“There’s a new ERG leading DEI&B efforts for new FT hires; can you track the OJT in the LMS, pls?”
Copy that?
While acronyms and initialisms are designed to improve communication efficiency, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of acronyms that exist, especially in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and human resources (HR) space. From race and gender to onboarding and hiring, the DEI acronyms span across sectors of HR, and they’re critical to know as companies increase their efforts to promote more diverse and holistic work environments.
Here’s a list of today’s commonly used acronyms and initialisms in DEI and HR to help you decode your team members’ messages or company-wide presentations. Click on the category below to jump to the related collection of terms.
- DEI General Terms
- HR General Terms
- Recruiting Diverse Workforces
- Healthcare
- Employee Resources
- Professional Development
- Benefits
DEI General Terms
| DEI | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion |
| DEI&B | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging |
| ERG | Employee Resource Group |
| BIPOC | Black, Indigenous, and People of Color |
| LGBTQIA+ | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ |
| HBCUs | Historically Black Colleges and Universities |
| IDEA | Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access |
Senior Executive DEI Think Tank is a criteria-based membership community for chief diversity officers and senior-level DEI leaders at large organizations to share difference-making tactics, trade valuable resources, and seek the counsel of experienced peers in a private, confidential setting.
Do you qualify?HR General Terms
| FTE | Full-time Equivalent |
| FT | Full-time |
| HRBP | Human Resources Business Partner |
| HRD | Human Resources Development |
| HRM | Human Resources Management |
| JD | Job Description |
| KSAs | Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities A framework used to assess and identify the best candidates for a position. |
| LOA | Leave Of Absence |
| LOS | Length Of Service The amount of time an employee has been with an organization, often used to determine annual paid-time off if adjusted by tenure. |
| LMS | Learning Management System Software specifically for the delivery and tracking of training and development programs and materials. |
| MQs | Minimum Qualifications The minimum qualifications a candidate needs to have to be considered for a role. |
| PT | Part-time |
| PTO | Paid Time Off |
| TA | Talent Acquisition |
| TM | Talent Management |
| OJT | On-the-Job Training |
| OOO | Out Of Office |
| OT | Overtime |
| RTW | Return To Work This can refer to the return after a leave of absence, parental leave, military leave, or other extended time away from work. |
| RIF | Reduction In Force |
Recruiting Diverse Workforces
| AA | Affirmative Action |
| ATS | Applicant Tracking System Technology used by human resources and recruiting managers to track applicants through the recruiting process. |
| EEO | Equal Employment Opportunity Laws that prohibit hiring and workplace discrimination. |
| FCRA | Fair Credit Reporting Act |
| FLSA | Fair Labor Standards Act |
Healthcare
| ACA | Affordable Care Act |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| AD&D | Accidental Death and Dismemberment A voluntary insurance benefit for employees that provides coverage for accidents. |
| FMLA | Family and Medical Leave Act |
| HDHP | High Deductible Health Plan |
| HSA | Health Savings Account |
| PPO | Preferred Provider Organization |
| STD | Short-Term Disability |
Employee Resources
| BYOD | Bring Your Own Device Providing one’s own technology devices such as a laptop and phone when accepting a job offer, particularly for remote work. |
| DOE | Depending On Experience This is often noted with an undefined salary range in a job description. |
| EAP | Employee Assistance Program An employee benefits program, often provided by a third-party vendor, that offers financial, mental health, and well-being resources. |
| EVP | Employment Value Proposition What value the employer can offer to a candidate. This is often defined and communicated in a company’s employer branding strategy. |
| HCM | Human Capital Management |
Professional Development
| IDP | Individual Development Plan Another term for an employee development plan. |
| PIP | Performance Improvement Plan A document that details the areas where an employee is falling short of expectations and outlines the steps the employee needs to take to improve. |
| QR | Quarterly Review |
Benefits
| C&B | Compensation and Benefits A subdivision of the human resources department that handles salaries, bonuses, incentives, and benefits policies. |
| COLA | Cost-of-Living Adjustment A percentage adjustment in pay or benefits aimed to make up for an increase in the cost of living. |
| CTO | Compensatory Time Off Paid time off given in lieu of overtime pay. |
| EOB | Explanation Of Benefits |
| EOR | Employer Of Record A global employment services provider that handles payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance so that an employer can hire people who reside in countries outside the country the employer is based. |
| EPA | Equal Pay Act |
| ESO | Employee Stock Option |
| HCE | Highly Compensated Employee Generally defined as an employee who owns 5% or more of the company. |
| IRA | Individual Retirement Account |
| LWOP | Leave Without Pay |
| LWP | Leave With Pay |
| LTIP | Long-Term Incentive Plan This is a long-term strategy often aiming to increase employee retention and engagement by rewarding employees with money or company stock when pre-determined goals are met. |
| TPA | Third-Party Administrator An organization contracted to provide administrative services related to employee benefits and insurance claims processing. |
| WC | Workers’ Compensation |
