Office Life

the minimum number of people that must be present for a meeting to officially begin or for decisions to be made

The board meeting could not proceed as scheduled because there was not enough members present to meet the quorum requirement.

a tray-like object on an office desk, where incoming tasks or documents are placed for someone to deal with

a tray or container on a desk used for holding documents or items that are ready to be sent out or processed

She placed the signed letters in the out-tray.

a workplace, particularly one in which people produce clothing items, with poor conditions where workers are paid very low wages

The fashion industry has faced criticism for its use of sweatshops, where workers are often subjected to long hours, low pay, and unsafe working conditions.

a list or plan showing assignments or duties for individuals or groups over a specified period

The manager posted the weekly roster, detailing the work schedules and assignments for each employee.

to dismiss employees due to financial difficulties or reduced workload

The company laid off 10% of its workforce due to financial losses.

(of a company or organization) to become smaller by reducing the number of employees or departments

The corporation downsized after losing several major contracts.

to meet or bring together a group of people for an official meeting

The board of directors will convene next week to discuss the company's strategy.

to prevent someone from entering a place by securing the entrance with a lock

The security guard locked out the group of protesters who were trying to enter the government building.

to force one's employee to retire or leave work and give them a payment

After thirty years of dedicated service, the company decided to pension off several of its senior employees, allowing them to retire comfortably.

to scrape or remove a thin layer from the surface of something

He skived the leather to make it thinner for the wallet.

to do business with another person or company

The bank uses secure online platforms to allow customers to transact safely from the comfort of their homes.

to reduce the expenses of one's company by dismissing a number of employees from their job

Due to declining sales, the company decided to retrench several employees to reduce operational costs and stay afloat.

a container made of paper or plastic material used for holding and carrying a customer's purchased items

She carried the groceries home in a large sack.

to come up with solutions for challenges and difficulties in an organization or company

Managers troubleshoot organizational problems to enhance efficiency and productivity.

to record one's arrival at work by using a timekeeping system, usually involving the use of a clock or electronic device

Employees are required to clock in at the beginning of their shift using their employee ID cards.

to record the time of one's departure from work

Every day, employees must remember to clock out before leaving the office to ensure accurate attendance records.

to manually register the time of one's arrival at work by pushing a button on a machine

Employees must punch in at the beginning of their shifts to record their work hours accurately.

to manually register the time of one's departure from work by pushing a button on a machine

At the end of the day, employees punch out to record the time they leave work.

a diagrammatic representation of the hierarchical structure of an organization

The CEO presented the organogram during the company meeting, outlining the chain of command and reporting relationships within the organization.

a model where employees split their time between working from home and working on-site

Hybrid working allows employees to split their time between working from the office and working remotely, providing flexibility and autonomy.

a discussion with a departing employee to understand their reasons for leaving and gain feedback on their experience with the organization

An exit interview is a meeting between an employee leaving a company and a representative from HR or management to discuss their experiences, feedback, and reasons for leaving.

to establish a communication or cooperation which links parties or organizations

As the project manager, my role is to liaise between the marketing team and the design department to ensure that our campaign meets both creative and strategic objectives.

to eliminate someone, often perceived as a threat, by causing their death

The mob boss ordered his henchmen to liquidate the rival gang members.

to integrate and familiarize a new employee or user with a system or organization

We onboard all new employees with a three-day orientation program.

the management of supplying labor and materials as needed for an operation or task

Her job in the army was focused on logistics, making sure troops had the supplies they needed when they needed them.

the division within an organization responsible for the day-to-day management and execution of its core business functions

The operations department oversees the day-to-day functioning of the organization, ensuring that all activities are carried out efficiently and effectively.

a division within an organization responsible for ensuring that processes, systems, and products meet established quality and compliance standards

The assurance department is responsible for ensuring that products meet quality standards before they are released to the market.

a day of low motivation or sadness, commonly occurring at the start of the workweek due to the weekend ending

Every Monday feels like a blue Monday to me.

a shared workspace in an office, available for use by any employee on a first-come, first-served basis, rather than being assigned to a particular individual

The new office layout includes a hot desk area where employees can work flexibly without being tied to a specific workstation.