Global HR Glossary

HR & Payroll Terms, Country by Country

Select your country to explore the essential HR, payroll, and labour law terms — with plain-English definitions and how ClockIt handles each one.

United States

10 key terms

United Kingdom

10 key terms

Australia

8 key terms

United Arab Emirates

8 key terms

Canada

8 key terms

Singapore

8 key terms

New Zealand

8 key terms

Ireland

8 key terms

South Africa

8 key terms

Saudi Arabia

8 key terms

Philippines

9 key terms

Workforce terms explained

Plain-English definitions of the 38 terms that come up most often in time tracking, leave and payroll — what each one means, how it works, and where the law applies.

Time Off

Absence ManagementThe strategic approach to reducing employee absenteeism and managing sick leave, disabilities, and family leave.Bereavement LeaveBereavement leave is time off after the death of a family member — typically 3–5 days. Here's who's covered, what's typical, and which states now require it.Compensatory Time (Comp Time)The practice of offering time off in lieu of overtime pay, which is strictly regulated for non-exempt private employees.Floating HolidayA paid holiday that is not fixed to a specific calendar date, allowing employees to choose when to observe it.FurloughA furlough is a temporary unpaid leave where you keep your job and usually your benefits. Here's how it differs from a layoff, and what you may and may not do while furloughed.Leave LiabilityThe financial value of accrued but unused employee time off that sits on a company's balance sheet as a debt.Leave of Absence (LOA)A leave of absence is an extended, approved period away from work — paid or unpaid — beyond normal PTO. Here's when it applies and which types are legally protected.OOO (Out of Office)OOO stands for out of office — shorthand for being away from work and unreachable. Here's what it means, how it differs from PTO, and when to use each.Paid Time Off (PTO)PTO stands for paid time off — a single bank of paid hours covering vacation, sick and personal leave. Here's what it means at work, how accrual works, and which states must pay it out.Sick LeavePaid or unpaid time off granted specifically for health-related needs, often mandated by state or local laws.Unlimited PTOUnlimited PTO means there's no fixed leave allowance — employees take what they need with approval. Here's how it really works, and why people often take less.

Compliance

Buddy PunchingA form of time theft where one employee clocks in for another, costing businesses billions annually.DCAA ComplianceStrict timekeeping standards required for US government contractors to ensure accurate billing.FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act)Federal law entitling eligible employees to unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons.Ghost EmployeeA fraudulent payroll scheme where a nonexistent or departed employee continues to receive pay.Independent ContractorA self-employed worker contracted to perform services, distinct from an employee for tax and labor law purposes.Meal Break ComplianceAdhering to laws that mandate uninterrupted, unpaid meal periods for employees.Predictive SchedulingLaws requiring employers to provide work schedules in advance, often called 'Fair Workweek' laws.Prevailing WageThe hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime that must be paid to workers on government-funded construction projects.Spread of HoursA penalty pay requirement when an employee's workday spans more than 10 hours.Time Card RoundingThe practice of adjusting clock-in and clock-out times to the nearest increment, often 15 minutes.Time TheftWhen employees accept pay for time they did not actually work, including extended breaks or buddy punching.Wage GarnishmentA legal procedure requiring an employer to withhold a portion of an employee's earnings to pay a debt.Waiting Time PayFLSA requirements to pay employees for time spent waiting if they are not free to leave.

Payroll

Daily OvertimeOvertime pay calculated based on hours worked in a single day, rather than just the weekly total.Exempt EmployeeEmployees paid a salary who are not entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA regulations.FLSA OvertimeFederal regulations requiring 1.5x pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.Job CostingThe process of tracking expenses and time against specific projects or jobs to determine profitability.On-Call TimeTime spent waiting for work availability, which may or may not be compensated based on restrictions.Payroll AccrualsThe accumulation of liabilities, such as PTO or sick leave, that employees earn over time.Payroll FrequencyThe schedule on which employers pay their employees, effectively setting the lag between work and pay.Shift DifferentialAdditional pay provided to employees for working undesirable shifts, such as nights or weekends.

Attendance

GeofencingA location-based service that triggers actions when a mobile device enters or leaves a virtual boundary.Shift SwappingA practice allowing employees to trade shifts with coworkers to manage their own schedules and reduce absenteeism.Split ShiftA work schedule divided into two or more parts with a significant unpaid gap in between.Workforce Management (WFM)An integrated set of processes that an institution uses to optimize the productivity of its employees.

Hardware

Biometric Time ClockA time tracking device that identifies employees using unique biological traits like fingerprints or facial recognition.Kiosk ModeA feature that locks a tablet or computer into a single application for dedicated time tracking.

Know the Rules. Automate the Rest.

ClockIt handles overtime, leave accruals, statutory contributions, and payroll compliance — so you can focus on your people, not the paperwork.

Start Free Trial