A
Absenteeism
Absenteeism refers to the habitual pattern of employees being absent from work, whether scheduled or unscheduled, beyond what is considered reasonable or acceptable within organizational policies.
ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)
An ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a software application that helps manage recruitment, hiring, and candidate management needs.
B
Background check
A background check is a verification process employers use to investigate a candidate's employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information before making a hiring decision.
Boomerang Employee
A boomerang employee is an employee who returns to work for a company after having previously left the organization.
Burnout
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive workplace stress. It results in reduced productivity, detachment from work, and feelings of ineffectiveness.
C
Candidate Experience
Candidate experience refers to the overall quality of a candidate’s journey throughout the entire hiring process within an organization, from the initial application to the final job offer.
Candidate Management
Candidate management refers to all processes involved in receiving, organizing, evaluating, and tracking applications throughout the recruitment journey.
Cultural Fit
Cultural fit, often referred to as culture alignment, describes how well an employee’s values, behaviors, and way of working align with a company’s culture, mission, and goals.
E
E-signature
E-signature, or electronic signature, is a legally recognized digital method of signing documents that allows individuals to approve and authenticate agreements electronically without requiring physical signatures or paper-based processes.
Employee Advocacy
Employee advocacy is a strategic approach that involves identifying and empowering internal ambassadors who organically promote an organization and its culture across various social media platforms.
Employee Experience
Employee experience is defined by an employee’s journey and overall perception throughout all stages of their lifecycle within an organization, from onboarding to departure.
Employee lifecycle
The employee lifecycle refers to the stages an employee experiences during their journey with an organization, from initial recruitment through to their eventual departure. Understanding this lifecycle helps HR professionals optimize each phase to improve engagement, retention, and organizational success.
Employee Termination Agreement
An employment termination agreement is a legal or administrative document that formalizes the end of the employment relationship between an employer and an employee.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
Employee vs. Independent Contractor refers to the legal classification distinguishing workers who are integrated into an organization with employer control from self-employed individuals who operate independently with contractual autonomy.
Employer Brand
Employer brand refers to the image projected by a company to candidates and employees. When used strategically, it helps to attract, retain and engage top talent, and enhance the organization's reputation.
G
Gen Z
Gen Z refers to the generational cohort born approximately between 1997 and 2012, now entering the workforce with distinct expectations around technology, workplace culture, and work-life balance.
Great Detachment
The Great Detachment refers to a labor market trend where employees remain in their roles but feel emotionally or mentally disengaged from their work and organization.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay refers to the difference between an employee's total earnings before deductions (gross pay) and their take-home pay after all deductions have been applied (net pay).
H
HR Performance Indicators (HR KPIs)
An HR performance indicator (or HR KPI) is used to evaluate the effectiveness of HR processes and strategies, as well as an organization’s overall health, by measuring metrics such as employee retention, satisfaction, and absenteeism.
HR Process Automation
HR process automation refers to the use of HR technologies and software to automate repetitive administrative and operational tasks such as employee data management, approvals, recruitment workflows, or payroll processing.
HRIS (Human Resources Information System)
A Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is a software solution that integrates multiple human resources functions, supporting the day-to-day management of HR administrative tasks.
HRMS (Human Resource Management System)
An HRMS (Human Resource Management System), often referred to as an HRIS, is a talent management software designed to automate and optimize a wide range of HR processes.
I
Inbound Recruiting
Inbound recruiting is an HR marketing strategy focused on attracting candidates organically, rather than actively searching for them. Employer branding plays a central role by encouraging talent to take an interest in the company and apply to join it.
Internal Mobility
Internal Mobility refers to the movement of employees within an organization to different roles, departments, or locations. It enables companies to retain talent while providing employees with career development opportunities.
J
Job Board
A job board is an online platform where employers post job openings and candidates search for employment opportunities. These digital recruitment tools connect companies with potential employees across various industries and locations.
Job Description
A job description is a written document that outlines the key responsibilities, duties, qualifications, and requirements for a specific position within an organization.
O
OKR
OKR (Objectives and Key Results) is a goal-setting framework that helps organizations define measurable objectives and track their outcomes through specific, quantifiable key results.
Onboarding
Onboarding is the structured process of integrating new employees into an organization, encompassing orientation, training, and cultural immersion to ensure they become productive, engaged team members.
Organizational Chart
An organizational chart is a visual diagram that illustrates the internal structure of a company, showing reporting relationships, roles, and the hierarchy of positions within the organization.
