Reduction in force (RIF)

Definition

A layoff that eliminates positions for business reasons, rather than because of individual performance. It is the corporate euphemism that tries to make 'your role no longer exists' sound like an organizational improvement.

Example Usage

The RIF list was finalized last night, and the all-hands meeting this morning will use the phrase 'realigning our resources' eleven times.

Source: Common corporate and HR terminology

Related Terms

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culture carrier

Employees who embody and propagate company values, serving as living examples of organizational culture for new hires. They're the people who unironically love the mission statement and won't shut up about core values.

👥 Human Resources

Advanced

Paternalistic Management

Leadership style treating employees like children who need guidance and protection. Often masks authoritarian decision-making as 'caring.'

👥 Human Resources

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Desk Auditing

Checking whether employees are actually at their desks working. A hallmark of ineffective management and trust issues.

👥 Human Resources

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FTE

Full-Time Equivalent, a unit of measurement that reduces human beings to fractions. You might be 1.0 FTE, 0.5 FTE, or, if you're on three cross-functional committees, approximately 3.7 FTE squeezed into one salaried body.

👥 Human Resources

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Moonlighting

Holding a second job or working for a competitor during off-hours. Most employment contracts treat this like treason.

👥 Human Resources

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Gig Economy Worker

A contractor, freelancer, or temporary worker who isn't a permanent employee and typically lacks benefits or job security. They're the people your company would love to hire but with none of the legal responsibilities.

👥 Human Resources

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