An employee is a person who works for someone else, usually a business or organization, in exchange for payment. When you become an employee, you agree to do specific tasks or fulfill certain responsibilities, and your employer (the person or company you work for) agrees to pay you, typically through a regular paycheck.

Teachers work as employees of schools, nurses work as employees of hospitals, and store clerks work as employees of retail shops. Employees might work full-time (usually around 40 hours per week) or part-time (fewer hours). They receive wages (payment based on hours worked) or a salary (a fixed amount regardless of hours).

Being an employee is different from being your own boss. A restaurant owner who runs her own business isn't an employee, she's self-employed. But the cooks, servers, and cashiers who work in her restaurant are her employees. Employees typically follow their employer's rules and schedule, work under supervision, and may receive benefits like health insurance or paid vacation time.