Tag: Work and Workplace

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the fast-paced setting of modern corporate culture, the worth of professional experience can be overshadowed by a greater emphasis on youth and innovation. A quiet revolution, however, is taking place in a few select companies across the United States, where a fresh point of view is becoming apparent. These progressive business organizations are cognizant of the wealth of knowledge, skill, and perspective that middle-aged and senior employees can contribute to the company. They have made a brave move by creating committed Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) intended particularly for this group in an environment where such appreciation can be hard to find.

Click on the link to learn more about how these groups are not only remarkable, but also a prime example of the significant impact that inclusivity and valuing diversity of age can have on a company’s success and advancement.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/age-erg-employee-resource_l_65144e33e4b0fa72d69d630f

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “entrenched” mean, “Ageist stereotypes are deeply entrenched in society: Older age still gets automatically associated with physical and cognitive decline at work.”? Use this in your own sentence.
2. What does “umbrella company” mean in the sentence, “Since then, Sages has grown into a business resource group within the umbrella company of Publicis Groupe; it has over 300 members.”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “sandwich generation” mean in the sentence, “Tom Hamrick, the group’s president, said what separates his ERG from others at the company is that members are part of the “sandwich generation”.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What motivated these companies to establish dedicated Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) for middle-aged and senior employees?
2. How do these ERGs differ from more traditional diversity and inclusion initiatives within these companies?
3. Can you provide examples of specific programs or activities that these ERGs organize to support midlife and senior employees? Please share.
4. What benefits have these companies observed as a result of creating spaces that value the contributions of older employees? Expand on that.
5. What challenges, if any, have these companies encountered in establishing and maintaining these specialized ERGs? Tell me more.
6. Share your thoughts on this, “Being older at work is still seen as something to hide.”..

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We all need to upskill because nowadays, recruiters pay attention not only to our hard skills, but also our soft skills.

Read the article to know the top skills you’ll need to get your desired job and to know the differences between hard and soft skills.

https://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/skills-for-2021-hard-soft-zety 

Vocabulary Questions:

1. Explain the meaning of the idiom “to place one’s bet on someone/something“. “What are the hard and soft skills to place your bets on this year?” Use it in a sentence.
2. What is the meaning of the word “upheaval“? “Again, these soft skills have become crucial to working life in the upheaval of 2020.” Use it in a sentence.
3. Differentiate “soft skills” and “hard skills”. “Recruiters and hiring managers showed a preference for soft skills over hard skills, with 61pc of respondents saying they were more important.” Use them in sentences.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your top 3 hard and soft skills that you most often use at work?
2. What are some hard and soft skills that you lack? How do you intend to gain them?
3. What is one skill you have that sets you apart from others?
4. Recruiters and hiring managers think soft skills are more important and they prefer people with better soft skills than with a lot of hard skills. What are your thoughts on this?
5. Why are soft skills important in one’s career?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Digital workplaces such as Google Workplace or Slack have become even more sought-after workplaces since the pandemic due to their digital workstyle nature.

Chat messages are often hard to decipher because you don’t know the tone of the sender. Reading a chat without context may cause you to overthink or be anxious. Subtle nuances in the digital workplace can have a significant influence on the overall atmosphere and dynamics. One such nuanced behavior is “Hey hanging”.

Read this article to learn about how “Hey hanging” induces anxiety in the workplace.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hey-hanging-work-chat_l_64c9387ae4b0fd06594dd491

Vocabulary Questions:

1. Define “right off the bat”. “To avoid any awkward pauses, it’s better just to explain what you need right off the bat.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
2. What does “out of the blue” mean? “If you’ve never chatted with the person before, a “hey” out of the blue can leave you second-guessing yourself, too.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
3. What does “tailspin” mean? “When a colleague replies to a paragraph-long question with a one-letter “k” on Slack, it can send us into an anxious tailspin, worried the sender is mad at us.” Use this word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on “Hey hanging”?
2. What impact does a “hey” message without a follow-up or with a pause have on individuals, particularly when it comes from a manager?
3. Have you personally experienced a situation where a sudden “hey” message in a digital workspace led to misinterpretation or heightened anxiety? How did you handle it?
4. Can you provide alternative greetings or messages for a positive digital tone and reduced anxiety?
5. How do clarity and context ease concerns with short messages like “hey” in digital work settings?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Hustle culture has been quite popular among the working class. However, some believe that this long-glorified culture may be coming to an end. This kind of culture has a huge impact on people’s work-life balance and mental well-being. As the world becomes more competitive, the pressure to constantly hustle intensifies.

