The New Hire Checklists

A 9/80 work schedule refers to a type of flexible work arrangement where employees work nine-hour days for eight days in a two-week period, and then enjoy one eight-hour day, providing them with an extra day off every two weeks. The total worked hours still equal 80 over the course of two weeks, thus maintaining full-time status. It's a strategy used by employers to improve employee morale and work-life balance while maintaining productivity.

Absence Management is a strategic approach by businesses to control, track, and reduce the rate of employee absence due to sickness, vacation, or other kinds of leaves. The primary goal is to reduce the negative impact that employee absence can have on business productivity. This approach encompasses policies and frameworks that aid in maintaining a productive business environment.

Compensation refers to the total amount of the monetary and non-monetary pay provided to an employee by an employer in return for work performed as required. It includes elements such as base salary, allowances, reimbursements, bonus, stock options, and benefits such as medical insurance and retirement plans. Compensation is a primary motivator for employees, and it also represents a major cost for companies.

Compensatory Time Off refers to the policy of granting employees extra time off as compensation for extra hours they've worked beyond their scheduled working hours. Instead of paying overtime, businesses might adopt this approach to minimize costs. It becomes an alternative to paying employees overtime in cash while giving flexibility to employees.

Competency Based Pay is a compensation structure where employees are paid based on their skillsets, knowledge, and abilities, rather than their job title or seniority. This system rewards individuals who have a broad or deep skill set and it encourages continuous learning and self-development. It is typically used in industries where the work is largely skill or knowledge-based, such as technology or engineering.

Conditions of Employment refer to the terms and stipulations agreed upon by both employer and employee at the time of hiring. These typically include details about job responsibilities, remuneration, working hours, benefits, and policies for vacation, sickness, and termination. Both parties are obligated to abide by these agreed-upon conditions during the course of employment.

Employee Benefits Administration is the process of managing and overseeing the details of employee benefits packages in a company. This includes planning, organizing, and controlling the deployed benefits schemes which may consist of health insurance, retirement plans, vacation policies, and other perks. It is a vital HR function that involves communication with employees about their benefits and the overall maintenance of the programs.

An employment contract is a legally binding document that outlines the formal agreement between an employer and an employee. This agreement defines the terms and conditions related to the job, including job responsibilities, salary, benefits, working hours, and termination conditions. It provides protection for both parties involved and helps prevent potential disputes.

Exempt employees are categories of employees who are exempt from certain labor laws, including specifically from overtime pay provisions. This includes typically high-level positions such as executives, professionals, and outside sales employees. Their salary isn't based on the number hours worked and they aren't eligible for overtime, regardless of the amount of hours they work per week.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a type of savings account that provides employees with specific tax advantages. The account allows employees to contribute a portion of their regular earnings to pay for qualified expenses, such as medical or dependent care costs. The funds in an FSA are contributed pre-tax, therefore reducing the amount of income tax you have to pay.

A Flexible Workplace, or Flexible Workspace, is a work environment where the organization operates with flexible working hours and workplaces. It adopts strategies such as telecommuting, flextime, job sharing, or compressed work weeks which enables employees to choose when and where they conduct their work. This approach enhances work-life balance, reduces commuting time, and allows the business to tap into a wider talent pool.

A Floating Holiday is a paid time off from work, granted by employers to employees at their discretion. Unlike standard public holidays, these days are generally determined by the employees themselves for personal use. The intent is to allow employees to celebrate holidays not recognized within the standard paid leave system.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) is a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes workloads or class loads comparable across various contexts. An FTE of 1.0 means that the person is equivalent to a full-time worker, while an FTE of 0.5 signals that the worker is only half-time. Essentially, it's a measurement that translates part-time work into full-time work terms.

Full-Time Hours refer to the conventionally accepted amount of hours an employee is expected to work in a week in a full-time job. Depending on the country and/or industry, this typically ranges between 35 to 40 hours per week. Full-time employment often comes with benefits like health insurance, paid vacation and sick days, which may not be available to part-time or contract workers.

Indirect compensation refers to non-monetary benefits provided to employees, such as pension plans, healthcare, paid time off, or employee training and education. These benefits are a key component of an overall compensation package and can play a critical role in attracting and retaining employees.

Leave Accrual Processing refers to the system or mechanism followed by companies to calculate and track the leave time earned by their employees. The frequency of this calculation could be based on a predetermined timeframe - weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or yearly. The process varies depending on the company policy and can include different types of leaves like paid time off, sick leave, vacation, etc.

New Hire Orientation refers to the process of introducing newly hired employees to the workplace, culture, people, responsibilities, and policies of the company. It is a crucial HR activity that helps new employees to understand the expectations and to adjust smoothly to the new environment. This process can range from a day-long overview to an in-depth, week-long experience depending on the company and role.

Paid holidays are days when employees are given time off from work but still receive their usual compensation. The specific holidays and the amount of paid time off allowed can vary by country, organization, and the employee's contract.

Paid Time Off (PTO) is a policy that allows employees to take time away from work and still receive their regular pay. It typically covers situations like vacation, personal time, or illness. This policy is more flexible than traditional separate systems of vacation days, sick days, and other time off because it pools all time off into one accessible bank for employees.

Performance Management is a continuous process of communication between a supervisor and an employee that occurs throughout the year, in support of accomplishing the strategic objectives of the organization. It involves activities such as setting clear goals, regular feedback, conducting regular appraisals, promoting employee skills development, and recognizing employees' achievements. The main goal is to improve employees' effectiveness and productivity to meet the company's overall mission and goals.

A salaried employee is a type of worker who is paid a fixed amount of money or compensation (salary) by an employer. Instead of being paid per hour, these employees receive their salary which is typically stated in annual terms. Benefits, expectations, and work hours may differ from hourly employees.

Salaried Non-Exempt is a category of employment where an employee is paid a fixed salary but is also eligible for overtime pay per the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This means that, unlike "exempt" employees who are not paid extra for more than 40 hours of work in a week, salaried non-exempt employees get overtime compensation. The non-exempt status is often due to the nature of the job duties or the level of decision-making power held by the employee.

Standard Hours refer to the typical amount of time that an employee is expected to work in a regular workday or workweek. It is the benchmark used to calculate wages, discern overtime, and allocate resources. Often, in many jurisdictions, standard hours are dictated by labor laws to ensure a fair working environment.