“No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’

​Discussion

1. What gives you the most satisfaction in a job? Does your current job give you this satisfaction?
2. What would make your job more satisfying?
3. Does job satisfaction increase or decrease as you move up the career ladder?
4. Do you think younger or older workers have more job satisfaction?
5. Does working from home increase or decrease job satisfaction?
6. What kind of technological improvements would increase your job satisfaction?
7. How often do you work more hours than you are contracted to? Why does this happen? How does it make you feel? Have you ever missed an important social event because of work?
8. To what extent should workers remain loyal to the company they work for?

​ Vocabulary

• work-life balance (noun) – the distribution of time spent at work and personal time.
• pace of life (noun) – the speed at which events or changes happen in life.
• rat race (noun) – the endless, self-defeating, pointless, repetitive, stressful, fast paced life of the modern world in which people compete with each other for power and money.
• to take time off (verb) – to take a holiday/vacation away from work.
• all work and no play (makes jack a dull boy) (proverb) – without time off work to enjoy yourself, you become bored and boring.
• flexitime (noun) – a scheme offered by companies to their staff that allows them to work their contracted hours at the times that best suit them.

Vocabulary comprehension questions

1. Do you feel you have a good work-life balance?
2. Do you prefer a fast or slow pace of life? Why?
3. Do you feel like you have been caught in a rat race?
4. When you take time off work, do you return relaxed?
5. Do you know anyone affected by all work and no play? Why does this happen to people?
6. Can flexible working help achieve a healthy work-life balance?

Survey

1. Do you know what is expected of you at work?
2. What do you do best at work? Do you have the opportunity to do this every day?
3. When was the last time one of your bosses praised your work? Do you think you receive enough praise for your work?
4. Do you feel like your boss cares about you as a person? Is this an important characteristic for a boss, or is this not their responsibility?
5. Who are the people who encourage you the most at work? What do they do to encourage you?
6. Do you feel like your opinions count at work? How does this make you feel?
7. Do you feel that what you do at work makes a difference?
8. What makes you feel proud about the company you work for? !