Guide To Understanding HR And Management Acronym And Abbreviations in 2025

An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial component of a longer name or phrase. 

Acronyms are not really words because they don’t make complete sense. They’re more like shortcodes to help speed up our communication and help the productivity rate. 

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase by any means.

It may be a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word.

Acronyms and abbreviations for Human Resources and Management terms are commonly used by human resources practitioners.

Whether you are working on mastering HR and Management acronyms and abbreviations or you just got a job in the HR and Management department, you can consult this comprehensive guide to understanding HR and Management acronyms and abbreviations in 2022. 

Benefits of HR And Management Acronym And Abbreviations 2025

These are some reasons why HR and Management acronyms and abbreviations are used:

• They save time
• They help keep messages short
• They make verbal communications simpler
• They are easy to remember
• They help workers to be more productive
• They help subordinates and coworkers understand your messages
• They help keep the information cryptic to strangers

HR And Management Acronym And Abbreviations 2025

If you want a job, take time off, or be compensated for a work injury, you would need to know these HR and Management acronyms and abbreviations:

1. HR Employment Acronyms and Abbreviations

An organization depends on the productivity of the HR and Management departments. Here are some acronyms and abbreviations used and their meaning:

• AAR – After Action Review
• AR – Annual Review
• ATS – Applicant Tracking System
• BOD – Board of Directors
• BU – Bargaining Unit
• C&B – Compensation, and Benefits
• COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment
• CTO – Compensatory Time Off
• EE – Employee
• EOB – Explanation of Benefits
• ESO – Employee Stock Option
• FSA – Flexible Spending Account
• FT – Full–Time
• FTE – Full–Time Equivalent
• FY – Fiscal Year
• HF – Human Factors
• HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
• HRD – Human Resources Development
• HRLY – Hourly
• HSA – Health Savings Account
• IRA – Individual Retirement Account
• JD – Job Description
• LOA – Leave of Absence
• LTD – Long Term Disability
• LWOP – Leave Without Pay
• LWP – Leave With Pay
• MOP – Measure Of Performance
• MQs – Minimum Qualifications
• NE – Non-Exempt
• OE – Open Enrollment (for health benefits)
• OT – Overtime
• PA – Performance Assessment
• PERT – Project Evaluation and Review Technique
• PIP – Performance Improvement Plan
• PM – Performance Management
• PPM – Policy and Procedures Manual
• PR – Performance Review
• PT – Part-Time
• PTO – Paid Time Off
• QR – Quarterly Review
• QWI – Quarterly Workforce Indicators
• RIF – Reduction in Force
• RRF – Recruitment Request Form
• RTW – Return to Work
• SE – Salaried Exempt
• SNE – Salaried Non-Exempt
• TSP – Thrift Savings Plan
• UCI – Unemployment Compensation Insurance
• WC – Workers’ Compensation
• WFH – Work From home
• WTW – Welfare-to-Work

2. Legal HR Acronyms and Abbreviations

If you have a work-related legal issue, these are some of the legal acronyms and abbreviations that you may find in the HR and Management documents:

• AAP – Affirmative Action Plan
• ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
• ADEA – Age Discrimination in Employment Act
• BLR – Business and Legal Resources
• BLS – Bureau of Labor Statistics
• COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• DOL – Department of Labor
• EAP – Employee Assistance Program
• EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• EPA – Equal Pay Act
• FLSA – Fair Labor Standards Act
• FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act
• HHS – Department of Health & Human Services
• HIRE – Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act
• IRCA – Immigration Reform and Control Act
• IRS – Internal Revenue Service
• LMRA – Labor-Management Relations Act
• LMRDA – Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act
• MHPA – Mental Health Parity Act
• NIOSH – National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• NLRB – National Labor Relations Board
• PDA – Pregnancy Discrimination Act
• PPA – Pension Protection Act of 1987
• PPACA – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
• VEVRA – Vietnam-Era Veterans Readjustment Act
• WARN – Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
• WRAEA – Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act

