HC
Headcount. People, as a number on a spreadsheet. 'We got HC' is joyous; 'HC is frozen' is the first frost of a long winter.
Heard in the wild
“We finally got HC approved for a second technician.”
Tone check: Professional
Watch the verbs around it. HC gets 'added,' 'frozen,' 'reallocated,' and — quietly — 'reduced.'