WORKING CONDITIONS

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 382.

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II READING PRACTICE

The people who run a company are known as the management. The management is made up of individual managers. The managers are usually appointed to their posts (or positions) by the board of directors. The board is the collective name for directors. If a manager is appointed to a higher post in the firm, he is promoted (he is given promotion). When someone is promoted he usually receives a pay rise.

The men who actually produce the goods in the assembly plant (or factory) are known as the workers (or labour force). The men working on the shop floor in the factory operate the machinery (or equipment). Workers who have specialized skills or who are trained to operate sophisticated equipment are called skilled workers. If the company needs to increase its labour force, it tries to recruit new workers to work on the shop floor. They might undertake a recruitment programme and they will hire workers who apply for jobs. The workers are normally paid wages for working a certain number of hours each week. Wages are paid weekly (a manager's salary is normally paid monthly). If a worker works more than his required number of hours, he works overtime, and he is paid at overtime rates which are higher than the normal rate of pay. Some factories operate a shift system. The men work 8-hour shifts throughout the 24 hours so that the assembly plant operates all the time.

Most of the workers belong to a trade union. The union represents the men and negotiates (enters into negotiations) with the management on their behalf. If there is a labour problem or industrial unrest, the union shop steward might enter into negotiations with the management on behalf of the men. Industrial unrest is frequently about pay or working conditions. The union might negotiate a pay rise or a bonus payment for increased productivity, for example. Firms often also give a bonus at Christmas.

If someone wants to leave his job he must give notice. Workers normally give at least a week's notice. Managers usually work one or three months' notice. If someone leaves work for good because he is old, he retires. Someone who retires (goes into retirement) after working for a firm for a long time is normally given a pension. This pension is a regular payment for him to live on in his retirement.