HR Glossary: Every term you need to know | Page 9 of 13 | HiBob

Employee management software

What is employee management software?

Employee management software is an integrative tech system that assists in tracking, monitoring, recruiting, hiring, and communicating with employees. Usually, cloud-based employee management software aids HR professionals in overseeing every step of the employee lifecycle, providing a variety of automated services such as: Onboarding Payroll Performance review evaluations Two-way employee-manager feedback Employee recognition functions Company policy communication Why should HR leaders care about employee management software? Employee management software offers a cost-effective way to: Streamline HR processes Maintain accuracy and efficiency while reducing human error Boost understanding of and compliance…

Employee satisfaction survey

What is an employee satisfaction survey?

An employee satisfaction survey is a questionnaire that measures the contentment level of personnel regarding the various components of their job. The purpose of the employee satisfaction survey is to provide actionable data to improve the employee experience. An employee satisfaction survey can include various answer types, such as checkbox, rating scales, and open-ended answers. Why should HR leaders care about employee satisfaction surveys? An employee satisfaction survey can provide valuable insights into how the organization can enhance the employee experience and nurture business growth. By strategically designing the survey,…

What is parental leave?

Parental leave is time off for mothers and fathers to take care of a child for medical or non-medical reasons. Employees can use parental leave following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child or to ensure a child's welfare. In the United States, the FMLA enables eligible parents to take twelve weeks of unpaid time off, while federal employees can receive up to 12 weeks of paid time off. In the U.K., the government allows 18 weeks per child of unpaid parental leave, up to the child's 18th birthday. …

Workforce management

Workforce management

Workforce management (WFM) is the strategic organization of labor to achieve optimal productivity and company objectives. Workforce management typically includes: Employee scheduling Time tracking and attendance Forecasting Compliance tracking Payroll and benefits Time off and vacation planning A basic form of workforce management has always existed-- for example, businesses would track work hours or plan employee vacation times. Today workforce management has evolved into an integrated part of HR software systems, automating and streamlining HR processes to create highly efficient, precise, and reliable results. Why should HR leaders care about…

Employee benefits

Employee benefits

Employee benefits are a form of compensation that employers provide (along with a salary) to create a well-rounded, attractive payment package. Employee benefits vary, depending on the relevant government labor laws. In the United States, each state has its own regulations regarding employee benefits. Government-mandated benefits include: Social Security Healthcare or Medicare FMLA or time off for family In addition to government benefits, employers often offer: Paid time off for holidays, vacation days, and sick leave Health and life insurance Personal leave Disability insurance Retirement plans Generous employers may add…

Cultural safety

What is cultural safety?

Cultural safety is the appreciation and protection of employee individuality, enabling employees to fulfill their roles and express themselves freely. Cultural safety encompasses both physical and psychological safety. Physical safety means that the material work environment must be free of harmful toxins and hazardous conditions and conducive to productivity. Psychological safety implies that the company encourages employees to take risks, voice their opinions, ask questions, and make mistakes through valuing honesty, courage, and humility. Why should HR leaders care about cultural safety? An organization that prioritizes cultural safety ideally empowers…

Compassionate leave

What is Compassionate Leave?

Compassionate leave is time off from work for employees to deal with a family emergency. Compassionate leave generally encompasses: Caring for an ill dependent such as a parent, child, or spouseMaking arrangements for the funeral of a dependent It's incumbent upon each organization to determine its compassionate leave policy. Essential components to include: Length of leavePaid or unpaid time offOptions to receive additional time off or take leave for a non-dependent family member Classification of bereavement or compassionate leaveWhen to report the emergency and to whomAdministration of employee return to work…

Employee recognition

What is employee recognition?

Employee recognition is the acknowledgment of an individual's work accomplishment by expressing gratitude or praise. Employers often recognize employees for: Working for an extended period (generally beyond five years) Exemplary work performance Innovation or achievements Notable personal development Workforce or system improvement According to Gallup research, employees find these methods of employer recognition highly impactful: Publicly acknowledging employees through praise, an award, or a certificate Private acknowledgment from a boss, coworker, or customer Receiving an extremely positive evaluation regarding accomplishments Receiving a monetary award or compensation Earning a promotion, greater…

Succession planning

What is succession planning?

Succession planning in HR is the process of preparing people for future roles to support continuous business functioning. Succession planning is a long-term, strategic investment that buffers both large and medium-sized businesses against inevitable future disruptions or sudden job vacancies. Usually spanning one to three years, succession planning involves training and educating people so they can assume new positions with confidence and poise.

merit increase process

What is a merit increase process?

A merit increase process is a method of determining how frequently to offer merit increases, the percentage of increase, and who qualifies for the merit increase. To implement a data-driven merit increase process, HR leaders must assess employees' merit eligibility, internal and external value, and establish a merit allocation strategy. Why should HR leaders care about the merit increase process? A thorough merit increase process is an essential element of a smoothly-functioning company ecosystem. Properly planning the merit increase process enables companies to reward high-performing employees with competitive salary increases…

COVID-19 workplace policy

COVID-19 workplace policy

COVID-19 workplace policy emphasizes cleanliness, hygiene, health, and social distancing and aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in shared office settings. COVID-19 workplace policy is based upon standard recommendations established by each country. The U.S. and U.K. guidelines promote personal hygiene and social distancing in the workplace and remind employees to monitor their health before arriving at work. The workplace rules encourage employees to: Wash hands regularlyWear a protective mask over the nose and mouthWear disposable gloves when in a public areaFollow recommendations for social distancingCheck temperature before going…

Mental health in the workplace

What is mental health in the workplace?

Mental health in the workplace refers to employees' psychological, emotional, and social well-being within a shared work environment. Employees with sound mental health have respect for themselves and others, build positive relationships with coworkers, and cope with the daily challenges and responsibilities involved in the workplace. Why should HR leaders care about mental health in the workplace? Unfortunately, mental health issues are highly prevalent among today's adults, both globally and in the U.S. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 American adults (18.3%) suffer from mental illnesses, and 71% of…

What is e-recruitment?

E-recruitment is the automated process of identifying, attracting, screening, and hiring candidates using online platforms and HR software. This internet recruitment method enables businesses to establish an online presence to connect with candidates. E-recruitinginvolves different sourcing methods such as: Attracting candidates through a company career page Using job boards to advertise vacancies Incorporating job aggregator sites (job search engines) to consolidate job advertisements from throughout the web Advertising on social media sites Finding relevant online resumes through search engine optimization (SEO) Cloud-based HR software also contributes to effective e-recruitment through…

HR business partner

What is an HR business partner?

An HR business partner (HRBP) is a senior HR professional who collaborates with executives to facilitate alignment between business objectives and HR strategy. An HR business partner represents the HR department to executives, contributing valuable people solutions to drive positive business outcomes. HR influencer Josh Bersin discusses the essential competencies of a high-caliber HRBP, which include: Integrity Agility Social networking skills Knowledge of the business and its jargon Digital competency and data analysis Courage and leadership Empathy Critical thinking Problem-solving Sandy Allgeier, SPHR, refers to HR business partners as “internal…

What are company perks?

Company perks are perquisites that employers provide employees to assist them in maintaining high productivity and performance levels. Employee benefits, such as health care, retirement, and investment plans, are essential components of compensation. Perks, in contrast, encompass the non-essential, supplementary aspects of the job to improve the employee experience and boost productivity. Popular company perks include: A company car that doubles as a personal vehicle Paid time off or sabbatical leave Weekly happy hour Onsite childcare Shopping, cinema, or travel discounts Flexible working conditions Onsite catering or lunch vouchers Why…