Task 1. Company departments.

a) Match the following company departments to the pictures.

1. office reception - 1
2. IT department - 3
3. research and development department - 2
4. production department – 4
b) Imagine you are in one of the departments. Try to describe it and say what the people do
there. Use the following words and phrases.

The production department is a dynamic and bustling area within the company. As you
walk through the department, you'll notice the rhythmic hum of machinery on the
assembly line, where skilled workers diligently piece together components to create the
final products. Technicians in this department are not only adept at assembling products
but are also responsible for maintaining the computers that control the production process.
The atmosphere is lively, with employees multitasking as they receive calls and coordinate
with other departments. Visitors are often welcomed, and the production team takes pride
in showcasing their work. It's not uncommon to see team members wearing protective
clothing, emphasizing the importance of safety in the production environment.
Innovation is a key focus in the production department. Teams actively brainstorm and
suggest ideas for improving products and streamlining the assembly process. Engineers may
be found writing codes to optimize the functionality of automated systems, contributing to
the efficiency of the production line.
A VISIT TO PEUGEOT CAR FACTORY
OK, Mr. Spencer, let’s start here, in research and development, or R & D. This depart-
ment is responsible for thinking of ideas for new products and finding ways to improve our
existing products. Currently, our engineers are constructing a new type of hybrid engine.
That’s all I can say now as it’s secret information. This is information technology, or IT
department. It looks after our computer system. They maintain computers that control
robots. If computers fail, the factory will stop working. Here is our main factory area – the
production department. Here we make our cars. It’s the biggest part of the company. You
may see how cars are built on the assembly line. Most work is done by robots. The factory
produces more than 200.000 cars a year. Purchasing buys all the things we need to provide
an uninterrupted manufacturing process. They talk to our suppliers and try to get the best
price. In the finance department, they check how much the company is making and decide
how much to spend. They also pay employees’ salaries. Sales and marketing is very
important too. The marketing people think up the ideas for selling our products and create
advertising and promoting materials. Human resources is responsible for recruiting new
employees, organizing training and helping with any problems. Customer services processes
orders from customers. They organize transportation, check that customers have received
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their orders and deal with complaints. Finally, distribution is responsible for transporting
our products. They receive orders from customer services, and plan how and when to
transport the products so the customers receive them at the right time.
Task 4. Decide in which department the following phrases can be heard.
1. "Mr. D from R&D is going to retire next month." - Research and Development (R&D)
Department
2. "We know that. We have already advertised for the position and now we are
receiving candidates’ CVs and covering letters." - Human Resources Department
3. "What do you think of the new software?" - Information Technology (IT) Department
4. "It has too many bugs, so we cannot use it at our factory." - Information Technology
(IT) Department
5. "The company is showing good results. The sales have increased by 17% in the last
three months." - Finance Department or Sales and Marketing Department
6. "I think our staff may get a pay rise soon." - Finance Department or Human Resources
Department
7. "We confirm your order for 12 trucks. They will be delivered within the next few
days. On Friday, at the latest. Should you have any questions, please contact our
department by mail or by phone." - Customer Services or Distribution Department
8. "We’ve got to advertise a new car model. In these papers, you will find pictures and
all technical information about it. I’m waiting for your sketches and nonstandard
ideas next Tuesday." - Sales and Marketing Department
9. "Our team has nearly finished testing the new hybrid engine. According to the
obtained data, the new system lets it consume 4% less petrol ..." - Research and
Development (R&D) Department or Production Department
10."Pass me the screwdriver, Jerry. And hold this wheel." - Production Department
Task 5. Decide which job or post is being referred to in each case. Pay attention to the
words in bold.
1. Receptionist - h) The first person clients meet. He/she welcomes visitors and
2. Personnel manager - c) Person responsible for the recruitment and selection of the
right people for the job.
3. Chief accountant - a) Directs the overall accounting functions and provides financial
and business support.
4. Chief executive officer (CEO) - e) The top executive who runs the company. He/she is
responsible for the company’s success or failure.

