054　the working day

Words
Overtime hours lunch break coffee break company car salary/wage
Part-time full-time paperwork meeting colleague boss department cubicle self-employed office factory production line
Responsibility (un)skilled (un)paid

Phrases
Work 9 to 5
Work shifts
Work overtime
Get on with colleague
Have a break
Work long hours
Work flexi-time
Do shift work

Beginner
A: what’s your working day like?
B; I have a typical 9 to 5 job. Actually, I work a little longer than 9 to 5 most days.
A; do you get paid ovetime?
B: no, I don’t. I get a bonus each month, depending on the value of the contracts I sign with clients.
A: do you have any breaks?
B; we have an hour-long lunch break form 12 to 1. we can take coffee breaks during the day. My boss doesn’t mind, as long as we get out work done on time.
A: my boss gets annoyed if we take coffee breaks. I suppose your job involves a lot paperwork, doesn’t it?
B; there’s some paperwork, but most of the time we put any information onto computers. Then we can send information to each other by email or across the network. Do you work in a cubicle?
A: yes, I do. I don’t like it very much.
B; I work in a cubicle too, but I I don’t mind it .

Intermediate
A: welcome to ABC electronics. First, let me go over what we do in the department during a typical workday.
B; ok. I understand that we basically work form 8:30 to 5:30 with an hour-long lunch break from 12 to 1, right?
A: that’s right, although we do expect you to do a little overtime if there’s something important to do. The lunch break is flexible. You can go a little earlier or a little later if you prefer.
B: that’s fine. Is it OK to have a coffee break during the working day?
A: of course. The main thing is that all our work must be completed on schedule. We even allow our employee to go home early if they finish their work early.
B: how often do you have meetings?
A: you should attend a department meeting every Monday morning. There are other meetings for people working together on certain projects. Department heads also attend an interdepartmental meeting each week.
B; I’ve met some of my colleagues already. I’m sure we’ll get on well together.
A: you are entitled to a company car. Have you seen it yet?
B; I was told to take a look at it this afternoon and take care of all the paperwork.
A; ok. This is your cubicle. At first, you’ll be responsible to me. Later, you’ll be working more independently.
B; that’s fine. I need to learn how you do things here first. Salaries are paid directly in to our bank account, aren’t they?
A; that’s right. Make sure you give the accounts department all your bank account details as soon as possible.