IELTS Reading note completion
Sample 1
Read the text below
and answer Questions 15-19.
Vacancy for food preparation
assistant
Durrant
House plc runs restaurants and cafes as concessions in airports, train stations
and other busy environments around the country. We currently have a vacancy for
a food preparation assistant in our restaurant at Locksley Stadium, serving
football fans and concert-goers before, during and after events. In addition,
we cater for private parties several times a week. If you have relevant
experience and a passion for preparing food to a very high standard, we’ll be
delighted to hear from you. You must be able to multitask and to work in a
fast-paced environment. It goes without saying that working as an effective and
supportive member of a team is essential so you need to be happy in this type
of work.
The
role includes the usual responsibilities, such as treating hygiene as your
number one priority, cleaning work areas, and doing whatever is required to
provide food of excellent quality. The person appointed will carry out a range
of tasks, including ensuring all raw food items are fresh, preparing vegetables
to be cooked, making sure frozen food products are used in rotation, and
throwing away any food products that are near or have passed their expiry date.
He or she will be required to familiarise themselves with the storage system,
so as to put food product supplies in the proper place and retrieve them in the
right order. In particular; we are looking for someone with skill at baking, to
play a large role in the production of pies and cakes.
Given
the nature of the venue, working hours vary from week to week, depending on the
events being held, and will often involve starting early in the morning or
finishing late at night. You can expect to work an average of around 18 hours a
week, although this cannot be guaranteed. You will also have the opportunity to
work in another of our sites for one or two days a week, or for longer periods,
and will be paid for ten days of holidays a year, Training will be provided in
food safety.
If this sounds like the job for you, please
contact Jo Simmons at simmons.j@durrant-house.com.
Questions 15-19
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-19 on your answer sheet.
Vacancy for food preparation
assistant
Location of restaurant: in a 15 ..................
Requirements:
• relevant experience
• ability to multitask must enjoy working in a 16 ..................
Responsibilities Include:
• maintaining high standards
of 17 .................. and quality
• checking the freshness of raw food
• ensuring no food is used after its expiry date
• leaming the procedure for the 18 ..................
of food
• doing a considerable amount of the baking
Conditions:
• working hours are not 19 ..................
• payment is made for holidays
Sample 2
Performance-related pay
There are a number of reasons why your employer might introduce
this type of pay scheme. They may:
• be keen to retain current staff
• want to compete for new talent
• be seeking a fairer way of distributing wages.
In order for performance-related schemes to work, they should be
based on clear, measurable targets agreed by both employer and employee. You
will normally find out about these targets from your contract of employment and
the performance appraisal meetings you have with your manager.
Short-term
schemes
Short-term schemes usually offer bonus payments, or, depending on the type of
work, commission on sales achieved. Payments vary and these schemes are
normally used just to encourage staff to improve their own performance.
Long-term
schemes
Long-term schemes offer rewards like share options, and can help to encourage
loyalty to the organisation and its aims. Such schemes tend to be used as a way
of retaining senior staff.
What
to do if you have problems
If you don’t receive bonus or commission payments which you believe you are
owed, check your contract of employment or staff handbook to see how your bonus
is paid. Ask your employer if you need more information.
If you think a mistake has been made, you should:
• speak to your employer to see if there has been a misunderstanding
• ask your employer to set out in writing how they have calculated your pay
• keep copies of any letters and notes of any meetings.
There are three ways that the law might cover a case of unpaid
bonuses:
• breach of contract
• unlawful deductions from wages
• unlawful discrimination.
Deductions
from wages / breach of contract
Any right to a bonus will normally be included in your contract of employment.
It may not always be written down. It can be verbally agreed or understood to
be there due to normal practice in your particular area of business.
Failure to pay a bonus or commission that you are entitled to
could amount to an unlawful deduction of wages.
Discrimination
Your employer must not discriminate against particular groups of people – for
example, by giving smaller bonuses to women. Ideally, your employer should have
some guidelines setting out the normal range of bonuses to give, and these must
be followed without discriminating against any specific group.
