HR Glossary

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)Active Candidate Background Check Background Verification (India)DBS Check (UK)Right to Work Check (UK)Police Clearance Certificate (Singapore)Good Conduct Certificate (UAE)Criminal Record Check (Canada)Working with Children Check (Australia)Führungszeugnis (Germany)Behavioral Interview Boolean Search Campus Recruitment Candidate Experience Candidate Persona Candidate Pipeline Career Fair Competency-Based Interview Contingency Recruiting Cost Per Hire Cover Letter Cultural Fit Culture Add Direct Sourcing Employee Referral Program Employee Value Proposition (EVP)Employer Branding Executive Search External Recruitment Gig Worker Headhunting Hiring Manager Hiring Freeze Internal Mobility Internal Recruitment Job Analysis Job Board Job Description Job Posting Job Requisition Job Specification Lateral Hiring Niche Job Board Offer Letter Passive Candidate Pre-Employment Testing Psychometric Testing Quality of Hire Recruitment Funnel Recruitment Marketing Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)Requisition Resume Screening Retained Search Shortlisting Situational Interview Sourcing Structured Interview Talent Acquisition Talent Mapping Talent Pipeline Talent Pool Time to Fill Time to Hire Unstructured Interview Video Interview Walk-In Interview Panel Interview Assessment Centre Blind Recruitment Diversity Hiring Skills-Based Hiring Employer of Record Hiring (Global)Talent Rediscovery Realistic Job Preview (RJP)Candidate Relationship Management (CRM)Programmatic Job Advertising Social Recruiting Mobile Recruiting Career Site Talent Community Job Offer Acceptance Rate Recruitment Analytics Source of Hire Yield Ratio

Onboarding & Offboarding

Onboarding Pre-boarding Orientation Induction Program Buddy System 90-Day Plan 30-60-90 Day Plan New Hire Checklist Probation Period Probation Period (India)Probation Period (UK)Probation Period (UAE)Probation Period (Singapore)Ramp-Up Period Offboarding Exit Interview Exit Survey Knowledge Transfer Separation Agreement Termination Letter Notice Period Notice Period - 90 Days (India)Notice Period - 1 to 3 Months (UAE)Notice Period - Statutory Minimum (UK)Notice Period (Singapore)Notice Period (Germany)Full and Final Settlement Full and Final Settlement (India)End of Service Gratuity Settlement (UAE)Return of Company Property Alumni Network Boomerang Employee Gardening Leave (UK)Garden Leave Digital Onboarding Onboarding Automation Clearance Process No Objection Certificate (NOC) (India / UAE)Experience Letter (India)Relieving Letter (India)Service Certificate (Singapore)Certificate of Employment (Global)Arbeitszeugnis - Employment Reference (Germany)Record of Employment (ROE) (Canada)

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary Gross Pay Net Pay Cost to Company (CTC) (India)Take-Home Pay Variable Pay Incentive Pay Commission Bonus Signing Bonus Retention Bonus Spot Bonus Performance Bonus Annual Bonus 13th Month Pay (Global)Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) (Singapore)Profit Sharing Gainsharing Stock Options Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)Restricted Stock Units (RSU)Vesting Schedule Equity Compensation Phantom Stock Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR)Total Compensation Total Rewards Compensation Philosophy Compensation Structure Pay Band Pay Grade Pay Scale Salary Benchmarking Market Rate Compa-Ratio Pay Equity Gender Pay Gap Gender Pay Gap Reporting (UK)Pay Transparency Pay Transparency Directive (EU)Minimum Wage National Minimum Wage (UK)National Living Wage (UK)Federal Minimum Wage (US)State Minimum Wage (US)Minimum Wages Act (India)Living Wage Overtime Pay Shift Differential Hazard Pay Severance Pay Redundancy Pay (UK)Deferred Compensation Golden Parachute Golden Handcuffs Clawback Clause Health Insurance Group Medical Insurance (India)NHS (UK)Private Medical Insurance (UK)Medicare (US)Medicare (Australia)MediShield Life (Singapore)DAMAN Health Insurance (UAE)Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Life Insurance Disability Insurance Income Protection Insurance (UK / Australia)401(k) (US)Roth 401(k) (US)403(b) (US)IRA - Individual Retirement Account (US)Pension Plan Workplace Pension (UK)Auto-Enrolment Pension (UK)Superannuation (Australia)Central Provident Fund (CPF) (Singapore)Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) (India)Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) (India)RRSP - Registered Retirement Savings Plan (Canada)TFSA - Tax-Free Savings Account (Canada)Betriebliche Altersvorsorge - Company Pension (Germany)End of Service Gratuity (UAE)DEWS - DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (UAE)Gratuity (India)Gratuity (UAE)National Insurance (UK)Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Flexible Benefits (Cafeteria Plan)Salary Sacrifice (UK / Australia)Novated Lease (Australia)Fringe Benefits Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) (Australia)Perquisites (Perks)Tuition Reimbursement Relocation Assistance Stipend Allowance House Rent Allowance (HRA) (India)Dearness Allowance (DA) (India)Travel Allowance Housing Allowance (UAE)Transport Allowance (UAE)Education Allowance (UAE)Meal Vouchers Wellness Benefits Gym Membership Childcare Benefits Childcare Vouchers (UK)Tax-Free Childcare (UK)Commuter Benefits Cycle to Work Scheme (UK)Pet Insurance Employee Discount Program Retention Package Compensation Review Cycle Off-Cycle Adjustment Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Payroll & Tax

