c ■ Ii c ř ■ I Which companies would be most able or likely to provide which perks? 1 good pension scheme................-................. a) architectural design company 2 company car..............................b> bus or train company -> «1 • u c) college 3 flexi-hours............._.................... d) detergent manufacturer's sales division with 4 child care.................................. nationwide sales network 5 goods at reduced prices.................................. e) editing company working in book publishing 6 training and education allowance............................. f>fast food restaurant chain , g) financial services advisors 7 family travel pass.................................. h) large factory producing basic components for the 8 free meals.................................. electronics industry 9 working at home.................................. i) old people's sheltered housing centre 10 free holidays.................................. J) supermarket chain ,, . , . . . , k) travel company specialising in tourism II sports and social club.................................. ' r Ď I) very large company manufacturing cuddly toys 12 free accommodation.................................. 2 Which jobs would be most suitable for which people? National Trading Bank secret! • flexib arour • good i • fnendh ion City Adult Education College Friendly individual required to work on reception desk dealing with visitors, guests and general enquiries. • child care facilities • free meals • free use of sports facilities • reduced fees on all courses servise m™needed to h°uldholri8J0unäs- { sponsiblefo?5andte grounds 3'nschool 'f/ee inches Price Plus Supermarket Assistant ffcnest and friendly perscn wanted for work on cash desks and other general duties. Mark Having young twins is really demanding, but they're worth it! They're my whole life now really. When my wife died, I couldn't manage at first. Of course I had to give up college, which limits my future. That's worrying. Jeff My wife Mary is a registered Disabled Person, but we don't get much help from the state. She's fine if 1 don't leave her on her own too much, as long as I check she's OK now and then. The hospital appointments can be awkward to fit in. Sheila l was divorced six years ago when our kids left home. I got the house, but he's got the pension! I do feel lonely, though. I've got my own little hairdressing business, going to people's houses, but I'd like to meet someone special. Angela Seven children take a lot of looking after. But now they're all at school, I can go back to work. We need the money! Living out in the countryside gives us room to grow our own vegetables, but we're so isolated. Four of the kids travel nearly two hours to school. From Speaking Extra by Mick Gammidge © Cambridge University Press 2004 93 KEEPING A JOB 1 What do you consider to be a good job? What things are most important to you in a job? Would you rather have job satisfaction and lower pay or vice-versa? 2 Study the words beiow and then read the dialogue on the right and fill in the missing words. qualifications expense account workaholic retraining pension slave-driver responsibility perks initiative working environment career change sick pay overtime promotion self-motivated stressful company car passing the buck health scheme travelling expenses 3 4C31V Now listen and check your answers. 4 In the dialogue, Fiona's friend tells her that she can still fulfil her dreams. In pairs, list all of the reasons why she shouldn't leave her job. J: Hi Fiona. What's wrong? You look a little down. F: Yeah, it's my job. I really don't know what to do. J: Why? I thought you were really happy with it. F: Well, in many ways it's a great job. It definitely has a lot of 1_. I have a 2_I can use at any time, and I have an 3_ 4_ full 6_ 7 I can use to pay for my The job offers a great 5_with _when 1 get ill. And there's a good chance of if I stay with the company for a few years. J: It sounds great! So what's the problem, then? F: Well, I'm just not satisfied with the job. I have to travel a lot, so I'm always away from Dan and the kids, and when I am here I always have to work 8_so I don't get a chance to see them much either. It's also a very 9_job, and everybody in the office is feeling it, so it's a pretty tense 10_. The boss is a 11_, which doesn't help. He just walks around yelling about how we all have to show more 12_ of 14 _, take more 13_ be more 15 for things instead _, and all of those things. He can be a real 16_ sometimes. But most of all, I'm just sick of selling computers. I want to do something else with my life. Like what? I really want to be a teacher, but I'm not a young girl any more, and I'm afraid that it's a bit late to be thinking about a 17_at my age. Yeah, but what are you going to do - stick with a job you don't like until you get your 18_? If I were you I'd leave and find something you like doing better. F: I know, but how can I do it? I can't go back to school at my age. J: Well, you might not have to do a full degree. You've got "A" level history, haven't you? You should see if that's enough to get a job teaching history somewhere. And even if you do have to do some 19_, you could go to evening classes before you quit your present job and get all of the 20_you need. F: You know, maybe you're right. I'll have to give it some thought. J: Keeping a Job prospects (of promotion} sabbaticals punctuality in-service training regular * irregular hours procrastination day release flexitime laziness health scheme (GB) / health plan (US) fixed x flexible hours to pass the buck * accept / take responsibility company iacilities to work shifts self-motivation (a 'self-starter') the perks of the job / fringe benefits to clock in x out individuality * sociability staff discount on products / services to share a job ethical * unethical business practices maternity leave diligence environment(aliy)-friendly products maternity grant enterprise holidays * unpaid leave obedience 66 Topic-based Vocabulary • FICT UM €N C\} C££Lft R ^LL( ^ Qg LEAVING AND LOSING A JOB 1 Match the newspaper headlines below to the articles they are for. Then finish the articles. There is one extra headline you do not need to use. READY FOR AN OVERHAUL 2 THE GLASS CEIUMG IS STILL IHTACT A«TO WORKERS LEVEL SMALL TOWNS ARE H,T HARDEST 5 BY THE EFFECTS OF THE RECESS/ON A recent survey showed that, despite twenty years of anti-discrimination legislation, women are still having trouble reaching the highest levels of the business world. The survey stated that the main causes of this problem are... Union leaders for the United Farm Workers said yesterday that the union would go on strike if three major fruit companies did not give in to their demands. Among other things, the workers are asking for... The MBW plant in Patrola provides work for many of the 25,000 people who live here. But this Friday evening, the whistle will blow for the last time. Like many big companies, MBW has decided to move its operations to Mexico in order to... Government advisors worked around the clock to prepare a budget that would balance the social programs needed to deal with the recession with the reduced income from taxes that the recession has brought about. Some of the main concerns had to do with... Leaving or Losing a Leaving a job to give notice to take voluntary redundancy to take early retirement Unions and strikes to take industrial action trade unions union membership union dues union representative to go on strike / strike to be on strike to strike against * for to come out in sympathy closed shop picket (line) talks / negotiations can be successful stalled deadlocked Job conditions of employment wages keeping pace with inflation index-linked earnings / pensions management lockout Losing a job probation period short-term contract to be laid off to be given notice / get the sack / to be fired to be made redundant (GB) redundancy payment (GB) / severance pay (US) lump sum the golden handshake retraining scheme on social security / income support / on welfare (US) (difficult) to make ends meet sickness benefits to be on disability (US) to sign on (tor social security) unemployment benefits / dole (GB) on the dole (GB) Personal factors incompetence bad quality control low commission lack of support from colleagues External factors lack of opportunity passed over tor promotion corruption in high places stress bad working environment unsociable hours recession sexual harassment sexual discrimination the glass ceiling declining economic situation • WORK & LEISURE • 67