# Glossary of UK onboarding and HR terms > 30 UK onboarding and HR terms defined in plain English, each with its GOV.UK, ACAS or HSE source and a link to the matching Forematter guide. Source: https://forematter.com/glossary/ Updated: 2026-09-29 ## Acas The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which describes itself as "independent and impartial experts helping everyone at work". It gives free advice on workplace rights, plus training, conciliation and mediation ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/about-us)). ## Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures The Code that "sets out the basic requirements of fairness" for handling discipline and grievances at work. Employment tribunals take it into account, and can raise or cut an award by up to 25 per cent where an employer or employee unreasonably failed to follow it ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/acas-code-of-practice-on-disciplinary-and-grievance-procedures/html)). Guide: [Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requires](/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law/) ## Automatic enrolment The duty to put eligible staff into a workplace pension. You must enrol and contribute for staff aged between 22 and State Pension age who earn at least £10,000 a year and normally work in the UK ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions-employers)), and write to them within six weeks of the day they meet the age and earnings criteria ([The Pensions Regulator](https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/employers/new-employers/im-an-employer-who-has-to-provide-a-pension/declare-your-compliance/ongoing-duties-for-employers)). Guide: [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ## Contract of employment An agreement that sets out an employee's employment conditions, rights, responsibilities and duties ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions)). Its terms can be agreed verbally, in writing or through conduct, so a contract exists even if nothing is written down ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-contracts-and-the-law)). Guide: [Written statement of employment particulars: what it must include (UK)](/guides/written-statement-of-employment-particulars/) ## Day-one rights Employment rights that apply from the first day of a job, including during probation: "'Day one' employment rights apply during probation periods" ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/probation-periods)). From 6 April 2026, statutory sick pay is paid from the first day of illness rather than the fourth ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-rights-act-2025)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Digital verification service (DVS) A provider employers can use to complete the digital identity part of a right to work check for British and Irish citizens who hold a valid passport, including Irish passport cards. It's one option, not a requirement: "You cannot mandate how an individual proves their right to work" ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide/employers-guide-to-right-to-work-checks-26-june-2025-accessible)). Guide: [Right to work checks: a plain-English guide for UK employers](/guides/right-to-work-checks-employer-guide/) ## Employee handbook A document that collects a company's policies and rules in one place. Contract terms can sit "in an employee handbook or on a company notice board", so employers should make clear which parts are legally binding ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/contract-terms)). Guide: [Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requires](/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law/) ## Employers' liability insurance Insurance you must get as soon as you become an employer. It helps you pay compensation if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of the work they do for you ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employers-liability-insurance)). Guide: [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ## Employment tribunal The tribunal that hears claims from people who think an employer, potential employer or trade union has treated them unlawfully, for example through unfair dismissal, discrimination at work or breach of contract ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunals)). ## Grievance procedure "A grievance procedure is a formal way for an employee to raise a problem or complaint to their employer." Acas suggests raising a problem informally first ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/grievance-procedure-step-by-step)). Guide: [Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requires](/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law/) ## Health and safety law poster A poster setting out health and safety law. If you employ anyone, you must either display it where your workers can easily read it or give each worker the equivalent leaflet ([HSE](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/display.htm)). Guide: [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ## Health and safety policy A policy that "sets out your general approach to health and safety", which every business must have. "If you have five or more employees, you must write your policy down", and you must share it, and any changes to it, with your employees ([HSE](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/policy/index.htm)). Guide: [Do you need an employee handbook? What UK law actually requires](/guides/employee-handbook-uk-law/) ## Induction "An induction is the process of welcoming someone to an organisation or role." There's no legal requirement to have one ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/inductions)). Guide: [How to write an onboarding plan for a new starter's first weeks](/guides/onboarding-plan-first-weeks/) ## Internal knowledge base The shared place, such as a wiki, shared drive or intranet, where staff look up how things work: policies, processes and who to ask. GOV.UK accepts an intranet as somewhere employees have reasonable access to for some day-one written statement details, such as sick pay and notice periods ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/written-statement-of-employment-particulars)). Guide: [Internal knowledge bases: how to keep one people actually use](/guides/internal-knowledge-base/) ## Onboarding Another name for induction: Acas says an induction is "sometimes called 'onboarding'" ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/inductions)). In practice many workplaces use it for the whole settling-in stretch, not just the first few days. Guide: [How to write an onboarding plan for a new starter's first