Unlocking
Word Meanings
Read
the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. revive (v.) [ri-vahyv] – to bring
something back to life
Example: New singers usually
revive old popular songs.
2. start-up (n.) [stahrt-uhp] – a company or
business which started recently
Example: Twitter is one of
the most successful start-up companies in social networking.
3. brainstorm (v.) [breyn-stawrm] – to think of
ideas in a free and uncontrolled manner
Example: When we brainstorm
ideas, we try to write down everything that we can think of.
4. harassment (n.) [huh-ras-muhnt, har-uhs-muhnt] – the act of
disturbing, scaring or attacking someone repeatedly
Example: Forcing people to
buy a product is a kind of harassment.
Article
Read
the text below.
Drinking alcohol may soon be encouraged during work hours says
Robert Sutton, a professor of management science and engineering at Stanford
University.
Sutton observes that many hi-tech firms today are reviving an old European
tradition of taking alcohol breaks in between or after work. Hi-tech firms,
like Hewlett-Packard (HP), was known for its so-called ‘Friday afternoon beer
bashes’ back in the 1950s. Today, start-ups like internet
companies such as Twitter, Yelp and Crowd Flower, make alcohol available for
employees’ free consumption.
Drinking alcohol helps people to freely express themselves and
to instantly connect to others. Sutton explains that companies grow stronger as
employees bond and brainstorm ideas in casual
situations, like drinking.
However, Sutton speculates that another reason is that many
start-up companies are in need of talented and young employees and most of the
potential workers are mostly in their partying stage. Companies likewise think
that allowing alcohol breaks enable their workers to work over extended
hours.
Sutton warns though that when drinking gets out of hand and if
uncontrolled, it may weaken productivity, encourage rudeness and harassment, and affect the
mental and physical health of workers. Moreover, Sutton advises that companies
should also consider and protect employees who refuse to drink alcohol.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy
a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
In
what kind companies do you think is drinking an effective social activity?
·
What
are other ways or activities can promote bonding at work?
Discussion B
·
In your opinion, how does drinking alcohol
affect the performance of employees at work?
·
Do you think drinking alcohol benefits
workers and companies? Please explain your answer.
