May 20, 2016
- Read through the explanations.
A | A job for life
Many people used to work for the same organization until they reached retirement: the age at
which people retire, or end their working life. Career paths were clear: you could work your way
up the career ladder, getting promotion to jobs that were more senior, with greater responsibility.
You would probably not be demoted: moved to a less senior job.
To leave the company, you could resign or hand in your notice.
B | A job for now
Modco has downsized and delayered. The number of management levels in the company hierarchy has been reduced from five to three, and many managers have lost their jobs. Modco has reorganized and restructured in order to become flatter (with fewer layers of management) and leaner (with fewer, more productive employees).
They did this to reduce costs, and increase efficiency and profits.
Employees said the company used words like ‘restructure’ to make the situation sound positive and acceptable.
C | In-house staff or freelancers?
Modco has outsourced many jobs previously done by in-house personnel: outside companies clean the offices, transport goods and collect money from customers. This allows Modco to concentrate on its main business activities. Modco uses more freelancers, independent people who may work for several different companies, and they employ people for short periods on temporary contracts. Modco expects flexibility, with people moving to different jobs when necessary, but for many employees, this means job insecurity, the feeling that they may not be in their job for long. The way that they are doing their job is discussed at performance reviews: regular meetings with their manger.
Note: You say freelancers or freelances.
D | Losing your job
If you do something wrong, you are …
• dismissed
• fired
• sacked
• terminated
• laid off
• made redundant
• offered early retirement
Employees who are mane redundant may get advice about finding another job, retraining, etc. This is called outplacement advice.
- Fill the gaps in the sentences from A, B, C opposite.
- Many people used to work for the same organization until they reached .
- You could work the career ladder, getting to jobs that were more .
- To leave the company, you could or your notice.
- Modco has reorganized and in order to become (with fewer layers of management) and (with fewer, more productive employees).
- Modco has many jobs previously done by in-house personnel.
- Modco uses more , and they employ people for short periods on .
- Modco expects , with people moving to different jobs when necessary, but for many employees, this means .
- The way that they are doing their job is discussed at .
- Many people used to work for the same organization until they reached .
- Fill the gap with verb. Use words from A, B, C opposite.
- example: retirement — retire
retirement — - demotion —
- lay-off —
- dismissal —
- termination —
- example: retirement — retire
- Fill the gap with adjective. Use words from A, B, C opposite.
- example: seniority — senior
seniority — - freelance, freelancer —
- redundancy —
- insecurity —
- flexibility —
- example: seniority — senior
- Match the sentence beginnings to the correct endings.
- Career paths aren’t what they used to be; . . .
- factory worker to factory manager.
- companies won’t take care of us for life any more.
- and they will be replaced by temporary workers.
- reducing five management levels to three.
- but now we outsource it.
- He worked his way up from . . .
- companies won’t take care of us for life any more.
- factory worker to factory manager.
- reducing five management levels to three.
- but now we outsource it.
- and they will be replaced by temporary workers.
- The new management have delayered the company, . . .
- but now we outsource it.
- and they will be replaced by temporary workers.
- companies won’t take care of us for life any more.
- factory worker to factory manager.
- reducing five management levels to three.
- We used to do printing in-house . . .
- factory worker to factory manager.
- and they will be replaced by temporary workers.
- reducing five management levels to three.
- but now we outsource it.
- companies won’t take care of us for life any more.
- Workers are afraid their organizations will be downsized . . .
- but now we outsource it.
- factory worker to factory manager.
- reducing five management levels to three.
- companies won’t take care of us for life any more.
- and they will be replaced by temporary workers.
- Career paths aren’t what they used to be; . . .
- Carla used to work for an Italian magazine publishing company. She talks about how she lost her job. Choose the correct from of the words to complete the text.
- Edizione Fenice is a big magazine publishing company, and a very nice company to work for. I was director of a magazine called Casa a Giardino.
Then, Fenice was bought by an international publishing group.
We had to have regular performance . . . with one of the new manager.- reviews
- review
- reviewer
- After a few months they started laying staff . . . .
- out
- on
- off
- Our own journalists were put on on temporary . . . or replaced by . . . .
- contracting | freelanced
- contracts | freelancers
- contractual | freelancer
- Then they started . . . off more senior people like me.
- lying
- laid
- laying
- The new owners said they wanted to make the company . . . and . . . .
- flatten | leant
- flat | lean
- flatter | leaner
- So I was made . . . .
- redundant
- redundancy
- redundancies
- They offered to help me to find another job with . . . advice, but I refused.
- outplacement
- outplaced
- outplacing
- Edizione Fenice is a big magazine publishing company, and a very nice company to work for. I was director of a magazine called Casa a Giardino.
- Over to you
- If you work …
Do you have performance reviews?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Has your organization been restructured?
What aspects of the business does your company outsource? - If you don’t work …
Would you prefer a job for life or a more flexible career?
Would you like regular performance reviews?
- If you work …
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