weeks](/guides/onboarding-plan-first-weeks/) ## Onboarding buddy A colleague, usually not the line manager, who helps a new starter settle in. Acas's induction checklist includes introducing them to "their line manager and someone to help them settle into the job, for example a 'buddy'" ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/template-checklist-for-induction-of-new-staff)). Guide: [Onboarding buddies: how to set up a buddy scheme that helps](/guides/onboarding-buddy/) ## P45 The form an employee gets from their employer when they stop working for them ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/paye-forms-p45-p60-p11d)). A new employer uses it to work out the starter's tax code; if they don't have one, you use HMRC's starter checklist instead ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/new-employee)). Guide: [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ## Policy acknowledgement A signed or dated record that someone has been given a policy. It's how you show a policy was shared: HSE says "You must share the policy, and any changes to it, with your employees" ([HSE](https://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/policy/index.htm)), and Acas's induction checklist template includes a line for the new worker's signature ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/template-checklist-for-induction-of-new-staff)). Guide: [Policy acknowledgement forms: how to show staff have read a policy](/guides/policy-acknowledgement/) ## Principal statement The main part of the written statement of employment particulars, which the employer must give on the first day of employment. The rest, the wider written statement, must follow within 2 months ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/written-statement-of-employment-particulars)). Guide: [Written statement of employment particulars: what it must include (UK)](/guides/written-statement-of-employment-particulars/) ## Probation period A set period at the start of a job for the employer to assess an employee's performance, skills and fit, and for the employee to check the role is right for them. "There's no legal requirement to have a probation period", and it can be any length ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/probation-periods)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Qualifying period The minimum length of service before a particular right applies. Statutory notice applies once an employee has worked for an employer for at least a month ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/notice-periods/notice-when-being-dismissed-or-made-redundant)), and the right to claim unfair dismissal normally needs 2 years ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/dismissal/what-to-do-if-youre-dismissed)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Right to be accompanied "Employees have a right to request to be accompanied to meetings that could result in dismissal", including probation review meetings that could end that way ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/probation-periods/reviews)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Right to work check The check that someone is allowed to work for you in the UK, which you must do before you employ them, online with a share code or from their original documents. You keep copies for the length of their employment and for 2 years after they stop working for you ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/check-job-applicant-right-to-work)). Guide: [Right to work checks: a plain-English guide for UK employers](/guides/right-to-work-checks-employer-guide/) ## Share code A code a job applicant gives an employer so the employer can check their right to work online, together with the applicant's date of birth. "British and Irish citizens cannot get a share code" ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work)). Guide: [Right to work checks: a plain-English guide for UK employers](/guides/right-to-work-checks-employer-guide/) ## Starter checklist HMRC's form for getting the information to work out a new employee's tax code when you don't have their P45. It replaced the P46 ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/new-employee)). Guide: [UK employee onboarding checklist: before day one, day one and the first weeks](/guides/uk-employee-onboarding-checklist/) ## Statutory notice "The statutory notice period is the legal minimum notice period if an employee has worked for an employer for at least a month." From 1 month to 2 years' service it's 1 week ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/notice-periods/notice-when-being-dismissed-or-made-redundant)), and the employee gets the contract's notice or the statutory minimum, whichever is longer ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/dismissal)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Statutory sick pay (SSP) Pay from the employer, for up to 28 weeks, for an employee who is too ill to work ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay)). From 6 April 2026 it's paid from the first day of illness instead of the fourth ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-rights-act-2025)). ## Unfair dismissal A dismissal that may be unfair where, for example, there was no fair reason for it, the reason wasn't enough to justify it, or the employer didn't follow a fair procedure ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/unfair-dismissal)). Claims go to an [employment tribunal](https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunals). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Unfair dismissal qualifying period How long an employee must have worked for you before they can claim unfair dismissal: normally 2 years ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/dismissal/what-to-do-if-youre-dismissed)). From 1 January 2027 it becomes 6 months, and anyone who already has at least 6 months' service on that date is protected ([Acas](https://www.acas.org.uk/probation-periods); [legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/559/made)). Guide: [Probation periods in the UK: what the law says (2026 and 2027 changes)](/guides/probation-periods-uk/) ## Written statement of employment particulars "A document stating the main conditions of employment" that an employer must give employees and workers. It's made up of a principal statement on day one and a wider written statement within 2 months, and it is not the employment contract itself ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/written-statement-of-employment-particulars)). Guide: [Written statement of employment particulars: what it must include (UK)](/guides/written-statement-of-employment-particulars/)