4lesson

Welcome to CreativMedia

compensation >NĴPSȪQ‫ۉ‬VH́ԙQ@
to compensate >‫ۉ‬NĴPSȪQVH́W@
What kind of compensation do you The form of compensation I most often expect
usually expect for a job? for a job is monetary compensation.
How much are you typically In my company, I am usually compensatedcompensated for working overtime? ´WLPHDQGDKDOIµIRURYHUWLPH
In which situations can I ask to receive I can ask to receive compensation for thingscompensation? I bought for the company, or for petrol when
I travel for business.
What can compensate for poor choices? Flowers or a box of chocolate can sometimes
compensate for poor choices.
If your boss told you to go buy a dog, Yes, if my boss told me to go buy a dog andand he didn’t give you any money, didn’t give me any money, I would expect him
would you expect him to compensate to compensate me for it afterwards.
you for it afterwards?
Why should you expect compensation I should expect such compensation because
in this situation? I don’t think the dog is mine but that the dog
will be used for some company business.
to terminate >‫ۉ‬WȶṔQH́W@termination>WȶṔ‫ۉ‬QH́ԙQ@
Why might some jobs end Some jobs might end in termination due toin termination? the laziness or poor quality of the employee’swork, or embezzlement.
Could you be terminated for making Yes, you could be terminated for making
a small mistake? a small mistake if it happens many times over.
Where does your bus/tram/subway My bus home terminates at the Main Train
home terminate? Station.
If you were a boss, and one of your No, if I were a boss and one of my employees
HPSOR\HHVJDYH\RXWKHɻXZRXOG\RX JDYHPHWKHɻX,GRQ·WWKLQN,FRXOGOHJDOO\terminate him? terminate him.

Get Down to Business English

45

4lessonmaternity leave >PȪ‫ۉ‬WȶQȪWLOLY@How long is maternity leave in your Maternity leave in my country is three years
country? long.
Do you think maternity leave in your No, I don’t think maternity leave in mycountry is too long/short? country is too long because raising a child isWhy? probably the most important thing a parent
can do.
What would you do if you were refused If I were refused maternity leave, I would quit.
maternity leave?
Why do we have maternity leave? :HKDYHPDWHUQLW\OHDYHEHFDXVHWKHɹUVWIHZ
months and years after the baby’s birth are
the most important in their life.
letterhead >‫ۉ‬OHWȪKHG@Why is it important to use a company’s It’s important to use a company’s letterhead
letterhead? EHFDXVHLWORRNVPRUHRɽFLDOHow often do you make a document I make a document with my company’swith your company’s letterhead? letterhead every day. It is usually a proposal
What? for a customer.
:KDWFDQ\RXQRUPDOO\ɹQGRQ 2QDFRPSDQ\OHWWHUKHDG\RXFDQXVXDOO\ɹQG
a company letterhead? the name and address of the company andperhaps the phone number as well.
If a company’s letterhead were spelled Yes, if a company’s letterhead were spelled
wrong, would it seem strange to you? wrong, it would seem strange. I would thinkthat it was forged.
(to turn in your) resignation >UH]́ʪ‫ۉ‬QH́ԙQ@
to resign >UL‫]ۉ‬D́Q@What reasons would you turn in ,ZRXOGWXUQLQP\UHVLJQDWLRQLI,JRWRʃHUHG
your resignation for? a better job or if the job I had was unpleasant.

If you loved your job, but hated your No, if I loved my job but hated my colleagues,colleagues, would you resign? I wouldn’t resign because I don’t have toWhy? talk to my colleagues that much, just thecustomers.
If you wanted to quit your job, would If I wanted to quit my job, I would probably\RXUHVLJQRUPDNHWKHPɹUH\RX" just resign. It is better to not burn bridges.
If your boss were absolutely horrible, Yes, if my boss were absolutely horrible,
would you look forward to the I would look forward to the day when I could
day when you could turn in your turn in my resignation.
resignation?

46

Get Down to Business English

4

lessonvouchers >‫ۉ‬YDօWԙȪ]@
What kinds of places can you use food You can use food vouchers at supermarkets
vouchers? and some restaurants.
Why do some companies give out food Some companies give out food vouchersvouchers? EHFDXVHWKH\DUHDEHQHɹWWRWKHLUHPSOR\HHV
and are not taxed.
Could you survive completely on I wouldn’t be able to survive completely onvouchers? vouchers because they don’t accept vouchers
Why or why not? everywhere.
Is it legal to sell your food vouchers on I don’t think it is legal to sell your foodthe Internet? vouchers on the Internet.
annual >‫ ۉ‬QMXȪO@annually >‫ ۉ‬QMXȪOL@6KRXOGFRPSDQLHVRʃHUWKHLUHPSOR\HHV <HVFRPSDQLHVVKRXOGRʃHUWKHLUHPSOR\HHV
a bonus annually? a bonus annually.
Do you have an annual Christmas party No, we don’t have an annual Christmas party
at work? at work.
Is there an annual festival/event in your There is an annual event in my town I liketown you like going to? going to. It is the marathon.
How many times annually do you visit I visit my car mechanic twice annually.
your car mechanic?

