job family

Definition

A group of related positions sharing similar skills, responsibilities, and career progression paths, allowing HR to organize compensation and development logically. It's the Linnaean taxonomy approach to corporate hierarchy, minus the Latin names.

Example Usage

All software engineering roles from junior dev to CTO are in the same job family, with defined progression steps between levels.

Origin

Compensation management terminology from the 1970s, borrowed from biological classification systems

Fun Fact

Companies using job families for compensation typically have 15-20% lower internal pay inequity compared to those determining salaries ad-hoc, though they're also way more bureaucratic.

Source: Compensation structure terminology

Related Terms

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reasonable accommodation

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interview

A choreographed conversation where one person asks questions and the other pretends their weaknesses are actually strengths. In the corporate world, it's a ritual where both parties lie professionally—one about loving "dynamic environments" and the other about "competitive compensation." The outcome is usually determined in the first five minutes, but both sides politely continue the charade for another 45.

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job posting

The public advertisement of an open position, often legally required even when there's already an internal candidate selected. Corporate theater pretending the decision isn't already made.

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probationary

The nerve-wracking trial period when a new employee must prove they're competent enough to keep their job permanently, or when a convict must demonstrate they won't immediately reoffend. During this anxious timeframe, performance is scrutinized more closely than a reality TV contestant's Instagram feed. One major screw-up and you're out—no second chances, no appeals, just a box for your desk plants.

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