Tag: work

Why Appraisals Are Pointless?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In so many ways, whether the company would thrive or fail relies on employee quality. Hence, many companies resort to appraisals in order to sort the good apples from the bad ones.

Read the full article and discover why the dreaded appraisals just don’t work and what might be the better way to boost employee productivity.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190501-why-appraisals-are-pointless-for-most-people

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the pros and cons of employee performance ratings?
  2. What are your thoughts on performance reviews?
  3. Talk about the performance review process of your company.

Japan University to Hire Non-smoking Staff Only

B1 – Intermediate

A university in Japan does not want to hire people who smoke. They have a reason for doing so.

Find out through the article below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190505-no-smoking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on not hiring smoking staff?
2. Do you think companies should tell their workers to stop smoking?
3. What do you think about prohibiting smoking in public places?
4. What is your opinion about letting people smoke in schools or universities?
5. Do you think there are fewer people smoking in your country now than years ago?

Why you should know your coworkers salary?

C1 – Advanced

It’s cringe-worthy to ask your colleagues how much they earn, and the same goes for telling them your salary. Hence, knowing how much they make causes curiosity among employees. According to a new study, salary and pay are now more openly discussed among coworkers in the U.S. and there is a good reason to do so.

Watch the video to know why salaries should be shared and why it actually makes business sense.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. How does salary transparency benefit a company?

2. Do you agree or disagree with the speaker?

3. Are you confident to share how much your salary is?

4. What do you think are the risks of discussing your salary with your colleagues?

How to Get a Raise

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Our boss should notice our accomplishments and give us a raise. But in the real world, that is rarely the case. If you want a raise or promotion you have to ask for one. Question is, how do you ask for a raise and get it?

Watch the video for some tips.

Discussion Questions:

1. When and how to ask for a raise?

2. Why do you think women are reluctant to ask for a raise?

3. Do you think you need a raise?

4. Talk about your experience asking your boss for a higher salary.

5. If you were an employer, what would you consider before giving your employees a raise?

Japanese Women Rebel Against High Heels

B1 – Intermediate

Most companies impose dress codes on their workers and some companies even compel their female workers to wear high heels while working. We all know that it is important to follow our company’s rules and regulations but what if apart from the pain, women also complain about injuries after slipping, falling, and tripping due to wearing of high-heeled shoes.

Let’s find out how the movement started in Japan.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1904/190403-high-heels-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “hashtag” mean? “The movement has the hashtag KuToo – a combination of the Japanese words that mean “shoe” and “pain”.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What does “petition” mean? “She started an online petition.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What does “impaired” mean? “A visually impaired woman who has to wear high heels at work said it is difficult for her to keep her balance in high heels.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How did the campaigns against having to wear high heels start?
  2. Why do companies require women to wear high heels?
  3. What do you think about wearing high heels?
  4. Have you ever been compelled to do something you don’t want to at work?

Stop Procrastinating and Maximize Productivity

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing a task or set of tasks. It is a challenge we have all faced at one point. As humans, we have been struggling with delaying, avoiding, and procrastinating on issues that matter to us.

Click the link below to watch the video on how to beat procrastination and learn some useful strategies that will make it easier for us to start working on our tasks ahead.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are some reasons why people procrastinate?
  2. What kinds of things do you usually put off doing?
  3. What are the negative effects of procrastination?
  4. When is it good to procrastinate?
  5. According to the video, how can one kick the habit of procrastination?

Safety of Doctors

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Doctors treat our illnesses and at times, even save our lives when we are confronted with a life-threatening medical condition. An increasing number of Korean doctors are growing more worried about their safety while at work.

Read the article below and find out one of the reasons why a huge number of doctors in Korea want to work abroad.

http://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=261424

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the reason Korean doctors worry about their safety?
  2. State ways on how to solve this problem.
  3. What other work-related perils do doctors face?
  4. What challenges do doctors in your country have to deal with?

Working Many Hours

B1 – Intermediate

Tesla founder Elon Musk believes people should work more than the typical 35-40 hours a week in order to change the world. In fact, many CEOs of multi-billion-dollar companies work about 70 hours per week.

Read the article and be ready to talk about working very long hours.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181129-working-week-1.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “workaholic” mean? “He is a workaholic but he loves working.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  2. What is a “founder“? “He is the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX.” Use this word in your own sentence.
  3. What is a “co-founder“? “He is the co-founder of PayPal.” Use this word in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on Mr. Musk’s idea?
  2. What might be the good and bad things about being a workaholic?
  3. Talk about your own experience working long hours.

The Pecking Order

B2 – Upper Intermediate

By definition, hierarchy is a way of organizing people, in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. When is hierarchy bad and when is it not?

Let’s listen to know the answer and learn how chickens’ pecking order work as well.

Discussion Questions:
1. What did you learn from the chickens’ pecking order?
2. According to the audio, what is the best hierarchy? (Do you agree?)
3. When is hierarchy bad?
4. Talk about your workplace pecking order.

Samsung Pays After Worker Deaths

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Samsung is one of the world’s largest producers of electronic devices. In the latest news, the company has agreed to compensate  workers who had fallen ill and died from on-the-job chemical exposure at its South Korean factories after protests at various Samsung sites to pressure the company into the deal.

Click the link to read more about the article:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46060376

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think Samsung will stand by its promise to compensate its employees?

2. What are the health effects of chemical exposure?

3. What safety measures should companies have for their employees who are working in a hazardous environment?

4. How can companies replace hazardous chemicals to safer alternatives?

5. Name some companies which has workplace hazards. How can they improve?