English Vocabulary: “Work and Employment”

Union Vocabulary

Demonstration – an act of showing someone how something is used or done.

Reforms – an action, plan, rule, etc., that is meant to improve something.
Strike – a period of time when workers stop work in order to force an employer to agree to their
demands.
Boycott – to refuse to buy, use, or participate in (something) as a way of protesting.
Employment Vocabulary
Employee – a person who works for another person or for a company for wages or a salary.
Employer – a person or company that has people who do work for wages or a salary : a person or
company that has employees.
Worker – a person who does a particular job to earn money.
Apprentice – a person who learns a job or skill by working for a fixed period of time for someone
who is very good at that job or skill.
Trainee – a person who is being trained for a job.
Intern – a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get
experience.
Full-time job – working the full number of hours considered normal or standard. Normally 8.
Part-time job – working or involving fewer hours than is considered normal or standard.
Shifts – the scheduled period of time during which a person works.
Overtime – time spent working at your job that is in addition to your normal working hours.
Flexitime – a system in which employees are required to work a certain number of hours but are
allowed to choose their own times for starting and finishing work.
Occupation – the work that a person does : a person’s job or profession.
Profession – a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill.
Earn your living – to get (money, a salary, etc.) for work that you have done.
To get a raise – to receive an increase in the amount of your pay.
Promotion – the act of promoting someone or something: such as a : the act of moving someone to a
higher or more important position or rank in an organization.
Maternity leave – not going to work for a specific period of time since you have just given birth.
Salary – an amount of money that an employee is paid each year.
Wage – very similar to salary: an amount of money that a worker is paid based on the number of
hours, days, etc., that are worked.
Unemployment Vocabulary

Period of notice – a statement telling someone that an agreement,

job, etc., will end soon.
To be unemployed – to be without a job.
To be out of work – to be without a job.
To be on the dole – money that a government gives to people who do not have jobs or who are very
poor.
To fire somebody – to dismiss (someone) from a job.
To sack somebody – to dismiss (someone) from a job.
To make somebody redundant – dismissed from a job because you are no longer needed.
To hand in one’s notice – to give your boss a statement telling someone that an agreement, job, etc.,
will end soon.
To resign – to give up (a job or position) in a formal or official way.
To quit – to leave (a job, school, career, etc.).
Unemployment benefit – money that is paid by a company (such as an insurance company) or by a
government when someone dies, becomes sick, stops working, etc.

money paid to the government income tax

money paid to a person after she or he has stopped working -pension
employment insurance; money from the government to people who lose their jobs-E.I.
pay after deductions; take-home pay-net pay
to leave; to give up-quit
to stop the work of an employee because there isn't enough work or money-lay off
changing a plan for spending money; spending less-budget cut
to send away from a job; to dismiss-fire
to dismiss; to send away from a job; to lay off or to fire-let go
the work that someone does for a living-occupation
long-term work; a profession-career
helpful work without pay-volunteer
all the employees in a company-personnel
money for people who can't find a job or are unable to work-welfare

1. I am a ____________ mechanic because I have a mechanic's license. (has the training or

experience)
2. Janka can work long hours, because she is young and _____________. (hard working;
tireless)
3. Margaret puts everything in its place and can always find what she is looking for. She's
___________. (is orderly; plans things carefully)
4. She does all of her work first, she is very______________(has good self-control).
5. Peter didn't help us to finish the work; he's not very ____________. (works well with
others)
6. A successful salesman has to be a little ____________. (forceful; pushy)
7. Tibor would never drink and drive. He's very ______________. (always tries to do the
right thing)
8. Peter is only twelve years old, but he is very __________ for his age. (acts like an adult,
not a child)
9. Bill repaired the engine with a screwdriver and a piece of wire. He's very
______________. (needs few things to fix a problem)
10. You can trust him to lock up the store. He's very __________. (reliable; can be trusted)
1. Many people in Canada complain that they pay too much____________ that’s deducted out of
their salary.
2. After all the deductions have been removed what is left is your _______________.
3. Ali ____________ his job because he is going back to school full-time.
4. During the recession, many companies had to ______________ workers.
5. Amy lost her job at the bank because of a _____________. The bank had its budget slashed.
6. If an employee is often late, steals from the company, and is lazy, his boss will
probably ___________ him.
7. George has had the same ________________ for twenty-five years. He is a psychologist.
8. Lesley wanted to have a ________________so she went to university and studied law.
9. Sophia enjoys being a __________________ at the children's hospital.
10. Davis called the _________________ department at Eaton's to ask about a job opening.
11. If your E.I. runs out and you still haven't found a job, you may have to go
on _____________.
12.Teresa has six years _____________ as a hairdresser.
13. She has many ___________. She can cook, sew, type, teach Mandarin and fix computers.
14. Richard is looking for a ____________ job because he is supporting his wife and two
children.
15. Cathy wants a ____________ job because she is studying at VCC in the day time.
16. Peter's job is _____________. It is for only two weeks. Sam is lucky. He has
a ___________job at BC Tel.
17. Nurses and other hospital workers often have to do ______________.
18. The starting ________ at McDonut's is $7.60 an hour.
19. The interviewer asked Ken if he could _______________ to Victoria if he got the job.
20. When you get a ____________, you usually get more responsibility and more money.
21. If your boss asks you to work __________, he must pay you at least one and a half times
your normal pay.
22. After an interview, an employer will sometimes check your ______________.
23. Many stores ___________extra people at Christmas time.

1. Many people in Canada complain that they pay too much income tax that’s deducted out of
their salary.
2. After all the deductions have been removed what is left is your net pay.
3. Ali quit his job because he is going back to school full-time.
4. During the recession, many companies had to let go/lay off workers.
5. Amy lost her job at the bank because of a budget cut. The bank had its budget slashed.
6. If an employee is often late, steals from the company, and is lazy, his boss will probably fire
him.
7. George has had the same occupation for twenty-five years. He is a psychologist.
8. Lesley wanted to have a career so she went to university and studied law.
9. Sophia enjoys being a volunteer at the children's hospital.
10. Davis called the personnel department at Eaton's to ask about a job opening.
11. If your E.I. runs out and you still haven't found a job, you may have to go on welfare.
12.Teresa has six years experience as a hairdresser.
13. She has many skills. She can cook, sew, type, teach Mandarin and fix computers.
14. Richard is looking for a full-time job because he is supporting his wife and two children.
15. Cathy wants a part-time job because she is studying at VCC in the day time.
16. Peter's job is temporary. It is for only two weeks. Sam is lucky. He has a permanent job at
BC Tel.
17. Nurses and other hospital workers often have to do shift-work.
18. The starting wage at McDonut's is $7.60 an hour.
19. The interviewer asked Ken if he could relocate to Victoria if he got the job.
20. When you get a promotion, you usually get more responsibility and more money.
21. If your boss asks you to work overtime, he must pay you at least one and a half times your
normal pay.
22. After an interview, an employer will sometimes check your references.
23. Many stores hire extra people at Christmas time.