Payroll Payroll Cycle Payroll Processing Pay Stub (Payslip)Direct Deposit Payroll Deductions Withholding Tax Federal Tax (US)State Tax (US)FICA (US)Social Security Tax (US)Medicare Tax (US)W-2 Form (US)W-4 Form (US)1099 Form (US)I-9 Form (US)Form 16 (India)Form 12BB (India)TDS - Tax Deducted at Source (India)Professional Tax (India)ESI - Employee State Insurance (India)EPF Contribution (India)LWF - Labour Welfare Fund (India)PAYE - Pay As You Earn (UK)National Insurance Contributions (NIC) (UK)P45 (UK)P60 (UK)P11D (UK)Student Loan Deduction (UK)Real Time Information (RTI) (UK)CPF Contribution (Singapore)Skills Development Levy (SDL) (Singapore)Foreign Worker Levy (Singapore)IR8A Form (Singapore)SHG Fund (Singapore)WPS - Wage Protection System (UAE)GOSI - General Organization for Social Insurance (Saudi Arabia)GPSSA - General Pension and Social Security Authority (UAE)Lohnsteuer - Wage Tax (Germany)Sozialversicherung - Social Insurance (Germany)Solidarity Surcharge (Germany)Church Tax (Germany)Payroll Tax (Australia)PAYG - Pay As You Go (Australia)Superannuation Guarantee (Australia)Single Touch Payroll (STP) (Australia)CPP - Canada Pension Plan (Canada)EI - Employment Insurance (Canada)T4 Slip (Canada)ROE - Record of Employment (Canada)Garnishment Back Pay Arrears Payroll Compliance Payroll Reconciliation Year-End Processing Global Payroll Multi-Country Payroll Shadow Payroll Payroll Outsourcing Payroll Software

Performance Management

Performance Management Performance Appraisal Performance Review Annual Review Mid-Year Review Quarterly Review Continuous Feedback 360-Degree Feedback Self-Assessment Peer Review Manager Review Upward Feedback Key Performance Indicator (KPI)Objectives and Key Results (OKR)SMART Goals Goal Setting Goal Cascading Goal Alignment Balanced Scorecard Bell Curve (Forced Distribution)Forced Ranking Calibration Calibration Session Competency Framework Competency Mapping Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)Performance Rating Performance Gap Nine-Box Grid (9-Box)High Performer Underperformer Solid Performer Merit Increase Performance-Based Pay Management by Objectives (MBO)Critical Incident Method Graphic Rating Scale Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS)Check-In One-on-One Meeting Real-Time Feedback Crowdsourced Feedback Performance Conversation Development Conversation Continuous Performance Management Agile Performance Management Employee Scorecard

