Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- pop-up /POP-uhp/
- churn /churn/
- reception /ri-SEP-shuhn/
- impromptu /im-PROMP-too/
- have (one’s) best interest at heart /hav (wuhns) best IN-ter-ist at hahrt/
[adjective] – something that appears or occurs suddenly
Pop-up ads on videos can be bothersome but they help companies promote their work.
[verb] – to move violently
Workers tend to churn about when agitated or stressed.
[noun] – the way in which people react to something or someone
Natsume’s second book received positive receptions from the public.
[adjective] – done or said without earlier planning or preparation
The audience complimented Mila’s impromptu speech.
[idiom] – to be primarily concerned with what would benefit one
Don’t misunderstand; we have your best interest at heart when we made this decision.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
A medical information company in Georgia, USA has been adding two long weekends to their calendar. It also surveyed its workers to track their well-being and to ensure that the company isn’t putting too much pressure on its workers. But can these wellness days really help?
Providing pop-up holidays is a means for companies to take care of their employees. American business and employment-oriented online service LinkedIn conducts quarterly surveys about their workers’ welfare during the pandemic. “People were working longer hours, not taking their vacation time and just churning through. We had a successful, productive organisation, but we knew our employees were being burnt out,” Lisa Finnegan, the vice president of the company’s international human resources, said. The company gives surprise day offs to their employees such as Friday rest days or days without meetings, which garnered positive receptions. According to a professor of organizational behavior at Ontario’s University of Guelph and workplace wellness expert Jamie Gruman, the element of surprise is valuable to workers; it implies that the company cares for its employees. However, impromptu holidays can result in unintended consequences if not planned carefully. For example, short notices may cause undue stress to working parents because they scramble to take advantage of the surprise wellness days. These pop-up holidays may only be generally effective to those who are single.
Impromptu time-offs can reap benefits. But it’s only fruitful if the workforce sees it as a genuine gesture from the company. Otherwise, employees might believe that the company does it to discourage them from taking more time in the upcoming working days. In short, the company must have its workers’ best interests at heart.
Providing pop-up holidays is a means for companies to take care of their employees. American business and employment-oriented online service LinkedIn conducts quarterly surveys about their workers’ welfare during the pandemic. “People were working longer hours, not taking their vacation time and just churning through. We had a successful, productive organisation, but we knew our employees were being burnt out,” Lisa Finnegan, the vice president of the company’s international human resources, said. The company gives surprise day offs to their employees such as Friday rest days or days without meetings, which garnered positive receptions. According to a professor of organizational behavior at Ontario’s University of Guelph and workplace wellness expert Jamie Gruman, the element of surprise is valuable to workers; it implies that the company cares for its employees. However, impromptu holidays can result in unintended consequences if not planned carefully. For example, short notices may cause undue stress to working parents because they scramble to take advantage of the surprise wellness days. These pop-up holidays may only be generally effective to those who are single.
Impromptu time-offs can reap benefits. But it’s only fruitful if the workforce sees it as a genuine gesture from the company. Otherwise, employees might believe that the company does it to discourage them from taking more time in the upcoming working days. In short, the company must have its workers’ best interests at heart.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- How can impromptu day offs affect productivity?
- Are these wellness days effective for everyone? Please share your opinion about it.
- Is having pop-up holidays as useful as having flexible working hours? Why do you think so?
- What initiatives do companies in your country have in response to stress on workers caused by the pandemic?
- If you were given a pop-up day off, how would you spend it?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- long weekend
- means
- welfare
- unintended
- reap