Introduction

This is a monolingual English-English glossary tackling the field of law, specifically

employment law. It is compiled with the aim of assisting lawyers in remembering some of the
most important terms in the subject field of employment law. This glossary consists of sixty
terms, which are ordered alphabetically. The terms are extracted from four academic journal
articles. The first article, entitled A Theory of Fair Employment Laws tackles racial
discrimination in employment laws. The second article, entitled Labor and Employment Law
at the Millennium: A Historical Review and Critical Assessment covers the history of
employment law. The third article, entitled Employment Laws in Developing Countries,
analyses employment law in developing countries. The fourth article, entitled Employment
Law and Social Equality, tackles the need for social equality in employment law. The
definitions for the terms are extracted from two general dictionaries and more than ten
specialized legal glossaries.

1
 Contents of the Glossary

1. Employment law terms in alphabetical order.

2. Phonetic transcription using the IPA.
3. Word class.
4. Definition.
5. Link to the glossary where the definition is extracted.

List of Abbreviations

1. Noun: (n.)
2. Verb: (v.)
a. Transitive: (t)
b. Intransitive: (i)
3. Adjective: (adj.)

2
 Glossary of Employment Law Terms

Word
Term Pronunciation Definition Link
class
https://
www.merri
am-
To declare or make
1 Annul /əˈnʌl/ (v.) (t) webster.co
legally invalid or void.
m/
dictionary/
annul
Any and all laws issued https://
or implemented by the www.legisl
government or ate.tech/
2 Applicable Law /ˈæplɪkəbəl lɔː/ (n.)
regulators of the country glossary/
whose laws apply to a applicable-
contract. law
A legal rule that can be
set out under a statute, a
code, or a paragraph in a https://
legal document. Articles www.law.c
3 Article /ˈɑːtɪkəl/ (n.)
usually refer to matters ornell.edu/
that have been agreed wex/article
upon by the supervising
authority.
https://
An employment
www.law.c
agreement stating that
ornell.edu/
employment is for an
At-will /æt wɪl ɪm wex/
4 (n.) indefinite period of time
Employment ˈplɔɪmənt/ employmen
and may be terminated
t-at-
either by employer or
will_doctri
employee.
ne

