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Layoffs

Layoffs

Date: May 28 2021

Themes: News, Work

Grammar: Comparing Quantity

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Even though we often complain about our jobs, nobody wants to get fired. If you have to lose your job, it should at least be for something crazy, like having an affair with the boss’s daughter or setting fire to your cubicle. But often, when businesses start losing money, they have no choice but to lay off a bunch of their employees.

Times are tough for a lot of people right now, and Devan is worried that she might lose her job as a waitress. Listen to talk to Marni about what she should do.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Devan

Marni

Marni

Devan:  So I think I’m getting laid off at my work.

Marni:  Oh no! Really? Why?

Devan:  ‘Cause it seems like they’re phasing me out. They’re only scheduling me two days a week, and I used to work four. And it’s been really slow lately ‘cause of the economy, ‘cause people aren’t going out to eat.

Marni:  Yeah, I think you’re, uh…Sounds like you’re gonna get the ax. It’s the recession, I mean, it’s happening, and it’s sad. It’s hitting all industries. It’s hitting people in office jobs, it’s hitting people who’re in the service industry...

Devan:  Yeah. I think I’m gonna have to file for unemployment, but unemployment checks are never for as much as you would normally make, so I’m pretty worried about it.

Marni:  Right. And there’s always the…And then you have to get a job and look for a job, and who wants to do that. So do you think you’re gonna get a pink slip or…

Devan:  I don’t know, I hope not. I open my locker at work every day hoping there’s not gonna be some pink slip waiting there for me telling me I’m not gonna have a job anymore.

Marni:  Well, best of luck to you, and hopefully…Maybe it’s a wise idea to start job-hunting now so you can be one step ahead of them.

Devan:  Yeah, I think I’m going to start looking for new jobs today.

 

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Discussion

Devan is worried that she’s going to get fired from her job. Her boss has been giving her fewer shifts lately and she’s noticed that there’s been less business at the restaurant where she works.

Marni feels sorry for Devan. She says a lot of people have been losing their jobs lately because the economy is so bad.

If Devan does get fired, she can get unemployment benefits from the government. But those don’t last forever and they’re not worth as much as a real job. Plus, looking for a new job is really annoying. So Devan really hopes she’ll be able to keep her job, but she’s going to start looking for new jobs just in case.

Have you ever lost a job? What happened? Are you worried about the economy?

 

Comments

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pesticide-niuniu

China

Is that so?

02:54 AM Feb 12 2009 |

pesticide-niuniu

China

Is that so?
i decide to change a new job, while i worried about job-hunting, whether i will find a new job?
i am depressed.
What can i do?
is economic recession that serious?

02:54 AM Feb 12 2009 |

zoebaby

zoebaby

China

i got an ax last year,it took monthes to get a new job at the end of last year,but i'm a kinda lucked out to get this job,,,freaked me out when i had nothing to do at home, it's crazy..

but times are tough for people nowaday…

09:04 AM Feb 11 2009 |

Nancy_0427

Nancy_0427

China

it seems that each one worry ahout the same thing!!

08:04 AM Feb 11 2009 |

Nancy_0427

Nancy_0427

China

our many customer had effected by the economic recession.everyone in our office worried about we will fire out one day!!

08:00 AM Feb 11 2009 |

tony.yy

tony.yy

China

Yea.In the process of looking new job I find some posotive news from my jobhuntingn webs.I know there have a lot difficulties I have to face.But Hope is important to everyone who has been involved in this global ecnomic crisis.God bless me and my compatiate  

09:48 AM Feb 09 2009 |

saaaaaaaam

saaaaaaaam

Saudi Arabia

well in our country the women dont have trabil to find a job if you have a certifcet so im still study and im sure that my job will wait for me when i finsh …...but there is a problem that we are the girls cant work anything for examble we cant an angneer or paloite …...etc

so i will say for everybody good luck …and you have to know that the life isnt easy at all ….....you have to give to get

my salutation for everybody …......but please answear my questions in page 3

11:03 PM Feb 08 2009 |

saaaaaaaam

saaaaaaaam

Saudi Arabia

but come on guys no body  answeard me ….im waiting Laughing

10:51 PM Feb 08 2009 |

Dekler

Dekler

Kazakhstan

I'm victim of crisis, but also I try to improve my skills in speciality to find another job..I say it chance to change our live..

and no need to cry about dismissal

 

 

07:51 PM Feb 08 2009 |

jöntürk

jöntürk

Turkey

Global crisis is increasing in Turkey as Much as in the world. it's true that there has been a recession eweywhere. thousands of people were laid off eweryday in my country. Even tough ı'm a student  ı feel the this. first we are forced to improve ourselves.then we will be eligible. as they said " we must be one step ahead of them"

good luck everyone

 

05:46 PM Feb 08 2009 |

Besh

Besh

Saudi Arabia

Thanks God, I don’t have a job to worry about lol

04:14 PM Feb 08 2009 |

Christoph07

Germany

These are the fruits of mistakes and defaults in international politics. No body knows how hard will be this economic crisis and how is the timetable of this crises. But its not a real surprise I think that this crises is happen. A likable and old chancellor of Germany (Helmut Schmidt) said: We have international rules in traffic by planes, we have rules in international traffic by ships. We need also international rules for traffic of money. I am very liberal and I like the freedom of economic and I know – only freedom of markets will be good for all people. But we need these kind of international rules. The problem is that we have so many different countries with her own cultures and interests that its very hard to find joint rules.

03:36 PM Feb 08 2009 |

suzon

Viet Nam

I am worried about this global recession too. Thousands workers in many insustrial zones in Vietnam couldn't have a happy Tet holiday(Lunar New Year) as expected due to getting laid off at work. Unfortunately, they can't file for unemployment 'cos they don't pay income tax. I wish we would recorvery this such crisis and once again get as much money as we could. 

02:06 PM Feb 08 2009 |

marly2ramos

Philippines

This is the time that we should value our job.  I am lucky that despite of the global crises our company was able to survive.  

01:12 PM Feb 08 2009 |

xielilisophie

China

oh,economic tragedy really very terrible.

i hope everything will be all right.

01:02 PM Feb 08 2009 |

Athan

Athan

China

The reccession is hitting all industries globally,making people harder to find a job,that doesn’t mean you can’t find a job.If you do have skills you can survive in any crisis.In China,the situation to find a job is getting tougher,the employers are asking the job-hunters should have working experience eventhought many of them are just graduated from college.What you have to do now is to improve yourself in a recession,there is no use of worrying about the crisis!

11:55 AM Feb 08 2009 |

freedomforme

China

yes

08:45 AM Feb 08 2009 |

lin.yongxia

China

it's a tough time but come on!!

07:33 AM Feb 08 2009 |

Aki in L.A

Aki in L.A

Japan

We have confronted the global recession that is caused by the government of the different countries.

10:34 PM Feb 07 2009 |

maloud

maloud

Poland

It is all because those greedy bastards from Wall Street. Innocent people suffer because of them.

09:53 PM Feb 07 2009 |

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