Vocabulary — Business & Work
These are the words for this kind of lesson, all on one page: how to spell each word, what it means in simple words, and one sentence to remember it by. You can come back to this page any time.
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Hours log
Spells: H-o-u-r-s-l-o-g
What it means: your own written record of dates and times worked, used to check your pay stub.
A sentence to remember it by: ☐ I started an hours log: date, start, end, break.
Meal break
Spells: M-e-a-l-b-r-e-a-k
What it means: at least 30 minutes free of all duties, required after more than six hours of work in a day.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — minimum wage; meal-break interval.
Minimum wage
Spells: M-i-n-i-m-u-m-w-a-g-e
What it means: the lowest hourly pay the law allows for most workers; in Massachusetts, $15.00 per hour as of October 21, 2026.
A sentence to remember it by: Laws) — minimum wage; meal-break interval.
Pay stub
Spells: P-a-y-s-t-u-b
What it means: the record accompanying pay that shows hours, rate, gross and net pay, and deductions.
A sentence to remember it by: Protect that pay with two habits.
Prohibited job
Spells: P-r-o-h-i-b-i-t-e-d-j-o-b
What it means: work the law forbids for young workers of a stated age, such as operating a meat slicer.
A sentence to remember it by: mass.gov — permits, hours, prohibited jobs, and Fair Labor Division complaints.
Trusted adult
Spells: T-r-u-s-t-e-d-a-d-u-l-t
What it means: an adult who believes you and will act to help you stay safe.
A sentence to remember it by: Refusing and telling a trusted adult is the response the law expects.
Wage theft
Spells: W-a-g-e-t-h-e-f-t
What it means: an employer not paying wages the law or the agreement requires: unpaid hours, missing overtime, stolen tips, or illegal deductions.
A sentence to remember it by: Unpaid "practice" shifts are wage theft.
Youth employment permit
Spells: Youth employment permit
What it means: the work permit every Massachusetts worker under 18 must get for each new job before starting, issued by the superintendent of schools.
A sentence to remember it by: Read it: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter149/Section100 Attorney General's youth-work rules on mass.gov — hours limits and prohibited-jobs lists.