HR Terminology

There’s loads of terminology, abbreviations and acronyms in the complicated world of HR, so have a look on this list if you come accross something that you don’t recognise and want to know what it means:

General terminology:

L&D: Learning and Development. This used to be known as T&D (Training and Development) but the focus has shifted in recent years to learning rather than training, hence the new terminology (rolls off the tongue better as well I think!)

R&S: A common abbreviation for Recruitment and Selection.

SSP: Statutory Sick Pay. This is the minimum amount a company must pay by law when an employee is off sick. The first three days of sickness are waiting days and are unpaid, after this the SSP rate applies. Some companies pay an enhanced sick pay scheme, which SSP will form part of as long as the company pay is more than SSP. The rate of SSP changes on 1st April each year. For more information on SSP click here.

SMP/SPP/SAP: Statutory Maternity/Paternity and Adoption pay. Ths is the minimum rate an employer must pay an employee on maternity/paternity/adoption leave. The rate is the same for all three but they are paid differently, and the rate changes on 1st April each year. Click here for more information on SMP, SPP and SAP.

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Stages in an Employment Claim:

ET: Employment Tribunal. This is the court where employment claims are heard.

EAT: Employment Appeals Tribunal. This is where an appeal is heard if one party does not agree with the outcome of an ET.

CA: The Court of Appeal. This is the next stage of an employment case after the EAT.

HL: House of Lords. A case is heard here if one party appeals against the CA judgment.

ECJ: European Court of Justice. This hears an appeal after the HL. This is the final stage an employment case can reach and the judgment is final.

When you see these letters after a case, e.g. Carmichael v National Power Plc (1999) HL, this tells you the final stage that the case reached and the year. The higher the court that heard the case, the more binding the judgment becomes in day to day law. So you need to take note of this when you read about a case as it might affect the practices you carry out in work. More often than not it is case law that determines how companies should use the law than the law itself, as vague or uncertain areas are tested by cases and this shows us how similar situaions should be managed.

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HR related organisations and national or Government bodies:

ACAS: Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. This is the organisation that provides arbitration services to organisations and claimants in an ET, mostly the aim is to reconcile or settle before the case goes to court. ACAS also provides advice, legal information and training services and the website should be in the favourites list of every HR professional!

BERR: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This used to be the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) so the terms are often used interchangeably. The department is the ‘voice for business across Government’. Again, the website is really useful for getting information on legislative frameworks and Government objectives for future developments in this field.

CIPD: The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. This is the main UK body for HR and people management professionals. Most HR professionals will be a member of the CIPD, and many work towards the professional development scheme, which leads to graduate membership (I’ve nearly finished mine now and it’s been very hard work but extremely rewarding!) The CIPD provides advice, training, research and legal information which is invaluable and the website is very easy to navigate, although unfortunately many areas are member-only resources so you won’t be able to view it unless you’ve paid to be a member. If this happens and you’re looking for advice on something like employment law then you’ll be able to find the information on sites like ACAS anyway.

DWP: The Department for Work and Pensions. This is a Government department that is responsible for things like benefits, pensions, child support and health and safety. It is unlikely that a person will go through their life without ever having contact with the DWP or one of their businesses which include Jobcentre Plus, the Pension Service, The Child Support Agency, or the Health and Safety Executive. The DWP website is here.

HSE. The Health and Safety Executive. This is the authority that regulates health and safety in the UK on behalf of the Government. As well as giving information on legislation, the HSE website is a really helpful resource for organisations that need help managing their health and safety requirements, from control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) to asbestos and stress management. Click here for the website.

Things to consider:
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Looking for the perfect Wedding Dress ?come to us.
some new COSHH information
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