Questions
22-27
Complete
the notes below.
Choose ONE
WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
Performance-related pay
One
of the reasons for introducing performance-related pay is in order to 22 ……………………
existing employees.
Employer and employee should agree on some 23 ……………………
that can be measured.
Short-term schemes: bonus or the payment of a 24 ……………………
related to sales.
Long-term reward schemes: generally offered to employees at a 25 ……………………
level.
Details of bonus payments: may be included in a contract or a handbook for
staff.
If you think there has been a mistake with your pay:
•
discuss the issue with your employer
• keep records of any relevant 26 ……………………
It
is illegal for employers to discriminate against any specific group, e.g. by
giving less money to 27 …………………… .
Sample 3
Read
the text below and answer Questions 21-27.
Starting
a new job
First
impressions really do last, so it’s important you perform well on your first
day in the new job. Here are our top tips that will help you sail through your
first day with ease.
A new job is
a great opportunity to hit the reset button. If you got into the habit of
skipping breakfast at your last job, fit it in now or experiment with getting a
workout in before going to the office. Having a routine you like and sticking
to it definitely impacts on your overall happiness.
You’ve
probably already been into the office for an interview, so you’ll have some
idea of what the dress code is. While you definitely want to feel comfortable,
it’s best to play it safe, leaning towards a smarter and more polished look on
your first day.
You don’t
want to be late, but getting to the office way too early can also potentially
upset not only your schedule but other people’s too. A good rule of thumb is to
try and arrive 15 minutes ahead of the agreed start time.
Accepting an
invite to lunch with your boss and co-workers will allow you to get to know the
people you’ll be working with on a more personal level. It will also help you
get a handle on personalities and work styles. To ensure the lunch goes well,
have a few conversation starters in mind. That way, if the talk dries up, you
can get it going again.
One of the
big outcomes of going through a job search is you learn loads about yourself.
In particular, you learn what you want and don’t want, and what skills you
bring to the table. With this new-found understanding, take some time over the
initial period to think about what goals you have for your new role. In
identifying these early on, you’ll be one step closer to positioning yourself
for success.
It’s
important that you approach your new job with an open mind, and that you’re
ready to soak it all in. Be patient with yourself as you figure out how you fit
in, and make sure you understand the way things are done before rushing into
giving suggestions on improvements.
Remember they
hired you for a reason, so smile, relax a little and enjoy the first day of
your next big thing.
Questions 21-27
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each
answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your reading answer sheet.
How best to tackle a new job
The first day
• Before arriving at work
- try out a different morning 21 ....................
that will create a sense of well-being.
- make sure your chosen outfit conforms to the company’s 22 ................... .
•
If you eat with colleagues at midday:
- it will provide information on their 23 .................... and the way they
operate.
- it may be wise to prepare some 24 .................... to
help the interaction flow.
During the first few weeks
• Work out some 25 .................... and
how to go about fulfilling them.
• Try to keep a completely 26 .................... as
you settle into the post
• Avoid making proposals at 27 .................... too
soon.
Sample 4
Qualities that make a great barista
How to become a great
maker and server of espresso-based coffee drinks
Truly great
baristas take the time to develop the key skills that will enable them to
deliver the highest possible quality of coffee-based beverage and service. As a
barista, you must make a concerted effort to listen to your clientele and make
sure the drinks you produce are correct in all respects. This is particularly
important when you consider the sheer range and complexity of modern coffee
drinks, which may start from a single (or double) shot of espresso but can
include many additional elements. If you become distracted by the conversation
that is going on nearby, you may ultimately miss the mark from a service
perspective.
