English Lessons

Life is not always fair. Whether a person is making a comparison of numerous countries or many individuals, there is always a gap between the haves and have-nots. This also occurs with the salary of those people working in the corporate world. Company executives have received a large amount of money, but the general workers have not.

Compared to the regular staff, executives are rewarded with a lot of different perks –possibly a company car or more holidays. In addition, the average big shots in America has increased tenfold in their pay, the other workers have received minor raises which might just be above the inflation rate.

With income being lopsided so much, many workers are complaining that this situation I just too unfair. Yes, the Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) might be stressed out. After all, they are the ones who must make the really important decisions under pressure so they deserve to be paid well. However, a company’s success is based on the hard work of the lower –level staff. Without these employees working all day and possibly overtime (OT), would the companies be profitable enough to afford to pay the high salary of the executives?

Many workers might be feeling as if they are getting a raw deal. This could have really negative effects for the company. For instance, the employees might be bitter toward the executives and this could result in a loss of ambition to work hard. To keep as many people as pleased as possible, some changes are needed. This means that fair work will be rewarded with fair pay and at the time the income gap will be cut back.

VOCABULARY:

Gap
big difference
Ex: there should not be a wage gap between men and women.

Have and have-nots
Countries or people who have and do not have wealth
Ex: in parts of Africa, whether or not a house has electricity separates the haves and have-nots.

Tenfold
Ten times, multiplied by ten
Ex: the company’s profit fell tenfold during the weak economy.

Inflation rate
Percentage increase in prices
Ex: the inflation rate increased from 2% to 4% last year.

Lopsided
Not equal by a large amount
Ex: sales were lopsided and mostly done by our female staff.

Bitter
Unhappy, angry, resentful
Ex: are you bitter that you did not get the promotion?

EXPRESSIONS:

Perks
Gains or advantages that are extra to salary (eg. A company car)

Big shots
Important people with high positions and lots of power

Be stressed out
Have too many worries, feel too much pressure

Raw deal
Bad deal or agreement

Cut back
Reduced, decreased

DISCUSSION POINTS:

1. What other perks exist that executives enjoy at different companies?
For example, are they able to have a golf membership or a company credit card?

2. Why is there a gap between the executives pay and the other employees pay?
For instance, is it because the executive is the owner and makes the rules? Or, is it because of supply and demand where there is less supply of qualified CEOs which result in higher pay?

3. Should someone who has completed their required military service in Korea receive more money than other workers who have not?

4. Do you think it is proper that labor workers sometimes make the same amount or even higher salary than office staff?

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