Workplace Word Families, Set 5 — HR & Travel (B1)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

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Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

She was absent for two weeks due to illness and submitted the medical certificate to claim pay. (SICK LEAVE)

Correct answer: sick leave

"Sick leave" is the compound noun for authorised absence from work due to illness; "sick" is the adjective and "leave" is the noun; "sickness benefit" is a related but different term referring to financial support paid during illness.

Staff who work more than their contracted hours are compensated with pay at 1.5 times the normal rate. (OVERTIME)

Correct answer: overtime

"Overtime" is the compound noun for hours worked beyond the standard contract; it combines "over" + "time" and is used as a singular uncountable noun; "overwork" refers to excessive work in general, not specifically to extra compensated hours.

The company plans to expand its by 30% over the next two years to meet growing demand. (WORKFORCE)

Correct answer: workforce

"Workforce" is the compound noun for the total number of people employed by an organisation or available for employment; it combines "work" + "force"; "staff" and "employees" are synonyms but "workforce" is the more formal TOEIC business term.

All records including contracts, appraisals, and training logs are stored securely in the HR system. (PERSONNEL)

Correct answer: personnel

"Personnel" is the formal noun for the employees of an organisation, or the department managing them; it derives from French and is always uncountable in this sense; "personal" (adjective) looks similar but means private or individual — a key spelling distinction.

The help desk is fully between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday mornings. (STAFF)

Correct answer: staffed

"Staff" + -ed → "staffed" — the adjective/passive participle meaning provided with the required number of employees; "staff" alone is a noun; "staffing" is the gerund for the process; "fully ___" requires the past participle or adjective form.

The restructuring plan called for a reduction in of 15% across all non-customer-facing departments. (HEADCOUNT)

Correct answer: headcount

"Headcount" is the compound noun for the total number of employees in an organisation; it combines "head" (a person) + "count"; "a reduction in headcount" is a standard HR euphemism for redundancies or layoffs.

The graduate scheme includes a twelve-month programme pairing each new hire with a senior manager. (MENTOR)

Correct answer: mentorship

Add -ship to "mentor" to form "mentorship" — the noun for the relationship or programme in which a more experienced person guides a less experienced one; "mentoring" (gerund) refers to the activity; "mentorship" refers to the formal arrangement or programme.

The company introduced a new wellness initiative to reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction. (WORKPLACE)

Correct answer: workplace

"Workplace" is the compound noun for the physical or virtual environment where people work; it combines "work" + "place"; "working place" (two words) is less standard — "workplace" is the fixed TOEIC term used in compound nouns like "workplace culture" or "workplace health."

The factory workers are fully , meaning that any pay dispute must be negotiated with union representatives. (UNION)

Correct answer: unionized

"Union" + -ized → "unionized" — the adjective meaning organised into or represented by a trade union; "unioning" is not standard; "union" alone is a noun and cannot follow "fully" as a predicate adjective here.

New employees receive a copy of the staff on their first day, which outlines all company policies. (HANDBOOK)

Correct answer: handbook

"Handbook" is the compound noun for a reference document containing policies and guidelines; it combines "hand" + "book"; "manual" is a close synonym; "hand book" (two words) is not standard — "handbook" should always be written as one word.

The manager distributed tasks more evenly after noticing that several team members had an unsustainable . (WORKLOAD)

Correct answer: workload

"Workload" is the compound noun for the total amount of work assigned to an individual or team; it combines "work" + "load"; "work load" (two words) is a less common variant; "overwork" refers specifically to excessive work, while "workload" is neutral.

The flight's was delayed by two hours due to a technical issue identified during pre-flight checks. (DEPART)

Correct answer: departure

Add -ure to "depart" to form "departure" — the noun for the act of leaving; "depart" is a verb and cannot follow the possessive "flight's" as a noun; "departing" is a gerund or adjective — "The flight's ___" requires a noun.

Passengers were asked to proceed to Gate 12 for thirty minutes before the scheduled departure. (BOARD)

Correct answer: boarding

"Board" + -ing → "boarding" — the gerund/noun for the process of getting onto an aircraft; "board" alone is a verb (to board) or noun (a plank, a committee); "boarded" is past tense — "proceed to the gate for ___" requires the noun/gerund form.

The connecting from Dubai to Tokyo was fully booked, forcing the traveller to take a different route. (FLY)

Correct answer: flight

"Fly" → "flight" — an irregular derivation where the noun form changes significantly; "flying" as a gerund can refer to the activity but not a specific scheduled service; "flight" is the TOEIC term for a scheduled air service between two points.

The corporate travel policy requires all staff to book the cheapest available ticket when travelling on business. (AIRLINE)

Correct answer: airline

"Airline" is the compound noun for a company that operates scheduled flights; it combines "air" + "line"; "airways" is used in some airline names (British Airways) but "airline" is the general TOEIC term; "airlines" is the plural when referring to multiple companies.

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