ACTIVITY A – Reading comprehension

The world is changing faster than ever before. Things are not the same as they were 5 or 10 years ago
and so is the world of work which significantly shifted not only as a result of the recession, but also
because of the technology development, digital advances and the new expectations of the younger
generations of workers. The way we produce and collaborate today remodeled our workplace, and
with that our lives. So how has the work world actually changed?
Your whole office can now be placed in a laptop bag – literally. The digitalization made it possible for
us to work from wherever we want and whenever we want, providing more opportunities to be close
to our family, travel or live in a new city, or just enjoy working from home in our pajamas. The
employers have their reasons why they aren't that keen on this new trend (control, communication,
security), and there's also a concern whether this flexibility abundance is all in favor of the workers,
since now the line between work and life is less visible than ever before, which most often means we
are neglecting our personal comfort for the sake of our job.
People had to start thinking entrepreneurial after the recession when they lost their jobs and were left
with no other options. The successful stories like Facebook or Twitter made self-employment even
more attractive. But even though these increased numbers look great, the reality is that most
entrepreneurs work for themselves and on their own, not hiring other workers and creating
employment that will enhance the economy.
Even the Generation X couldn't endure to stay with one employer through their entire career, having
to witness closed or relocated factories and/or major headcount reductions as a result of their
outdated skills and qualifications, and the Millennials aren't likely to stick with one job either. In fact,
most of them have experience with several different companies before they hit 30. The new workers
won't stick with their job if the company isn't right for them. This forces the employers to try harder to
keep the young workers in their companies offering benefits that before weren't on the table.
Watching their parents working their whole lives made the younger workers of today ask for more
time for themselves, for their personal interests and lives outside their work. The work-life balance
becomes more of a priority these days. The job should also be fulfilling, and not in the sense of
paycheck – the high salary isn't always attractive. Because of this trend the companies competing for
talent have to find creative new ways they can retain their best workers, hence meet their needs for
personal life.
In today's volatile economy the online personal branding can help your job search maybe more than
anything else, increasing your chances of getting called for a job rather than you having to look for
one when you need it. The workers now expect they'll go from one company to another, so it's
smarter for them to make a name for themselves instead of branding their employers.
The Labor Department considers the unemployment long-term when people are jobless for over six
months, and more than 6 million people meet this condition. The experts fear this class might also
become permanent. January 6th, 2013 - www.resumesplanet.com/news/the-world-of-work-today

1- Identify, in the text, 4 examples of changes in the world of work.

2- What do the underlined bold words refer to in the text?

3- Match the bold words/expressions in column A with their corresponding meaning in

Column A Column B

1-… often means we are neglecting our personal comfort for the sake of our job. a) bear
2- … and creating employment that will enhance the economy. b) thus
3- Even the Generation X couldn't endure to stay with one employer through their c) disregarding
d) unstable
entire career …
e) so that
4- … offering benefits that before weren't on the table.
f) assets
5- … hence meet their needs for personal life. g) strengthen
6- In today's volatile economy the online personal branding can help your job search

4- Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE. Quote the text to justify your
choice.
a) Our life style changed the way we work today.
b) Technology has hindered our working and family life.
c) Due to the flexible schedules, people are paying less attention to their personal lives now.
d) Creating your own job doesn’t always mean more jobs for other workers.
e) The youngest generations have difficulties in remaining in the same job for a long time.
f) A good pay slip is the most important aspect a jobseeker looks for.

ACTIVITY B – WRITING

"I'm not sure that there is a more important long-term issue than youth unemplo

Comment Larry Summers’ statement in a text of about 150 words.

Activity C - Speaking
1- Look at the pictures and discuss them with your partner.

2- Share your conclusions with your teacher and classmates.