UK Recruitment Glossary
Severance
In recruiter context
Severance and redundancy overlap in UK usage. The statutory minimum redundancy payment is the floor; severance usually means anything enhanced above that. Settlement agreements (formerly compromise agreements) are the legal vehicle: you sign away your right to bring tribunal claims in exchange for a payment. The first £30,000 of a genuine ex-gratia termination payment is tax-free in the UK; anything above that is taxed as income. Always get independent legal advice — the employer pays for it as part of the deal. Negotiate: the first offer is rarely the final number.
Related terms
Job Share
Two people sharing one full-time UK role, each working part of the week — common in healthcare, civi…
National Insurance (NI)
UK contributory social insurance system — funds State Pension, NHS, and certain benefits via deducti…
Counter-Offer
When you resign and your current employer offers a raise, promotion, or new title to make you stay.
Contingent Search
The recruitment model where the agency only earns a fee if their candidate is successfully placed.