One thing
that separates a great from a good barista is that the former is constantly
busy and has a strong work ethic. You will often catch a great barista rinsing
out the filter in their machines, for example, as this erodes the build-up of
burnt coffee oil that can begin to impact on the quality and taste of each
espresso shot. Similarly, do not be surprised to hear the sound of the coffee
grinder at work. This highlights the keen attention to detail that
distinguishes skilled baristas, as they have the desire and the awareness to
make every drink with completely fresh ground coffee. This type of
attentiveness helps baristas to get the most from the coffee that they use, as
many of the delicate aromas found in espresso are lost when exposed to the open
air.
Timing is
everything when it comes to producing the perfect cup of coffee. A great
barista knows precisely when to finish the extraction of espresso, at the point
when the balance of flavour has reached its optimum levels. They also
understand how important this is; those who act too soon are left with a drink
without flavour while those who delay the finish risk burning the beverage and
tainting it with a bitter after-taste.
When it comes
to customer service, there is so much more to a coffee shop experience than
drinking perfectly roasted blends. The atmosphere and the ambience also play a
central role, and the interaction that the customer has with their barista sets
the tone for an enjoyable experience. Great baristas ask their customers how
their day is going or what they’re going to do later; they read local
newspapers and keep up with issues that really matter, all of which make a real
difference in a competitive marketplace.
Questions 15-22
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-22 on your answer sheet.
Notes on being a great barista
Serving the customer
● Be sure you make drinks that are 15 ....................
for the customer
● Ignore any 16 .................... around
you
Using the equipment
● Clean the machine 17 ....................
regularly
● Grinding
– always use ground coffee that is 18 ....................
– remember that air causes the smell to fade
Making the coffee
● Know when to stop making the espresso
– too early reduces the 19 ....................
– too late makes the coffee 20 ....................
Giving good customer service
● Talk to your customers
– ask about the customers’ 21 ....................
– know something about the important 22 .................... in the
area
Sample 5
Barrington
Music Service:
Business and Development Manager
Barrington
Music Service organises a wide range of music activities for children and young
people resident in and around Barrington. It provides singing and specialist
instrumental lessons in schools, and it owns a collection of instruments for
use in schools, some of which are available for hire by the parents of children
having lessons. The Service also arranges a number of music-related events,
including festivals bringing together choirs and soloists from schools in both
Barrington and other areas. The Music Service provides administrative and
financial support for the Barrington Youth Orchestra, which takes part in
workshops with professional artists and gives performances.
Barrington
Music Service is seeking to recruit a Business and Development Manager to
manage the administrative function and build on the success of the Service. We
are looking for an individual with a passion for delivering the best possible
music provision for the benefit of our children and young people.
As the
Business and Development Manager, you will be responsible for managing the
administrative and financial systems of the Music Service, ensuring it does not
exceed its budget, which is currently around £1m a year. You will take the lead
on marketing the Service and ensuring the generation of new income. The Music
Service is involved in several partnerships with schools and with music and
community organisations in the district, and you will be expected to increase
the number and scope of these, as well as take the lead in fundraising. The
Service recently embarked on a programme to broaden what is taught in school
music lessons, to include instruments and musical styles from around the world,
and you will be required to further develop this emphasis on diversity.
You will need
to improve systems for ensuring that the records of the Service’s activities
are accurate and maintain a database of all music teachers, students, and
instruments belonging to the Service.
The person
appointed will have experience of a supervisory role and the skills to motivate
members of a team. You will have an understanding of accounting, at a
non-specialist level, and of standard financial procedures. High-level IT
skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.
Although experience in music education is not crucial, good knowledge of the
field, or of other areas of arts management, would be an advantage.
Questions 15-20
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet.
Barrington Music Service
Activities
● organises music lessons
● enables the hire of instruments
● Events such as 15 ...................
for local and visiting schools
● supports Barrington Youth Orchestra
Post of Business and Development Manager
Person appointed will
● manage the administration of the Service
● be responsible for keeping to the 16 ...................
● build 17 ................... with other
organisations
● be proactive in fundraising
● increase the focus on 18 ...................
in school music lessons (e.g., international styles)
● make sure records and a 19 ................... is
kept up-to-date
Person appointed must have
● ability to supervise and motivate others
● basic knowledge of 20 ...................
