Hướng dẫn IELTS Writing – Work and careers topic

Chủ đề về “Work and Careers” thì chắc là không còn xa lạ với các bạn nữa rồi đúng không. Đối với chủ đề này thì các bạn có thể gặp một số chủ đề liên quan như sau:

• Opportunities and problems at work
• Ways of motivating and rewarding workers.
• The work/life balance
• Changes in pattern of jobs and work.
• Career choice and training.

Tóm lại là chủ đề này cũng có khá là nhiều topics nhỏ. Hôm nay sachphotos sẽ chia sẻ cho các bạn 1 bài với việc phân tích làm bài chi tiết nhé.

Topic:

Some employers offer their employees subsidised membership of gyms and sports clubs, believing that this will make their staff healthier and thus more effectiveat work. Other employers see no benefit in doing so. 

Consider the arguments from both aspects of this possible debate, and reach a conclusion.

Explanation:

• This is an Opinion-Discussion type task. You should introduce the topic, present two or three ideas on each side of the discussion, and then give your opinion in the conclusion.

The follwing model essay shows you key words and phrases which you can use to increase your band score when discussing this topic, in both writing and speaking. The key words are highlighted in bold.

Model Answer: 

Employers are always seeking ways to enhance their employees’ productivity, and subsidising healthy pursuits may be one way of achieving this. There are arguments on both sides, however, which we will discuss here.

On the one hand, it might be said that if workers are fitter and less stressed, their working time will be more efficient, leading to higher levels of output and service. Furthermore, the work/life balance of the staff will hopefully be improved, because their leisure time will be more fulfilling. This may even be more motivating than pay increments, perks, or financial rewards such as bonuses or incentives which may be hard to attain. Finally, feeling healthier may lead to better job satisfaction which is in itself a motivating factor.

Conversely, the problem with such leisure-based subsidies is that their efficacy is virtually impossible to quantify. For example, with target-related payments, employers can at least see whether the objectives are reached or not. It might also be said that, if this budget was spent on (for instance) on the job training or day release programmes, the employees would achieve better career progression and have better job prospects. These matters are all easier to measure, especially in performance reviews and appraisals, and may even help to reduce the risk of redundancy if the company restructures, downsizes or outsources its workforce.

Overall, it seems that, while health-related subsidies are superficially attractive, the lack of measurability is a substantial drawback. Spending funds on ongoing training would appear to be a better use of company or Human Resources budgets.

Vocabulary

• To subsidise = to pay part of the cost of something , usually in order to help people
  Ex: ‘The government could encourage children to be healthier by subsidising swimming lessons
  and sports coaching at weekends.’
• work/life ballance = the ability to work hard but also enjoy a good quality family and social life.
  Ex: People are working long hours these days, so their work/life balance  is affected, leading to stress.
• Pay increments = pay rises/increases
  Ex: In my country, pay increments have been very low because of the financial crisis.
• Perks = reward from an employer which are not financial (eg free lunches, a care tc)
  Ex: Personally , I’d like to work for a company that gives lots of perks, because I would find this
  very enjoyable.
• financial rewards = any form of money payment (salary, commission, pension etc)
  Ex: Being a primary teacher may be satisfying , but the financial rewards are not high
• bonus: an extra amount of money that is given to you as a present or reward in addition to the money you were expecting
  Ex: The company used to give discretionary bonus payments.
• target-related = dependent on hitting a target
  Ex: My boss once offered me a target-related bonus, but it was almost impossible to achieve!
• on the job training = training while working, not by leaving work to go to college etc
  Ex: My sister has found that the on the job training she gets at her bank is very useful, and she has progressed well because of this.
• on going training = training throughout your tim e in a job, not just at the start.
  Ex: I enjoyed my work at the airline at first , but I soon found that there was no on going training
  and my skills weren’t really developed.
• day release programmes = programmes of training or education when employees can spend entire days out of work
  Ex: I feel that employers should be much more flexible regarding training, for example by subsidising day release programmes or job exchanges with other companies.
• career progression = the ability to advance your career.
  Ex: The problem with being a freelance photographer is that there’s no real career progression, unless you become very famous.
• job prospects = the possibility of promotion or higher level work in future
  Ex: I remember an interview when the employer told me there were excellent job prospects in their firm for young people. In reality, this was not really true.
• superficial = not addressing deep or important issues
  Ex: I’m not a big fan of traditional music. I find the lyrics rather old-fashioned and superficial for modern listeners.
• redundancy = a situation where a worker loses their job because of changes in the company (not because of personal mistakes) (verb = to make someone redundant )

 

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