A
Affirmative Action
Policies and practices to ensure non-discrimination and promote equal opportunity in employment.
Anti-Discrimination Laws
Legislation aimed at preventing discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and other protected characteristics.
Audits
Systematic reviews of compliance with laws, regulations, and policies.
Arbitration
A method of resolving disputes outside the courts, often used in employment law.
B
Benefit Compliance
Adherence to laws and regulations governing employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans.
Bribery
Offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value to influence an action, which is illegal under various statutes.
Benchmarking
Comparing business processes and performance metrics to industry standards and best practices, including compliance metrics.
Background Check Compliance
Ensuring that the process of conducting background checks adheres to legal standards.
C
Confidentiality Agreements
Contracts ensuring that employees keep company information private, often legally required in certain industries.
Child Labor Laws
Regulations governing the employment of minors.
Compliance Training
Education programs for employees and management to understand and comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Continuation of Health Insurance
In India, employees and their families may have the option to continue group health insurance benefits through the employer’s insurance provider under certain circumstances, such as retirement or job loss, depending on the terms of the group insurance policy.
Collective Bargaining
The process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working conditions.
Cost Leadership
A low-cost competitive strategy that aims at the broad mass market.
D
Data Protection Laws
Regulations designed to protect personal data collected by organizations.
Disability Compliance
Adherence to laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Discrimination Laws
Legal standards that prohibit unfair treatment of employees based on race, gender, age, religion, etc.
Due Diligence
The process of thoroughly investigating and ensuring legal compliance in business practices and transactions.
E
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Authority
In India, equal employment opportunity is enforced through various laws and bodies such as the National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and the National Commission for Women. These bodies work to prevent employment discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, and other factors.
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
An Indian government organization that manages the compulsory contributory Provident Fund, pension scheme, and insurance scheme for employees in the organized sector, setting standards for retirement and health benefits.
Ethics Hotline
A system for reporting unethical or illegal behavior within an organization.
Employee State Insurance (ESI)
A self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers. Employers contribute to this fund to provide medical and cash benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity, disability, or death due to employment injury.
Economies of Scale
A process in which unit costs are reduced by making large numbers of the same product.
Expense Center
A business unit that uses money but contributes to revenues only indirectly.
Employment Contract Compliance
Ensuring that employment agreements meet legal standards.
F
Fraud Prevention
Measures taken to prevent deceitful practices in the workplace.
Flexible Benefit Plan (FBP)
An arrangement that allows employees to receive a portion of their salary in the form of reimbursements for eligible expenses, such as medical expenses, transport, and meal allowances. This is done to optimize the tax benefits for the employee.
Form 16
An Indian tax form issued by employers to their employees. It provides details of the salary paid and the taxes deducted at source (TDS) during the financial year.
G
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
European Union regulation on data protection and privacy.
Government Reporting
Submitting required information to government agencies to demonstrate compliance with laws and regulations.
Garnishment Laws
Regulations governing the withholding of an employee’s earnings to pay off a debt.
H
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
U.S. law providing data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.
Harassment Policies
Rules and procedures to prevent and address workplace harassment.
Hazard Communication Standards
Regulations requiring employers to inform employees about hazardous chemicals they may be exposed to at work.
I
Immigration Compliance:
Ensuring that employment practices comply with immigration laws, including verification of work authorization.
Independent Contractor Compliance
Adherence to laws distinguishing employees from independent contractors.
Internal Controls
Procedures and policies implemented to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
J
Just Cause
A legal standard that an employer must meet to justify discipline or termination of an employee.
Judicial Compliance
Adherence to court orders and legal judgments in employment practices.
Jurisdiction
The official power to make legal decisions and judgments, impacting compliance requirements.
Joint Employment
When an employee is considered employed by two or more employers, impacting compliance with employment laws.
L
Labor Law Compliance
Adherence to laws governing employment standards, worker rights, and workplace safety.
Leave Policies
Regulations regarding various types of leave, such as family, medical, and military leave.
Litigation
The process of taking legal action, often related to employment disputes.
Licensing Requirements
Regulations that require businesses and professionals to obtain licenses to operate legally.
Local Ordinances
Laws and regulations enacted by local governments that businesses must comply with.
M
Ministry of Labour and Employment
The Indian government agency responsible for enforcing labor laws, occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, reemployment services, and compiling economic statistics related to labor.
Minimum Wage Laws
Regulations establishing the lowest amount that can be paid to employees.
