.

What is Upskilling and Reskilling?

While both upskilling and reskilling involves learning new skills, the goal and focus of both are miles apart. Upskilling is enhancing your existing skills whereas reskilling is learning a whole new set of skills.

What is an Underwriter?

An underwriter refers to an individual or an organization who is considered to be a financial risk expert and who evaluates and assumes another party's risk for a commission. Investors refer to them when a business needs assessment if it's a risk worth taking.

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What is Variable Pay?

Variable pay is the portion of sales compensation determined by employee performance. When employees hit their goals, variable pay is provided as a type of bonus, incentive pay, or commission.

Vision Statement

A vision statement is a concise declaration of an organization’s long-term goals and aspirations. It paints a picture of what the organization aims to achieve in the future, often serving as a source of inspiration and guidance for employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

What is Virtual HR?

Virtual HR refers to the process of providing a range of options through the use of various types of technology to employees in order to connect them with HR services. It is managed through self-service platforms where employees can put data directly into them and skip the process of going to a third party for that action. Virtual HR is practiced due to its cost reduction impact, to gain competitive advantage and to share risks with an outsourced organization.

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Work Ethic

Work ethic refers to a set of values, principles, attitudes, and behaviors that guide an individual's approach to their work, interactions with colleagues, and overall professional conduct. It encompasses traits such as dedication, responsibility, integrity, accountability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results. Work ethic reflects an individual's intrinsic motivation to excel in their tasks, meet deadlines, and contribute positively to their organization's goals and success. It goes beyond technical skills, emphasizing qualities that foster a productive and ethical work environment.

Work Environment

A work environment refers to the physical, psychological, and cultural conditions within which employees perform their job tasks. It encompasses the atmosphere, interactions, and overall conditions that shape the way work is conducted and the experiences of those engaged in it. A positive work environment fosters productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being, while a negative or toxic work environment can lead to stress, dissatisfaction, and decreased performance. Elements such as company culture, leadership style, physical workspace, interpersonal relationships, and organizational policies all contribute to shaping the work environment.

Work Culture

Work culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, norms, and behaviors that characterize an organization or workplace. It encompasses the overall environment, practices, and relationships within a company, including how employees interact, communicate, collaborate, and approach their work.

Workplace Conflict Resolution

"Workplace Conflict Resolution" is the process of managing and resolving disagreements that arise among individuals or groups within a work setting. It involves identifying the causes of conflict, addressing issues through effective communication and negotiation, and finding solutions that promote a positive and collaborative work environment. This process helps prevent conflicts from escalating, fosters teamwork, and enhances overall productivity. Effective conflict resolution requires strong communication skills, empathy, and a commitment to finding mutually beneficial solutions. Recruiters and hirers play a key role in identifying candidates who possess these skills and contribute to a harmonious workplace.

What is a Whistleblower?

A whistleblower is a person who exposes illegal or unethical information or activity within a private or public organization. This information can refer to any kind of wrongdoing such as violation of organizational policies, law regulations, organizational or national security, fraud, and corruption.

Work-life Balance

Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium and harmony between one's professional commitments (work) and personal life (family, social activities, hobbies, and personal well-being). It is the ability to effectively manage the demands and responsibilities of both aspects, ensuring that neither overpowers the other, and allowing individuals to achieve satisfaction and fulfillment in both areas.

What is Wage Drift?

Wage drift refers to a difference between the salary negotiated by a company and the one that is actually paid to an employee by the end of the work period, be it monthly or weekly.

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What is Yield Ratio?

Yield ratio refers to one of the key performance indicators (KPI) in human resources that shows what percentage of candidates from a specific source were invited for an interview.

FAQ's

What is the purpose of an HR glossary?

An HR Glossary, also known as HR terminologies or HR Jargons, serves to explain commonly used HR terms and phrases.

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10.

Are examples provided within the HR glossary for better understanding?