Engews

Would You Give Up Remote Work for More Money?

5
Intermediate
Would You Give Up Remote Work for More Money?
Exercise 1

Vocabulary

Repeat each word, definition, and example sentence after your tutor.
perkNounpərk
a benefit one receives as part of one's job; an advantage or benefit
Having a company car is one of the perks of my job.
commuteNounkəˈmjuːt
a regular journey taken to and from work
My commute takes about 45 minutes.
flexibilityNounˌflɛksəˈbɪləti
the ability to be changed or adapted easily
I enjoy the flexibility of working as a freelancer.
balanceNounˈbæləns
a situation in which different things exist in good or correct amounts
Sometimes it's hard to find a balance between family and work.
give upPhrasal Verbɡɪv ʌp
to stop doing or having something
I had to give up my job to look after my mother when she got sick.
valuableAdjectiveˈvæljuːəbəl
worth a lot of money; very useful or important
Luckily, the thieves didn't manage to take anything valuable.
Exercise 2

Article

Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.Would You Give Up Remote Work for More Money?
Would you give up remote work for a higher salary? Working from home has its perks — no commute, more flexibility, and, often, better work-life balance. It became common for many employees to work remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, and many workers came to prefer it. But now, with more companies pushing for a return to the office, the question is — what might it take to make employees give that up? A recent survey from Robert Half has found that for many Americans, a bigger salary might be enough. In fact, about two-thirds of US workers said they'd go back to the office full-time for more money. However, most said they would only do it if they got a pay increase of at least 10%. Of course, it's important to think before agreeing to give up working remotely. A bigger salary may sound good, but it might not mean more money in the end. You have to pay for things like gas, train tickets, parking and lunches. And parents may need to pay someone to watch their children while they're in the office. So before saying yes to an offer of more money to return to the office, make sure the increase actually covers these extra costs. If it doesn't, going back might not be worth it. Also, think about your time. Commuting can take hours each week — hours you could spend with family, relaxing, or doing something for yourself. That time is valuable too — maybe even more than money!
Exercise 3

Discussion

Have a discussion based on the following questions.
  1. What percentage of US remote workers said they would return to the office for more money? A. About half B. About two-thirds
  2. About half
  3. About two-thirds
  4. How much of a pay increase did most people say they would be willing to return to the office for? A. 10% B. 15%
  5. 10%
  6. 15%
  7. What should people consider before accepting more money to work in the office? A. Extra costs and lost time B. The risk of being less focused and productive
  8. Extra costs and lost time
  9. The risk of being less focused and productive
Exercise 4

Further Discussion

Have a discussion based on the following questions.
  1. What are your thoughts on Robert Half's findings?
  2. Would you rather get a pay rise or the option to work remotely?
  3. What would you say are the biggest advantages of remote work?
  4. How much flexibility does your job offer? Has this changed over time?
  5. Are you more productive working from home or in an office?
SourceThis article is based on an article by Stefan Stojković.