our Glossary of Slightly Scary Workplace Words

---

• Accreditation: Sounds like a fancy stamp of approval from a secret society. It just means a person or organisation has met certain official standards or qualifications. Basically, it proves they know their stuff!
• Advocacy: Sounds like something a high-powered lawyer does, right? For you, it simply means speaking up for yourself or others, often to protect rights or promote a positive change. It's about confidently making your case.
• Arbitration: Similar to conciliation, but usually more formal. It's when an independent person listens to both sides of a dispute and then makes a binding decision – think of it as a judge, but often outside of court. Sounds serious, because it can be!

• Breach (of Contract/Duty): This isn't just a tiny crack; it means someone (employer or employee) has broken an important rule or term laid out in a contract or their responsibilities. It's a serious "oops."

• Collective Bargaining: Sounds like a group of angry villagers with pitchforks, but it's much tamer! It's when trade unions (or other employee representatives) negotiate with employers on behalf of a group of workers regarding pay, hours, and conditions. Power in numbers!
• Compliance: Sounds like something an accountant would love. It simply means following all the rules, laws, and regulations. Think of it as playing by the book – which, for employers, is super important!
• Conciliation: This fancy word simply means bringing two sides together (like you and your employer) to try and find a friendly solution to a disagreement, often with a helpful third party (like ACAS) guiding the chat. Think of it as a grown-up attempt to stop arguing and start talking.
• Confidentiality Clause: A bit of legal speak often found in contracts, basically saying "what happens at work, stays at work" – especially about company secrets or sensitive information. Break it, and you're in trouble!
• Constructive Dismissal: Sounds like something out of a spy novel, right? It's not about being fired; it's when your employer makes your working conditions so unbearable that you have no choice but to resign. It’s essentially them pushing you out without saying "you're fired."
• Culture (Workplace): Not about fancy dress-up days. This refers to the overall personality and vibe of a company – how people interact, what's considered "normal" behaviour, and how problems are handled. It can be great or, well, a bit scary.

• Derogatory (Behaviour/Remarks): This is a polite way of saying someone's being insulting, disrespectful, or putting you down. Definitely not part of a positive workplace!
• Disciplinary (Procedure): The formal process your employer follows if they think you've broken rules or aren't performing. It sounds like a stern talking-to, and sometimes it is, but there are rules they have to follow too.
• Discrimination: More than just someone being a bit rude. This word refers to being treated unfairly because of who you are – things like your age, gender, race, disability, or religion. It's illegal and definitely not okay.
• Dispute Resolution: Sounds like gearing up for a battle! It's just the fancy term for finding a way to sort out disagreements at work, ideally without it turning into a full-blown war.
• Due Diligence: This isn't a legal term you'll typically face as an employee, but it's important for employers. For you, think of it as "doing your homework." If you're researching a company, checking employment tribunal decisions is part of your own due diligence!
• Duty of Care: This sounds like a heavy responsibility, and it is – for your employer! It means they have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure your health, safety, and well-being at work. They literally have to care for you (in a workplace sense!).

• Employment Tribunal: A formal court-like setting where serious workplace disputes are heard. If you can't resolve an issue with your employer, this is where you might end up to get a legal decision. It's less scary with good preparation!
• Empowerment: This sounds like a buzzword, but for us, it means giving you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to take control of your situation, make informed decisions, and stand up for yourself. You've got this!
• Ex-gratia Payment: Sounds like a magic spell! It's a payment made by an employer that they're not legally obliged to make, usually as a goodwill gesture, often as part of a settlement. A nice bonus, if it happens.

• Grievance: Sounds a bit dramatic, but it's just a formal complaint you make to your employer when you're unhappy about something at work. It's your official way of saying, "Hey, I have an issue, and I want it sorted."
• Gross Misconduct: Sounds like you've committed a huge, unforgivable sin. It refers to a very serious breach of contract that often results in instant dismissal (like theft, violence, or extreme insubordination). Definitely not just a minor slip-up.

• Harassment: More than just annoying. This is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic (like race, gender) or of a sexual nature, which violates your dignity or creates a hostile environment. It's illegal and unacceptable.

• Incapacity (Performance/Medical): Sounds like you've lost your superpowers. It means you're unable to do your job properly, either because of poor performance or a health condition. Employers have processes for dealing with both.
• Indemnity: This sounds like protection money. It's an agreement (often in a contract) where one party promises to compensate another for any loss or damage they might suffer. Like a financial shield.
• Injunction: Don't panic, this isn't usually aimed at employees! It's a legal order from a court telling someone to stop doing something, or start doing something. Mostly applies to companies, not you just trying to get through Monday.
• Intimidation: Sounds like someone trying to scare you. It's behaviour designed to frighten or coerce someone, often making them feel unsafe or unable to speak up. Definitely a workplace no-no.