3
 Compensation for work
that was either already https://
performed or work that www.law.c
5 Back Pay /bæk peɪ/ (n.) could have been ornell.edu/
performed if not for the wex/
interference of another back_pay
party.
Regulations and rules https://
established by a www.law.c
6 By-law /ˈbaɪlɔː/ (n.) company or other ornell.edu/
organization for internal wex/
management. bylaws
A written employee https://
benefit program that www.law.c
allows employees to ornell.edu/
7 Cafeteria Plan /ˌkæfəˈtɪəriə plæn/ (n.)
choose at least two wex/
benefits from a menu of cafeteria_pl
options. an
https://
dictionary.c
A person who goes to
ambridge.o
court to make a legal
8 Claimant /ˈkleɪmənt/ (n.) rg/
complaint against
dictionary/
someone else.
english/
claimant
https://
www.merri
A formal written warrant am-
granting the power to webster.co
9 Commission /kəˈmɪʃən/ (n.)
perform various acts or m/
duties. dictionary/
commissio
n
10 Comparable /ˈkɒmpərəbəl wɜːθ/ (n.) A way for companies to https://
4
 set employee salaries by www.inves
ranking the value of topedia.co
comparable skills and m/what-is-
Worth
responsibilities across comparable
professions, regardless -worth-
of sex. 5115639
https://
An act of giving dictionary.c
agreement to something ambridge.o
11 Consent /kənˈsɛnt/ (n.) that is recognized by rg/
law, or the form this dictionary/
agreement is written on. english/
consent
https://
A promise, performance,
www.law.c
or forbearance
ornell.edu/
12 Consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/ (n.) bargained by a promisor
wex/
in exchange for their
considerati
promise.
on
Is where an employer https://
has committed a serious landaulaw.
Constructive /kənˈstrʌktɪv dɪs breach of contract, co.uk/
13 (n.)
Dismissal ˈmɪsəl/ entitling the employee to constructiv
resign in response to the e-
employer’s conduct. dismissal/
14 Damages /ˈdæmɪʤɪz/ (n.) A sum of money which https://
is awarded by the courts www.lawri
for the purpose of ght.org.au/
replacing the monetary legal-
value of property or information
rights which have been /personal-
lost or damaged, or to injuries/
cover expenses, loss, damages-
pain and suffering and-loss/
5
 relating to a victim’s
injury or death.
https://
vardags.co
m/law-
A formal process used guide/
Disciplinary /ˌdɪsəˈplɪnəri by an employer to deal disciplinary
15 (n.)
Hearing ˈhɪərɪŋ/ with issues relating to an -
employee’s work. proceeding
s/what-is-a-
disciplinary
-hearing
https://
Different treatment for
www.law.c
similarly situated
ornell.edu/
16 Discrimination /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/ (n.) parties, especially when
wex/
no legitimate reason
discriminat
appears to exist.
ion
https://
A party’s obligation to
www.law.c
make reasonable efforts
/ˈdjuːti tuː ornell.edu/
17 Duty to Mitigate (n.) to limit the harm they
ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ wex/
suffer from another
duty_to_mi
party’s actions.
tigate
https://
An individual who
www.law.c
works under the
18 Employee /ɛmplɔɪˈiː/ (n.) ornell.edu/
supervision or control of
wex/
an employer.
employee
19 Employer /ɪmˈplɔɪər/ (n.) An individual (a person, https://
company, or www.law.c
organization) that hires ornell.edu/
another individual (an wex/
employee), pays the employer
6
 employee a salary or
wage, and has the power
to control the
employee’s work duties.
https://
www.adob
e.com/
A legally binding
sign/hub/
agreement between an
Employment /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt document-
20 (n.) employer and employee
Contract ˈkɒntrækt/ types/what-
used to define the
is-a-
working relationship.
contract-of-
employmen
t.html
https://
dictionary.c
A set of laws that deal
ambridge.o
with the rights of
rg/
21 Employment Law /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt lɔː/ (n.) employees and the
dictionary/
responsibilities of
english/
employers.
employmen
t-law
https://
dictionary.c
In Britain, a special type
ambridge.o
of court that decides
Employment /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt traɪ rg/
22 (n.) legal problems between
Tribunal ˈbjuːnəl/ dictionary/
employees and their
english/
employers.
employmen
t-tribunal
23 Equal Pay /ˈiːkwəl peɪ/ (n.) Aims to achieve equality https://
between men and www.lexis
women in pay and other nexis.co.uk
terms of employment /legal/
7
 where the work of an
employee and an
opposite sex comparator
glossary/
is equal, by inserting a
equal-pay
sex equality clause into
the employee’s contract
to ensure parity.
https://
Termination from mere thelawdicti
24 Expiration /ˌɛkspɪˈreɪʃən/ (n.)
lapse of time. onary.org/
expiration/
https://
The period of time
www.inves
during which an
topedia.co
employee stays away
25 Garden Leave /ˈɡɑːdən liːv/ (n.) m/terms/
from the workplace or
g/
works remotely during
gardening-
the notice period.
leave.asp
Formal complaints or
accusations of a
violation of workplace https://
contract terms or labour www.law.c
26 Grievance /ˈɡriːvəns/ (n.) policy, filed by an ornell.edu/
employee or group of wex/
employees who feel grievance
negatively impacted by
the employer.
27 Gross Misconduct /ɡrəʊs mɪs (n.) Behaviour which is so https://
ˈkɒndʌkt/ bad that the employer is www.lexis
entitled to dismiss nexis.co.uk
straight away, involving /legal/
a fundamental breach of glossary/
contract, done gross-
deliberately and wilfully misconduct
8
 or through gross
negligence.
A legally binding https://
obligation that derives www.inves
/ɪmˈplaɪd from actions, conduct, topedia.co
28 Implied Contract (n.)
ˈkɒntrækt/ or circumstances of one m/terms/i/
or more parties in an implied_co
agreement. ntract.asp
All types of relations
between employers and
https://
workers, be they at
www.ioe-
national, regional or
emp.org/
/ɪnˈdʌstriəl rɪ company level; and to
29 Industrial Relation (n.) policy-
ˈleɪʃən/ all dealings with social
priorities/
and economic issues,
industrial-
such as wage setting,
relations
working time and
working conditions.
An involuntary
separation from work https://
through no fault of www.inves
30 Layoff /ˈleɪˈɒf/ (n.) employees, often topedia.co
initiated by the m/terms/l/
employer for economic layoff.asp
reasons to cut costs.
31 Legal Capacity /ˈliːɡəl kəˈpæsəti/ (n.) The capability and https://
power under law of a www.merri
person to occupy a am-
particular status or webster.co
relationship with m/
another or to engage in a dictionary/
particular undertaking or legal
transaction. %20capacit

