Tag: Business

Give All Tips to Staff

B1 – Intermediate

Waiting tables is one of those jobs that pay too little. A lot of waiters who work in restaurants depend on tips for more salary.

However, not all restaurants give the full amount of tips collected to their waiters.

Read the article below about a new law that obliges restaurant owners to give all the tips to their waiting staff.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1810/181004-tipping-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “tip” mean, “UK restaurants will soon have to give all tips to their staff.”? Give a synonym and use the word ‘tip’ in a sentence.
  2. What does “staff” mean, “Many waiting staff are happy with the new law.”? Give a synonym and use the word ‘staff’ in a sentence.
  3. What does “to be fed up with sb/sth” mean, “They are fed up with chain restaurants keeping their tips.”? Use this expression in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree with this new law? Do you think it is necessary to have this law?
2. What is your opinion on restaurants not giving the tips to their staff?
3. Do you need to tip waiters in your country? Why or why not?
4. What are some low-paying jobs in your country?
5. How can we make sure all workers are treated fairly by their employers?

Why Louboutin Shoes Are So Expensive

B2 – Upper intermediate

Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton are some very famous designer brands. For the average shopper, just an item or two from any of these high-end products can cost an entire month’s salary or even more.

What makes a designer piece different from the rest? And what makes it so desirable that some people are willing to pay ridiculous sums in order to attain one?

Try to learn more from this video, which takes a look at the world of Christian Louboutin, an iconic shoe designer.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the video in your own words.

2. Do you think designer pieces are worth their hefty price tags? Why or why not?

3. Talk about your own shopping habits. Where do you shop and what do you like to buy?

4. What are the cheapest and most expensive things you have?

Personality Types

B2 – Upper intermediate

In the world of business and even in our day to day interactions, we will meet with and talk to people with different personalities. Understanding other people’s personality traits can completely transform your communication skills with others in any setting.

Learn about the four personality traits in the video below.

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the four personality types and how to deal with them in a business transaction.

2. What personality do you think you have?

3. What personality type/s do most of your clients have?

4. How can we de-escalate or resolve personality clashes with a friend, family, and co-worker?

Prepare Kids for the Future in the Workplace

B2- Upper Intermediate

Having successful children is what most parents aspire for. As much as we should let kids be kids, we should also think about how to raise them in order for them to be workplace-ready.

How do we prepare our children to excel in the workplace in the future?

https://www.inc.com/video/jt-odonnell/how-to-raise-kids-who-will-succeed-in-the-workplace.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What advice did the speaker share? Do you agree or disagree?

2. What are ways to raise successful children?

3. Should children be raised always thinking they should constantly strive for success?

4. How did you prepare for joining the workforce?

5. Talk about a challenge you had at work and how you overcame it.

The Art of the Business Lunch

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the business arena, having a business lunch is important as offers can be made, partnerships can be formed and deals can be closed. How much do you know about having successful lunch meetings?

Let’s learn some tips and be ready to share what you know.

Discussion Questions:
1. What did you learn from the video?
2. Who should order and what should you order? What’s meant by “not scratch-made”?
3. What other business lunch etiquette do you know?
4. Is it good or bad idea to bring a small gift for the host/hostess?
5. Is being punctual important? Why or why not?

The Gender Pay Gap

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Data show that the majority of medium and large companies pay higher wage rates to men than to women. In spite of all these records, skeptics still do not believe in the existence of the idea. See how the video debunks myths about the gender pay gap.

Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss the six myths about the gender pay gap.
2. Do you experience the pay gap in your company?
3. How can we resolve issues about the pay gap?
4. In what other phenomena are men considered to be more privileged than women?
5. In what events are women thought to be more advantaged than men?

Marketing a Country

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are about 200 countries around the world. Each of which strives to get resources, improve trade activities, and garner attention.

Now, the bigger challenge is, how do you rise above everyone and let the world know that your country exists?

Read more about nation branding from the article below.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45263511

Discussion Questions:

1. In your opinion, what are other ways to boost a country’s profile?
2. What do you think is your country’s image to the world?
3. What part of your country’s brand would you change?
4. Which country or countries do you have very good impression of?

Starbucks Cafes

B1 – Intermediate

Cafes are known for their very comfortable and homey ambiance. This makes it a perfect place to relax and pass time. The question is, if you want to stay in a cafe for many hours or just use their toilets, is it necessary to order something?

Read more below about this new rule that Starbucks is implementing in its stores.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1805/180522-starbucks-cafes-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion about this news?
2. Do you agree that any person who enters a shop is a customer? Explain.
3. Do you believe this new rule will make life easier for the cafe managers? Why or why not?
4. What do you think would be the results of this new rule to Starbucks?

Open-Plan Offices

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In recent years, companies have opted for open-plan offices to encourage employee interaction and collaboration. In a new study, however, having an open floor plan may in fact have the opposite effect and be counterproductive.

Read the article to find out more.

https://theconversation.com/a-new-study-should-be-the-final-nail-for-open-plan-offices-99756

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the article all about? Explain in your own words.
  2. What are the pros and cons of having an open floor plan? What about a closed one?
  3. Talk about the layout or floor plan of your own company/office. How do you think can communication and teamwork be improved in your company?

The Inevitability of the Office Romance

C1 – Advanced

Fraternization in the workplace involves relationships that go beyond the normal scope of employee interactions. Some companies may allow dating among their employees, but others strictly do not.

Read more about employee fraternization and how an organization can establish a healthy employee dating policy within it.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220228-the-inevitability-of-the-office-romance

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some benefits and harms of allowing a romantic relationship in a workplace?

2. Tell me about employee fraternization in your workplace. Why or why is it not allowed?

3. In what industries do you think employee fraternization can and can stringently not be allowed?

4. If employee fraternization were not allowed in your company, what would you do if you fell in love with a colleague?