Absolute ratings
A rating method where the rater assigns a specific value on a fixed scale to the behavior or performance of an individual instead of assigning ratings based on comparisons between other individuals.
Affirmative action
Also : Positive discrimination.
Carried out on behalf of women and disadvantaged groups and members of such groups are placed in dominant positions.
Appraisal
See Performance planning.
Attrition
A term used to describe voluntary and involuntary terminations, deaths, and employee retirements that result in a reduction to the employer's physical workforce.
Autocratic leadership
Leader determines policy of the organization, instructs members what to do/make, subjective in approach, aloof and impersonal.
Balanced Scorecard
A popular strategic management concept developed in the early 1990's by Drs. Robert Kaplan and David Norton, the balanced scorecard is a management and measurement system which enables organizations to clarify their vision and strategy and translate them into action. The goal of the balanced scorecard is to tie business performance to organizational strategy by measuring results in four areas: financial performance, customer knowledge, internal business processes, and learning and growth.
Behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS)
An appraisal that requires raters list important dimensions of a particular job and collect information regarding the critical behaviors that distinguish between successful and unsuccessful performance. These critical behaviors are then categorized and appointed a numerical value which is used as the basis for rating performance.
Behavioral based interview
An interview technique which focuses on a candidates past experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities by asking the candidate to provide specific examples of when they have demonstrated certain behaviors or skills as a means of predicting future behavior and performance.
Behavioral competency
The behavior of the employee which is the subject of measurement and appraisal in terms of whether or not the behaviors shown by an employee are those identified by job analysis/competency profiling as those contributing to team and/or organizational success.
Benchmarking
A technique using quantitative or qualitative data to make comparisons between different organizations or different sections of the organizations.
Bereavement leave
Paid days off following the death of an employee’s spouse, parent, child grandparent or in-law so that the employee may attend funeral proceedings, etc.
Branding
The process of identifying and differentiating an organization’s products, processes or services from another organization by giving it a name, phrase or other mark.
Broadbanding
A pay structure that consolidates a large number of narrower pay grades into fewer broad bands with wider salary ranges.
Bumping
The practice of allowing more senior level employees whose positions have been slotted for elimination or downsizing the option of accepting an alternative position within the organization, for which they may be qualified to perform and which is currently occupied by another employee with less seniority.
Change management
The deliberate effort of an organization to anticipate change and to manage its introduction, implementation, and consequences.
Clean Slate
The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 establishes a clean slate scheme to limit the effect of an individual's convictions in most circumstances (subject to certain exceptions set out in Section 19) if the individual satisfies the relevant eligibility criteria.
Coaching
A one-to-one process between a manager and subordinate, whereby the former will ‘train’ the latter. See also Mentoring.
Collective Bargaining
The process by which [an] employer[s] will negotiate employment contracts with [a] union[s].
Competency-based pay
Competency based pay is a compensation system that recognizes employees for the depth, breadth, and types of skills they obtain and apply in their work. Also known as skill based and knowledge based pay.
Competencies
‘an underlying characteristic of a person’ ‘motive, trait, skill, aspect of one’s self-image or social role, or a body of knowledge’.
Competitive advantage
‘People are the source of competitive advantage’. Other systems in an organization can be copied but not the people in the organization.
Confidentiality agreement
An agreement restricting an employee from disclosing confidential or proprietary information.
Constructive dismissal
1. Coercion by threats to act or promises to refrain and includes a resignation given as an alternative to be dismissed.
2. A breach of duty by the employer leading a worker to resign.
Contingent workers
Employees who may be: casual labor, part-timers, freelancers, subcontractors, independent professionals and consultants.
Contract for services
An agreement with an independent contractor.
Contract of service
An employment agreement.
Core competencies
The skills, knowledge and abilities which employees must possess in order to successfully perform job functions which are essential to business operations.
Core Labor Force
A small group of permanent workers, for example, strategists, planners.
Corporate mission
The aims and objectives of an organization.
Cost leadership
A strategy of becoming the lowest-cost producer in its industry.
Cyclical unemployment
A form of unemployment – rises in times of economic recession and falls in times of prosperity. Now shows signs of being able to withstand increased prosperity.
Decision Tree Model
One of the Contingency theories of leadership – developed by Vroom and Yettor (1973).
Deregulation
The removal of entities such as financial markets, road and transport from governmental control.
Distance Learning
The process of delivering educational or instructional programs to locations away from a classroom or site to another location by varying technology such as video or audio-conferencing, computers, web-based applications or other multimedia communications.
Disciplinary procedure
A procedure carried out in the workplace in the event of an employee committing some act contrary to terms of the employment agreement. If the act is regarded as Gross Misconduct this may lead to Summary Dismissal.
Discrimination
The favoring of one group of people to the detriment of others.
Distributive bargaining
Related to the process of Negotiation. Known also as Competitive bargaining – The parties are concerned with their respective shares of the benefits available and compete and conflict with each other until one side wins an increased share at the expense of the other.