eligible >‫ۉ‬HÓGٕȪEO@After how long can you become eligible You can usually become eligible for company
IRUFRPSDQ\EHQHɹWV" EHQHɹWVDIWHUZRUNLQJWKHUHIRUWKUHHPRQWKVWhen are people eligible for retirement? Both men and women are eligible forretirement at 67.
How can you become eligible to be You can become eligible to be president in mypresident in your country? country if you are over 40 years old, if you
were born in this country and have lived herefor the last 5 years.
If I were a member of a club for several Yes, if you were a member of a club foryears, would I be eligible for special several years, you should be eligible for
EHQHɹWV" VSHFLDOEHQHɹWVLIWKH\RʃHUWKHPGet Down to Business English

47

4

lessonin advance >ȪG‫ۉ‬YđQV@to advanceadvanced >ȪG‫ۉ‬YđQVW@How long in advance should you notify I should notify my manager one month inyour manager of a holiday you want to advance of a holiday I want to take.
take?
What should a business do in order In order to advance a business should invest into advance? marketing and advertising.
Does your company use advanced Yes, my company does use advanced
technology at work? technology at work. We use a special kind of
What kind? programming for clients.
What kinds of places should you make You should make a reservation at a populara reservation for in advance? restaurant in advance otherwise it will be fullWhy? DQG\RXZRQ·WEHDEOHWRɹQGDIUHHWDEOH
How do people become advanced People become advanced at sports by practice,at sports? practice, and more practice.
Is Morse code an advanced form of No, Morse code isn’t an advanced form ofcommunication? communication.
probationary period >SUȪ‫ۉ‬EH́ԙQȪUL‫ۉ‬ŚȪULȪG@How long is the typical The typical probationary period in my country
probationary period in your country? is three months.
Do you think the probationary period is No, I don’t think the probationary period
too short? is too short because three months gives you
Why? Why not? enough time to get to know if it will reallywork out in the new position.
Why doesn’t the president have The president doesn’t have a probationary
a probationary period? period because he has already proven himself
before he takes the position.
Should prisoners be given No, prisoners shouldn’t be given
a probationary period once they get to a probationary period once they get toa prison? a prison. It doesn’t matter if they like it thereor not.
read your book andlisten to the CDat home48

Get Down to Business English

Exercise 4.1
Discuss these questions.
What is a contract?
Why are contracts necessary at times?
,QWKHVHVSHFLɹFVLWXDWLRQVƔEmployee and EmployerƔ&OLHQWDQG6XSSOLHU%X\HUDQG6HOOHUƔ7HQDQWDQG/DQGORUG

Exercise 4.2In the following pictures, you see items, which contracts were written for or places
contracts were written at. Decide if it is an item or a place and discuss what waswritten in the contract and why.

ABBe creative.
C52

Get Down to Business English

Exercise 4.3
From the list, choose the three most important things to YOU that should be on
a contract. Explain your reasons.
ƔPayment and Payment ProcedureƔ/HQJWKRIOXQFKEUHDNƔJob description and duties

Ɣ1DPHRIFRPSDQ\ƔSanctions, Penalties, and BonusesƔ*HWWLQJLQMXUHGDWZRUN,QVXUDQFHSROLF\Ɣ7HUPLQDWLRQƔDress codeƔ9DFDWLRQƔEating and Drinking Rules(where and when)Ɣ+RZPDQ\KRXUVSHUZHHNPRQWK

Exercise 4.4
Let’s have a look at the contract Matt has been given.
Read through the contract quickly and answer these following questions in pairs.
:KDWLVD´VLJQRQERQXVµ":RXOGHYHU\RQHEHKDSS\WRUHFHLYHUHVWDXUDQWYRXFKHUVDVDQDQQXDOERQXV":K\QRW"+RZORQJPXVWDQHPSOR\HHZRUNEHIRUHKHLVHOLJLEOHIRUKHDOWKLQVXUDQFH"
:K\GR\RXWKLQNVR"

:KDWLVD´SUREDWLRQDU\SHULRGµDQGZKDWLVLWVSXUSRVH"

