pracownikiem

Pracownikiem is the instrumental singular form of the Polish noun pracownik, meaning employee or worker. It is used when describing someone as being an employee, typically after the verbs być (to be) or zostać (to become). Examples: "On jest pracownikiem firmy X" and "Zostałem pracownikiem nowej jednostki." The form is also used with prepositions and in phrases such as "jako pracownik firmy" or "pracownikiem roku."

Origin and grammar: The noun pracownik is derived from praca (work) with the agent suffix -ownik. The instrumental singular masculine form is pracownikiem, while the feminine instrumental is pracownicą. Declension for the singular is: Nominative pracownik, Genitive pracownika, Dative pracownikowi, Instrumental pracownikiem, Locative pracowniku. Plural declension includes: nominative pracownicy, genitive pracowników, dative pracownikom, instrumental pracownikami, locative pracownikach.

Usage and context: The term denotes a person employed by an organization, usually under an employment contract. It contrasts with terms like pracodawca (employer) and with non-employment arrangements where the person may be described as a zleceniobiorca or wykonawca. The feminine form is pracownicą, and plural forms depend on gender composition (pracownicy, pracowniczki) for mixed or female-only groups.