Dual Labor Markets
organizations will operate with a small Core Labor Force and a Peripheral Labor Force
Due diligence
A critical component of mergers and acquisitions, it is the process by investigation and evaluation is conducted to examine the details of a particular investment or purchase by obtaining sufficient and accurate information or documents which may influence the outcome of the transaction.
Emotional Intelligence
Describes the mental ability an individual possess enabling him/her to be sensitive and understanding to the emotions of others as well as being able to manage their own emotions and impulses.
Employee Relations
A broad term used to refer to the general management and planning of activities related to developing, maintaining, and improving employee relationships by communicating with employees, processing grievances/disputes, etc.
Employee retention
organizational policies and practices designed to meet the diverse needs of employees, and create an environment that encourages employees to remain employed.
Empowerment
The process of enabling or authorizing an individual to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision-making in autonomous ways.
Equity theory
Based on the notion that people are motivated by a desire for fairness, that is, to be treated fairly and will compare their own efforts and the rewards of others in the organization with a view to judging the fairness of their treatment.
Exit Interview
An interview between a member of staff of the organization that an employee is leaving to ascertain the reasons for the employee leaving the organization. Should not be carried out by employee’s immediate superior. Used for possible changes.
Fixed Term Employment
An employee and an employer may agree that the employment of the employee will end at the close of a specified date or period or on the occurrence of a specified event or at the conclusion of a specified project.
Forced Ranking
Forced ranking systems direct managers to evaluate their employees' performance against other employees, rather than the more common (and often grade inflated) measure of evaluating performance against pre-determined standards. The result of such a process is often brutally blunt: The top 20 percent of performers are amply rewarded, and the bottom 10 percent are shown the door.
Freedom of association
The right to belong to a union. As protected by the Human Rights Act 1993.
Functional job analysis
The preparation required for the construction of a job description. It is necessary to collect data on the job to be advertised.
Goal Setting
The process of setting and assigning a set of specific and attainable goals to be met by an individual, group or organization.
Good faith bargaining
A duty under Section 4 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 to conduct negotiations where two parties meet and confer at reasonable times with open minds and the intention of reaching an agreement.
Grievance
A complaint brought by one party to an employment contract against another party.
Group dynamics
The social manner in which people interact with each other within a group.
Gross misconduct
An act committed by any personnel likely to lead to Summary Dismissal. Examples may be:
HR Audit
A method by which human resources effectiveness can be assessed. Can be carried out internally or HR audit systems are available.
Hawthorne Effect
A term produced as a result of an experiment conducted by Elton Mayo whereby he concluded that expressing concern for employees and treating them in a manner which fulfills their basic human needs and wants will ultimately result in better performance.
Hierarchy of needs
A psychology theory ascribed to Abraham H. Maslow in which he proposed that people will constantly seek to have their basic needs (sleep, food, water, shelter, etc.) fulfilled and that such needs ultimately determine behavior
Human Capital
The collective knowledge, skills and abilities of an organization’s employees.
Incentive pay
Additional compensation used to motivate and to reward employees for exceeding performance or productivity goals.
Independent contractor
A person who works for him/herself but has a contract for services with another person/organization.
Individual employment agreement
The legal relationship between an employee and employer. See Part 6 of the Employment Relations Act 2000
Induction
The process of introducing a new employee into the organization.
Industrial relations
The study of theories and practices in the workplace relationship.
Intangible rewards
Non-monetary re-enforcers such as praise given to an employee in recognition of a job well done, or a particular achievement.
ISO 9000
Developed by the International organization for Standardization (ISO), it is a set of standards for quality management systems that is accepted around the world. organizations that conform to these standards can receive ISO 9000 certification. The standard intended for quality management system assessment and registration is ISO 9001. The standards apply uniformly to organizations of any size or description.
Job analysis
The preparatory stage for writing job descriptions.
Job Description
A written description of a job which includes information regarding the general nature of the work to be performed, specific responsibilities and duties, and the employee characteristics required to perform the job.
Job evaluation
Used for compensation planning purposes, it is the process of comparing a job with other jobs in an organization to determine an appropriate pay rate for the job.
KPI’s
‘Knowledge, Skills and Abilities’ - Key Performance Indicators. Tasks that have been agreed between an employee and line manager/HR with an expectation that they will be completed satisfactorily in the time agreed or as an ongoing task.
KSAs
Knowledge, skills and abilities – the personal attributes that a person has to have to perform the job requirements.
Labor Market
A geographical or occupational area in which factors of supply and demand interact.
Labor force participation
A rate at which the number of people in the labor force is divided by the number of people of working age x 100.
Leadership Development
Formal and informal training and professional development programs designed for all management and executive level employees to assist them in developing the leadership skills and styles required to deal with a variety of situations.
Legislation
Law emanating from Parliament in the form of Acts.
LIFO
In the event of a redundancy situation occurring, the system of ‘last in first out’ is regarded as the most equitable method of choosing those who should be made redundant.
Lump sum payment
A fixed negotiated payment which is not typically included in an employee’s annual salary. Often times given in lieu of pay increases.
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