Unit 6, Work and Careers

Word

Definition

Example

bonus

money added to someone's wages, especially as a reward for good work

They get a bonus in December if the company has had a good year

off sick

you are not at work because you are ill

Ms Weber isn't in the office today, she's off sick

on maternity/paternity leave

time that a mother is allowed to spend away from work when she has a baby

My teacher is on paternity leave at the moment, he'll be back in a couple of weeks

on strike

a protest against something relating to their work, for example how much they are paid, bad working conditions etc

They went on strike because of unfair pay

resign

to officially announce that you have decided to leave your job or an organization

He resigned from his job last month as it was too stressful

retire

to stop working, usually because you have reached a certain age

My grandparents retired last year

salary

money that you receive as payment from the organization you work for, usually paid to you every month

My salary isn't very good, but thankfully my rent is cheap

tip

a small amount of additional money that you give to someone such as a waiter or a taxi driver

Do you always leave a tip in restaurants after a meal?

unemployed

without a job 

He's been unemployed for months and can't find another job

wage

money you earn that is paid according to the number of hours, days, or weeks that you work

My wages aren't very high as I only work part time

burn out

become unable to work through working too hard

Jake burnt out after a few years in show business

copy in

send a copy of an email to sb

When you reply to Amy's email could you copy me in?

fill in for

do sb's job while they are away

Noah's off sick, so could you please fill in for him?

get ahead

be more successful than other people

If you want to get ahead, you need to work hard

key in

put information into a computer using a keyboard

I keyed in my security number and the door opened

lay off

end sb's employment because there isn't enough work for them to do

The company laid off over 1,200 people when it got into difficulties

take on

start to employ sb

We'll take you on for a month and see how things go

work (your way) up

gradually get to a higher position in an organisation

Martine worked her way up from shop assistant to director of the whole company

get a placement

the temporary posting of someone in a workplace to enable them to gain work experience

While he was still studying, he got a placement in a law firm

get fired

an employee's job is terminated for reasons such as poor work performance or unethical behavior

Did you hear that Freddy got fired from his job last week?

get lost

you do not know where you are or are unable to find your way

Sorry I'm late – I got lost on the way here

get ready

become properly prepared for something

The actors got ready and waited for the curtain to go up

get the impression

an opinion or feeling that you have about someone or something you have seen but do not know very well

I always get the impression that Layla finds me a bit boring

get the sack

to be dismissed suddenly from a job

I can't believe I got the sack just for being late

get upset

to be disturbed or very unhappy

Lucas got upset when I told him his exam results

go abroad

go to a foreign country

Next time you go abroad, send me a postcard

go bankrupt

to be unable to pay one's debts

Anushka went bankrupt when her business failed

go crazy

to do something too much, in a way that is not usual or sensible, especially because you are excited

Charlie's going to go crazy when he finds out what you've done!

go missing

to disappear, become lost

Some money has gone missing out of my bag

go quiet

stop talking

The audience went quiet as the show started

employ

to pay someone to work for you

The factory employs over 2,000 people

unemployment

the number of people in a particular country or area who cannot get a job

The serious level of unemployment is among school-leavers

employed

(of a person) having a paid job

Up to 40 per cent of employed people are in part-time jobs

employer

a person or organization that employs people

The National Health Service was the largest employer in Europe

employee

someone who is paid to work for someone else

We now have 110 full-time employees

finance

the management of money by governments, large organizations etc

We need to raise finance for further research

financial

relating to money or the management of money

Organic farmers should be encouraged with financial incentives

friend

someone who you know and like very much and enjoy spending time with

Jerry, this is my friend Sue

friendly

behaving towards someone in a way that shows you like them and are ready to talk to them or help them

Why is he suddenly so friendly towards you, Charlotte?

friendship

a relationship between friends

The friendship between father and youth deepened

neighbour

someone who lives next to you or near you

One of the neighbours complained about the noise from the party

neighbourly

behaving in a friendly and helpful way towards the people who live next to you or towards the countries that are next to you

Shopping for the elderly is a regular feature of neighbourly support

neighbourhood

an area of a town or city

She grew up in a quiet neighbourhood of Boston

poor

having very little money and not many possessions 

Her family were so poor they couldn't afford to buy her new clothes

poverty

the situation or experience of being poor

Millions of elderly people live in poverty

satisfy

meet the expectations, needs, or desires of (someone)

I have never been satisfied with my job

dissatisfy

fail to satisfy (someone)

What is it about these words that dissatisfies you?

satisfying

making you feel pleased and happy, especially because you have got what you wanted

It can be very satisfying to work in the garden

satisfactory

something that is satisfactory seems good enough for you, or good enough for a particular situation or purpose

His progress this term has been satisfactory

satisfaction

a feeling of happiness or pleasure because you have achieved something or got what you wanted

She got great satisfaction from helping people to learn

vary

if several things of the same type vary, they are all different from each other

Test scores vary from school to school

variable

likely to change often

Expect variable cloudiness and fog tomorrow

varied

consisting of or including many different kinds of things or people, especially in a way that seems interesting

A good teacher is aware of the extremely varied needs of each student

variety

the differences within a group, set of actions etc that make it interesting

I really like the variety the store has to offer

various

if there are various things, there are several different types of that thing

The jacket is available in various colours

volunteer

someone who does a job willingly without being paid

Most of the relief work was done by volunteers

voluntary

work etc that is done by people who do it because they want to, and who are not paid

She does a lot of voluntary work for the Red Cross

voluntarily

if you do something voluntarily, you do it willingly, without anyone telling you to do it

She wasn't fired – she left voluntarily