HR Glossary

The HR & Payroll terms every US team should know.

18 plain-English definitions of the HR concepts that matter — from compliance and payroll to engagement and AI-driven hiring. Built for US SMBs.

18 Defined terms

11 Categories A–Z

Free No signup required

Featured

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Software that automates the recruitment workflow — posting jobs, screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidates through every stage of hiring.

Read the full guide

Jump to letter

A 4 terms

B 1 term

Background Check A formal process where an employer or third-party Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) investigates a job candidate's personal, professional, and legal history to confirm application accuracy and assess role suitability. Learn more

E 1 term

E-Signature An electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to a document that indicates a person's intent to sign and agree to its contents. Under the US ESIGN Act of 2000, e-signatures carry the same legal weight as a handwritten signature for most business and employment documents. Learn more

I 2 terms

J 3 terms

K 1 term

Kanban Recruitment View A visual, board-style layout inside an ATS that organizes candidates as cards across columns representing each hiring stage. Recruiters drag cards between columns to advance candidates and spot bottlenecks in real time. Learn more

O 1 term

Offer Letter A formal written document from an employer to a selected candidate outlining the key terms of employment — job title, salary, start date, benefits, and conditions — before the official first day. Learn more

R 2 terms

T 1 term

Talent Pool A curated database of pre-vetted candidates — internal employees, alumni, past applicants, and passive prospects — ready to fill current and future roles without starting recruitment from scratch. Learn more

V 1 term

Video Screening A recruitment method using video technology — live or pre-recorded — to evaluate job candidates before advancing them to formal interviews. Includes synchronous video calls and asynchronous one-way submissions. Learn more

W 1 term

Workflow Automation The use of software to execute a series of tasks, route approvals, send alerts, and move work forward — without manual handoffs. In HR, it powers onboarding, leave, payroll, and performance workflows. Learn more

Ready to Let AI Run Your HR?

Join 500+ US companies that replaced HR busywork with AI agents. Sign up and start in minutes.