If you are working as an employee at an organization, when you tell about it to others which usage would be more appropriate?
- I work for company.
- I work at company.
Or are both usages correct?
-
1Related: Which one is right? He works at XYZ company or in XYZ company?– RegDwigнtCommented Jul 30, 2011 at 13:01
Add a comment
|
3 Answers
Both usages are correct, and they mean the same thing.
The only minor wrinkle is that at can be used to refer to a physical location as well as a company itself:
I work at Microsoft.
I work at the Microsoft Redmond campus.
Whereas for cannot be used this way:
I work for Microsoft.
*I work for the Microsoft Redmond campus.
The last sentence would somehow indicate that you are employed by the campus itself, which probably isn't what you mean.
-
Regarding the "location" distinction, if you worked in a local branch of a nationwide chain, for example, you might complain about being asked to do something that primarily benefits the national Head Office by saying "I don't work for them! I work for the MyTown Branch Office!". Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 14:34
-
1"I work for Xyzzy Consulting Corp. I currently work at Foo Industries." Commented Jul 31, 2011 at 2:44
You work for a company at a location.
I work for Comcast.
I work at the Comcast building.
-
-
I don't think "at" is exactly slang. But it's more likely to be "local" usage, in that oftetimes you might say "I work at Comcast" in an area where everyone knows of that company's local office because they're a major employer wherever you're speaking. In which case it's a moot point whether you intended (or the hearer understood) the referent to be the company itself, or their nearby premises. Commented Jul 30, 2011 at 14:40
work in (a place)- I work in a hospital. work for (a company) I work for an airline. work with (people) I work with volunteers.
