職員

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 職員 (しょくいん) is a noun for a staff member or employee of an institution or facility.
• Basic usage: It identifies a library employee asked for help or a facility worker guiding someone.
  • 図書館の職員に本の場所を尋ねました。 — I asked a library staff member where to find the book.
  • 施設の職員が入口まで案内してくれました。 — A facility employee guided me to the entrance.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Institutional staff and company employee
  • 職員 emphasizes membership in an institution or facility, while 会社員 specifically identifies a company employee.