Learning & Development

Learning and Development (L&D)Training Needs Analysis (TNA)Learning Management System (LMS)Learning Experience Platform (LXP)eLearning Microlearning Blended Learning On-the-Job Training (OJT)Classroom Training Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT)Instructor-Led Training (ILT)Self-Paced Learning Gamification Simulation Training Cross-Training Job Rotation Job Shadowing Mentoring Coaching Executive Coaching Leadership Development Program Management Training Soft Skills Training Technical Training Compliance Training Upskilling Reskilling Skills Gap Analysis Certification Continuing Education Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (UK)Professional Development Training ROI Kirkpatrick Model ADDIE Model 70-20-10 Learning Model Succession Planning Individual Development Plan (IDP)Career Pathing Career Ladder Career Lattice Competency Development Action Learning Peer Learning Social Learning Knowledge Management Talent Development Apprenticeship (UK)Apprenticeship Levy (UK)SkillsFuture (Singapore)SkillsFuture Credit (Singapore)National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (India)Dual Vocational Training (Germany)Ausbildung (Germany)TradeUp / Skills Training (Australia)Registered Training Organisation (RTO) (Australia)National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) (India)Adaptive Learning Cohort-Based Learning Learning Pathway Digital Credential Digital Badge Nano-Degree Skills Passport

Employee Engagement & Culture

Employee Engagement Employee Experience (EX)Employee Satisfaction Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)Pulse Survey Engagement Survey Culture Survey Organizational Culture Company Values Mission Statement Vision Statement Employee Recognition Rewards and Recognition (R&R)Peer-to-Peer Recognition Employee of the Month Service Awards Long Service Award Employee Morale Employee Wellbeing Work-Life Balance Work-Life Integration Employee Advocacy Team Building Town Hall Meeting Skip-Level Meeting Open Door Policy Suggestion Box Employee Resource Group (ERG)Affinity Group Psychological Safety Belonging Discretionary Effort Absenteeism Presenteeism Quiet Quitting Employee Burnout Moonlighting Side Hustle Policy Employee Listening Strategy Sentiment Analysis (HR)Internal Communication Employee Newsletter Intranet Culture Champion Values-Based Leadership Employer of Choice Great Place to Work Best Employer Award

Employee Relations & Labor Law

Employee Relations Labor Relations Collective Bargaining Trade Union Labor Union Works Council Works Council (Germany)Betriebsrat (Germany)Joint Consultative Committee (UK)Grievance Grievance Procedure Disciplinary Action Progressive Discipline Verbal Warning Written Warning Suspension Termination for Cause Wrongful Termination Wrongful Dismissal (UK / Canada)Unfair Dismissal (UK / Australia)At-Will Employment (US)Constructive Dismissal Constructive Unfair Dismissal (UK)Retrenchment Retrenchment Benefits (Singapore)Layoff Furlough Redundancy Redundancy Consultation (UK)Reduction in Force (RIF)Arbitration Mediation ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (UK)Employment Tribunal (UK)Fair Work Commission (Australia)TADM - Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (Singapore)MOHRE Dispute Resolution (UAE)Labour Court (India)NLRB - National Labor Relations Board (US)Conflict Resolution Workplace Conflict Workplace Investigation Non-Compete Agreement Non-Compete Clause (India)Restrictive Covenant (UK)Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)Non-Solicitation Agreement Employment Contract Zero-Hours Contract (UK)Fixed-Term Contract Permanent Contract Limited Contract (UAE)Unlimited Contract (UAE)Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)Enterprise Agreement (Australia)Modern Award (Australia)Industrial Dispute Strike Lockout Unfair Labor Practice Right to Work (US)Whistleblower Whistleblower Protection Whistleblowing (UK)Protected Disclosure (UK)Retaliation TUPE - Transfer of Undertakings (UK)Betriebsuebergang - Business Transfer (Germany)