3. Training and Testing Acronyms and Abbreviations

These are HR and Management acronyms and abbreviations used in training and testing programs:

• BST – Basic Skills Trainer
• CAI – Computer Assisted Instruction
• CAT – Computer Aided Testing
• CBI – Computer-Based Instruction
• CBL – Computer Assisted Learning
• CBT – Computer Based Training or Competency-Based Training
• CETA – Cost-Effective Training Analysis
• CMI – Computer Managed Instruction
• DT&E – Developmental Test and Evaluation
• DTP – Detailed Test Plan
• ECR – Electronic Classroom
• ERIC – Educational Resources Information Center
• FAT – Final Acceptance Testing
• FOJT – Formal On–the–Job Training
• FTX – Field Training Exercise
• GTA – Graphical Training Aid
• ICW – Interactive Courseware
• IKPT – Instructor and Key Personnel Training
• IMI – Interactive Multimedia Instruction
• ITP – Individual Training Plan
• ITS – Integrated Training System or Individual Training Standard
• KPI – Key Performance Indicator
• KPM – Key Performance Measures
• LMS – Learning Management System
• NEO – New Employee Orientation
• OJT – On–the–Job Training
• PIP – Programmed Instructional Package
• PLATO – Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations
• POI – Program of Instruction
• PSI – Personalized System of Instruction
• RBM – Rational Behavioral Model
• SAT – Systems Approach to Training
• SIMTECH – Simulation Technology
• SME – Subject Matter Expert
• SQT – Skills Qualification Test
• STRAP – System Training Plan
• TRADE – Training Devices
• T&D – Training and Development
• TEA – Training Effectiveness Analysis
• TEE – Training Effectiveness Evaluation
• TEEP – Training Effectiveness Evaluation Plan
• TEMP – Test and Evaluation Master Plan
• TRD – Technical Requirements Document
• TWI – Training Within Industry
• VETS – Veterans Employment and Training Service
• WBI – Web-based Instruction
• YOYO – You’re On Your Own

4. Management Acronyms and Abbreviations

These are some management HR-related acronyms and abbreviations:

• DUMBER – Dull, Unrealistic, Mediocre, Boring, Evaporating, Rote
• EDP – Employee Development Plan
• EI – Employee Involvement
• IDEAL – Identify the problem, Define and represent the problem, Explore possible strategies, Act on the strategies, Look back and evaluate the effects of your actions
• KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid
• MBO – Management by Objectives
• OOO – Out of office
• SMARTER – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely, Exciting, Recorded
• TED – Tell me, Explain to me, Describe to me
• BEER – Behavior, Effect, Expectation, Results 
• BET – Behavior, Effect, Thanks 
• CAUSED – Can,  Attitude, Useful, Skilled, Experience, Different
• AM: Account Manager
• AP: Accounts Payable
• AR: Accounts Receivable
• B2B: Business to Business
• B2C: Business to Consumer
• B2G: Business to Government
• CAO: Chief Administrative Officer or Chief Accounting Officer
• CEO: Chief Executive Officer
• CFO: Chief Financial Officer
• CIO: Chief Investment Officer or Chief Information Officer
• CISO: Chief Information Security Officer
• CLO: Chief Legal Officer
• CMO: Chief Marketing Officer
• CMS: Content Management System
• COB: Close of Business 
• COGS: Cost of Goods Sold 
• COO: Chief Operating Officer
• CPA: Certified Public Accountant
• CRM: Customer Relationship Management
• CSO: Chief Security Officer
• C2B: Consumer to Business
• EOD: End of Day or End of Discussion
• ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
• FIFO: First In, First Out
• FTE: Full-Time Employee
• GP: Gross Profit
• HQ: Headquarters
• IPO: Initial Public Offering
• ISP: Internet Service Provider
• IRS: Internal Revenue Service
• IRR: Internal Rate of Return
• HR: Human Resources
• KPI: Key Performance Indicator
• NDA: Non-Disclosure Agreement
• OOO: Out of Office
• OS: Operating System
• PE: Private Equity
• PM: Project Manager
• POS: Point of Sale
• POC: Point of Contact
• PTO: Paid Time Off
• QA: Quality Assurance
• Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4: Quarters of the accounting, fiscal, or calendar year
• QC: Quality Control or Quality Costs
• Re: Referring to
• ROE: Return on Equity
• ROI: Return on Investment
• TOS: Terms of Service
• VPN: Virtual Private Network
• YTD: Year To Date

