Foros Puntocomunica

Entering and exiting the workplace: more examples and vocabulary

A follow-up to the article on Focus On Learning English: Entering and exiting the workplace

If you've read the article on the blog, here are some extra examples and a few additional expressions to round out your workplace vocabulary.

Arriving at work

• Clock in / clock on: If you clock in even two minutes late, the system flags it automatically.
• Sign in: Delivery drivers have to sign in and wait to be buzzed through.
• Badge in: The lift won't move to the fourth floor unless you badge in first.
• Report to reception: New starters are asked to report to reception ten minutes before their induction begins.
• Settle in: Give yourself a few minutes to settle in before diving into emails.

During the working day

• Pop out: Do you mind holding the fort? I need to pop out to the pharmacy.
• Step out: She stepped out halfway through the presentation to deal with a family matter.
• Leave of absence: He was granted a leave of absence to care for a relative.

Leaving work

• Clock out / clock off: Don't forget to clock off before you head to the car park.
• Finish up: I just need to finish up these invoices, then I'm done.
• Call it a day: Given how late it is, let's call it a day and pick this up tomorrow.

Formal departures

• Hand in one's notice / notice period: She handed in her notice on Monday and starts her new job after a three-month notice period.
• Retire: He's planning to retire the moment he turns sixty-five.
• Made redundant: A quarter of the workforce was made redundant during the restructuring.
• Dismissed / sacked: He was sacked on the spot for breaching safety protocols.
• Leaving do / whip-round: There's a whip-round going on for Tom's leaving do; £5 each should cover the card and cake.

Bonus vocabulary

• Flexitime: a working arrangement allowing employees to vary their start and finish times
• To punch the clock: synonym for clocking in, often used disparagingly of routine work
• To be on the clock: to be officially working and being paid
• To knock off (early): informal British phrase for finishing work, especially earlier than usual
• Skeleton staff: the minimum number of employees needed to keep something running
• To hot-desk: to use whichever desk is free rather than having a fixed workstation
• Gardening leave: paid time off during a notice period in which the employee doesn't attend work
• Exit interview: a formal conversation held with an employee who is leaving
• To serve one's notice: to work through the agreed notice period before departure
• Out-of-office: the automated email reply set when someone is away from work

Quick practice

1. Gap-fill: "After the department closed, dozens of staff were _______."
2. True or false: "To hand in one's notice" means the same as "to be dismissed."
3. Rephrase informally: "I am going to leave the office briefly to purchase a sandwich."

Post your answers below!