9
 y
https://
dictionary.l
aw.com/
Legal responsibility for
32 Liability /ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/ (n.) Default.asp
one's acts or omissions.
x?
selected=1
151
https://
www.inves
A monetary sum paid in
topedia.co
Lump Sum /lʌmp sʌm one single payment
33 (n.) m/terms/l/
Payment ˈpeɪmənt/ instead of allocated into
lump-sum-
instalments.
payment.as
p
https://
www.ilo.or
The minimum amount
g/global/
of remuneration that an
topics/
employer is required to
wages/
pay wage earners for the
minimum-
34 Minimum Wage /ˈmɪnɪməm weɪʤ/ (n.) work performed during
wages/
a given period, which
definition/
cannot be reduced by
WCMS_43
collective agreement or
9072/lang--
an individual contract.
en/
index.htm
35 Notice Period /ˈnəʊtɪs ˈpɪəriəd/ (n.) The period of time that https://
an employee must work dictionary.c
in their job after they ambridge.o
have said that they are rg/
leaving, or after they dictionary/
have been asked to english/
leave. notice-
10
 period
A civil law concept
https://
which can be created
www.law.c
voluntarily, such as one
36 Obligation /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/ (n.) ornell.edu/
arising from a contract,
wex/
quasi-contract, or
obligation
unilateral promise.
A disease that an
https://
employee develops as
www.law.c
the result of exposure to
Occupational /ˌɒkjəˈpeɪʃənəl dɪ ornell.edu/
37 (n.) particular substances,
Disease ˈziːz/ wex/
working conditions, or
occupation
employment
al_disease
requirements.
https://
The compensation www.aihr.c
employees get for om/hr-
38 Overtime Pay /ˈəʊvətaɪm peɪ/ (n.)
working longer than glossary/
standard hours. overtime-
pay/
https://
A person or entity who
www.law.c
39 Party /ˈpɑːti/ (n.) takes part in a legal
ornell.edu/
transaction.
wex/party
The area of law that https://
deals with dictionary.c
disagreements between ambridge.o
40 Private Law /ˈpraɪvət lɔː/ (n.) people or companies, rg/
rather than dictionary/
disagreements that english/
involve the government. private-law
41 Private Sector /ˈpraɪvət ˈsɛktə/ (n.) The part of a country's https://
economic system that is www.techt
run by individuals and arget.com/
11
 whatis/
companies, rather than a definition/
government entity. private-
sector
https://
A period at the start of uk.practical
an employment law.thomso
relationship during nreuters.co
which the employee is m/5-200-
Probationary /prəˈbeɪʃənəri assessed by their 3424?
42 (n.)
Period ˈpɪəriəd/ employer and following transitionT
which time they are ype=Defau
notified as to whether lt&context
their appointment will Data=(sc.D
be made permanent. efault)&firs
tPage=true
https://
www.merri
The part of an economy am-
which is controlled or webster.co
43 Public Sector /ˈpʌblɪk ˈsɛktə/ (n.)
owned by the m/
government. dictionary/
public
%20sector
https://
barprepher
Notice that is deemed to o.com/
be what a reasonable legal-
Reasonable
44 /ˈriːzənəbəl ˈnəʊtɪs/ (n.) person would recognize terms/
Notice
as minimally acceptable constitution
under the circumstances. al-law/
reasonable-
notice/
45 Regulatory /ˌrɛɡjəˈleɪtəri (n.) A set of formal and https://
12
 www.justic
e.govt.nz/
justice-
informal rules, norms sector-
and sanctions that shape policy/
System ˈsɪstəm/ people’s behaviour and regulatory-
interactions in pursuit of stewardshi
a broad goal or outcome. p/what-is-
regulatory-
stewardshi
p/
https://
www.inves
The total amount an
topedia.co
46 Remuneration /rɪˌmjuːnəˈreɪʃn/ (n.) employee receives for
m/terms/r/
performing a job.
remunerati
on.asp
https://
The party against whom
www.law.c
a petition is filed,
47 Respondent / rɪˈspɒndənt/ (n.) ornell.edu/
especially one on
wex/
appeal.
respondent
https://
A condition that
www.inves
restricts, limits,
topedia.co
Restrictive /rɪsˈtrɪktɪv prohibits, or prevents
48 (n.) m/terms/r/
Covenant ˈkʌvənənt/ the actions of someone
restrictive-
named in an enforceable
covenant.as
agreement.
p
49 Retiring / rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ ə (n.) An amount paid to https://
Allowance ˈlaʊəns/ employees when or after www.canad
they retire from an a.ca/en/
office or employment, in revenue-
recognition of long agency/
13
 services/
tax/
businesses/
topics/
payroll/
completing
-filing-
information
service or for the loss of
-returns/t4-
office or employment.
information
-
employers/
special-
situations/
retiring-
allowances.
html
Payment offered by an
employer to a https://
terminated employee in achkarlaw.
Salary /ˈsæləri kən
50 (n.) lieu of notice as a com/salary-
Continuance ˈtɪnjuəns/
continued salary until continuanc
the end of the notice e/
period.
https://
An agreement, a www.law.c
51 Stipulation /ˈstɪpjəleɪʃən/ (n.) bargain, proviso, or ornell.edu/
condition. wex/
stipulation
52 Stock Option /stɒk ˈɒpʃənz/ (n.) A form of equity https://
compensation that carta.com/
allows an employee to blog/
buy a specific number of equity-101-
shares at a pre-set price. stock-
14
 option-
basics/
https://
dictionary.c
ambridge.o
Having a lower or less
53 Subordinate /səˈbɔːdnɪt/ (adj.) rg/
important position.
dictionary/
english/
subordinate
A practice which allows
https://
an employee to
www.techt
complete work
arget.com/
assignments from
searchmobi
outside the traditional
54 Telecommuting /ˌtɛlɪkəˈmjuːtɪŋ/ (v.) (i) lecomputin
workplace using
g/
telecommunications
definition/
tools such as email,
telecommut
messaging, phone, chat
ing
and video apps.
https://
Legally ending the
contractpod
agreement before all
ai.com/
parties have completed
55 Termination /ˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/ (n.) news/what-
the terms and
is-contract-
obligations of the
termination
contract.
/