Read this article to learn more about hustle culture.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230417-hustle-culture-is-this-the-end-of-rise-and-grind

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What is a “go-getter“? “…this is the way go-getters get what they want.” Use this in a sentence.
2. What does “fair shot” mean? “Everyone has a fair shot at success.” Make a sentence with this phrase.
3. Define “coupled with“. “And because that time was coupled with the stress of financial uncertainty, experts say some people came to find hustle culture more exhausting than empowering.” Use this phrase in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on hustle culture?
2. How does hustle culture impact work-life balance and individuals’ well-being?
3. Have you ever experienced burnout or exhaustion due to adopting a “rise and grind” mentality?
4. How do you prioritize work-life balance while still striving for success in your career?
5. Have you ever felt pressure to conform to hustle culture from your peers or workplace?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The idea of working for oneself has become more and more fashionable in recent years due to the fact that it gives individuals the independence, flexibility, and the potential to embark on what interests them.

While working for yourself can be rewarding, there are obstacles to overcome. Despite the frequently idealized perception of being one’s own boss, many self-employed people carry a quiet guilt.

Explore the multifaceted emotions that freelance employees experience, the causes of their guilt, and any possible impacts on their overall health by clicking the link.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230614-the-quiet-guilt-of-self-employment

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “it’s much easier said than done” mean in the sentence, “Unfortunately for the self-employed, some of these workers report it’s much easier said than done – and can be a catalyst for burnout.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
2. What does “billable hours” mean in the sentence, “It’s also turned me into a workaholic, who squeezes in billable hours on the weekends, and pushes my bedtime to cross one more thing off the to-do list.”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “ to be pronounced” mean in the sentence, “A 35-year-old self-employed graphic designer in the US state of North Carolina, says the guilt is most pronounced when she’s doing something enjoyable.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some effective strategies for managing and overcoming the guilt associated with self-employment? Tell me more.
2. How can self-employed individuals combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness that often accompany their chosen career path? Please share.
3. What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages you have experienced in your self-employment journey?
4. Have you faced any specific societal or cultural challenges or judgments as a self-employed person, and how have you navigated them? Please share.
5. What advice would you give to someone considering self-employment as a career path?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

With climate change getting worse, people from many countries in the Northern Hemisphere have been experiencing heat waves. Although a lot of us can find comfort by using an air conditioner at our own homes and in the office or taking a dip in the neighborhood swimming pool, there are those who cannot afford to do so because their work mainly requires them to be out there in the sun.

Listen to the audio and read the transcript to learn more about these work practices in the U.S. that could threaten the health of outdoor laborers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/14/heat-workers-osha-protections/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. Define the word “bevy”. “The result, experts say, is that workers in a bevy of industries — from farmworkers to roofers and delivery drivers to sanitation professionals — are left to defend themselves under the scorching sun.” Use it in a sentence and give two synonyms.
2. What is the meaning of the word “strafe“? “July 4 was Earth’s hottest day on record as a heat dome smothered parts of Texas and conditions from El Niño, the infamous climate pattern that provokes stifling heat and harsh rains, began to strafe the West Coast.” Use it in your own sentence.
3. What does the word “catchall” mean? “Extreme heat risk falls under the OSHA’s “general duty” clause, a catchall for job-site hazards without specific guidelines.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Share your thoughts on forcing people to work in deadly heat being legal.
2. What jobs are mostly affected by extreme weather conditions?
3. In your opinion, how does extreme heat affect the productivity of workers?
4. How is the summer weather in your country? Is it tolerable? If not, how do you deal with this extreme summer weather?
5. What are the workers’ legal protections related to extreme heat conditions in your country?