● other relevant skills
Sample 6
Reducing injuries on the farm
Farms
tend to be full of activity. There are always jobs to be done and some tasks
require physical manual work. While it is good for people to be active, there
are risk factors associated with this, and efforts need to be made to reduce
them.
The
first risk relates to the carrying of an excessive load or weight. This places
undue demands on the spine and can cause permanent damage. Examples of tasks
that involve this risk are moving 50-kilogramme fertiliser bags from one site
to another or carrying heavy buckets of animal feed around fields. According to
the UK Health and Safety Executive, activities such as these ‘should be avoided
at all times’. Their documentation states that other methods should be
considered, such as breaking down the load into smaller containers prior to
movement or transporting the materials using a tractor or other vehicle. The
risk posed by excessive force is made worse if the person lifting is also
bending over as this increases pressure on the discs in the back.
If
a load is bulky or hard to grasp, such as a lively or agitated animal, it will
be more difficult to hold while lifting and carrying. The holder may adopt an
awkward posture, which is tiring and increases the risk of injury. Sometimes a
load has to be held away from the body because there is a large obstacle in the
area and the person lifting needs to be able to see where their feet are going.
This results in increased stress on the back; holding a load at arm’s length
imposes about five times the stress of a close-to-the-body position. In such
cases, handling aids should be purchased that can take the weight off the load
and minimise the potential for injury.
Another
risk that relates to awkward posture is repetitive bending when carrying out a
task. An example might be repairing a gate that has collapsed onto the ground.
This type of activity increases the stress on the lower back because the back
muscles have to support the weight of the upper body. The farmer should think
about whether the job can be performed on a workbench, reducing the need for
prolonged awkward posture.
Questions 15-20
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-20 on your reading answer
sheet.
Sample 7
IFCES, the International Federation of
Chemical Engineering Societies
Job Specification: Communications Manager
Contract:
Permanent (with 3-month probationary period)
Reports to: Chief Executive
Hours: 9:15 am — 5:30 pm with 1 hour for lunch
Holidays: 23 days per annum + statutory public holidays
Job Summary
To raise the international profile of IFCES. To communicate our objectives,
programmes and services to members, the chemical engineering community, the
media and the wider public.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and implement a programme of
communications to member associations, the chemical engineering industry,
sponsors and the media.
• Plan and implement marketing strategies
for all IFCES programmes including the World Chemical Engineering Congress.
• Write and edit copy for publications
intended for internal and external use including Chemical Engineer Monthly.
• Work with design agencies, web developers
and other external contractors to produce high quality corporate and marketing
materials.
• Research, write and distribute news
releases as required, often at short notice and under pressure
• Deal with media enquiries and interview
requests. Ensure that good relationships with both mainstream and chemical
engineering media arc developed and maintained.
• Assist in the production of presentations
and speeches for board members.
• Ensure website content is up to date and
consistent.
• Develop a consistent corporate identity
and ensure its application by all member associations and partner organisations.
• Carry our specific duties and projects as
directed from time to time.
Employee Specification
Essential
• Degree (any discipline)
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a
communications role
• Excellent copy writing skills with strong
attention to detail, a keen sense of audience and an ability to tailor writing
to its particular purpose
• Demonstrable track record of producing
high quality corporate publications and marketing materials
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational
skills
• Sound IT skills, including working
knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Willingness to travel internationally
Desirable
• Recognised post-graduate
qualification in public relations / journalism / marketing communications
• Knowledge of the global chemical
engineering industry and the production of new materials in particular
• Understanding of the concerns
surrounding sustainability in chemical engineering
• Ability to speak a foreign language
Questions 22-27
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage
for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
Position: Communications Manager
Summary of role: to
improve IFCES's 22 ............... around
the world.
Responsibilities include:
• writing for a number of 23 ...............,
produced for both IFCES and a wider readership
• producing news releases quickly when necessary
• making sure the 24 ............... contains
current information.
