HR Glossary

This HR Glossary aims to help you in understanding the meanings or definitions of words usually used in relation to Human Resource Management.

The words stated herein this HR Glossary are in addition to the terminologies stated under "Strategic Human Resource Definition."

No claim is made on the correctness of the definition.

If you have any doubt as to the meaning of certain terms, verify from trusted sources, either from books or websites or both.

Absenteeism
Failure of an employee to report for duty. He or she may face disciplinary action for not being present at the workplace at scheduled times.

Ageing Population
The number of older employees are more than younger ones.

Applicant Tracking
Action taken by organizations to monitor the process of recruitment from the time the application letter is received until the recruitment file is closed.

It lists out all important particulars of the applicant's profile.

Apprentice
A beginner or a novice at work. Sometimes a beginner undergoes and internship.

In certain cases, a novice is someone who is undergoing skill training at a certain trade such as a mechanic or technician.

Arbitration
The situation where a third party makes a binding decision in a dispute between two parties. An instance of this is when an industrial tribunal makes decision in a dispute between employees and their employer.

Audi alteram partem
Latin maxim that means "hear the other side."

In simple language, this means giving adequate opportunity to a person to respond to any allegation made against him or her.

This is an equitable principle. This means being impartial in order to be fair and just.

Automatic progression
This refers to the giving of regular salary increments that are not tied to performance.

Base Salary
Standard salary paid. Sometimes called "basic salary", it is the basis in the calculation of allowances and benefits.

Benchmarking
The act of identifying best practices that make competitors' products better in quality.

The products are either goods or services.

Benchmarking Human Resources
The act of identifying other organizations' human resource "best practices" that contribute towards obtaining, producing and maintaining better-quality employees.

These practices are the ones that contribute positively to the success of organizations.

Benefits
These are rewards or compensation paid in-kind (that is, non-cash) such as life insurance and annual leave.

Benefits are given as a method of motivating employees.

Benefits Administration
Management of financial rewards given in kind for the purpose of achieving a certain objective such as employee motivation.

Bonus
A reward, usually financial in nature, given after a target is achieved. Performance bonus is an example.

Contractual bonus is not tied to any target.

Bottom line
The final financial result such as profit after tax.

Career
Career includes all the jobs a person had held during his or her working life.

Career Development and Planning
This is an act of a person to realize his or her career goals.

This also refers to an employer's plan to develop the potentials of employees as a form of strategy to motivate and retain employees.

Organization may do this under its succession plan.

CEO (Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is the top executive in an organization, ultimately responsible for its success.

Alternative titles include Managing Director and Executive Chairman.

Changing Role of Human Resources
This refer to the new role that human resources - that is, workers - play in helping organizations to achieve their overall goals.

They are treated as assets, not liabilities. Some organizations had accepted that human resource is their most important asset.

Closed Shop
The situation where an employer will not hire or cannot engage a person who is not a member of a certain union.

Coaching
A management development approach where the manager helps an employee to find solutions to his or her work-related problems and implement them.

Collective Bargaining Unit
This is the section in an organization assigned with the important task of negotiating, concluding collective agreements with unions, and to effectively manage such agreements.

Compensation
The pay given to employees for work done.

Sometimes benefits are given in addition to payment of salaries.

Competency-Based Human Resources
This is the method of managing the skills and knowledge of employees for the purpose of performing the job to the required standard.

This involves training activities intended to improve the knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviours of an individual.

It is related to knowledge management. This type of organizational culture encourages learning among employees. And employees must continue to learn for as long as they are working.

Some writers refer to it as "competency-based training". This is so because the training given is intended to enhance employees' competencies or to provide them with new competencies in order to perform the job better.

Collective Bargaining
Process in which management representatives and union representatives meet to negotiate an employment agreement.

Common law
Called "case law", this is the type of law developed by the court system. It is binding like enacted laws.

Compensation
This is what employees get in return for work performed. It can comprise of cash and non-cash compensation.

Competitive Advantage
Something that distinguish organizations from others in superior performance. These include competent people.

Consultancy
Services provided by someone who is an expert in a certain field to help organizations to formulate improvement plans.

Core Competencies
The skills and knowledge that every employee within a certain group must possess such as problemssolving skills by managers.

You will note that some of terms in this HR glossary page are defined while giving an example. This is to assist in understanding the words better.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "D" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "E" click HERE.

Words can change in meaning as time passes. The definition of words in this HR Glossary will also change to reflect this.

HR glossary terms starting with the alphabet "F"

Federal Employment Laws
These are the laws governing employment enacted by a federal legislature.

Federal Labor Laws
Federal-enacted regulations that govern workplace conditions and usually impose minimum terms and conditions of employment.

These regulate employer-employee relations.

Focus Groups
Groups of employees brought together to discuss or provide data on topics concerning HR.

Functional Competency
The skills, knowledge and experience required to perform a specific job.


The definitions given in this HR glossary is intended to give you some idea how others define such words.

Human resources glossary terms starting with the alphabet "G"

Goal
This has the same meaning as target or objective or aim. It is something desired by an individualor an organization such as high productivity.

Grievance
A dispute between parties such as an employer and a union.

The list of terminologies in this HR Glossary is not exhaustive.

Refer to human resources glossaries found elsewhere for terminologies not found here.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "H" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "I" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "J" click HERE.


HR glossary terms starting with the alphabet "K"

Know-how
Knowledge and skills of a person.

Knowledge Management
This is a systematic way in the provision, enhancement and utilization of the knowledge of employees or knowledge that resides in the entire workforce.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "L" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "M" click HERE.

HR glossary terms starting with the alphabet "N"

Nemo iudex in causa sua
This is a Latin maxim that means that there is no person who should be a judge in his or her own cause.

For example, a manager who has made a complaint against an employee cannot take part in whatever capacity in deciding the matter.

The least appearance of bias must be avoided.

Notice
The time period given when an employee goes for voluntary separation.

Novice
Someone who is not yet skilled in a certain trade. Some use the word "apprentice, beginner, or inexperienced".

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "O" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "P" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "R" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "S" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "T" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "U" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "V" click HERE.

For human resources terms starting with the alphabet "W" click HERE.

This human resources glossary is subject to amendment and or additions from time to time.

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