What Does it Mean?
When you start working you will hear some terms or words that you may be unfamiliar with, below you will find a list of some of the more common terms used in the workplace and what they mean. Click on the word below to find out what it means.
Accrue
This means 'to build up'. You will usually hear this term in relation to annual leave entitlement, TOIL or overtime.
Adoption Leave
If you start or extend your family through adoption or surrogacy, you are also entitled to time off similar to Maternity Leave.
Criteria
This means you will have to meet certain standards or measures. You may hear this when applying for a job as candidates will need to meet certain criteria to be successful.
Flexi Time
This is a flexible way of working that allows you to fit your working hours around your individual needs. You will have to request to work flexibly. Everyone is entitled to request flexible working once they have worked continuously for the same employer for at least 26 weeks.
Gross Salary
This is your total pay before deduction such as tax or National Insurance are taken off.
MAternity Leave
Maternity refers to pregnancy and the time shortly after childbirth. Maternity Leave is available to anyone who has given birth.
NAtional Insurance
You pay National Insurance contributions to qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension. You pay mandatory National Insurance if you are aged 16 or over and are an employee earning above £184 per week, or self-employed and making a profit of more than £6,515 or more a year.
NEt Salary
This is your total pay after deduction such as tax or National Insurance are taken off. This may also be referred to as your ‘take home’ pay.
Overtime
If you have normal working hours, overtime refers to any time you work beyond these hours. Your employment contract will usually include details of overtime pay rates and how they are worked out.
Paternity Leave
This is available to anyone whose partner has had a baby, however you will need to give the correct notice.
Pro-rata
‘Pro-rata’ is when you receive a proportion of the full-time amount, reflecting the number of hours or days you work. You will usually hear this term in relation to salary or annual leave entitlement.
P45
This is a document that you will receive from your employer when you stop working for them. They need to provide it by law, so if you do not receive a P45, ask them for one.
Your P45 will show how much tax you’ve paid on your salary so far in the tax year. You should keep this safe as you will need to give it to your next employer when you start a new job, or the Jobcentre Plus if you’re not working.
Your P45 will show how much tax you’ve paid on your salary so far in the tax year. You should keep this safe as you will need to give it to your next employer when you start a new job, or the Jobcentre Plus if you’re not working.
P60
This is a document that shows the tax you’ve paid on your salary in the tax year. You will receive this annually from your employer and you must receive it by 31 May in paper or electronic form.
You will need your P60 to claim back overpaid tax, apply for tax credits or proof of your income if you apply for a loan or mortgage.
You will need your P60 to claim back overpaid tax, apply for tax credits or proof of your income if you apply for a loan or mortgage.
REdundancy
This is a form of dismissal from your job. It happens when employers need to reduce their workforce. If you are made redundant you might be eligible for certain things including redundancy pay, a notice period, a consultation with your employer, the option to move into a different job, time off to find a new job.
Shared Paternal Leave
This is when you and your partner share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between you. Shared Paternal Leave is available if you and your partner have a baby, use a surrogate to have a baby, adopt a child or foster a child you are a planning to adopt.
Statutory
Statutory means you are legally entitled to it. At work, you will usually hear this in relation to a benefit such as Statutory Sick Pay or Statutory Maternity Leave.
Tax year
The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. This is also known as the financial year.
TOIL
This stands for ‘Time off in Lieu’. If you carry out overtime for your employer, you may get TOIL rather than being paid. The terms of TOIL (for example, when it can be taken) will be agreed with your employer.
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is someone who reports certain types of wrongdoing. This will usually be something they have seen at work, though not always. A whistleblower is protected by law and should not be treated unfairly or lose their job because they 'blew the whistle'.
This information has been developed by the Local Employability Partnership.