Employee specification
(essential) includes:
• high level skill in writing appropriately
- for the 25 ............... to
read
- to achieve a specific 26 ...............
• good IT skills.
Employee specification (desirable)
includes:
• relevant qualification at a 27 ............... level
• awareness of issues of sustainability in relation to the industry
• knowledge of a foreign language.
Sample 8
Choosing the right format for your CV
A
good CV should be clear, simple and easy to understand. Here are four of the
most popular CV formats and advice on when to use them:
Chronological
This is the traditional CV format and is extremely popular because it allows
employers to see all the posts you have held in order. It provides flexibility
because it works in almost all circumstances, the exception being if you have
blocks of unemployment that are difficult to account for. This type of format
is particularly useful when you have a solid and complete working history
spanning five years or more.
Functional
The functional CV is designed to describe your key skills rather than the jobs
you have done. The functional CV format is typically used by people who have
extensive gaps in their employment history, or have often changed jobs. It also
suits those who want to go in a different direction work-wise and change
industry. You might choose it if you want to highlight skills learned early in
your career, points that might get missed if a chronological format is used. It
is also appropriate if you have done little or no actual work, for example, if
you are one of the current years graduates.
Because this format is often used to cover a patchy employment history, some
interviewers may view such CVs with suspicion, so be very careful should you
choose it.
Achievement
An alternative to the functional CV is to use an achievement-based resume
highlighting key achievements in place of skills. This can help show your
suitability for a role if you lack direct experience of it.
Non-traditional
With the explosion of digital and creative industries over recent years, CV
formats have become more and more imaginative. You can present information
through graphics, which can be more visually engaging and turn out to be an
unusual but winning option. This will definitely make you stand out from the
crowd. It also demonstrates design skills and creativity in a way that a
potential employer can see and feel. However, a highly creative CV format is
only really appropriate for creative and artistic sectors, such as those
involving promoting products, though it would also work for the media too.
Questions 21-27
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.
CV formats
There
are several different formats including:
Chronological
– very common
– gives 21 ……………… in most cases
– perhaps inappropriate if there are periods where 22 ……………… is not easy to explain
Functional
– appropriate for people who intend to follow a new 23 ……………… in their career
– suits recent graduates
– can create 24 ………………
in recruiters, so is best used with caution
Achievement
– focuses mainly on what the person has achieved
– may be advisable if the person has no 25 ……………… in the area
Non-traditional
– enables use of attractive 26 ………………
to present data
– suits applications for jobs in marketing or 27 ………………
Sample 9
Guide to employees on workplace monitoring
What is workplace monitoring?
Employers have the right to monitor your activities in many situations at work.
For example, your activities may be recorded on CCTV cameras, and your letters
may be opened and read. In addition, your employer may use an automated software
programme to check the emails you receive at work. Phone calls may be listened
to and recorded, and the log of websites you use may be checked.
All of these forms of monitoring are covered by data protection law. Data
protection law doesn’t prevent monitoring in the workplace. However, it does
set down rules about the circumstances and the way in which monitoring should
be carried out.
Before deciding whether to introduce monitoring, your employer should identify
any negative effects the monitoring may have on staff. This is called impact
assessment.
Monitoring electronic communications at
work
Your employer can legally monitor your use of electronic communications in the
workplace if the monitoring relates to the business and the equipment being monitored
is provided partly or wholly for work.
Except in extremely limited circumstances, employers must take reasonable steps
to let staff know that monitoring is happening, what is being monitored and why
it is necessary.
As long as your employer sticks to these rules, they don’t need to get your
consent before they monitor your electronic communications, but only if the
monitoring is for specific reasons. These may be to establish facts which are
relevant to the business or to check standards, for example, listening in to
phone calls to assess the quality of your work. Monitoring is also allowed if
its purpose is to prevent or detect crime. It may be necessary to make sure
electronic systems are operating effectively, for example, to prevent computer
viruses entering the system. Your employer is also allowed to listen in to any
calls you make to confidential helplines, but in this case, he or she is not
allowed to record these calls.