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 5. Head of R&D - d) Person in charge of a team of highly creative individuals who
develop new quality products that fill the market needs.
6. Lawyer - f) This person provides legal advice and assistance and represents the
company in court or other legal matters.
7. Board of Directors - g) Group of elected people who govern the company and look
after shareholders’ interests.
8. Production manager - b) Is involved in planning, coordination, and control of the
manufacturing process. Makes sure that the correct amount is produced at the right
cost and at the right level of quality.
Task 6. Complete the sentences with a suitable word. Some verbs may change their form.
1. Mike is a successful young businessman who runs his own software company.
2. Jennifer had done really well in the job and was put in charge of the whole chain of
stores.
3. As far as Maria is an interpreter, she is responsible for the communication with
foreign partners, and also she looks after correspondence with them.
4. When the Chinese delegation arrived at the company headquarters, they were
warmly welcomed by the chief of the Production Department.
5. More than 50 employees were involved in implementing the new project.
6. The company supports personal development of its employees and pays money if
they attend qualification courses.
7. Boss: Please, make sure that all our documents are ready for tomorrow’s
negotiations with our partners.
8. The company provides every employee with a tablet PC – this made some working
processes easier and faster.
9. Jane is a secretary. She looks after documents in the office and answers phone calls.
Task 7. What would you say if you took part in this dialogue? Role-play it.
Role-play Dialogue:
A: I don’t know the CEO of your company personally, but I’ve heard that he has big
experience in business. Can you tell me what his responsibilities are?
B: Oh yes. Mr. Blake. He has been working in our company for three months so far. His
duties are overseeing the overall operations of the company, making strategic decisions,
and ensuring the company's success.
A: You have so many departments in your company: Finance, Marketing, Production, R&D.
What are they responsible for?

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B: It's very simple. The Finance department manages financial matters, Marketing comes up
with strategies to sell our products, Production handles the manufacturing process, and
R&D focuses on developing new and innovative products.
A: You are a Sales Manager at this Company. I see that every day you work since morning
till night; you travel frequently to the customers. What duties do you have at the company?
Who is your chief?
B: I agree with you, it's hard work but it is really interesting. As a Sales Manager, my duties
include meeting with clients, understanding their needs, and promoting our products. My
chief is the Head of Sales, Ms. Rodriguez.
A: I heard that you have an interpreter here?
B: Yes, our company has partners in other countries. That is why we need an interpreter.
She speaks multiple languages and travels with us to assist in communication.
A: Is there anyone in the company who helps with the legal issues?
B: Yes. We have a dedicated Legal Department that takes care of all our legal matters,
ensuring that we comply with regulations and handle any legal challenges that may arise.
Task 8. Do your own research about positions in a company.

Product Manager Responsibilities:

1. Strategy Development: Formulate and execute product strategies aligned with
company objectives.
2. Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to inform product
development decisions.
3. Product Development: Oversee the end-to-end product development process,
collaborating with cross-functional teams.
4. Roadmap Planning: Create and communicate product roadmaps to align teams and
stakeholders.
5. User Feedback: Collect and analyze user feedback to iteratively improve products.
6. Go-to-Market (GTM): Work on effective GTM strategies with marketing and sales
teams.
7. Project Management: Ensure timely and quality delivery of products throughout the
development lifecycle.

Task 9. a) Name possible reasons of conflicts between company management and workers.
b) Explain how workers and management can solve their conflicts.

