Töötajatel

Töötajatel is the plural adessive form of the Estonian noun töötaja (employee). It roughly means “to/for the employees” or “at the employees” and is commonly used to indicate the possessor or beneficiary group in sentences, especially in formal or organizational language.

Formation and use: The base word töötaja has plural genitive form töötajate, from which the adessive plural töötajatel is formed. The singular adessive is töökajal, and the plural adessive töötajatel. The adessive is used to indicate location, association, or possession in sentences with verbs like olema (to be) or verbs describing rights, obligations, or actions affecting the group. For example: “Töötajatel on õigus esitada ettepanekuid” (Employees have the right to submit proposals) and “Töötajatel on võimalus osaleda koolitusel” (The employees have the opportunity to participate in training). The phrase can also express requests or duties involving the group, e.g., “Töötajatel palutakse esitada tagasisidet” (Employees are asked to provide feedback).

Relation to other forms: Töötajatel contrasts with genitive plural töötajate, which appears in constructions like “töötajate arv” (the number of employees). The adessive form is most common in sentences about rights, opportunities, or actions pertaining to the employees as a group, particularly in official, HR, or legal contexts. In everyday speech, speakers may opt for simpler constructions, but töötajatel remains standard in formal registers.