Questions 15-21
Complete
the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each
answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
Guide to employees on
workplace monitoring
Your employer may monitor you at work by checking
• recordings of your activities
• your letters and (15)
.......................
• your phone calls and which websites you have visited
Rules for monitoring are established by data protection law. This states that
employers must carry out a procedure that is known as (16) ....................... before introducing
monitoring,
In general, monitoring is legal if
• it relates to the business
• you are using (17)
....................... intended for work
• the worker has been informed
Monitoring may be used
• to evaluate the (18)
....................... of your work
• to stop of find out about (19)
.......................
• to stop the possibility of (20)
....................... affecting systems
• to check calls to (21)
....................... (these cannot be recorded)
Sample 10
How to achieve a better work-life balance
As more and
more employees work from home full time and everyone has 24/7 access to email,
balancing work and family may not seem like an easily attainable goal. So how
can you juggle the demands of both worlds? Below are some tips to help you get
started.
It’s easy to
get sucked into habits that, make us less efficient without realizing it – like
keeping your social media page open at work so you don’t miss something
‘important’. Draw up a list with all the activities that don’t enhance your
life or career. Then minimize the time you spend on them.
It’s hard to
say no’, especially to a supervisor or loved one, but sometimes that powerful
little word is essential. Learn to use ‘no’ judiciously and it will become a powerful
tool in balancing work and family.
Research
shows that exercise helps you remain alert. Finding time to hit the gym may be
hard, but it will ultimately help you get more things done because exercise
really boosts energy and improves your ability to concentrate.
Study after
study shows that significant sleep deprivation affects your health and
well-being. Exposure to electronics can significantly negatively impact your
sleep, so try to unplug an hour before you go to sleep.
What would
you do if you had a whole day to yourself with no demands on your time? While
most people don’t have the luxury of a whole day dedicated to relaxation,
constantly putting off that downtime and putting everyone’s needs before yours
will wear you down. Pick a time to do something just for you. Even just a few
minutes of ‘me time’ a day will help to recharge your batteries.
Don’t assume
your family and manager are aware of your concerns. If you feel you have to
adjust your schedule to discover a better work-life balance, then voice that
requirement. If that means asking your boss for permission to leave a few
minutes early once a week so you can hit that yoga class on the way home, do
it.
All new
habits require time to build, so if you find yourself sneaking your smartphone
to bed, that’s okay. Leave your phone downstairs tomorrow night. Tiny steps are
the key to finding that balance, so start small, and go from there. Most of
all, know your limitations and what works best for you; then decide what really
matters, what advice you want to follow, and prioritize.
Questions
21-27
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in Boxes 21-27 on
your answer sheet.
Achieving a better work-life
balance
How to begin
• Make a complete 21 ................
of things that are not helpful and reduce involvement in them
• Refuse some requests as this can be a useful 22 ................ in gaining a better
work-life balance
Things that cars help
• Regular exercise
– can increase 23 ................
significantly
• Sleep
– insufficient sleep can make people ill
– avoid focusing on 24 ................
in the lead-up to bedtime
Issues that require attention
• Those who see other people’s 25 ................
as more important than their own will suffer
• If the working day is too long, get 26 ................ to shorten it
occasionally
• People should learn to recognise their own 27 ................
Sample 11
HOW
TO WRITE A JOB TRANSFER REQUEST
If you want
to transfer to a division of the company in another city, you should write a
job transfer application letter to your Departmental Head or Human Resources
expressing your reasons.
