2017-11-01
998
1. Here are some ideas for creating a good working environment.
Which do you consider:
a) crazy?
b) good for motivating staff?
- Singing at meetings.
- Dressing in strange clothes at meetings.
- Having no individual offices.
- Having no dress code.
- Organizing company holidays.
- Encouraging managers to invite staff home for dinner.
- Buying birthday presents for staff.
- Keeping small animals and birds at head office.
- Supply flowers regularly for all offices.
2. Read the article. Find out what things the Ford Company encourage to have or to do in the workplace.
THE ACTIVE WORKPLACE
When the clock strikes twelve noon at the Ford Company`s New Zealand head office, a small group of employees gathers in main lobby. They`re a mixture of men and women, old and young, office staff and shop-floor staff. They`re not waiting for an interdepartmental meeting or a business training seminar. They are the “Lunchtime walking group” and they are about to go on a thirty-minute walk in the local woods.
The Lunchtime walking group is just one of the initiatives at the Ford Company designed to make the workplace more active. Other activities include yoga courses run onsite after work. A tennis court and basketball court have been built for staff and their families to use at any time, including weekends – and staff have interdepartmental challenges at lunchtimes.
The company runs a “Work life week” every year, where employees are shown how to balance work and life, and where information sessions are given on men`s and women`s health, on aromatherapy, on t`ai chi, and on massage. Funds of up to $200 per person per year are available for life skills development such as courses in cooking, yoga, kick-boxing, and pottery, as well as conventional team sports like netball and rugby.
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Sports and fitness are encouraged at all levels: from regular “Management versus the best-of-the-rest” sports competition, to the arrangements for staff discounts at the local gym. Teams and individuals who compete in national and local sports competitions are given paid time off work flexible working hours and arrangements. Flexibility extends to the onsite cafeteria, where healthy meals are provided, and even made-to-order meals for weight-watchers and athletes training.
Meanwhile, the Lunchtime walking group has set off. If they come back to work a little late, the managers won`t mind too much, because they know that the employees will be more alert and rested, and will probably work more effectively in the afternoon. Ford is one of many companies who now realize that active workplaces can create a healthier and happier environment in which to work.
3. Find words or phrases in the article that mean:
1) come together in a group (verb);
2) an action which is taken to solve a problem or improve a situation (noun);
3) the use of natural oils for controlling pain or rubbing into the body (noun);
4) traditional, normal (adj.);
5) specially created to suit a particular person (adj.);
6) ready with full attention (adj.).
4. Work in groups. Discuss the questions.
1) what do you think of the Ford Company`s policy on encouraging health and fitness?
2) what are the advantages?
a) for the employer?
b) for the employee?
3) can you think of any disadvantages?
5. Plan a new staff welfare policy and programme for your own or an imaginary company. Present your ideas to your teacher and groupmates.
PART 2
SPEAKING
OFFICE RULES
1. Work in groups. The first group is Staff and the second group is Directors.
Office rules
Work Schedule
Start time: between 07.00 and 08.30
Lunch time: between 12.00 and 13.30 (maximum ½ hour)
Finish time: between 16.00 and 19.00 (no overtime without previous authorization)
Dress
Suits and ties are compulsory for all male staff.
Casual dress is not allowed: no jeans, denim skirts, denim jackets, etc.
Health & Safety
No smoking in any part of the building (including coffee bar and restaurant)
No eating or drinking at desks.
Other Regulations
No personal phone calls, emails or personal use of the Internet allowed.
Mobile phones must be switched off during office hours.
Staff:
1) You work for the local office of a large company. Look at the office rules. Decide which rules you would like to change and prepare a new set of rules to propose to the company directors.
2) Hold a meeting with directors to decide a new set of rules that everyone agrees with. Start the meeting by presenting the set of rules you have prepared in 1.
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Useful language:
Questions: Why do we have to…?; Why don’t you let us…?; Why can’t we…?; Why aren’t we allowed to…?
Suggestions: We should be able to…; What if we …?; We could …; Could we …?
Directors:
1) You have just taken new posts as directors of the local office of a large company. You have received these recommendations from Head Office. Decide which office rules could change and which ones must not change.
2) You have agreed to hold a meeting with the staff representatives to discuss the existing office rules. The objective of the meeting is to produce a set of rules that everyone agrees with.
3) The representatives will start the meeting by representing their proposals for changes to the rules.
Recommendations:
General Appearance
We receive visits from important clients, so staff who have contact with the public should wear formal dress and certainly no denim.
Timekeeping
Our main clients start work at 07.00, so half the staff should be in the office by 07.30 at the latest.
Most staff leave by 17.30, although the office is officially open until 18.00. We recommend a more flexible overtime system so that people can work later if necessary.
Health & Safety
Company rules do not allow smoking in any part of any office worldwide and this cannot be different for local offices.
Eating of snacks at or near computers is dangerous and cannot be allowed. However, we recommend providing the staff with a separate room for coffee breaks.
Other Recommendations
For personal calls, we feel the staff should be allowed to make and receive calls during their break times if they are not at their desks (i.e. in the coffee bar or restaurant).
Useful language:
Explanations: I`m afraid you can`t …; If you …, then you …; You should …; We must …
Suggestions: Why don`t you/we …?; Couldn`t you …?; You/We could …
PART 3
WRITING
WRITING A MEMO
1. Read the text. What type of correspondence is it?
To: All staff
From: Grace Helston
Date: 27th November
Subject: New roles after departmental restructuring
Further to the recent restructuring in the Sales Department, I wanted to clarify the roles of the following members of staff.
New responsibilities
