Have you ever spoken to a Human Resources practitioner and had trouble understanding various portions of the conversation? Learning and understanding Human Resources and management acronyms and abbreviations is a challenge.

As in any other occupation, people familiar with the field start talking in abbreviations because it’s easy and familiar—they do it out of habit, unaware the other person doesn’t know what they’re saying. It can sound as if they’re speaking in a foreign language.

If you work in manufacturing, you know what this means. You’ll toss about the term QC (Quality Control) as though it’s in the dictionary. If you’re working in payroll, you think nothing about giving your AP (Accounts Payable) or AR (Accounts Receivable) an invoice. And, how many people even think of Human Resources when they tell you to go see HR about your problem.

As in any other occupation, people familiar with the field start talking in abbreviations because it’s easy and familiar—they do it out of habit, unaware the other person doesn’t know what they’re saying. It can sound as if they’re speaking in a foreign language.

As in any other occupation, people familiar with the field start talking in abbreviations because it’s easy and familiar—they do it out of habit, unaware the other person doesn’t know what they’re saying. It can sound as if they’re speaking in a foreign language.

With this in mind, the following acronyms are common HR and management lingo.

A

  • AAP: Affirmative Action PlanAARP: American Association of Retired PersonsABM: Activities Based ManagementADA: The Americans With Disabilities ActAD&D: Accidental Death & DismembermentADEA: Age Discrimination in Employment ActADL: Activities of Daily LivingAE: Account ExecutiveAFL-CIO: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial OrganizationsAFSCME: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AJB: Americas Job BankANSI: American National Standards InstituteAP: Accounts PayableAPR: Annual Percentage RateAR: Accounts ReceivableATD: Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD: American Society for Training and Development)AWOL: Absent Without Leave

B

  • B2B: Business to BusinessB2C: Business to ConsumerBA: Bachelor of ArtsBBB: Better Business BureauBCP: Business Continuity PlanBS: Bachelor of ScienceBC/R: Benefits Cost/RatioBLS: Bureau of Labor StatisticsBOD: Board of DirectorsBU: Bargaining Unit

C

  • CCL: Center for Creative Leadership
  • 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
  • CAI: Computer Assisted Instruction
  • CBT: Computer-Based Testing
  • COBRA: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
  • CTO: Compensatory Time Off
  • CPE: Continuing Professional Education
  • COLA: Cost of Living Adjustment
  • CV: Curriculum Vitae

D

  • DOB: Date of BirthDOI: Date of InjuryD&O: Directors and OfficersDB: Defined BenefitDBPP: Defined Benefit Pension Plan DCPP: Defined Contribution Pension PlanDOL: Department of LaborDOJ: Department of JusticeDOT: Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Department of TransportationDW: Dislocated Worker DBA: Doing Business AsDINKS: Dual Income No KidsDRP: 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
  • EI: Employee Involvement
  • EI: Emotional Intelligence
  • 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

G

  • GATB: General Aptitude Test BatteryGED: General Equivalency DiplomaGPHR: Global Professional in Human ResourcesGTL: Group Term Life Insurance

H

  • HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
  • HMO: Health Maintenance Organization
  • HCE: Highly Compensated Employee
  • HCM: Human Capital Management
  • HPT: Human Performance Technology
  • 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

  • IRCA: Immigration Reform and Control ActIRS: Internal Revenue Service

J

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

K

  • KPI: Key Performance IndicatorKPM: Key Performance MeasuresKSA: Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

L

  • LOA: Leave of AbsenceLOS: Length of ServiceLMS: Learning Management SystemLR: Labor RelationsLTC: Long-Term CareLTD: Long-Term DisabilityLWOP: Leave Without PayLWP: Leave with Pay

M

  • M&A: Merger & AcquisitionMBO: Management by ObjectivesMBTI: Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorMHPA: Mental Health Parity ActMOP: Measure of PerformanceMQ: Minimum Qualifications

N

  • NE: Non-ExemptNLRB: National Labor Relations BoardNEO: New Employee Orientation

O

  • OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationOOH: Occupational Outlook HandbookOPM: Office of Personnel Management OMB: Office of Management and BudgetOJT: On-The-Job-TrainingOE: Open Enrollment for BenefitsOCF: Operating Cash FlowOE: Operating ExpenseOI: Operating IncomeOD: Organization DevelopmentOT: Overtime

P

  • PA: Performance AssessmentPERT: Project Evaluation and Review TechniquePIP: Performance Improvement PlanP&L: Profit and LossPM: Performance Management, Project ManagementPPO: Preferred Provider OrganizationPHR: Professional in Human ResourcesPT: Part-TimePTO: Paid Time Off

Q

  • QR: Quarterly ReviewQWI: Quarterly Workforce Indicators

R

  • RIF: Reduction in ForceRPA: Retirement Plan AlternativeRTW: Return to Work

S

  • SBA: Small Business Administration
  • SE: Salaried Exempt
  • SNE: Salaried Non-exempt
  • SME: Subject Matter Expert
  • 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 ManagementT&D: Training and DevelopmentTBD: To Be DeterminedTDA: Tax Deferred AnnuityTDB: Temporary Disability Benefits TESSA: Tax-Exempt Special Savings AccountTEUC: Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation TL: Time and LaborTPA: Third Party AdministratorTPD: Temporary Partial DisabilityTTD: Temporary Total DisabilityTSA: Tax-sheltered Annuity

U

  • UAW: United Auto WorkersUCI: Unemployment compensation insuranceUFW: United Farm WorkersUGMA: Uniform Gifts to Minors ActUIC: Unemployment Insurance CommissionUN: United NationsUSC: United States CodeUSCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesU. S. DOJ: United States Department of JusticeU.S. DOL: United States Department of LaborUSERRA: Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

V

  • VA: Veterans Administration/Affairs VETS: Veterans Employment and Training ServiceVP: Vice PresidentVPN: Virtual Private NetworkVOC-REHAB: Vocational Rehabilitation

W

  • WARN: Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ActWC: Worker’s CompensationWIA: Workforce Investment ActWIP: Work in ProgressWTO: World Trade OrganizationWTW: Welfare to WorkW-2: Income tax form issued by employersW-4: Federal income tax withholding formWPS: Work Performance Standards

X

  • XRA: Expected Retirement AgeXML: Extensible Markup Language (Code)

Y

  • YTD: Year to Date

Z

  • ZBB: Zero Based Budgeting