Employees may seek a transfer:
• to undertake professional development (e.g. learn new skills or a new
line of business)
• to confront new challenges (e.g. you have mastered all the duties
related to your current position which has now become routine and you feel the
need for a change)
• to break away from unrelenting tension or conflict within a team
• to cope with a change in life’s circumstances (e.g. family illness,
marriage, divorce, birth of a child)
• to recover from illness or manage the aging process (e.g. physical
pain, fatigue) – in this instance, you may want to request reduced working
hours or lighter duties
• to change the nature of your job (e.g. from on-the-road to a
non-travelling role)
• to repatriate (i.e. return to country of origin)
A job transfer request made for personal reasons should state those reasons
clearly and succinctly. However, you should also highlight your achievements,
strengths and abilities, draw attention to your familiarity with the
organization’s values and practices, and demonstrate how the company will benefit
from the transfer. If appropriate, include a transition plan, which includes
training a new person for your current job.
The job
transfer request letter should be written in formal business format with a
polite and respectful tone. The employee should keep copies of all
communications concerning the transfer request.
Note that, if
you want to apply for an existing, advertised vacancy within the company, you
should fill in the application document, write a cover letter, and treat it as
you would an external application.
Questions 15-20
Complete the
notes below.
Complete
the summary using the list of words, A–L, below.
Write
the correct letter, A–L, in boxes 15–20 on your answer sheet.
How to request a transfer
To
get a job with a different 15 …………….…..
of the firm, write a formal letter stating your reasons. These may include
professional development; adjusting to a different family 16 ……….………..; leaving a stressful work
environment; ill health or old age; desire for a different type of 17 …………….…..; or repatriation.
Apart
from personal reasons, you should focus on your 18 ……….………..:
what advantages there are for the firm, and your knowledge and understanding of
company 19 ……….……….. . You may need to attach a
transition plan.
If
the job you would like has been advertised, you need to complete the
appropriate 20 ……….……….. .
|
A. emplyoment
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B. company
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C. change
|
|
D. talents
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E. situation
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F. letters
|
|
G. hardships
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H. evidence
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I. form
|
|
J. culture
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K. conflict
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L. branch
|
Sample 12
Appendix: Dealing with absence in the workplace
This appendix
considers how to handle problems of absence and gives guidance about the
authorised and unauthorised absence of employees from work.
The
organisation should be aware of the rights of employees and in particular the
requirements of the Equality Act 201O when making any decisions about absences
of employees who are disabled. In these cases, the employer should consider
what reasonable adjustments could be made in the workplace to help the employee.
This might be something as simple as supplying an appropriate chair for the use
of the employee. In cases where an employee suffers from an allergy caused by
something in the workplace, the employer should consider remedial action or a
transfer to alternative work.
If the
absence is because of temporary difficulties relating to dependants, the
employee may be entitled to have time off under the provisions of the
Employment Rights Act 1996. In cases where the employee has difficulty managing
both work and home responsibilities, employees have the right to request
flexible ways of working, such as job-sharing, and employers must have a good
business reason for rejecting any such application.
Employers
should investigate unexpected absences promptly and the employee should be
asked for an explanation at a return-to-work interview. In order to show both
the employee concerned and other employees that absence is regarded as a
serious matter and may result in dismissal, it is very important that
persistent absence is dealt with firmly and consistently. Records showing
lateness and the duration of and explanations for all spells of absence should
be kept to help monitor levels of absence or lateness. If the employer wishes
to contact the employee’s doctor for more information about a medical
condition, he or she must notify the employee in writing that they intend to
make such an application and they must secure the employee’s consent in
writing. Consideration should be given to introducing measures to help employees,
regardless of status or seniority, who may be suffering from stress. The aim
should be to identify employees affected and encourage them to seek help and
treatment.
Questions 21-27
Complete
the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on
your answer sheet.
Absence in the workplace
Employees’ rights
·
help with issues related to
disabilities, e. g. provision of a suitable 21 ..................
·
provision of arrangements to deal with
any work-related 22 ..................
·
time off work to deal with short-term
problems of 23 ..................
·
possibility of arrangements that are 24 .................. to help with domestic
responsibilities
Recommendations to employers
·
make it clear that absence is a
possible reason for 25 ..................
·
ask employees for consent before
contacting their 26 ..................
·
identify employees affected by 27 ..................and provide support
