Definition of the word sign on

The term "sign on" has its roots in the shipping industry, specifically in the context of signing a crew contract to join a ship. In the past, ship captains would recruit sailors in port communities, and these sailors would sign a contract before embarking on the vessel. This act of signing the contract to join the ship was known as "signing on." As shipping practices evolved, the use of the term "sign on" spread to other industries that employed workers on a temporary or shift-based basis. For instance, in the UK, coal miners began using the term "signing on" to refer to reporting for work at the start of each shift, and this usage became widespread during the industrial revolution. More recently, "signing on" has been adopted by computer-based systems and HR processes, particularly in the context of accepting the terms and conditions of employment. In this context, "signing on" refers to the electronic process by which an individual accepts a job offer and agreed-upon working conditions by providing an electronic signature or clicking a digital "accept" button. In summary, the term "sign on" originated in the shipping industry to denote the act of signing a crew contract, and its usage has since spread to other industries and digital environments as a way to indicate the beginning of a work engagement.