It's easy to get lost in the lingo of human resources and payroll. Let our extensive HR & Payroll Glossary light the way! Browse by category, alphabetically, or use the search bar to find what you need.
Our glossary is regularly updated to keep pace with the rapidly changing industry. Bookmark it for easy reference — whether you're an HR pro, a business owner, or just trying to decipher your paycheck.
The total income and benefits employees have earned but not yet received.
A standard for measuring the affordability of employer healthcare coverage under the ACA.
A term used in the Affordable Care Act for employers with 50+ full-time or full-time equivalent employees.
A type of benefits arrangement that allows workers to choose from several pre-tax benefits.
An agile career development path allowing vertical, horizontal, and diagonal movement.
An HR metric used to assess employee growth and movement within an organization.
A payroll report submitted by government-funded contractors to prove employees receive fair pay.
A contractual agreement between two employers to share responsibilities for an employee.
The concept that income is taxable, even if the taxpayer hasn't yet physically received it.
The average amount a company spends to attract and hire a new employee.
A financial service that allows employees to access earned wages before their next scheduled payday.
A counseling service offered by employers to help employees with personal or work-related problems.
An employee's timeline at an organization from hiring to exit.
A measurement of employee satisfaction based on their likelihood to recommend their employer.
Organized groups of employees with a common identity, interest, or background.
A unique nine-digit number assigned to businesses by the IRS for use in tax filings or other documents.
A provision in the ACA requiring large employers to provide a minimum level of affordable health coverage.
The amount of an employee’s annual income that exceeds the taxable wage base.
Portions of an employee’s income that aren’t taxable for a variety of reasons.
Structured conversation with departing employees to gain feedback on their experience.
A ranking system representing how likely an employer is to generate insurance claims.
A benefit that provides additional paid leave due to an extended illness or severe injury.
Federal payroll taxes used to fund Social Security and Medicare benefits.
U.S. law that created federal payroll taxes for funding unemployment programs.
A paid day off employees can take any day of the year, at their own discretion
An individual or entity that operates and sells products under a parent company's name.
A business that grants others the rights to sell products or services in its name.
A business that grants others the rights to sell products or services in its name.
Supplementary compensation that employees receive on top of their normal wages.
A labor metric representing the total hours of all part-time staff in relation to a full-time employee's hours.
A comprehensive HR strategy focused on managing and developing employees as key assets.
A digital platform that automates various HR functions, including payroll, benefits, and training.
An integrated suite of software applications that automate and manage talent management functions.
A process in which employees are paid outside the normal payroll schedule.
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. The formal name of what's commonly known as Social Security.
The structured process of integrating new hires into an organization's systems, roles, and culture.
An annual period during which employees can make updates to their health insurance and benefits enrollments.
A situation wherein employees receive the same pay despite having different levels of experience, skills, or qualifications.
The concept that employees doing the same work should receive the same pay, regardless of demographics.
A tool to track and record employee and contractor payment data.
A daily allowance paid to employees to cover the cost of travel-related expenses for work.
A fraud detection tool that matches employer-issued paychecks against a list of authorized checks.
When an employee comes to work no matter the cost, even when it’s unsuitable.
A standardized rate for wages and benefits that government contractors or foreign laborers must pay workers.
A third-party organization that partners with businesses to streamline HR and payroll tasks.
When managers prioritize employees who work physically near them versus hybrid or remote workers.
An employer-sponsored retirement plan that meets all federal law requirements for deferred taxation.
A life change that allows an employee to enroll in or modify benefits outside open enrollment.
When employees limit their effort to just the responsibilities in their job descriptions instead of trying to exceed expectations.
An arrangement where workers who live and work in different states only pay taxes to the state where they live.
The permanent termination of employees from a company, typically as a cost-saving measure.
Compensation added to an employee's paycheck to make up for a shortfall in a previous period.
Changing an org’s size, structure, and composition to improve efficiency and profitability.
A structured method of answering interview questions about a candidate’s probable behavior.
A state-based payroll tax that funds unemployment efforts for those without a job.
A state-based payroll tax that funds unemployment efforts for those without a job.
Methods for demonstrating a health care plan’s affordability under the Affordable Care Act.
The extra amount added to an employee’s wages for working outside normal business hours.
A government-run program that gives short-term disability benefits to employees.
A one-on-one conversation aimed at exploring the reasons why an employee chooses to remain with an organization instead of seeking a new job somewhere else.
Additional income or compensation employees receive in addition to their normal wages.
A set of principles an organization adopts to guide its approach to talent management and recruiting.
The average time it takes to fill an open position from the date it was posted.
The period between a successful candidate applying for a job and a formal acceptance.
The maximum amount of taxable income on which an employee must pay taxes in a given year.
When an employee’s gross pay is deducted and sent to a creditor to pay off that employee’s debt.
A period of seven consecutive 24-hour periods that define the hours an employee is expected to work.