The place where people do their jobs, such as an office, factory, store, or school. It can also mean the general environment and culture around someone’s job.
A compound of 'work' and 'place', modeled on older patterns like 'marketplace.' It emphasizes location as part of working life.
We now talk about 'workplace culture' and 'workplace safety,' showing that the word has grown beyond just physical space. It includes the invisible rules and relationships that shape how work actually feels.
Historically, the term “workplace” referred implicitly to male-dominated environments, as many professions systematically excluded women or segregated them into lower‑status roles. Discussions of the workplace often erased unpaid domestic and care labor, which was and is disproportionately done by women.
When using “workplace,” be explicit that it includes people of all genders and all types of work, including care and knowledge work. Avoid assuming default workers are male or that leadership is male.
When discussing workplace history or policy, explicitly include women’s labor movements, organizing, and leadership in unions, professions, and management, which have often been underrepresented in narratives about work.
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