• Jurisdiction: This sounds like a mystical legal realm. It simply refers to the specific authority or area over which a court or legal body (like an Employment Tribunal) has power. Which country's laws apply, for example.

• Legislation: Just a posh word for "laws." In the workplace context, it refers to all the rules and acts passed by the government that protect your rights as an employee. Boring but super important!
• Liability: This isn't about whether you like someone. It means legal responsibility for something, often for causing harm or loss, or owing money. It's about who's "on the hook."

• Mitigation: Sounds like something you do to slow down a disaster. In a legal sense, it means taking steps to reduce the impact or severity of a problem or loss. For example, if you're dismissed, you might mitigate by looking for another job quickly.

• Non-compete Clause: A section in your contract that tries to stop you from working for a rival company or setting up your own competing business for a certain period after you leave. Often challenged, but designed to keep you "in line."

• Ombudsman: Sounds like a wise old wizard. It's an official (usually independent) who investigates complaints about organisations, often in the public sector or specific industries, to ensure fair treatment. They're there to help if you feel wronged.
• Outplacement Services: Sounds like you're being launched into space! It's actually a supportive service employers sometimes offer to help employees find new jobs after being made redundant. Think of it as career coaching post-job.

• Performance Management: Sounds like you're being judged on a stage, doesn't it? It's actually the process your employer uses to check how you're doing at your job, set goals, and help you improve. It should be supportive, not scary.
• Pillars (Core Pillars): On our site, these aren't ancient ruins. They're simply the main, foundational ideas or principles that everything we do is built upon – like Support, Challenge, and Advocate. Our strong foundations!
• Protocol: Sounds very formal and rigid. It just means a set of official rules or procedures that need to be followed in a specific situation. Like a workplace recipe, but for how to behave!
• Protected Disclosure: This is the fancy legal term for "whistleblowing." It means revealing certain types of wrongdoing in the public interest, and crucially, it offers you legal protection from being treated badly for doing so.

• Reasonable Adjustments: This isn't about making things "a bit nicer." It's a legal requirement for employers to make changes to a job or workplace to remove barriers for disabled employees or job applicants. It's about ensuring fair access.
• Redundancy: Not quite the same as being fired. This means your job no longer exists, usually because the company is restructuring or closing down a department. It's about the role, not your performance. Still tough, but legally distinct.
• Remedies: Sounds like medicine for legal issues. In a tribunal, remedies are the solutions or compensations a court might order to fix a problem, like getting your job back or receiving financial payment.
• Remuneration: Just a very formal, impressive-sounding word for your pay, salary, or compensation. Basically, how much money you get for your hard work!

• Safeguarding: This sounds like protecting a secret treasure, and in a way, it is! It refers to protecting the health, wellbeing, and human rights of individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults. Super important stuff.
• Sanction (Disciplinary): This sounds like a punishment from a higher authority. In a disciplinary context, it's the official penalty or consequence for breaking rules, ranging from a warning to dismissal.
• Settlement Agreement: This isn't just shaking hands and making up. It's a legally binding document where an employee agrees to give up their right to bring a claim against their employer (e.g., at an Employment Tribunal), usually in exchange for a payment. A formal goodbye!
• Statutory Rights: These are rights you have automatically because of the law, regardless of what your contract says (though your contract might give you more rights). Think of them as your basic, non-negotiable workplace superpowers.
• Sub-header: A fancy term for the smaller titles under the main title. It just breaks things up so you don't get lost in a sea of text!
• Summary Dismissal: This sounds incredibly abrupt – and it is! It's when your employer fires you instantly, without notice, usually for gross misconduct. No time for goodbyes or garden leave.

• Termination (of Employment): The formal, somewhat cold, word for ending a job. It can be through resignation, dismissal, or redundancy. It's the official end of the work relationship.
• Terms and Conditions: The long, often ignored, list of rules you agree to when you start a job or sign up for a service. These cover everything from your pay to how much notice you need to give. Always worth a quick skim (or a deep dive if you're feeling brave!).
• Transformation: Sounds like something out of a superhero movie! For us, it means changing from feeling unsure or isolated to feeling confident, supported, and ready to tackle anything. Your personal superpower!
• Transparency: This sounds like seeing straight through something. In the workplace, it means being open and honest, communicating clearly, and not hiding information. It builds trust, which is never scary!

• Without Prejudice: This sounds like a legal oath! It means that any communication or offer made "without prejudice" during a dispute cannot be used later as evidence in court or a tribunal if negotiations fail. It's a way to talk freely to try and settle things.
• 
  

Feeling a bit less daunted now? Knowing what these words mean is the first step towards feeling more confident and in control of your workplace journey. And remember, "Is it me?!" is always here to help you navigate the trickier parts!