B2- Upper Intermediate
Perhaps one of the things that entice people to high-paying corporate jobs is the privileges that come with that job title. A fat paycheck, for one, remains a strong drive to pursue and persevere in such positions no matter the toll it could take on one’s personal life.
However, isn’t it a cliche that the bigger pay one receives, the greater the responsibilities put on their shoulders, which comes at a price of sacrificing their quality of life.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to break free from the “golden handcuffs” of a top-tier salary.
Read this article about the so-called “golden handcuffs” of a six-figure payday.
Be ready to answer the questions that follow.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240221-workers-shake-off-golden-handcuffs
Vocabulary Questions:
- Explain “golden handcuffs” in this context, “While some can shake off golden handcuffs for a healthier work-life balance, others find them nearly impossible to walk away from – and pay the price.” Use this term in a sentence.
- What does “to be at someone’s whim” mean? “Handsome compensation means employees are at the company’s whim.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give 2 synonyms or similar expressions.
- What does “to push someone over the edge” mean? “He says on top of “a poor work-life balance, the long hours negatively impacting my relationship, the bullying culture,” he didn’t see a path to promotion, which pushed him over the edge.” Use this idiom in a sentence and give 2 synonyms or similar expressions.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever been in a situation where you thought this way, “You accept those conditions in return for such a high salary – that’s the game. If you’re not working 12 hours straight, the response is ‘you’re being paid this much, so you have to’.”? Talk about it.
- Do you think this is fair, “Higher up the chain, the financial packages sweeten – and the golden handcuffs tighten.“? Share your point of view.
- Share your insights on this, “It’s more than a salary you’re tied to: it’s also lifestyle, friendship group and sense of worth.”.
- “These financial packages will be here to stay – and in an uncertain economy, more workers may end up sticking it out, no matter the circumstances.” Share your thoughts on this statement.
- How important is high compensation and job prestige for you personally?
2 replies on “The ‘Golden Handcuffs’ of High-Earning Jobs”
1. Golden hancuffs means that you are stuck in some point because of the privileges. A sentence: Although she hate her job, the golden handcuffs of a high salary and a her friends from the golf club made it hard for her to leave.
2. To be at someone’s whim is that you have to do what other people say, like you are a servant. A sentence: She feels she is always at her boss’s whim.
3. To push someone over the edge is that you challenge someone until his/her limit. A sentence: After months of stress at work, the last-minute change in project deadline finally pushed her over the edge.
1. No, I have never be in that type of situation, but it this happens to me in the future I dont know what I will do. A high salary is a good incentive to want a job, but mental health and personal life must always be prioritised. No job or social position is more worthwhile than your own well-being.
2. I don’t think it’s fair for anyone to have these gold chains, neither the people at the bottom nor the people at the top. I understand that the salary has to be commensurate with the responsibility, but in no case should that responsibility influence your life outside work.
3. I believe this to be true. It always happens that when you get used to a standard of living you have to make sacrifices to maintain it. For example, your children go horse riding but you change jobs and can no longer afford to pay for their lessons, at that point your standard of living changes and leisure and activities have to change to ones you can afford.
4. If the workers accept the conditions and do not decide together to have fair conditions, the owners of the companies will always oppress all those who accept without complaint.
5. Salary and prestige are important to me, but never more important than my well-being. Of course, having responsibilities and being rewarded with a good salary and gaining prestige is good, but always within limits that do not disconnect you from reality and that do not take up more than 8 hours of your day.
Job well done answering this lesson’s discussion and vocabulary questions!
Here is one sentence you can still improve by using other words:
Keep writing!