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 1. Low Salaries/Wages: Discontentment with the level of compensation can lead to
conflicts, especially if employees feel that their efforts are not adequately rewarded.
2. Negative Working Conditions: Unfavorable working conditions, such as poor facilities,
lack of safety measures, or uncomfortable workspaces, can cause dissatisfaction and
tension.
3. Retirement Age: Disagreements over retirement age policies, pension plans, and
related benefits may lead to conflicts between management and employees.
4. Company Closure: Announcements of company closures, downsizing, or restructuring
can create anxiety and frustration among employees, potentially leading to conflicts.
5. Unfair Dismissal: Employees may perceive dismissals as unjust or arbitrary, leading to
disputes and conflicts over termination procedures and reasons.
6. Working Night Shifts: Disputes may arise when employees are required to work night
shifts, especially if there is a lack of adequate compensation, support, or a clear
understanding of the shift policies.
Task 10. Read and translate the text.
ЧТО ТАКОЕ ПРОФСОЮЗЫ?
Отдельный работник в одиночку имеет очень мало власти в вопросах принятия
решений в компании. Но когда они объединяются, у работников есть больше влияния
на своего работодателя. Эти группы работников называются профсоюзами.
Профсоюзы - это организации, представляющие интересы людей на работе.
"Представлять" обычно означает, что кто-то из профсоюза встречается с руководством
от имени работника или сотрудника, чтобы обсудить проблему с работодателем.
Примеры профсоюзов в Британии включают Национальный союз учителей
(NUT), Британское медицинское общество (BMA), Профсоюз транспорта и
общественных работников (TGWU). Профсоюзы финансируются и управляются своими
членами. Некоторые из них были созданы более 100 лет назад. Почти у каждого
работающего человека есть право юридически присоединиться или не
присоединяться к профсоюзу.
В прошлом отношения между профсоюзом и работодателем часто были
конфронтационными - "они против нас". За последние двадцать лет это изменилось
на более партнерские - работодатели и сотрудники сотрудничают для долгосрочного
успеха бизнеса.
Профсоюзы стремятся защитить своих членов и улучшить условия труда. Это
включает в себя обеспечение безопасности рабочих мест и того, чтобы здоровье
людей не находилось под угрозой из-за их работы.
Иногда профсоюзы нанимают юристов, чтобы гарантировать, что компании и
организации обращаются с их персоналом в соответствии с законом.
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 Профсоюзы стараются добиться более высокой оплаты труда для своих членов и
улучшения условий труда. Если работодатель хочет запросить повышение зарплаты,
ему менее вероятно удастся это сделать, чем если каждый сотрудник говорит одним
голосом через свой профсоюз. Профсоюзы коллективно ведут переговоры от имени
своих членов для получения лучших условий оплаты и труда. Кроме того, статистика
говорит о том, что члены профсоюзов зарабатывают больше, чем те, кто не в
профсоюзе.
Task 11. Decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the text.
1. True (T) - The text mentions that an individual worker alone has very little power to
influence decisions in a company.
2. True (T) - The text states that one of the aims of trade unions is to improve working
conditions.
3. False (F) - The text mentions that trade unions represent people at work in general,
not necessarily confined to a specific professional sphere.
4. False (F) - The text indicates that over the last twenty years, relationships between
trade unions and employers have changed to more of a partnership.
5. True (T) - The text mentions that some trade unions were formed over 100 years ago.
6. False (F) - The text states that trade unions are financed and run by their members.
7. False (F) - The text mentions that sometimes trade unions employ lawyers to ensure
that companies treat their staff in accordance with the law.
8. True (T) - The text states that statistics indicate that union members earn more than
non-union members.
Task 12. Read about a strike at a Peugeot car factory and fill in the gaps with the correct
form of a verb.
PARIS – Today, a four-month strike at a Peugeot car factory in the north of Paris came
to an end. But the workers say they will continue to fight if the company decides to close
the plant.
On Friday, the management said that it had signed an agreement with the trade
unions to end the strike which started in January. Peugeot says around 130 of the plant’s
2,500 workers have been on strike since Jan. 16.
According to the agreement, all employees will return to work, but the company will
not compensate them for the days spent on strike.
Because of a stagnant car market, France’s largest automaker plans to dismiss 8,000
workers within the next few years. Also, the company has promised not to close the plant.
CGT representative Jean-Pierre Mercier told French TV that “the fight will not be over yet.”
Task 13. Letter to the Editor of ‘Lifestyle’
a) Read the letter and fill in the gaps. Explain why Jeremy has written a letter to the
‘Lifestyle’ Editor.

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Dear Editor,
When I reported for work at my new summer job for a small family restaurant, the owner
asked me to sign a paper that said I was not a union member and that I had no plans to join
a union while I worked at the company. She said she had trouble with union people last
summer and didn’t want to hire anyone who might try to start a union at the restaurant. Is
this sort of document legally correct? What should I do in this case?
Sincerely, Jeremy, 21
c) Answer the questions.
1. When did US workers have the legal right to unionize? What was before that time?
 US workers gained the legal right to unionize in the mid-1930s. Before that
time, employers had various ways, including 'yellow dog contracts,' to prevent
workers from joining unions.
2. Can union membership be a condition of your employment?
 No, union membership cannot be made a condition of employment.
3. Why does the Editor think Jeremy was asked to sign a ‘yellow dog contract’?
 The Editor suggests two possible reasons: either the employer is ignorant of
the fact that she is violating Federal Labor Law or she wants Jeremy to believe
that by signing the paper, he gives up his right to unionize.
4. What advice does the Editor give Jeremy and other young people?
 The Editor recommends Jeremy and other young people to be more legally
aware and know their rights.
Task 15. Read the text below and choose the best option from: A, B, C, or D.
1. Duty
2. Appeal
3. Improve
4. Besides
5. Likely
6. In charge
7. Say
8. Hire
9. Skills
10.Deadlines