Compliance & Legal

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)Affirmative Action Title VII (US)Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) (US)Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (US)Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (US)Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) (US)WARN Act (US)COBRA (US)HIPAA (US)ERISA (US)Pregnancy Discrimination Act (US)GINA - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (US)ACA - Affordable Care Act (US)EEOC (US)EEO-1 Report (US)AAP - Affirmative Action Plan (US)USERRA (US)E-Verify (US)Equality Act 2010 (UK)Employment Rights Act 1996 (UK)Health and Safety at Work Act (UK)Working Time Regulations (UK)Modern Slavery Act (UK)IR35 - Off-Payroll Working Rules (UK)Right to Work Check (UK)Shops and Establishments Act (India)Industrial Disputes Act (India)Factories Act (India)Payment of Wages Act (India)Payment of Bonus Act (India)Payment of Gratuity Act (India)Maternity Benefit Act (India)POSH Act (India)Contract Labour Act (India)Equal Remuneration Act (India)The Code on Wages, 2019 (India)The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (India)The Social Security Code, 2020 (India)The Occupational Safety Code, 2020 (India)Standing Orders (India)Apprentices Act (India)Employment Act (Singapore)Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (Singapore)Workplace Safety and Health Act (Singapore)Retirement and Re-employment Act (Singapore)Tripartite Guidelines (Singapore)UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021)MOHRE Regulations (UAE)DIFC Employment Law (UAE)ADGM Employment Regulations (UAE)Free Zone Employment Law (UAE)Kafala System (Middle East)Saudi Labour Law (Saudi Arabia)Nitaqat / Saudization (Saudi Arabia)Emiratization (UAE)Omanization (Oman)Qatarization (Qatar)Bahrainization (Bahrain)Fair Work Act (Australia)National Employment Standards (NES) (Australia)Work Health and Safety Act (Australia)Anti-Discrimination Laws (Australia)Canada Labour Code (Canada)Employment Standards Act (Canada)Canadian Human Rights Act (Canada)Pay Equity Act (Canada)Occupational Health and Safety Act (Canada)Kuendigungsschutzgesetz - Dismissal Protection Act (Germany)Arbeitszeitgesetz - Working Hours Act (Germany)Mutterschutzgesetz - Maternity Protection Act (Germany)Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz - General Equal Treatment Act (Germany)GDPR (EU)PDPA - Personal Data Protection Act (Singapore)DPDP Act - Digital Personal Data Protection Act (India)PIPL - Personal Information Protection Law (China)Privacy Act (Australia)PIPEDA - Personal Information Protection (Canada)Employment Law Labor Law HR Compliance HR Audit Statutory Compliance Regulatory Compliance Exempt Employee (US)Non-Exempt Employee (US)Worker vs Employee (UK)Independent Contractor Misclassification Sham Contracting (Australia)Bogus Self-Employment (EU)Work Authorization Data Privacy (HR)Employee Privacy Subject Access Request (UK / EU)Right to be Forgotten (EU)

Workplace Safety & Health

Workplace Safety Occupational Health Ergonomics Workplace Hazard Safety Training Incident Report Workers' Compensation Workers' Compensation Insurance (US)WorkCover (Australia)RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (UK)WICA - Work Injury Compensation Act (Singapore)Occupational Injury Workplace Violence Harassment Sexual Harassment Hostile Work Environment Workplace Bullying Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) (India)Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) (India)Mental Health at Work Stress Management Employee Wellness Program Drug-Free Workplace Drug Testing Return-to-Work Program Fit-for-Duty Fit Note (UK)Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Safety Data Sheet (SDS)Emergency Action Plan Fire Safety Risk Assessment Health and Safety Officer Safety Committee Psychosocial Hazard Lone Worker Safety Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Regulations (UK)bizSAFE (Singapore)SafeWork Australia HSE - Health and Safety Executive (UK)

Leave Management

Paid Time Off (PTO)Annual Leave Annual Leave - 20 Days Minimum (UK)Annual Leave - 30 Days (UAE)Annual Leave - Statutory (India)Annual Leave (Singapore)Annual Leave - 20 Days Minimum (Germany)Sick Leave Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) (UK)Sick Leave (Singapore)Sick Leave (UAE)Casual Leave (India)Earned Leave (India)Privilege Leave (India)Compensatory Off (Comp Off)Bereavement Leave Compassionate Leave Maternity Leave Maternity Leave - 26 Weeks (India)Maternity Leave (UK)Maternity Leave - 16 Weeks (Singapore)Maternity Leave - 45/60 Days (UAE)Mutterschutz - Maternity Protection (Germany)Maternity Leave (Canada)Maternity Leave (Australia)Paternity Leave Paternity Leave (India)Paternity Leave - 2 Weeks (UK)Paternity Leave - 2 Weeks (Singapore)Paternity Leave - 5 Days (UAE)Parental Leave Shared Parental Leave (UK)Elternzeit - Parental Leave (Germany)Parental Leave Pay (Australia)Parental Leave (Canada)Adoption Leave Sabbatical Leave of Absence (LOA)Unpaid Leave Family Leave Medical Leave Jury Duty Leave Military Leave Voting Leave Hajj Leave (UAE / Middle East)Iddah Leave (UAE / Middle East)National Service Leave (Singapore)Childcare Leave (Singapore)Leave Encashment Leave Encashment (India)Leave Accrual Leave Carryover Leave Policy Floating Holiday Public Holiday Bank Holiday (UK)Gazetted Holiday (India)Restricted Holiday (India)Optional Holiday Unlimited PTO Half Day Leave Short Leave FMLA Leave (US)Long Service Leave (Australia)Carer's Leave (UK / Australia)Neonatal Care Leave (UK)Bildungsurlaub - Educational Leave (Germany)Time Off In Lieu (TOIL)

