HR Glossary.

HR Glossary

Showing 858 of 858 terms

Spot Award

Spot Awards are a form of recognition and incentive given to employees for exceptional performance, typically given on the spot in cash or non-cash form, to motivate and inspire continued high performance.

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Statute of limitations in employment law

Statute of Limitations is a law that sets a time limit within which legal action can be taken for a particular type of crime or civil case, ensuring fairness to the accused, prompt reporting, repose, preservation of evidence, and balancing the rights of both parties.

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Statutory employee

Statutory Employee is an individual who is considered an employee for tax purposes but not for other legal or regulatory purposes, typically used for independent contractors to provide tax benefits, clarify status, simplify tax process, align with labor laws, and reduce costs.

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Stay interview

Stay Interviews are conducted with current employees to understand why they stay with the organization, and what factors contribute to their job satisfaction and engagement, used to retain valuable employees and improve overall employee satisfaction.

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Strategic HRM

Strategic Human Resource Management is the process of aligning the HR function with the strategic objectives of an organization, to improve performance and competitiveness.

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Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning is the process of developing a long-term direction and performance plan for an organization, through goals setting, resource allocation and continual improvement.

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Strategic Staffing

Strategic Staffing is the process of aligning a company’s workforce with its long-term goals and objectives through careful planning, recruitment, and development of employees.

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Strikebreaker: definition, legal framework and HR guide

Strikebreaker is a person hired by employer to replace striking employees during a labor strike, with goal of keeping operations running, breaking solidarity of striking workers, maintaining productivity and avoiding lost revenue.

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Structured Interview

Structured Interview is a type of job interview in which a set of pre-determined questions are asked to all candidates in a consistent manner and to rate the candidate’s responses on a standardized scale, in order to ensure fairness and objectivity.

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Subscription Solutions

Subscription Solutions offer flexible, cost-effective access to a wide range of services and products, but can also lead to dependency and ongoing costs, and limited control over the service.

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Succession Planning

Succession Planning is a process of identifying, developing & implementing strategies to attract, retain & develop potential leaders to fill key positions within an organization.

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Summary Dismissal

Summary Dismissal is the immediate termination of an employee’s contract without notice or pay due to serious misconduct such as gross insubordination or theft. It’s considered a last resort and should be done fairly and legally.

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Summary Plan Description (SPD)

A Summary Plan Description (SPD) is a document that provides a summary of the major features and provisions of an employee benefit plan.

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Summary of Material Modifications (SMM)

Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) is a document that summarizes changes made to employee benefit plans, explains the significance of changes and ensures compliance with regulations.

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Superior-subordinate Communication

Superior-subordinate communication is important for effective guidance, trust building, alignment with company culture, fostering a positive work environment, and employee engagement and satisfaction.

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Supervisor

A supervisor is a management position responsible for overseeing and guiding the work of a team of employees, implementing policies and procedures, and ensuring goals and objectives are met.

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Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB)

Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) duration depends on the employer’s plan; it may be for a specific time or until the employee returns to work.

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Supplier Diversity

Supplier diversity is the practice of actively seeking out and working with diverse suppliers to promote equal opportunities, cost savings, innovation and economic growth.

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Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management coordinates and manages the production and delivery of goods and services.

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Suspension

Suspension is the temporary cessation or removal of an action, privilege, or activity, often used as a disciplinary measure.

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System Changeover

System changeover is the process of transitioning a system from one state or configuration to another to minimize downtime and disruptions while ensuring the new configuration is functional.

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System Discrimination

Systemic discrimination refers to patterns of discrimination built into systems, policies, and practices of an organization or society, often subtle and difficult to identify.

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System of Record

A System of Record (SOR) is a system used to store and manage official, authoritative data for an organization.

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T-shaped skills: definition, examples and HR guide (2026)

T-shaped skills are a combination of deep expertise in a specific field and a broad range of skills in related fields.

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