Shift Differential

What is a shift differential? Shift differential is a premium rate offered to employees who work outside of the conventional work schedule, such as night shifts, weekends, or holidays. This additional compensation is not required under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), however, it is a common practice in businesses that operate around the clock, including…

Statutory Employee

What is a statutory employee? A statutory employee is a worker who is technically self-employed but is treated by the IRS as an official employee for tax purposes. Statutory employees have often been considered to be hybrid workers, as they’re partially employees, but also partial independent contractors. As long as the employer and employee both…

Leave of Absence

Leave of absence meaning A leave of absence is a period of time that an employee is authorized to be away from work while maintaining their employment status. They are usually granted for a fixed set of reasons specified by company policy or employment contracts, such as illness and disability, family emergencies, military service, or…

1099 Employee

What is a 1099 employee? A 1099 employee, also known as an independent contractor, is a worker who provides a service to a company but is not an official employee. The term ‘1099 employee’ comes from the IRS Form 1099 that contractors receive at the end of the year to report their earnings. Unlike regular…

Telecommuting 

What is telecommuting? Telecommuting, also known as telework, is the act of using technology to attend work from an off-site location. It typically involves employees working from home or other locations outside of the office and communicating with their employers and coworkers via phone, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, or any other online collaboration tools.…

Upward Mobility

Upward mobility definition Upward mobility in the workplace refers to an employee’s ability to move up to higher positions or levels of responsibility within an organization. This often results in increased compensation, authority, and job responsibilities. Organizations with high upward mobility typically provide an environment where merit, skills, and achievements are recognized and rewarded, fostering…

Disciplinary Infraction

What is a disciplinary infraction? A disciplinary infraction is a breach of conduct within an organization involving violating employer rules, procedures, or general standards of behavior. While less serious than gross employee misconduct, it can result in disciplinary action if not appropriately addressed. Some examples may include repeatedly arriving late, failing to follow management instructions…

Compassionate Leave

What is compassionate leave? Compassionate leave is a type of absence granted by an employer when an employee experiences a distressing situation in their personal or family life. These circumstances typically include: Compassionate leave policies vary by country and organization but generally, they allow employees to take a few days off work without fear of…

Fireable Offense

What is a fireable offense? A fireable offense is a certain level of misconduct that results in an employer deciding to terminate an employee.  This could include several offenses, such as violating company policies, insubordination, excessive absenteeism, harassment of co-workers, customers, or other involved individuals, and poor work performance, among others. These offenses may vary…

Constructive Discharge

What is constructive discharge? Constructive discharge, also known as constructive dismissal or constructive termination, is a situation where an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile or intolerable work environment. In other words, the employer constructs a situation where the employee feels forced to resign rather than being directly dismissed. Constructive…