Outbound Recruiting
Outbound recruiting is a proactive recruitment strategy that involves identifying, targeting, and directly reaching out to candidates, whether or not they are actively looking for a new job. Unlike inbound recruiting, the organization takes the initiative to contact talent.
P
Passive Candidate
A passive candidate is a person who is not actively looking for a new job but is open to professional opportunities if approached.
Pay Equity
Pay equity refers to ensuring equal compensation for employees in predominantly female job roles compared to those in predominantly male job roles, as long as the work performed is of equal value.
Pay in Lieu of Notice
Pay in Lieu of Notice is compensation provided to an employee when an employer terminates their employment without providing the required notice period, calculated based on their regular wages for the notice period they would have otherwise worked.
Payroll Processing
Payroll processing includes all operations required to calculate, validate, and distribute employee compensation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Payroll Remittance
Payroll remittance is the process of submitting collected employee payroll deductions and employer contributions to the Canada Revenue Agency and other government agencies by their legislated deadlines.
Payroll Software
Payroll software is a technology solution designed to automate employee payroll processing, including statutory deductions and tax reporting features such as T4 slips and other required tax forms.
People Analytics
People Analytics is the practice of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting workforce data to make evidence-based decisions about human resource management and organizational performance.
PIPEDA
PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) is Canada's federal privacy law that governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities.
Probationary Period
A probation period is a trial period at the beginning of an employment contract during which an employer evaluates whether an employee’s skills, performance, and overall fit align with the role.
Provincial Employment Standards
Provincial Employment Standards are workplace laws established by each Canadian province and territory that set minimum requirements for wages, hours of work, overtime, vacation, termination, and other employment conditions applicable to most employees within that jurisdiction.
PTO (Paid Time Off)
PTO (Paid Time Off) is a flexible employee benefits policy that combines vacation, sick leave, and personal days into a single bank of paid days off that employees can use at their discretion.
Q
Quality of Work Life (QWL)
Quality of work life (QWL) refers to working conditions and work organization, the work environment, and various factors that influence employee well-being. The goal of a strong quality of work life approach is to foster employee satisfaction in order to support overall organizational performance.
Quiet Quitting
Quiet quitting refers to employees doing the minimum required work without going above and beyond their job description, essentially disengaging from work while remaining employed.
R
Record of Employment (ROE)
A Record of Employment (ROE) is a mandatory federal document that Canadian employers must issue to employees when they experience an interruption of earnings, providing crucial information for Employment Insurance (EI) benefit claims.
Recruitment Software
Recruitment software is a technology solution designed to centralize, structure, and optimize all recruitment-related activities, from job posting to candidate hiring.
Reskilling
Reskilling involves training employees to acquire new skills that allow them to move into a different role than the one they currently hold.
Return of Company Property
Return of company property refers to the formal process employees must follow when leaving the organization to ensure that all equipment, documents, and access credentials provided to them during their employment are handed back.
S
Semantic Search (Recruiting)
Semantic search in recruitment is a technology used in applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruitment software to identify candidates based on meaning and context rather than exact keyword matches
Severance Pay
Severance pay is compensation provided to employees upon termination of employment, typically based on length of service. In Canada, severance pay obligations vary by jurisdiction and are distinct from termination pay or notice requirements.
SMART Goals
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. They provide a structured and effective framework for managing and evaluating employee performance.
Social Recruiting
Social Recruiting is the practice of using social media platforms and professional networks to attract, engage, and hire talent. This modern recruitment strategy leverages platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to build employer brand and connect with candidates.
Sourcing
Sourcing is the proactive recruitment strategy of seeking out, identifying and contacting qualified talent who have not previously applied for a job (passive candidates).
Stay Interview
A stay interview is a conversation led by an HR manager or a direct supervisor with the goal of assessing an employee’s engagement and likelihood of staying with the organization.
Succession Planning
Succession planning is a strategic process that identifies and develops internal talent to fill key leadership and critical positions within an organization as they become vacant due to retirement, promotion, or departure.
T
T2200
The T2200, or Declaration of Conditions of Employment, is a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) form that employers must complete to certify that an employee was required to pay employment-related expenses as a condition of their employment.
Talent Pool
A talent pool is a database of qualified candidates who have been identified and cultivated for potential current or future job openings within an organization.
Taxable Benefits
Taxable benefits are non-cash perks or advantages provided by employers to employees that must be included in the employee's income and are subject to income tax withholding and statutory deductions.
Total Compensation
Total Compensation represents the complete value of all financial and non-financial rewards an employee receives from their employer, including salary, benefits, bonuses, and perks.