Staffing glossary
Staffing terms, in plain English.
Bill rate, markup, conversion fee, FCRA, OSHA-10. 64 terms you will run into when you hire hourly crews or work with a staffing agency, explained without the jargon.
Four topics
What the words are really about.
Most staffing jargon falls into one of four buckets. Know these and you can read any quote, contract or pay stub.
Pricing & contracts
16 terms
Shifts & operations
13 terms
Safety & certifications
12 terms
A to Z
Every term, alphabetically.
Jump to a letter or search. Each term links to a full definition with related terms and guides.
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1 termA
4 terms- Payroll & complianceABC testAlso: ABC worker classification testA strict three-part test some states use to decide whether a worker is an employee or a contractor.
- Payroll & complianceAdverse actionA decision not to hire, place or keep someone based in whole or part on a background check report.
- Pricing & contractsAll-in rateAlso: All-inclusive rate, Fully loaded rate, Fully burdened rateAn hourly bill rate that already includes pay, taxes, insurance, screening and dispatch, with no second invoice.
- Pricing & contractsAlternate employer endorsementA workers' comp policy add-on that extends a staffing agency's coverage to protect the client business.
B
3 terms- Payroll & complianceBackground checkAlso: Pre-employment screeningA report on a candidate's history, such as criminal records or driving record, used in hiring decisions.
- Shifts & operationsBanquet event order (BEO)Also: BEO, Event orderThe venue's working document for an event: timeline, headcounts, menu, service style, room setup and staffing.
- Pricing & contractsBill rateThe hourly price a business pays a staffing agency for each approved hour a worker works.
C
6 terms- Shifts & operationsCall-offAlso: Call-outWhen a scheduled worker contacts dispatch to say they cannot work a shift, ideally well before it starts.
- Safety & certificationsCertified Food Protection Manager (CFPM)Also: CFPM, Food manager certification, Food protection manager certificateA supervisor who passed an accredited food safety manager exam, a step above the food handler card.
- Payroll & complianceCo-employmentAlso: Shared employment, PEO arrangementAn arrangement where two companies share employer duties for the same worker on purpose, as in staffing or a PEO.
- Pricing & contractsCOI (certificate of insurance)Also: Certificate of insuranceA one-page summary proving an agency carries the insurance its client requires.
- Pricing & contractsConversion feeAlso: Buyout fee, Liquidated damagesWhat a business pays an agency to hire one of the agency's temp workers onto its own payroll.
- Shifts & operationsCrew leadAlso: Event staff lead, Team leadThe on-site worker who checks in the crew, relays instructions and is the client's single point of contact.
D
4 terms- Shifts & operationsDay laborShort, often single-day assignments for manual work, usually booked and paid by the day.
- Pricing & contractsDirect hireAlso: Permanent placementThe agency recruits and screens candidates, but the business hires them onto its own payroll from day one.
- Shifts & operationsDo not return (DNR)Also: DNR, Block listA client's request that a specific worker not be sent back to its site.
- Safety & certificationsDram shop liabilityAlso: Dram shop law, Liquor liability, Alcohol server liabilityCivil liability a business can face for serving alcohol to a minor or visibly drunk person who then hurts someone.
E
2 termsF
9 terms- Payroll & complianceFair chance hiringAlso: Ban the boxLaws and practices that delay or limit questions about criminal history in hiring.
- Payroll & complianceFCRAAlso: Fair Credit Reporting ActThe federal law that governs background checks prepared by outside screening companies.
- Payroll & complianceFICAAlso: Social Security and Medicare taxesFederal Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, paid by both employer and employee.
- Shifts & operationsFill rateThe share of requested positions a staffing agency actually fills with a worker who shows up.
- Safety & certificationsFlaggerAlso: Traffic control flaggerA trained worker who directs traffic through a work zone with a STOP/SLOW paddle.
- Safety & certificationsFood handler cardProof that a food worker completed a basic food safety course, required in some states and counties.
- Safety & certificationsForklift certificationEmployer-issued proof that an operator was trained and evaluated on a specific type of powered industrial truck.
- Payroll & complianceForm I-9Also: I-9, Employment Eligibility VerificationThe federal form every U.S. employer completes to verify a new hire's identity and work authorization.
- Payroll & complianceFUTAAlso: Federal unemployment taxThe federal unemployment tax employers pay on the first $7,000 of each employee's wages.
I
1 termJ
1 termM
5 terms- Pricing & contractsMarkupHow much higher a staffing agency's bill rate is than the worker's pay rate, usually shown as a percentage.
