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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · ADVANCED (C1-C2)

OFFICE LIFE
RETURNS
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1 Warm up

Estimate the percentages corresponding to each of the following sentences.

1. People working full-time from home.

2. Workers who want to work remotely at least some of the time.

3. Companies which operate entirely on a remote basis.

4. Remote workers who feel more productive working from home.

5. People aged 24-35 who work remotely full-time.

6. Workers who would look for a new job if their current company didn’t allow remote work.

7. Hybrid workers who would take a pay cut to work remotely full-time.

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2 Focus on vocabulary

Match the words with the correct definitions.

1. sticking with (phr. v)

2. collaborate (v)

3. streamline (v)

4. recession (n)

5. innovative (adj.)

6. economic downturn (n)

7. geared towards (phr. v)

8. pinching pennies (idiom)

9. mandatory (adj.)

a. continuing to do something

b. spending as little money as possible

c. make a business simpler and more effective by reducing costs, often by reducing the number of
people involved in it

d. a period when the economy of a country is not successful and conditions for business are bad

e. period of reduced activity, job losses, and financial stress

f. using or developing new ideas

g. made, changed, or prepared something so that it is suitable for a particular purpose

h. work with someone else for a special purpose

i. must be done, or is demanded by law

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3 Listening for gist

Listen to the conversation between two colleagues about being made to return to the office and
choose the correct option.

1. Why is Hannah surprised by the news?

a. She thought it would happen after the recession.

b. The company has been performing well.

c. She expected the company to prioritize employee preferences.

2. Why does Bruce say that the company will not be streamlining itself?

a. They have been experiencing financial difficulties.

b. They have made a public statement.

c. They have recently hired new people.

3. What does Hannah miss about going to the office?

a. solving tricky problems

b. interacting with her colleagues

c. her daily commute

4 Listening for comprehension

Listen again and decide if the following information is true (T) or false (F).

1. Bruce thinks their bosses believe they are less creative when they work from home.

2. Hannah believes she uses her time more effectively when she is in the office.

3. If they are made to return, some people might be fired.

4. Some studies suggest that remote workers are at least as forward-thinking as office-based
employees.

5. The company they work for does not like to waste money.

6. Hannah fully supports returning to the office.

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5 Scanning for vocabulary

Scan the article on page five about companies requiring their employees to return to the office and
find words or phrases which mean the same as the following.

Group A:

1. (adj., para. 1) not as severe in punishment or judgment as would be expected

2. (n phrase, para. 1) the number of people present is notably reduced

3. (n phrase, para. 2) combining remote and in-office work for employees

4. (n phrase, para. 2) limited resumption of operations, often with reduced

capacity or restrictions
5. (n, para. 3) the fact of not obeying a rule

6. (v, para. 3) act according to a set of rules

Group B:

1. (n, para. 4) official requirements issued by an authority, which must be

followed
2. (v, para. 4) happen at or near the same time

3. (n, para. 4) the general situation in which particular events happen

4. (n, para. 4) terminations of employment due to downsizing or restructuring

5. (n, para. 4) documents signed by a large number of people demanding a

particular action
6. (adj., para. 5) doubting that something is true or useful

6 Reading for general information

Scan the text quickly and match the headings with the correct paragraph.

a. Potential punishments for remote workers

b. Return to office work appears irreversible
c. US businesses sell properties due to employee preference for remote work
d. Bosses reassert control
e. Tech company’s new policy represents global change

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Navigating the Return to the Office

Challenges and strategies in the post-pandemic workplace

1.

Throughout the past couple of years, many employers have been relatively lenient about office returns, even in
stricter industries like finance. In response, employees have largely shown a preference for remote work. By July
2023, data from Kastle Systems showed the average workplace occupancy among 41,000 businesses in the US
sat at around 50%. In response to diminished attendance, some of the world’s biggest firms have even been forced
to sell off their office buildings.

2.

"Senior leaders are running out of patience," says Brent Cassell, vice president of consulting firm Gartner, based in
Virginia, US. "Many companies formally introduced hybrid working schedules in spring 2022, but most strategies
were characterized as soft reopenings." Now, as employees return to work following summer breaks, many may
well find that employers expect them to take up the commuter lifestyle again. The announcement that Zoom, the
communications tech company strongly associated with working from home, is now requiring workers to follow
a hybrid work schedule marks a major shift. The company is implementing a structured in-person work pattern,
with employees living within 50 miles of an office expected to be in at least twice a week.

3.

Meta has introduced an ’In-Person Time Policy’, effective from September, in which card swipes will be monitored
– non-compliance is considered a disciplinary issue, potentially resulting in termination. Amazon meanwhile is also
sending disciplinary emails to workers not attending the office at least three days per week. In a meeting earlier
this month, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees who didn’t want to comply with the rule that "it’s probably
not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week."

4.

Such mandates coincide with bosses now being in a stronger position, given the backdrop of lay-offs, rising costs
of living, and a cooling job market. "One side of this is that job switching behavior has slowed, and power has
returned to employers," says Cassell. "Some may now feel that, for the first time in a long time, they’re able
to enforce stronger return-to-office mandates." Workers at Apple and the Walt Disney Co. might have signed
petitions to protest policies that would force them back on-site, but their concerns are likely to go unheard.

5.

Some business leaders are naturally skeptical about remote working and sense that this is their best opportunity
to enforce fixed schedules and abandon flexible approaches. The return-to-office trend seems to be only heading
one way - data shows that office attendance in Europe has now reached more than 70% of pre-pandemic levels -
the highest figure since Covid-19. There also seem to be more confident statements on office-based culture and
in-person working being important to their business. While the post-summer return may not mean waiting on the
train platform Monday to Friday like the days of old, it seems workers will increasingly become familiar with the
four walls of their offices once again.

