English Lessons

What causes negativity at work? It's a serious problem that companies, managers, and staff need to watch. Negativity reduces performance. Negativity causes more people to quit, so more time and money are wasted always training new employees. And because usually the best employees quit and find another job, it makes successful companies less competitive.

Here are some other reasons that create a negative environment at work.

• There is too much work. This complaint is very common when some employees quit or are fired, but new people aren't hired. There is more work for everyone but without any raises.
• Management isn't competent, effective, or qualified. Their decisions and policies cause problems in the office. In fact, some managers blame employees for the problems! Of course, these are the very worst managers who cause a lot of grumbling.
• Employees are worried about the future. For example, the economy is bad, some employees might lose their job, or the company might close.
• Employees are bored at work..
• Employees don't get praise or recognition for their hard work.
• The pay is low or it doesn't equal the amount of work required for the job.

A lot of these reasons come from inside the company. The managers and their decisions cause employees to dislike work. But sometimes outside problems cause negativity. For example, if sales are down, then workers might not get a raise or a promotion. If the economy is very bad, then some people might lose their job.

So is your office negative? Do you have any ideas to make it a more positive place?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you like your job? Why do you like it? (Or why don't you like it?)
• Is your job easy or difficult? Please explain.
• Is money more important than job satisfaction? Please explain.
• When you were younger, did you have a part-time job? What was it?
  What do you do?
• What do you want to do in the future? What job don't you want to do?
• Why did you start to work at your company? Please explain.
• Why did you start to work in your field? Please explain.
• What is the world's most boring job? How about the most interesting job? How about the most dangerous job? Please explain.
• What is the worst job you have ever had? Why was it so terrible?
• What do you think about people who refuse to work?
• Would you like to retire young? If yes, what would you do?
• Would you want to start your own company? Why/not?
• Have you ever been fired? If yes, what happened?
• Have you ever quit a job? If yes, why did you quit?
• Which job is more difficult, housewife or department manager? How much should each job get paid?
• How many times should a person change their careers?

Which jobs would you want to try? Rank the following jobs from best to worst:

• 1) fisherman
• 2) English teacher
• 3) CEO of a large, multinational company
• 4) President or Prime Minister
• 5) soldier

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