- Pricing & contractsMinimum shift lengthAlso: Shift minimum, Four-hour minimumThe fewest hours an agency bills for a single worker's shift, even if the work ends early.
- Payroll & complianceMisclassificationAlso: Worker misclassification, Independent contractor misclassificationTreating a worker as an independent contractor when the law says they are an employee.
- Pricing & contractsMSA (master service agreement)Also: Master service agreement, Service agreementThe umbrella contract that sets the terms for every order placed with a staffing agency.
- Pricing & contractsMSP (managed service provider)Also: Managed service providerA company that manages a large employer's contingent workforce program across multiple staffing agencies.
N
3 terms- Shifts & operationsNext-day payAlso: Daily payPay for a completed, approved shift delivered the following day instead of on a weekly or biweekly payday.
- Shifts & operationsNo-showA confirmed worker who fails to arrive for a shift without telling anyone.
- Pricing & contractsNo-show guaranteeAlso: Replacement guarantee, Fill guaranteeA written promise covering replacement, billing and exclusions when a confirmed worker does not arrive.
O
4 terms- Payroll & complianceOccupational accident insuranceAlso: Occ-acc, Occupational accident policy, OAIA capped injury policy often bought for 1099 workers. It is not workers' compensation.
- Safety & certificationsOSHA-10Also: OSHA 10-HourA 10-hour OSHA Outreach safety course for entry-level workers in construction or general industry.
- Safety & certificationsOSHA-30Also: OSHA 30-HourA longer OSHA Outreach course meant for supervisors and workers with safety responsibility.
- Payroll & complianceOvertimeExtra pay, at least time and a half under federal law, for hours over 40 in a workweek.
P
4 terms- Pricing & contractsPay rateThe hourly wage a worker earns before their own taxes.
- Pricing & contractsPer diemA daily allowance for meals, lodging or incidentals when a worker travels for a job.
- Safety & certificationsPPEAlso: Personal protective equipmentGear like hard hats, safety glasses, gloves and hi-vis vests that protects workers from hazards.
- Payroll & compliancePredictive schedulingAlso: Fair workweekLaws requiring some employers to post schedules in advance and pay extra for late changes.
R
3 terms- Pricing & contractsRate cardA published list of bill rates by role, shift type and location.
- Safety & certificationsResponsible beverage service (RBS)Also: RBS, Alcohol server training, Responsible alcohol serviceServer training on checking ID, spotting intoxication and refusing service. Mandatory in some states, not others.
- Safety & certificationsResponsible Vendor (Florida)Also: Florida Responsible Vendor Act, Responsible Vendor program, RV programFlorida's voluntary training and compliance program for alcohol licensees that can limit license penalties.
S
6 terms- Safety & certificationsServSafeA widely used food safety training and certification program from the National Restaurant Association.
- Pricing & contractsShift differentialExtra pay for working less desirable shifts, such as nights, weekends or holidays.
- Shifts & operationsShift orderAlso: Job order, Work orderA business's request for workers, with role, headcount, time, location and requirements.
- Payroll & complianceShow-up payAlso: Reporting time payMinimum pay some states require when a worker reports for a shift and is sent home early or given no work.
- Shifts & operationsStandby workerAlso: Floater, Backup worker, StandbyAn extra worker booked or on call to cover a no-show or a last-minute surge.
- Payroll & complianceSUTAAlso: State unemployment tax, SUIState unemployment insurance tax paid by employers, with rates based on state and claims history.
T
5 terms- Pricing & contractsTemp-to-hireAlso: Temp to perm, Try before you hireA worker starts as an agency temp, and the business can hire them permanently after a trial period.
- Shifts & operationsTime to fillHow long it takes from placing an order to having a confirmed worker assigned.
- Shifts & operationsTimesheet approvalThe client's sign-off on hours worked, which drives both the invoice and the worker's pay.
- Payroll & complianceTip creditA rule letting employers count part of tipped workers' tips toward the minimum wage, where state law allows.
- Safety & certificationsTIPS certificationAlso: Training for Intervention ProcedureSA responsible alcohol service training that teaches staff to check IDs and prevent over-serving.
V
1 termW
2 terms- Payroll & complianceW-2 vs 1099Also: Employee vs independent contractor, W-2, 1099The difference between employees, who get taxes withheld and protections, and independent contractors.
- Payroll & complianceWorkers' compensationAlso: Workers' compState-mandated insurance that pays medical costs and lost wages for work-related injuries.
Skip the jargon. Get a crew.
Tell us the role, the headcount and the time. A live dispatcher handles the rest.
Or call dispatch: (954) 466-1522