Unit 21 :
Working Overtime
Pre-advanced
Vocabulary
Repeat these word/ phrases after your teacher.
1. overtime (n)
(time spent working) after the usual time needed or expected in a job
2. long hours (n)
a way of life in which people spend many hours at work or working
3. turn down (phr. v)
to reject something or not to accept
4. strapped (adj)
not having enough money
5. morale (n)
the amount of confidence felt by a person or group of people, especially when in a dangerous or difficult situation
6. gripe (n)
a strong complaint
7. overworked (adj)
having to worked to much
8. drained (adj)
very tired
Dialogue
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
Jeremy
Miranda
Hello.
Hi, it’s me. I can’t make it home for dinner tonight. I’m working overtime.
Again? That’s the third time this week. I can’t believe your boss is making you do this.
Don’t get mad, but I actually told him that I didn’t mind. I know I’ve been working long hours, but I don’t want to turn down the work. You know that I’m getting paid time and a half, and we need the money.
I know we do, but we’re getting by. What happened to a 40-hour workweek? You’ve been working at least 60. It’s not worth it for you to work your fingers to the bone no matter how strapped we are.
I know. I know. It’s just that morale around this place is pretty low and I’m just trying to do my part. Just don’t gripe. Okay?
I’m not griping. I’m just worried about you. You come home after a long day, and you’re overworked and emotionally drained. That’s not fair to the kids.
You’re right, but could we talk about it this weekend? I’ve really got to go. I promise we’ll work it all out then.
Okay, but what time are you coming home tonight?
I’m not sure, but I’ll try to make it home in time to tuck the kids in.
All right. I’ll see you then.
Bye.
Article
Read the article with your teacher.
Five main reasons people wind up working overtime
1. The most obvious: Too much work
The vast majority of people who work overtime are doing so because the regular work hours are not enough to complete what they need to do. But this begs the question: why do they have too much work? Certainly, during some weeks, such as when there’s a major product launches or event, overtime hours are unavoidable.
2. Meeting overload
Nearly one in every two employees puts meetings as the top time waster in the office. Almost anyone who has worked in today’s corporate world can relate to too many meetings. Meeting after meeting after meeting, with not all discussions necessarily useful. These meetings suck up regular work hours like a turbo-vacuum, leaving only the evening and late-night hours to getting the job done.
3. In-office distractions
Over the last decade it’s become the norm to have open-plan offices sprinkled with casual meeting areas. There are bean-bags and ping-pong tables, café-inspired “reception” areas and shared desks without so much as a half-divider to separate workstations.
4. Email overload
It’s an issue on both sides of the employment equation: bosses and managers email their reports at all hours, asking for information or updates, and employees stay glued to their work email accounts for fear of missing a query from their supervisor.
5. Striver syndrome
Sometimes, working overtime is a way to show off. The employee may be vying for a raise or a promotion and clocking in hours significantly higher than their co-workers.
Source: https://www.replicon.com
Discussion:
Answer the following questions to your teacher.
1. Would you mind working overtime? Why or why not?
2. In your company, how often would employees do overtime?
3. Is there an additional payment for working overtime?
Let’s practice
Choose the correct answer.
1. I can’t ____ to the party tonight.
a. use
b. make it
c. came
2. _______ is a strong complaint.
a. Grapes
b. Gripen
c. Gripe
3. You should know when to ________.
a. turn down
b. turn side
c. set aside