35. Workplace problems CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION

35. Workplace problems

Exercise 1: In the following sentences and paragraphs, one of the words in each of the word pairs in bold is wrong and one is right. Identify the most appropriate word in each case. You will find this easier to do if you read each paragraph through first so that you have a better idea of what it is about (Note that the wrong words are real English words, but do not fit into the context of the sentence / paragraph). Paragraph (A) If there is a (1) despite / dispute between the management and the union in a company which cannot be (2) restored / resolved, and as a result a (3) strike / stroke looks likely, a third party might be called in to (4) abdicate / arbitrate. Paragraph (B) Three managers have been accused of (1) fraught / fraud, (2) dissemination / discrimination, (3) bullying / bumbling, (4) racy / racial (5) obtuse / abuse and (6  sectional / sexual (7) harassment / arrestment . As a result two of them have been (8) fried / fired and one has been (9) suspected / suspended without pay. The first two are claiming (10) unfair / unfaithful (11) dismissive / dismissal and plan to (12) appeal / appal. The third has applied for a job with the government. Paragraph (C) We would like to point out that there have been several (1) breaches / beaches of the company's 'No smoking' policy. We also have proof that several factory floor workers have been (2) neglecting / negotiating their duties, and there have also been several incidences of (3) insurrection / insubordination towards senior managers and intentional (4) damning / damage of company property. If this happens again, those responsible will be taken before a (5) disconcerting / disciplinary (6) broad / board and could face (7) instant / instance (8) dismal / dismissal. We would like to stress that the company has a (9) nil-tolerant / zero tolerance policy towards those who misbehave or break the rules. Paragraph (D) The management are fully aware that because of staff (1) shortness / shortages we are all (2) overstretched / oversubscribed at the moment, Mr Harrington, but we suggest that if you have a (3) grievance / grievous, you put it to us in writing rather than encourage your colleagues to hold a sudden (4) walkout / walkabout. We'd like you to treat this as a (5) verbal / verdant (6) warming / warning: the next time it happens, we will be obliged to ask for your (7) notice / note. Paragraph (E) What a terrible month! Sales have (1) droned / dropped by 40%, six employees have been made (2) recumbent / redundant, two senior managers have (3) resigned / resided, our main supplier has gone (4) bankrolled / bankrupt, someone has (5) haggled / hacked into the company website and given us a (6) virus / viscous (with the result that the entire computer system has (7) crashed / cracked), and the coffee machine is still out of (8) odour / order. Paragraph (F) One problem that many companies face is that of their employees (1) plateauing / plating. This often happens when there is a lack of opportunity for promotion. In such situations, employees may feel they are lacking sufficient (2) simulation / stimulation, and as a result could lose their (3) motivation / motorisation and display less (4) indicative / initiative than before. This in turn can lead to reduced (5) proclivity / productivity for the company concerned. A good manager should recognise the potential danger signs, and (6) implement / inclement any solutions that they think might help. Paragraph (G) An unhappy workforce should be easy for a good manager to spot. Basically, if staff (1) turnover / turnaround is high and staff (2) detention / retention is low, (3) conflict / conscript situations are frequent, there is frequent staff (4) absenteeism / abstention, poor (5) timeserving / timekeeping and (6) misconduct / misconception in the workplace, if (7) moral / morale seems generally low and if there is often the threat of (8) industrial / industrious action, it is time to act. The first thing to do is to (9) counsel / council employees and try to establish the cause of their (10) grievances / grief. Exercise 2. Match the words in paragraphs A – G above with their definitions below. 1 The practice of staying away from work, often without a good reason. Reaching a point where you cannot go any further in your job. To give professional advice to someone on personal or professional issues. The frequency within which employees people leave a job and are replaced by new employees. Not needed for a job anymore. 2 3 4 5 6 A disagreement. To be in a situation where you have too much to do. To try to settle a disagreement between two or more people / groups. The practice of treating people in different ways (because of their sex, race, religion, etc). Regularly worrying or bothering someone. 7 8 9 10 11 A complaint. The eagerness to work well. Bad behaviour at work. A failure to carry out the terms of an agreement, or the failure to follow rules. The sudden stopping of work by employees when they leave their place of work because of a disagreement. 12 13 14 15 16 The decision or idea to start or do something. The refusal to obey someone with more authority. To ask someone formally to change a decision that you are not happy with. Spoken. To put something (for example, a plan) into action. 17 18 19 20 21 Official written information telling an employee that he / she is going to lose his / her job. A feeling of confidence or satisfaction. 22

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