Business, Management, Human Resources Dictionary: S

Salary is a fixed amount of money or compensation paid to an employee by an employer in return for work performed. Salary is paid, most frequently, in a bi-weekly paycheck to an exe,pt or professional employee. In most years, an employee’s salary is paid in 26 even paychecks over the course of the year.

Salary grade is a step within a compensation system that defines the amount of pay an employee will receive. Salary grade is generally defined by the level of the responsibilities performed within the job description of the position and the length of time the employee has performed the job. Occasionally, the horizontal axis is related to the...

Salary negotiation is the process whereby the employer and the potential employee reach agreement on the terms and conditions of employment. Salary negotiations generally start with an offer from the employer. The potential employee can accept the offer or choose to negotiate details of the offer, usually by a deadline stated by the employer....

Salary range is the range of pay that has been established to be paid to employees performing a particular job or function. Salary range generally has a minimum pay rate, a maximum pay rate, and a series of mid-range opportunities for pay increases. The salary range is determined by market pay rates, established through market pay studies, for people doing similar work in similar industries in t…

A satisfaction survey helps you determine whether your employees are happy and satisfied at work. Find out more about a satisfaction survey.

Screening interviews are used to qualify a candidate before he or she meets with a hiring authority for possible selection. Screening interviews are usually quick, efficient and low cost strategies that result in a short list of qualified candidates. These interviews save time and money by eliminating unqualified candidates via phone or email.

Want to encourage more participation in performance evaluation and career planning from employees? Does your company use a traditional performance appraisal system? Or, does your company pursue a forward thinking performance management process? Whatever method your company uses for employee performance development, consider making an employee...

You can create a work environment and supervisory interactions which encourage the people you employ to develop and practice self-discipline. When people practice self-discipline, they control their own behavior.

Semi retired or phased retirement occurs when an employee elects to reduce his or her hours of employment. The semi retired employee may work part time. The employee who opts for phased retirement gradually reduces the hours that he or she works over time. Learn more about semi retired or phased retirement options for employees.

Service awards allow an organization to recognize employees for their longevity or time served with the organization. Service awards come in many variations. The approaches organizations use to recognize employees with a service award also varies. Find out more about service awards.

Severance pay is money that an employer might want to provide for an employee who is leaving their employ. Normal circumstances that might warrant severance pay include layoffs, job elimination, and mutual agreement to part ways for whatever reason. Severance pay usually amounts to a week or two of pay for each year of service to the company. In...

Sexual harassment occurs when one employee makes continued, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, to another employee, against his or her wishes.

Shift work occurs in a work schedule that utilizes 24 hours in the day and occasionally, 7 days a week to keep an organization operating. Shift work occurs whenever 24 hours a day coverage is necessary or when a 24 hour day optimizes work output and productivity.

Short List - Applicants on Your Short List Are Scheduled for Interviews

Short term disability insurance is an insurance policy that protects an employee from loss of income in the case that he or she is temporarily unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident. Find out more about short term disability insurance.

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), founded in 1948, is the largest Human Resources industry professional association. SHRM represents more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries. At this writing, SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters in the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India.

Paid sick days are time off from work that an organization voluntarily provides employees as a benefit. The number of paid sick days is often accrued by employees based on years of service to the organization and the level of their position. Other companies, however, keep paid sick days simple - every employee receives the same number of paid...

Sick leave is paid time off from work that an organization voluntarily provides employees as a benefit. Sick leave is used when an employee is temporarily ill; some organizations also allow the use of sick leave to take care of ill family members. The amount of sick leave is often accrued by employees based on years of service to the...

A signing bonus is a lump sum of money that an employer provides a prospective employee. The purpose of the signing bonus is to entice the applicant to sign-on with the employer’s organization. The signing bonus is most often used with executive level positions or to recruit employees with special, hard-to-find skills. The signing bonus is also...

Social media are the tools and platforms that people use to publish content and interact socially online. Find out more about social media.

Do you need a social security number? Here's what a social security number is and how you can obtain yours as a U.S. citizen.

Want help and samples to assist you to craft a mission statement that resonates and inspires? Both people and organizations need to establish a mission statement within a strategic framework to experience significant success. Identifying and sharing your mission statement, vision, values, strategies, goals and plans will engage your employees.

Strategies are the broadly defined four or five key approaches the organization will use to accomplish its mission and drive toward the vision.

Succession planning is a process whereby an organization ensures that employees are recruited and developed to fill each key role within the company. Succession planning ensures you can fill key roles from within your organization.

Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe, disease-free workplace for employees. Consequently, you need to take proactive steps to prevent the potential spread of any contagious disease, including Swine Flu H1N1, in your workplace. Employers also need to address business continuity in the event that a Swine Flu H1N1 outbreak affects...