Unretention

Definition

When companies fire or force out unwanted employees instead of them voluntarily leaving; basically managed involuntary departure.

Example Usage

His salary was too high, so HR began the slow unretention process of making his job miserable.

Origin

Somewhat cynical modern HR terminology without clear origin

Source: Contemporary HR practice

Related Terms

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Glassdoor Reviews

Anonymous employee testimonies about company culture, used by HR to understand why they can't hire anyone. They rarely like what they find.

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grudge

A deep-seated resentment that someone carries like a designer handbag—expensive, burdensome, and weirdly important to their identity. Holding a grudge is basically paying interest on a debt you've decided to never collect.

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perk package

The collection of non-salary benefits and amenities companies offer, from gym memberships to free snacks. Often used to distract from below-market compensation with ping pong tables and kombucha on tap.

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job enrichment

Expanding a role to include higher-level responsibilities and decision-making authority to increase motivation and satisfaction. Unlike job enlargement, this actually adds meaningful work rather than just more work.

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OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

A goal-setting framework where employees set ambitious targets they'll miss by 30% and pretend it's motivational.

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severing

The formal act of cutting ties—whether that's employment, a business relationship, or negotiations. It's the corporate way of saying 'we're done here' with legal documentation and usually an awkward conversation.

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