Sources: bbc.com, shrm.org, halfhalftravel.com

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7 Reading comprehension
Read the text again in more detail, then answer the multiple-choice questions below.
1. What had been the stance of most companies on office returns until recently?

a. They have been incredibly strict.

b. They have been quite permissive.
c. They have demanded a lot from their employees.
d. They have encouraged open communication.

2. What mandate has Zoom set for their employees?

a. Those living close to an office must work every day.

b. Any attempt to work from home will result in termination.
c. They will be encouraged to move closer to their offices.
d. Those living within a certain distance are required to go to the office.

3. What policy has Meta recently adopted?

a. Office attendance will be tracked.

b. Many remote worker positions will be adapted.
c. Those not following the new guidelines will receive disciplinary emails.
d. Employees’ cards have to be swiped at least three times per day.

4. What is not given as a reason for bosses being in a stronger position?

a. higher levels of dismissals

b. unfavorable conditions for jobseekers
c. increasing expenses for basic necessities and services
d. ongoing petitions at major companies

5. What have bosses been attempting to do?

a. discard in-office models of working

b. encourage workers to be more flexible
c. implement consistent hybrid work timetables
d. capitalize on the strong position of employees

6. What have companies been expressing recently?

a. the importance of an office-centered work environment

b. the need to hire certain people for office-based roles
c. the benefits of hybrid working policies
d. the negative aspects of remote working

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8 Talking point

In pairs or small groups, discuss the following questions.

1. Are companies justified in implementing stricter office attendance policies in light of economic
challenges, such as the rising cost of living?
2. How should employers balance employee preferences for remote work with the need for in-office
collaboration?
3. What role should government regulation play in dictating remote work policies and the rights of
employees?
4. Are there ethical concerns with monitoring employees’ in-person attendance?

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OFFICE LIFE RETURNS

Transcripts

3. Listening for gist

Bruce: Hey, Hannah, did you hear? They’re thinking about making us come back to the office
full-time.

Hannah: Seriously, Bruce? I thought we were sticking with the whole work-from-home thing,
especially since productivity has risen. What’s the deal?

Bruce: Well, some of the bosses think we’re less likely to collaborate and come up with ideas.
Part of me wonders if it’s not a generational thing – they’re just not used to this way of
working.

Hannah: But I feel as if I can manage my time better from home. Are you sure they’re not looking
to streamline the business? A lot of people might quit if they’re forced back to the office.

Bruce: I don’t think so, they’ve actually taken on 50 new members of staff nationwide. I just think
that since the last recession, they want to keep an eye on everyone and make sure we’re
all working hard enough.

Hannah: Fair point, but I’ve read studies that show remote workers can be just as innovative, if not
more so. We can’t be blamed for the economic downturn.

Bruce: You’re right. Plus, energy usage is down 30% since the pandemic. For a company so
geared towards pinching pennies, I’d have thought that would have been important.

Hannah: I do miss the social aspect though. I think a lot of our best ideas come to us when we’re
chatting in the break room. Still, I think I might be looking elsewhere if they make it
mandatory...

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TEACHER MATERIALS · ADVANCED (C1-C2)

OFFICE LIFE RETURNS

Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
Statistics provided by https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/. Encourage students to
discuss their own thoughts on remote working. When going through the answers, ask whether any of the statistics
are surprising and how they think they might change in the future.

1. 12% 2. 98% 3. 16% 4. 35% 5. 39% 6. 57% 7. 32%

2. Focus on vocabulary

5 mins.
Encourage students to give examples using some of the words. Check their pronunciation after they have completed
the task.

1. → a. 2. → h. 3. → c.
4. → d. 5. → f. 6. → e.
7. → g. 8. → b. 9. → i.

3. Listening for gist

5 mins.
Students should think of synonyms for keywords in the questions. The answers will appear in the same order as
the questions.

1. b. 2. c. 3. b.

4. Listening for comprehension

5 mins.
Explain that the exact words from the statements do not feature in the audio, so they should think of synonyms
for the words and phrases.

1. T - "...we’re less likely to collaborate and come up with ideas."

2. F – "I can manage my time better from home."
3. F – It is suggested some people might quit, not that they will be fired.
4. T – "...remote workers can be just as innovative..."
5. T – "For a company so geared towards pinching pennies..."
6. F – "...I think I might be looking elsewhere if they make it mandatory..."

5. Scanning for vocabulary

10 mins.
Make sure that students understand that they should not read the article in detail, but should scan it, looking for
the words that match the definitions.
Group A:

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1. lenient 2. diminished attendance 3. hybrid working

4. soft reopenings 5. non-compliance 6. comply
Group B:

1. mandates 2. coincide 3. backdrop

4. lay-offs 5. petitions 6. skeptical

6. Reading for general information

5 mins.
Students should look for keywords, or synonyms of keywords, to inform their answers.

1. US businesses sell properties due to employee preference for remote work

2. Tech company’s new policy represents global change
3. Potential punishments for remote workers
4. Bosses reassert control
5. Return to office work appears irreversible
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230905-workers-now-face-a-hard-line-on-return-to-office-policies
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/fall-2023/pages/return-to-office-planning.aspx
https://www.halfhalftravel.com/remote-work/transition-back-to-office.html

7. Reading comprehension

10 mins.
Students should complete the exercise individually at first. If they are unsure, they should try a process of
elimination.

1. b. 2. d. 3. a. 4. a. 5. c. 6. a.

8. Talking point

5 mins.
Encourage students to use the vocabulary they have seen in this lesson when answering the questions.

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