:KHQFDQWKHHPSOR\HUWHUPLQDWHWKHHPSOR\HH´ZLWKFDXVHµ"
:KDWGRHVLWPHDQ"'R\RXWKLQNHLJKWZHHNVDGYDQFHQRWLFHLVWRRPXFKWRROLWWOHWLPHEHIRUH
\RXUUHVLJQDWLRQ"([SODLQ\RXUUHDVRQ:KDWDUHWKHFRQGLWLRQVIRUKROLGD\GD\VWKDW\RXGRQRWXVHXS"
:K\ZRXOGLWEHOLNHWKLV"

:KDWLVWKHSURFHVV\RXPXVWJRWKURXJKEHIRUH\RXFDQJRRQKROLGD\":KDWLVDOHWWHUKHDGDQGZK\LVLWLPSRUWDQWWREHXVHGZKHQ,DPLOO"

:KDWGR\RXWKLQNZRXOGEHD´VHULRXVFULPHµ":K\LVWKLVSRRUO\ZULWWHQ":K\FDQ·WHPSOR\HHVWDNHKROLGD\IRUPRUHWKDQZRUNLQJGD\VDWWKHVDPHWLPHZLWKRXWWKHHPSOR\HU·VFRQVHQW"

6RPHFRXQWULHVRIIHUDIHZZHHNVIRUPDWHUQLW\OHDYHVRPHRIIHUDIHZ\HDUV+RZFRXOGWKLVODZEHDSUREOHPIRUIRUHLJQHUVOLYLQJLQDIRUHLJQFRXQWU\"Get Down to Business English

53

________ Contract&RPSHQVDWLRQDQG%HQHÀWV
The Employee, during the term of his employment, will be paid a base salary of $___ monthly.
The management will review your salary at least annually and may increase it at anytime for any reason, although your salary may not be decreased at any time.
You will receive a sign-on bonus in the amount of four (4) months salary.
<RXZLOOEHHOLJLEOHWRUHFHLYHDQDQQXDOERQXVIRUHDFKɹVFDO\HDUHQGLQJGXULQJ
your employment, which may be paid in a combination of cash and restaurant vouchers.
The Employer‘s plan for health insurance states that any employee must work 40 hours
SHUZHHNIRUZHHNVEHIRUHUHFHLYLQJWKLVEHQHɹW

Termination of Employment,WLVXQGHUVWRRGDQGDJUHHGWKDWWKHɹUVWQLQHW\  GD\VRIHPSOR\PHQWZLOOEH
a probationary period when the Employer can terminate the Employee’s employment, for any
reason without notice, with or without cause.
The Employee may turn in his resignation at any time by providing the Employer withat least eight (8) weeks advance notice to resign.
7KH(PSOR\HHJLYHVWKH(PSOR\HUUHDVRQWRWHUPLQDWHWKH(PSOR\HH´ZLWKFDXVHµXQGHU
this paragraph:
1. Employee is charged with a serious crime.
2. Employee uses illegal drugs or legal drugs without his superior’s knowledge.

Taking Leave
-7KHKROLGD\\HDULVIURPVW-DQXDU\²VW'HFHPEHUDQG\RXUWZHQW\  GD\V
of vacation must be taken during this period. Payment will not be made for any unused
holiday and these cannot be taken into the next vacation period.
Vacation must be agreed on with the Employer at least four weeks in advance. You cannot
take more than 10 working days at the same time without the Employer’s written consent.
If you are ill and unable to attend work you should inform your Employer as soon as
possible, and always bring a signed doctor’s note on his personal letterhead.
The employee is allowed maternity leave in the amount as stated by the country ofresidence of the employee.

@54

Do the exercises on
the Internet platform!

Get Down to Business English

Exercise 4.5
Look back for a minute at the contract. Close your book and try explaining the contract
using these words:
sign-on bonus, annual review, with or without cause, serious crime,
20 days, personal letterhead

Now Student B, do the same but with these words:
decrease salary, annual bonus, probationary period, turn in resignation,
employer’s written consent, maternity leave

Exercise 4.6
Matt has been asked to sit down with the HR and discuss policy and ethics before he isto start. Matt doesn’t know what to expect from this.
a.

Explain to him what it actually isb.
What things can he probably expect to see (company needs, principles,
SURIHVVLRQDOFRPSHWHQFHHPSOR\HHUXOHVDQGEHKDYLRU "F-XVWWREHVXUHKHXQGHUVWDQGVJRDKHDGDQGWHOOKLPDIHZWKLQJVKH·VVXUHQRWWRɹQG OXQFKPHQXWD[UHSRUWVRIKLVIDYRULWHEDVHEDOOWHDPHWF Notes

Get Down to Business English

55