UK Recruitment Glossary
Acas
In recruiter context
Acas is the first stop for most UK employment disputes. Anyone planning to bring an Employment Tribunal claim must contact Acas first under early conciliation rules — they'll attempt to broker a settlement before tribunal. Their telephone helpline (0300 123 1100) is free for both employees and employers. Practically: useful for grievance escalation, redundancy procedure questions, and discrimination cases. Their published code of practice is what tribunals reference when assessing whether an employer's conduct was reasonable.
Related terms
BIK (Benefit in Kind)
Non-cash compensation provided by employers — company car, private healthcare, gym membership — taxe…
Severance
A payment when employment ends, often above the statutory minimum and usually wrapped into a settlem…
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
The UK and most of Europe call it a CV; the US mostly calls it a resume.
Equity / Share Options
An ownership stake in your employer, granted as options or shares that vest over time.