ones Gil 10 Stressed to the limit pean j i 4 Bo ane ne ni ii Stress is like having one foot on the accelerator of a car, with the other foot on the brake, We wind up stripping our gears. The chronic build-up of stress takes an enormous toll on our bodies in terms of wear and tear Dr Reed ¢ Mostounte Work with a partner. Which of these factors produce the most stress? Add your own ideas dealing with the public working long hours meeting deacllines teavelling making phone calls leamiag to use new technology hing promoted looking after children doing boring, repetitive tasks | coating wi ly sums of money being reponsile for peop Ives waiting for other people to de thin, 2 EB 16. An interviewer for the radio programme Work Today spoke to four people in the street about stress. Listen to the interviews and answer the questions. a What does the speakar do? b Does the soeaker suffer irom stress? What causes the stress, according to the Does the speaker mention any of the “4 speaker? reasons in 1? Which? 10 Stressed to the limit 5 For euch set of prompts a 8 The last speaker says that stress is more a problem of mental autiuide than what you do, Do you agree? In your opinion, what are the three most stressful jobs? Use the list below to help you middle manager chief executive teacher taxi driver —_telephonist secretay police officer factory worker pilot air raffic controller stockbroker doctor lawyer shop assistant accountant waiter computer programmer firefighter miner architect journalist | alate A a Now compare your ideas with the list on page 129. Are you surprised? What do you think are the least stressful jobs? f, make at least two sentences with bas ta/bare loldoesn 1 have to/dont have to, For example: setae coneller ficoy wor ake decifons be cave | An air traffic controller bas to take decisions very quickly. (Its necessary) A factory worker doesn't have to te creative. (I's not necessary)@lony div e@ nurse a lawyer secretary wear a suit type letters b_ middle mnagers chief executives solve day-to-day problems take strategic decisions © shop assistant computer programmer — deal with the public know computer k taxi driver drive lon; listances memorise street maps ictory worker wear special clothes work at night f accountant telephonist use a computer be honest @ wacher engineer tell people what todo wear a tie Make sentences about the other jobs in 4 Now interview someone about their job like this In your job do you have to ..? No, but Ihave to .../ Yes, and Lalso have to[Lexis tink 7 You are going to read an article about stress, All the words and phrases on the Match them to the definitions on the right left are in the anick for mers.cn the vocabuey of 369 et a linked to 1 doing wo much work work see page 108 b root cause of 2 is good for the company © overwork 3 principal reason for staff rumover 4 connected © makes business sense 5 money for getting better results f performanceselated pay 6 people joining and leaving a company 9 morale 7 positive or negative attitude 1 a ] © In your opinion, are the sentences below true or false? Tue False a Siess i always a bad thing. ooo Work-related stress can cause health problems o 4 Bad management is the main cause of stress. og eaoe Reducing stress costs companies money. It’s easy for companies 10 reduce stress, 1 Deborah Houlding of BMG online magazine ‘explores the problem of work-related stress and ‘examines ways in which it can be avoided. Stress isnot an illness or 2 negative condition 5 Acertain amount of pressure brings out the best in ‘our work. In the initial stages of stress there is a sensation of excitement and increased mental concentration. However, too much stress is negative. It is bad 10 forthe individual. Tis also bad forthe employing organisation. Ta the UK, for example, stress-related illness is the cause of half of lost working days. The negative impact of stress is linked to heart disease, alcoholism, nervous breakdowns, job 415. dissatisfaction, certain forms of cancer, migraines, asthma, hay fever, insomnia, depression, eczema ‘and many other medical and social problems. Many surveys confirm the root cause of work-related stress to be bed management and 20 overwork. Too much pressure, long hours and poor ‘communication are the main factors. Reparts and studies have identified the principal couse of stress as ‘new management techniques’ designed ‘to “improve performance! Policies such as 25 ‘performance-elated pay increase stress and demotivate a work force. Many legal and medical experts are advising ‘campanios to consider the costs and legal implications of stress-related illness. They 30. emphasise the honefits of reducing stress as: better health ‘= reduced sickness absence increased performance and output + better relationships with clients and colleagues 35 lower staff turnover Taking the decision to reduce stress makes sound business sense, It’s better for profits and better for staff morale Managers should learn to motivate but not 40 exhaust employees. There is a balance between ‘obtaining maximum efficiency, and a worker's need to rest and recuperate their creative energies. 48. 10 Strossed to the limit40 Complete the chart with the correct form of the word. stress: strees Jstressed motivation motivating/_ ‘creation create eect ected “4 Complete each sentence with one of the words from above a Working with the public can be very b> When the new boss arrived, staff morale was very low and nobody was very © I'ma graphic designer so my job requires a lot of. [don't find the new project very 12 Make similar sentences about your own company. Shoulel/shoulein’t 1 Look at these sentences. Managers should recognise their mistakes. (It's a good idea.) Employees shouldn't work under unnecessary pressure, (I's not a good idea.) Make sentences that are true for you using showld/sbouldn't and the prompts below, For example, work well / have a certain amount of pressure To work well you should have a certain amount of pressure. companies / try / reduce the level of stress b workers / work very long hours © managers / communicate / ide: companies / invest money / improve conditions mee min managers / learn / motivate workers: Werammar tink for more on have fo and shouts see page 108 f workers / have time / rest(4 Make sentences about your company like this: jouldn't... but often / in fact theyhefsbe/we Include the ideas below and add your own. + distution of work + performance-rel + communications + sufficient training In my company... should. ed pay © new technology ‘You are going to write a report on a company with problems, Follow steps 1-4 below Step 1 Work with @ parmer. Create your own company. What line of business is the company in? b What's the name of the company? © Where is it locatec? d_ Is itan old-fashioned or a modern company? @ How Tong has it existec? Step 2 You are going to perform a roleplay with a new partner, First, with your original partner, decide who is the employee and who is the consultant, Thea find a new partner who is playing a different role to you. Employee You work for the company you invented. You are completely negative about every aspect of your job and company, Criticise everything and everybody, Consultant You ate a management consultant hired to interview the staff of the employee's company (0 assess the levels of stress and morale. Interview the employee and note down the answers. Ask questions about © working hours + company organisation + pay + waining provided + holidays = (our own ideas) communication Step 3 Work with your original pariner from Step 1, Write a report of the [EES consulting ‘management consultant's interview 5 Use the framework below or adapt Interview report it to suit the interview company: + According to .. the main cause/s of sess in his/her works is/are * Communications in the company are + The system of payment is . Name of Interviewee: © With regard to uaining, dhe situation Intevac © Other causes of problems are Date: + To reduce the level of stress the company should .. + In conclusion, 7 Step 4 Work with your partner from Step 2 again. Check that the report of your interview is accurate, 48 10 Stressed to the limit