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Glossary

HR terms, explained simply

The vocabulary of Indian HR and payroll — CTC, LOP, PF, ESI, gratuity and friends — in plain English, with worked examples.

Absenteeism

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Appointment Letter

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Apprentices and trainees

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Arrears

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Attendance regularisation

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Attrition rate

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Background Verification

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Basic salary

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Casual leave and sick leave

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Code on Wages, 2019

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Compensatory off (comp-off)

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Contract labour

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Contribution Period (ESI)

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CTC (Cost to Company)

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Dearness Allowance (DA)

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Earned leave (EL / privilege leave)

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Employee self-service (ESS)

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EPF ECR (Electronic Challan cum Return)

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EPF Form 11

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ESI (Employees’ State Insurance)

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Exit Interview

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Experience Letter

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Form 12BA

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Form 12BB

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Form 16

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Form 24Q

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Full and final settlement (F&F)

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Gig and platform workers

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Gratuity

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Gross salary

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HRA (House Rent Allowance)

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Increment

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Labour Welfare Fund (LWF)

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Leave Encashment

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Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)

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Loss of pay (LOP)

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Maternity Benefit

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Minimum Wages

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Moonlighting and dual employment

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Muster roll / attendance register

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National Holiday

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National Pension System (NPS)

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New Tax Regime

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Notice period

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Overtime (OT)

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Paternity Leave

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Payroll cycle

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Payslip

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Perquisites

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PF Wage Ceiling

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Probation and confirmation

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Professional Tax (PT)

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Provident Fund (EPF)

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Relieving Letter

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Retrenchment

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Salary advance

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Salary Structure

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Sandwich Rule

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Shift allowance

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Shift Roster

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Standing Orders

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Statutory Bonus

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Superannuation

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TDS Challan

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TDS on salary

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UAN (Universal Account Number)

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Variable Pay

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Weekly Off

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