5. Other Related HR and Management Acronyms and Abbreviations

• AAP: Affirmative Action Plan
• AARP: American Association of Retired Persons
• ABM: Activities Based Management
• ADA: The Americans With Disabilities Act
• AD&D: Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• ADL: Activities of Daily Living
• AE: Account Executive
• AFL-CIO: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
• AFSCME: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 
• AJB: Americas Job Bank
• ANSI: American National Standards Institute
• AP: Accounts Payable
• APR: Annual Percentage Rate
• AR: Accounts Receivable
• ATD: Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD: American Society for Training and Development)
• AWOL: Absent Without Leave
• BA: Bachelor of Arts
• BBB: Better Business Bureau
• BCP: Business Continuity Plan
• BS: Bachelor of Science
• BC/R: Benefits Cost/Ratio
• BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• BOD: Board of Directors
• BU: Bargaining Unit
• CCL: Center for Creative Leadership
• CCP: Certified Compensation Professional
• CEBS: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist
• CHRO: Chief Human Resources Officer
• CIO: Chief Investment Officer, Chief Information Officer
• CEU: Continuing Education Unit
• CAI: Computer Assisted Instruction
• CTO: Compensatory Time Off
• CPE: Continuing Professional Education
• COLA: Cost of Living Adjustment
• CV: Curriculum Vitae

• DOB: Date of Birth
• DOI: Date of Injury
• D&O: Directors and Officers
• DB: Defined Benefit
• DBPP: Defined Benefit Pension Plan 
• DCPP: Defined Contribution Pension Plan
• DOL: Department of Labor
• DOJ: Department of Justice
• DOT: Dictionary of Occupational Titles, Department of Transportation
• DW: Dislocated Worker 
• DBA: Doing Business As
• DINKS: Dual Income No Kids
• DRP: Disaster Recovery Plan

• EBT: Earnings Before Taxes
• EAP: Employee Assistance Program
• EBSA: Employee Benefits Security Administration
• EBO: Employee Buyout
• EDT: Electronic Data Processing, Employee Development Plan
• EIN: Employer Identification Number
• EI: Employee Involvement
• EI: Emotional Intelligence
• EPLI: Employment Practices Liability Insurance
• ERISA: Employee Retirement Income Security Act
• ESOP: Employee Stock Option Plan
• EOD: End of Day
• EOY: End of Year
• EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity

• FCRA: Fair Credit Reporting Act
• FEP: Fair Employment Practice
• FMLA: Family Medical Leave Act
• FEIN: Federal Employment Identification Number
• FUTA: Federal Unemployment Tax Act
• FSA: Flexible Spending Account (Healthcare)
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
• FT: Full Time
• FTE: Full-Time Equivalent
• GATB: General Aptitude Test Battery
• GED: General Equivalency Diploma
• GPHR: Global Professional in Human Resources
• GTL: Group Term Life Insurance

• HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
• HCE: Highly Compensated Employee
• HCM: Human Capital Management
• HPT: Human Performance Technology
• HR: Human Resources, Human Resource
• HRCI: HR Certification Institute
• HRD: Human Resources Development, Human Resource Development
• HRIS: Human Resources Information System
• HRM: Human Resources Management, Human Resource Management
• HRMS: Human Resources Management System
• IRCA: Immigration Reform and Control Act
• IRS: Internal Revenue Service

• JD: Job Description, Juris Doctorate
• JTPA: Job Training Partnership Act 
• OA: Joint Operating Agreement
• JSSA: Jury Selection and Service Act