HR Technology & Analytics

HRIS (Human Resource Information System)HRMS (Human Resource Management System)HCM (Human Capital Management)People Analytics HR Analytics Workforce Analytics Predictive Analytics (HR)Prescriptive Analytics (HR)Descriptive Analytics (HR)Diagnostic Analytics (HR)HR Dashboard HR Metrics HR KPIs Attrition Rate Turnover Rate Voluntary Turnover Involuntary Turnover Retention Rate Absenteeism Rate Revenue Per Employee HR-to-Employee Ratio Employee Lifetime Value Workforce Planning Headcount Planning FTE (Full-Time Equivalent)HR Automation Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in HR AI in HR Chatbot (HR)Employee Self-Service (ESS)Manager Self-Service (MSS)HR Shared Services HR Service Delivery HR Ticketing System Digital HR HR Transformation HR Tech Stack HR Data Lake HR Data Governance People Data Platform Employee Database HR Workflow Automation Employee Journey Mapping HR API Integration Cloud HR

Global HR & International

Global HR International HR Expatriate (Expat)Repatriate Inpatriate Global Mobility Immigration Compliance Work Visa Work Permit H-1B Visa (US)L-1 Visa (US)O-1 Visa (US)Green Card Sponsorship (US)Tier 2 / Skilled Worker Visa (UK)Global Business Visa (UK)Employment Pass (EP) (Singapore)S Pass (Singapore)Work Permit (Singapore)Dependant's Pass (Singapore)ONE Pass (Singapore)Employment Visa (India)Business Visa (India)Golden Visa (UAE)Employment Visa (UAE)Labour Card (UAE)Emirates ID (UAE)Blue Card (EU / Germany)TSS Visa - Temporary Skill Shortage (Australia)Subclass 482 Visa (Australia)LMIA - Labour Market Impact Assessment (Canada)Express Entry (Canada)IEC - International Experience Canada Employer of Record (EOR)Professional Employer Organization (PEO)Co-Employment Global Payroll Cross-Cultural Training Cultural Intelligence (CQ)Localization Country-Specific Labor Laws International Assignment Short-Term Assignment Long-Term Assignment Commuter Assignment Hardship Allowance Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)Tax Equalization Permanent Establishment Risk Remote Hiring (Cross-Border)Distributed Team Totalization Agreement Social Security Treaty Transfer Pricing (HR)Global Benefits Strategy Multi-Country Compliance

AI & Future of HR

AI Recruiting AI Video Interview AI Phone Screening AI Resume Screening AI Coding Interview English Proficiency Test (AI-Powered)Automated Hiring Conversational AI (HR)Natural Language Processing in HR Machine Learning in Talent Acquisition Algorithmic Bias in Hiring AI Ethics in HR Generative AI in HR Large Language Models (LLMs) in HR AI-Powered Onboarding AI Performance Management Skills-Based Organization Skills Taxonomy Skills Ontology Skills Intelligence Skills Graph Internal Talent Marketplace People Science Organizational Network Analysis (ONA)Predictive Attrition Digital Employee Experience Employee Listening Platform Continuous Listening Talent Intelligence Platform Augmented Analytics (HR)Ethical AI Framework Explainable AI (XAI) in HR Responsible AI in HR AI Governance (HR)Automated Reference Checking AI-Powered Learning Intelligent Document Processing (HR)Voice AI in HR HR Copilot Agentic AI in HR AI Candidate Matching Automated Scheduling (HR)AI-Driven Compensation Analysis Workforce Intelligence Future of Work Human-AI Collaboration AI Augmented Recruiter Digital Workforce Hyperautomation (HR)Total Workforce Intelligence