Humanities Languages A Basic Phrase Sheet for Business Professionals Learning English Listing of Key Employment Vocabulary and Phrases Share Flipboard Email Print Dimitri Otis/ Digital Vision/ Getty Images Languages English as a Second Language Business English Basics Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Writing Skills Reading Comprehension Grammar Resources for Teachers Spanish French German Italian Japanese Mandarin Russian English Grammar View More by Kenneth Beare Kenneth Beare has taught English and English as a second language teacher since 1983. Updated February 01, 2019 English teachers are often not equipped to go into depth in the terminology required in specific trade sectors. For this reason, supplementary core vocabulary sheets go a long way in helping teachers provide adequate materials for students needing an intensive study of vocabulary in very targeted areas. This core vocabulary reference sheet provides keywords and phrases used by a business' human resources department. This list can be used as a starting point for vocabulary study relating to employment and working. Knowledge of these terms can help people get a job and understand employee handbooks of policies that they are required to follow upon employment at a company. The list contains British and American spellings of terms and phrases, as noted by the use of "(UK)" and British spellings such as "labour," which is spelled "labor" in the United States.Human Resources Vocabularyabsenteeabsenteeismabsenteeism rateaccident at work/industrial injuryapplicant/candidateapplication formapprenticeshipaptitude testassessment of applicantsassistantback paybargaining powerbasic salaryblue-collar workerbusiness hours/office hoursChristmas bonusclerical work/office workcompany bargaining/company negotiationcompensation for permanent disabilitycontractual situationcost-of-living allowancecredentialsday shiftdirect labour (UK) disability pensiondisciplinary measure/disciplinary sanctiondiscriminationdismissaldismissal for causedismissal without noticeearly retirementemployeremployment agencyemployment card/working papersemployment contract/labour contract (UK)employment for a trial periodemployment officeemployment rateexecutive cadres executive personnelexit permitexperienced personfamily allowancesfamily leavefederal holiday/national holiday (US)/public holiday (UK)freelancefull employmentfull timefull-time employmentgeneral strikegross wages and salariesharassmenthave an accident at workhealthcarehigher education/advanced educationhuman relations (US)/human relationships (UK)independent unionsindex-linked wagesindirect labour (UK)industrial tribunal (UK)/labour court (UK)internal regulationsirregular work/discontinuous workjob/employmentjob applicationjob descriptionjob evaluationjob satisfactionjob securityjob sharingjunior clerk/junior employeelabor costslabor disputeslabor force/manpowerlabor marketlabor mobilitylabor relations (US) /industrial relations (UK) labor relations/trade-union relationslabor retraininglabor supplylabor union (US)/trade union (UK) layofflearning by doingleaveletter of appointmentlock-outmanagement trainingmanaging directormaternity leavemiddle managementminimum rate of payminimum wagemoonlightingmotivationnight shiftoccupation/employmentoffice hoursoffice manageroffice staff/office personnelon-the-job trainingoutsourcingovertime payovertime workpart timepart-time jobpartial disability pay pay envelope (US)/wage packet (UK)pay formula/retribution diagrampay increase for meritpaycheck/payslip payroll/payroll ledgerpensionpension fundperiod of noticepermanent disabilitypermanent job/steady jobpermanent staff personnel/staffpersonnel departmentpersonnel requirementsplannerpretaxpreventionproduction bonusprofessional qualificationsprofessional trainingprogrammerpurchasing managerre-employmentredundancy paymentrefresher courserelationship managementremunerationresign (chairperson)/to give notice (employee)resignation (chairperson)/notice (employee)retirementretirement ageright to strikesalaried workers/employeessalarysalary range/wage bandseasonal employmentseasonal workerssecond shiftsecondary jobsenior clerk / senior employeeseverance pay / dismissal payshort-term employmentsick leave / sick day skilled labor (US) / skilled labour (UK)skilled workskilled workerssocial costssocial insurance / national insuranceSocial Security (US)sole directorstaff costs / personnel costsstrikertemporary disabilitytemporary stafftemporary worker / tempthe job is still vacantthird shifttime cardtime clockto apply for a jobto appoint a personto ask for a raiseto be dismissed / to be firedto be laid offto be on probation / to be on trialto be on striketo be out of work / to be unemployedto dismiss / to fireto fill a vacancyto go on striketo hold a positionto interviewto retireto risk indemnityto secure employmentto select candidatesto striketo take measuresto take one's vacation days (US) / to take one's holidays (UK) to trainto work at home / to telecommutetop managertotal disabilitytradetrainingtraining periodtrial periodunder contractunderemployedunemploymentunemployment benefitsunion dues / union subscriptionunion officer / trade unionistunjustified dismissalunpaid leaveunskilled labor (US) / unskilled labour (UK)unskilledworker vacancy / vacant positionvacation (US) / holiday (UK)wage bargaining / pay negotiationswage ceilingwage claimswage dynamicswage freezewage pressureswage-cost spiralwage-earningworkerswelfare contributionswhite-collarworkerwork overtimework shiftworkday (US) / working day (UK)workerworking hourworkloadworkplace Continue Reading