Unit 15 Work

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A. Jobs in a workplace

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di__________ (=member of the board of a company)

ex__________ (= important person who makes big decisions)

ad__________ (= person who runs the office day-to-day)

sk_____ worker (= trained to do specific tasks, e.g. building a computer)

u_____ worker (= doing a job that needs no training)

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director (=member of the board of a company)

executive (= important person who makes big decisions)

administrator (= person who runs the office day-to-day)

skilled worker (= trained to do specific tasks, e.g. building a computer)

unskilled worker (= doing a job that needs no training)

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r__________ (= visitors must check in with them)

p_____ r_____ o_____ (= important person who makes big decisions)

u__________ r__________ (= look after the staff’s interests)

r__________ (= investigates and develops new products)

su__________ (= makes sure workers are doing their job properly)

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receptionist (= visitors must check in with them)

public relations officer (= important person who makes big decisions)

union representative(= look after the staff’s interests)

researcher (= investigates and develops new products)

supervisor (= makes sure workers are doing their job properly)

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B. Trades and professions

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B.1. Professions (= jobs that require

considerable training and/or qualifications)

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c_____ s_____ (= person who works for a government department putting policies into action)

sc_____ (= an expert who studies or works in one of the sciences)

ph__________(= person who treats muscle injury by rubbing and moving injured areas)

d__________ (= a person who imagines how something could be made and draws plans for it)

j__________ (= person who takes decisions in legal cases)

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civil servant (= person who works for a government department putting policies into action)

scientist (= an expert who studies or works in one of the sciences)

physiotherapist(= person who treats muscle injury by rubbing and moving injured areas)

designer (= a person who imagines how something could be made and draws plans for it)

judge (= person who takes decisions in legal cases)

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l__________ (= university teacher)

a__________ (= chief diplomat or person representing his/her government abroad)

b__________ (= someone with an important position in a bank)

e_________ (= expert in financial matters)

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lecturer (= university teacher)

ambassador (= chief diplomat or person representing his/her government abroad)

banker (= someone with an important position in a bank)

economist (= expert in financial matters)

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B.2. Trades (= skilled manual jobs requiring on-the-job

and other training)

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fi__________ (= person who extinguishes a fire)

e__________ (= person who deals with electricity)

c__________ (= person skilled at making things with wood)

p_________ (= person who works with the supply and connection of water pipes)

ch_________ (= person looking after others’children in her own home while their parents are at work)

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firefighter (= person who extinguishes a fire)

electrician (= person who deals with electricity)

carpenter (= person skilled at making things with wood)

plumber (= person who works with the supply and connection of water pipes)

childminder (= person looking after others’children in her own home while their parents are at work)

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C. Collocations of words connected with work

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It’s not easy to g_____/f_____ w_____ round these parts.

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It’s not easy to get/find work round these parts.

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I’ve been off_____ _____/ a _____ in Paris.

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I’ve been offered work/ a job in Paris.

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John : What d’you ……………………?Kate : I’m __________

publ__________/ bank__________.

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John : What d’you for a living?Kate : I’m in publishing/banking.

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It’s hard to __________ a __________ as a freelance writer (= earn enough money to live comfortably)

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It’s hard to make a living as a freelance writer (= earn enough money to live

comfortably)

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She’s not prepared to t__________ on that job.(= suggests ‘having personal responsibility)

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She’s not prepared to take on that job.(= suggests ‘having personal responsibility)

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C.1. Hours of work

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Both sh__________work and long work hours have been associated with health and safety risks (= nights one week,

days the next week)

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Both shiftwork and long work hours have been associated with health and safety risks (= nights one week, days the next week)

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How many people do you know that __________ shiftwork?(= nights one week, days the next week)

How many people do you know that w__________ sh__________?(= nights one week, days the next week)

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How many people do you know that do shiftwork?(= nights one week, days the next week)

How many people do you know that work shifts?(= nights one week, days the next week)

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_______________ is a scheme that lets you choose when you start and finish work, within certain limits agreed with your employer.

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Flexi-time (Flexitime) is a scheme that lets you choose when you start and finish work, within certain limits agreed with your employer.