Mandatory Training
Required education and training programs to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
Medical Leave Compliance
Adherence to laws providing for medical leave, such as the FMLA.
Misclassification of Employees
Incorrectly classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees, violating labor laws.
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Regulations providing leave for new parents.
N
Non-Compete Agreements
Contracts that restrict employees from working with competitors after leaving the company.
Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
Contracts to keep company information confidential.
Notice Requirements:
Legal obligations to inform employees about certain changes or conditions of employment.
Non-Discrimination Policies
Policies ensuring fair treatment of employees regardless of race, gender, age, religion, etc.
O
Overtime Regulations
Laws governing the payment of overtime wages to employees.
Occupational Health and Safety
Standards and practices to ensure a safe working environment.
Offboarding Compliance
Ensuring that the process of employee separation meets legal requirements.
Organized Labor
Employee unions and collective bargaining practices.
Occupational Requirement
In India, certain specific job requirements may justify differential treatment if they are essential for the performance of a particular role and comply with legal standards, including the Equal Remuneration Act and other anti-discrimination regulations.
P
Public Sector Compliance
Adherence to specific regulations and laws governing employment in government agencies.
Privacy Laws
Regulations protecting personal information of employees and job applicants.
Pay Equity
Laws ensuring equal pay for equal work.
Payroll Compliance
Adherence to laws and regulations governing employee compensation.
Protected Classes
Groups of people legally protected from discrimination, such as based on race, gender, age, etc.
Personal Data Protection Bill
An Indian legislative framework aimed at protecting personal data, including genetic information, from misuse. While not specific to genetic nondiscrimination, this bill and other anti-discrimination laws provide a basis for protecting individuals against discrimination in health insurance and employment based on their genetic information.
Q
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
A form of harassment where job benefits are contingent upon sexual favors.
Quality Assurance
Ensuring compliance through systematic monitoring and evaluation.
Qualifying Event
An event that triggers certain rights or obligations under employment laws, such as changes in benefits eligibility.
Quantitative Compliance Metrics
Using numerical data to measure and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
R
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act)
An Indian law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures their rights and opportunities in various aspects of life, including employment, education, and accessibility.
Retaliation Protections
Laws protecting employees from retaliation for reporting violations or exercising their rights.
Risk Management
Identifying and mitigating risks related to non-compliance.
Regulatory Compliance
Adherence to rules and regulations set by governing bodies.
Reasonable Accommodation
Modifications or adjustments to a job or work environment to enable employees with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
S
Sexual Harassment Policies
Rules and procedures to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace.
Social Security Compliance
Adherence to laws governing social security contributions and benefits.
Safety Standards
Regulations ensuring workplace safety and health
T
Tax Compliance
Adherence to laws and regulations regarding payroll taxes, income taxes, and other tax obligations.
Termination Procedures
Procedures and documentation required when terminating an employee’s employment.
Trade Secrets
Confidential business information that provides a competitive advantage, protected by law.
Timekeeping
Recording and maintaining accurate records of employee work hours, often required for wage and hour compliance.
Training and Development
Programs aimed at enhancing employee skills and knowledge, often required for compliance with safety and job-specific regulations.
U
Unemployment Insurance
State-administered benefits for workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
Union Organizing
Activities related to employees seeking union representation and compliance with labor laws regarding unionization.
Unfair Labor Practices
Prohibited actions by employers or unions that interfere with employee rights protected by law.
Use of Force Policies
Guidelines for handling potentially violent situations, especially in security or law enforcement roles.
V
Violence in the Workplace
Policies and procedures to prevent and address incidents of violence at work.
Voluntary Compliance
Willingly following laws and regulations without external enforcement.
Vicarious Liability
Legal responsibility for the actions of another person, such as an employer for the actions of its employees.
Visa Sponsorship
Supporting a foreign national’s employment authorization in compliance with immigration laws.
W
Workplace Safety
Practices and regulations ensuring the physical safety of employees at work.
Workplace Accommodations
Adjustments made to a job or work environment to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
Workers' Compensation
Insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment.
Y
Youth Employment
Regulations governing the employment of minors, including restrictions on hours and types of work.
Yield Curve
A graphical representation of the relationship between bond yields and maturities, relevant in financial compliance and planning.
Z
Zero-Hour Contracts
Employment agreements where employees are not guaranteed work hours, subject to specific legal regulations.
Zero Tolerance Policies
Strict adherence to rules and regulations without exceptions or excuses, often related to workplace conduct and safety.