15
 An employee benefit https://
through which an graduate.no
employer pays for a pre- rtheastern.e
Tuition /tjuˈɪʃən ˌriːɪm determined amount of du/
56 (n.)
Reimbursement ˈbɜːsmənt/ continuing education resources/
credits or college tuition-
coursework to be reimburse
applied toward a degree. ment/
https://
dictionary.c
A situation in which an
ambridge.o
employer orders
rg/
57 Unfair Dismissal /ʌnˈfeə dɪsˈmɪsəl/ (n.) someone to leave their
dictionary/
job, when there is not a
english/
good reason to do so.
unfair-
dismissal
https://
Anyone who has and
www.inves
reports insider
topedia.co
knowledge of illegal,
58 Whistleblower /ˈwɪsəlˌbləʊə/ (n.) m/terms/
illicit, and fraudulent
w/
activities occurring in an
whistleblo
organization.
wer.asp
59 Wrongful /ˈrɒŋfəl dɪsˈmɪsəl/ (n.) The general term used to https://
Dismissal describe any situation sultanlawy
where an employer has ers.com/
explicitly terminated the faqs/what-
employment of one or is-the-
more of its workers difference-
without providing that between-
worker with her or his wrongful-
entitlements under the dismissal-
law. constructiv
e-
16
 dismissal-
and-unjust-
dismissal/
https://
An agreement between www.cipd.
two parties that one may org/uk/
Zero-hour /ˈzɪərəʊ aʊə be asked to perform knowledge/
60 (n.)
Contract ˈkɒntrækt/ work for another but factsheets/
there is no minimum set zero-hours-
contracted hours. reality-
report/

17
 References

Bagenstos, S. R. (2013). Employment Law and Social Equality. Michigan Law Review,
112(2), 225-274. Retrieved from
https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=mlr
Befort, S. F. (2002). Labor and Employment Law at the Millennium: A Historical Review and
Critical Assessment . Boston College Law Review, 43, 351-460. Retrieved from
https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1022&context=faculty_articles
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from Cambridge Dictionary:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/
Djankov, S., & Ramalho, R. (2008, December). Employment Laws in Developing Countries.
Centre for Economic Policy Research(7097), 2-24. Retrieved from
https://repec.cepr.org/repec/cpr/ceprdp/DP7097.pdf
Fiss, O. M. (1971). A Theory of Fair Employment Laws. The University of Chicago Law
Review, 38, 235-314. Retrieved from
https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=11684&context=journal_articles
Merriam Webster. (n.d.). Retrieved from Merriam Webster: https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/

18