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I used to work nights, but now I have a ……………………………………………job.(= regular day work)

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I used to work nights, but now I have a nine-to-five job.(= regular day work)

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_______________ nine-to-five ... what a way to make a living? Or a lame, outdated concept? (= regular day work)

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Working nine-to-five ... what a way to make a living? Or a lame, outdated concept? (= regular day work)

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C.2. Not working

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Thousands of Jobcentre staff will ………………………………… on Monday in a long-running row over "oppressive working conditions and unrealistic targets".(= industrial dispute)

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Thousands of Jobcentre staff will go on strike on Monday in a long-running row over "oppressive working conditions and unrealistic targets".(= industrial dispute)

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The reason there are no buses is because the drivers …………… (= industrial dispute)

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The reason there are no buses is because the drivers are on strike (= industrial dispute)

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Wilkins: Benitez won't g__________ the s__________ (= thrown out of your job) at ChelseaThe former Stamford Bridge assistant argues that it is "totally out of the question" to suggest that Roman Abramovich would f__________ (= more formal for

being thrown out of your job) the 52-year-old before the end of the season.

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Wilkins: Benitez won't get the sack (= thrown out of your job)

at ChelseaThe former Stamford Bridge assistant argues that it is "totally out of the question" to suggest that Roman Abramovich would fire (= more formal for being thrown

out of your job) the 52-year-old before the end of the season.

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You’re f__________ !(= remove someone from their job)

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To keep the company alive, half the workforce is being m______ r________.(= having lost your job because your employer no longer needs you)

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To keep the company alive, half the workforce is being made redundant.(= having lost your job because your employer no longer needs you)

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Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to __________ off several hundred workers.(= more informal than ‘make redundant)

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Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off several hundred workers.(= more informal than ‘make redundant)

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What to do if you are l__________ __________?(= more informal than ‘make redundant)

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What to do if you are laid off?(= more informal than ‘make redundant)

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Learn your rights as a pregnant working woman and your m__________ l__________ rights.(= before/after the birth of a baby)

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Learn your rights as a pregnant working woman and your maternity leave rights.(= before/after the birth of a baby)

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I was __________ maternity leave for three months.(= before/after the birth of a baby)

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I was on maternity leave for three months.(= before/after the birth of a baby)

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I __________ maternity leave for three months. (= before/after the birth of a baby)

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I took maternity leave for three months. (= before/after the birth of a baby)

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__________ leave is the time a father takes off work at the birth or adoption of a child. This kind of leave is rarely paid. 

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Paternity leave is the time a father takes off work at the birth or adoption of a child. This kind of leave is rarely paid. 

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I am __________ __________ __________. Can my boss call me and talk about work?Can my boss call me at home and ask me to call a supplier? He seems to think that just because I am off for 2 weeks because of a small operation on my shoulder, that I am able to talk and therefore able to work on the phone. He wasn't happy when I said no. 

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I am on sick leave. Can my boss call me and talk about work?Can my boss call me at home and ask me to call a supplier? He seems to think that just because I am off for 2 weeks because of a small operation on my shoulder, that I am able to talk and therefore able to work on the phone. He wasn't happy when I said no. 

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Physicians seem to have problems in accepting their own illness, and they tend to avoid __________ sick leave.  

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Physicians seem to have problems in accepting their own illness, and they tend to avoid taking sick leave.  

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You can take __________ __________ from the age of 55. (= stop working) 

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You can take early retirement from the age of 55. (= stop working) 

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C.3. Other useful expressions

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How do I know if I'm a __________? Do you get more excited about your work than about family or anything else? (= love work too much) 

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How do I know if I'm a workaholic? Do you get more excited about your work than about family or anything else? (= love work too much) 

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When your colleague becomes your boss or when you are __________ and are asked to supervise former colleagues, you're facing one of the toughest situations there is.(= get a higher position) 

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When your colleague becomes your boss or when you are promoted and are asked to supervise former colleagues, you're facing one of the toughest situations there is.(= get a higher position) 

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I have worked in shops before back home but I'm wondering about the real life difficulties of working as a sales assistant in a department store here. You see, I'm __________ __________ such a position solely based on my retail experience and I'm a bit worried about vocabulary specific to the job. I have a fairly good standard of French for day to day stuff, but I've never really spoken at length or in great detail about specific subjects. (= write application letters, fill in application forms, etc.)

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I have worked in shops before back home but I'm wondering about the real life difficulties of working as a sales assistant in a department store here. You see, I'm applying for such a position solely based on my retail experience and I'm a bit worried about vocabulary specific to the job. I have a fairly good standard of French for day to day stuff, but I've never really spoken at length or in great detail about specific subjects. (= write application letters, fill in application forms, etc.)

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