HR Terms & Glossary

HR Acronyms

A

• AAP: Affirmative Action Plan
• AARP: American Association of Retired Persons
• ADA: The Americans With Disabilities Act
• AD&D: Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• ADEA: Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• AE: Account Executive
• AP: Accounts Payable
• AR: Accounts Receivable

B

• BC/R: Benefits Cost/Ratio
• BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BOD: Board of Directors

C

• CCP: Certified Compensation Professional
• CEBS: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist
• CEO: Chief Executive Officer
• CFO: Chief Financial Officer  
• CHRO: Chief Human Resources Officer
• CIO: Chief Investment Officer, Chief Information Officer
• CMO: Chief Marketing Officer
• COO: Chief Operating Officer 
• CSO: Chief Security Officer
• COB: Close of Business
• CEU: Continuing Education Unit
• CPE: Continuing Professional Education
• COLA: Cost of Living Adjustment

D

• DOB: Date of Birth
• DOI: Date of Injury
• D&O: Directors and Officers
• DB: Defined Benefit
• DBPP: Defined Benefit Pension Plan 
• DCPP: Defined Contribution Pension Plan
• DOL: Department of Labor
• DOT: Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Department of Transportation
• DW: Dislocated Worker  
• DBA: Doing Business As
• DRP: Disaster Recovery Plan

E

• EBT: Earnings Before Taxes
• EAP: Employee Assistance Program
• EBSA: Employee Benefits Security Administration
• EBO: Employee Buyout
• EDT: Electronic Data Processing, Employee Development Plan
• EE: Employee
• EIN: Employer Identification Number
• EPLI: Employment Practices Liability Insurance
• ERISA: Employee Retirement Income Security Act
• ESO: Employee Stock Option
• ESOP: Employee Stock Option Plan
• EOD: End of Day
• EOY: End of Year
• EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity
• EEOC: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• EPA: Equal Pay Act, Environmental Protection Agency

F

• FCRA: Fair Credit Reporting Act
• FEP: Fair Employment Practice
• FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act
• FMLA: Family Medical Leave Act
• FEIN: Federal Employment Identification Number
• FUTA: Federal Unemployment Tax Act
• FSA: Flexible Spending Account (Healthcare)
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
• FT:  Full Time
• FTE: Full-Time Equivalent

G

• GPHR: Global Professional in Human Resources
• GTL: Group Term Life Insurance

H

• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
• HMO: Health Maintenance Organization
• HCE: Highly Compensated Employee
• HR: Human Resources, Human Resource
• HRCI: HR Certification Institute
• HRD: Human Resources Development, Human Resource Development
• HRIS: Human Resources Information System
• HRM: Human Resources Management, Human Resource Management
• HRMS: Human Resources Management System
• HSA: Health Savings Account

I

• IRS: Internal Revenue Service

J

• JD: Job Description, Juris Doctorate
• JTPA: Job Training Partnership Act (Now the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.)
• OA: Joint Operating Agreement
• JSSA: Jury Selection and Service Act

K

• KPI: Key Performance Indicator
• KPM: Key Performance Measures
• KSA: Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

L

• LOA: Leave of Absence
• LOS: Length of Service
• LMS: Learning Management System
• LR: Labor Relations
• LTC: Long-Term Care
• LTD: Long-Term Disability
• LWOP: Leave Without Pay
• LWP: Leave with Pay

M

• M&A: Merger & Acquisition
• MHPA: Mental Health Parity Act
• MOP: Measure of Performance
• MQ: Minimum Qualifications

N

• NE: Non-Exempt
• NLRB: National Labor Relations Board
• NEO: New Employee Orientation

O

• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OPM: Office of Personnel Management 
• OJT: On-The-Job-Training
• OE: Open Enrollment for Benefits
• OCF: Operating Cash Flow
• OE: Operating Expense
• OI: Operating Income
• OD: Organization Development
• OT: Overtime

P

• PE: Performance Evaluation
• PERT: Project Evaluation and Review Technique
• PT: Part Time
• PIP: Performance Improvement Plan
• PM: Performance Management, Project Management
• PPO: Preferred Provider Organization
• PHR: Professional in Human Resources
• P&L: Profit and Loss

Q

• QR: Quarterly Review
• QWI: Quarterly Workforce Indicators

R

• RIF: Reduction in Force
• RPA: Retirement Plan Alternative
• RTW: Return to Work

S

• SE: Salaried Exempt
• SHRM: Society for Human Resources Management
• SPHR: Senior Professional in Human Resources
• SSA: Social Security Administration
• SSN or SS#: Social Security Number
• STD: Short Term Disability
• SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

T

• TM: Talent Management
• T&D: Training and Development
• TBD: To Be Determined
• TDB: Temporary Disability Benefits  
• TESSA: Tax-Exempt Special Savings Account
• TEUC: Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation  
• TL: Time and Labor
• TPA: Third Party Administrator
• TPD: Temporary Partial Disability
• TTD: Temporary Total Disability

U

• UCI: Unemployment compensation insurance
• UGMA: Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
• UIC: Unemployment Insurance Commission
• UN: United Nations
• USC: United States Code
• USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• U. S. DOJ: United States Department of Justice
• U.S. DOL: United States Department of Labor
• USERRA: Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

V

• VA: Veterans Administration/Affairs  
• VETS: Veterans Employment and Training Service
• VP: Vice President

W

• WARN: Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
• WC: Worker's Compensation
• WIA: Workforce Investment Act
• WIP: Work in Progress
• WTO: World Trade Organization
• WTW: Welfare to Work
• W-2: Income tax form issued by employers
• W-4: Federal income tax withholding form

X

• XRA: Expected Retirement Age

Y

• YTD: Year to Date

Z

• ZBB: Zero Based Budgeting