• KPI: Key Performance Indicator
• KPM: Key Performance Measures
• KSA: Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities

• LOA: Leave Of Absence
• LOS: Length of Service
• LMS: Learning Management System
• LR: Labor Relations
• LTC: Long-Term Care
• LTD: Long-Term Disability
• LWOP: Leave Without Pay
• LWP: Leave with Pay

• M&A: Merger & Acquisition
• MBO: Management by Objectives
• MBTI: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
• MHPA: Mental Health Parity Act
• MOP: Measure of Performance
• MQ: Minimum Qualifications

• NE: Non-Exempt
• NLRB: National Labor Relations Board
• NEO: New Employee Orientation

• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OOH: Occupational Outlook Handbook
• OPM: Office of Personnel Management 
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget
• OJT: On-The-Job-Training
• OE: Open Enrollment for Benefits
• OCF: Operating Cash Flow
• OI: Operating Income
• OD: Organization Development

• PA: Performance Assessment
• PERT: Project Evaluation and Review Technique
• PIP: Performance Improvement Plan
• P&L: Profit and Loss
• PPO: Preferred Provider Organization
• PHR: Professional in Human Resources
• PT: Part-Time
• PTO: Paid Time Off

• QR: Quarterly Review
• QWI: Quarterly Workforce Indicators

• RPA: Retirement Plan Alternative
• RTW: Return to Work

• SBA: Small Business Administration
• SME: Subject Matter Expert
• SHRM: Society for Human Resources Management
• SPHR: Senior Professional in Human Resources
• SSA: Social Security Administration
• SSN or SS#: Social Security Number
• STD: Short Term Disability
• SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

• TM: Talent Management
• T&D: Training and Development
• TBD: To Be Determined
• TDA: Tax-Deferred Annuity
• TDB: Temporary Disability Benefits 
• TESSA: Tax-Exempt Special Savings Account
• TEUC: Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation 
• TL: Time and Labor
• TPA: Third Party Administrator
• TPD: Temporary Partial Disability
• TTD: Temporary Total Disability
• TSA: Tax-sheltered Annuity

• UAW: United Auto Workers
• UCI: Unemployment compensation insurance
• UFW: United Farm Workers
• UGMA: Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
• UIC: Unemployment Insurance Commission
• UN: United Nations
• USC: United States Code
• U. S. DOJ: United States Department of Justice
• U.S. DOL: United States Department of Labor
• USERRA: Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

• VA: Veterans Administration/Affairs 
• VETS: Veterans Employment and Training Service
• VP: Vice President
• VPN: Virtual Private Network
• VOC-REHAB: Vocational Rehabilitation

• WIA: Workforce Investment Act
• WIP: Work in Progress
• WTO: World Trade Organization
• W-2: Income tax form issued by employers
• W-4: Federal income tax withholding form
• WPS: Work Performance Standards

• XRA: Expected Retirement Age
• XML: Extensible Markup Language (Code)
• YTD: Year to Date
• ZBB: Zero Based Budgeting

Tips For Using HR and Management Acronyms and Abbreviations 2025

• Be consistent

When more than one acronym or abbreviation is available for a particular term, just pick one and be consistent with it.

• Use the full form at least once

In written communications, explain the meaning of the acronym or abbreviation at least once to help the reader understand.

• Add acronyms and abbreviations into training programs

Train new employees on the acronyms and abbreviations used. Also, inform them on the meaning and if possible provide them with a comprehensive guide like this article.

• Use accepted and understandable acronyms and abbreviations

Work with other members of your department and come up with agreed acronyms and abbreviations to be used

• Look out for confused expressions

When having oral communication with acronyms and abbreviations lookout for facial expressions and body language that may indicate a lack of understanding or confusion.

Be sure to back up and clarify the meaning of the acronym or abbreviation.

This article has provided a comprehensive guide to understanding HR and management acronyms and abbreviations.

Hope you found this useful.

Have a great day.