The Reading / Listening - Working from Home - Level 3

On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO declared "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Sixteen months later, many workers are still working from home. Retail giant Amazon has decided it is time to end its hybrid work policy. The company has told its employees they must return to a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff in a memo that: "We've decided that we're going to return to being in the office the way we were before Covid." He said being with other staff would help workers collaborate, brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching and learning from one another is "more seamless" in the office.

Some employees at Amazon are unhappy with the return-to-office rule. Staff have a history of telling Amazon about their concerns. In February 2023, Amazon required its employees to be in the office for three days a week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle headquarters to protest. They walked out of their offices. The workers also complained about job cuts. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs globally in early 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's contribution to climate change. The workers believe that asking people to commute to work will "accelerate the climate crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff to make complaints about company rules.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Working from Home - Level 0,  Working from Home - Level 1   or  Working from Home - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2024/09/16/amazon-return-to-office-policy-five-days/75253666007/
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czj99ln72k9o
  • https://www.geekwire.com/2024/amazons-new-back-to-office-mandate-adds-to-debate-over-remote-work-and-employee-productivity/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. WORKING FROM HOME: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about working from home. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       WHO / hope / COVID-19 / working from home / Amazon / hybrid work policy / staff /
       employees / history / in the office / protest / job cuts / complaints / climate crisis
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. OFFICES: Students A strongly believe offices are better places to work than homes; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. JOBS: What do you think of these jobs? Would you be good at them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. HYBRID: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "hybrid". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. OFFICES: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things about offices at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • The office
  • Desks
  • Bosses
  • Co-workers
  • Lunch hours
  • Starting time
  • Furniture
  • Meetings

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. declared a. Something that is made by combining two different things.
      2. retail b. A plan or rule for doing something.
      3. giant c. Said something officially.
      4. hybrid d. Create something new.
      5. policy e. Selling things directly to people.
      6. collaborate f. Very big or large.
      7. invent g. Work together with other people.

    Paragraph 2

      8. employee h. A system of managing an organization with many rules and offices.
      9. concern  (noun) i. A person who works for a company or organization.
      10. protest  (verb) j. A feeling of worry or interest about something.
      11. complained k. Travel to and from work or school.
      12. commute l. Said that something was wrong or not good.
      13. accelerate m. To show that you disagree with something.
      14. bureaucracy n. Make something go faster.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The WHO had great hope when it ended COVID-19 as an emergency.     T / F
  2. Amazon is about to start a new hybrid work policy.     T / F
  3. All employees must be in the office five days a week from January 2026. T / F
  4. Amazon's CEO said collaboration was better in the office.     T / F
  5. In February 2023, Amazon staff had to be in the office 3 days a week.    T / F
  6. Amazon cut over a quarter of a million jobs in 2023.     T / F
  7. Some Amazon staff believe going to the office is bad for the climate.     T / F
  8. Amazon has a mailbox for staff to complain about the company's rules.   T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. declared
  2. emergency
  3. return
  4. collaborate
  5. seamless
  6. unhappy
  7. concerns
  8. protest
  9. commute
  10. bureaucracy
  1. dissatisfied
  2. red tape
  3. crisis
  4. smooth
  5. worries
  6. object
  7. stated
  8. travel
  9. work together
  10. go back

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. an end to COVID-19 as a public
  2. Retail giant
  3. the way we were
  4. being with other staff would help workers
  5. learning from one another is more
  6. be in the office for
  7. The workers also complained about job
  8. asking people to commute
  9. accelerate
  10. a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff to make
  1. the climate crisis
  2. seamless in the office
  3. before Covid
  4. complaints
  5. cuts
  6. health emergency
  7. three days a week
  8. collaborate
  9. to work
  10. Amazon

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
policy
being
declared
collaborate
still
office
memo
return

On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO (1) ______________________________________________ "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Sixteen months later, many workers are (2) ______________________________________________ working from home. Retail giant Amazon has decided it is time to end its hybrid work (3) ______________________________________________. The company has told its employees they must (4) ______________________________________________ to a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff in a (5) ______________________________________________ that: "We've decided that we're going to return to being in the office the way we were before Covid." He said (6) ______________________________________________ with other staff would help workers (7) ______________________________________________, brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching and learning from one another is "more seamless" in the (8) ______________________________________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
contribution
required
employees
globally
mailbox
history
accelerate
protest

Some (9) ______________________________________________ at Amazon are unhappy with the return-to-office rule. Staff have a (10) ______________________________________________ of telling Amazon about their concerns. In February 2023, Amazon (11) ______________________________________________ its employees to be in the office for three days a week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle headquarters to (12) ______________________________________________. They walked out of their offices. The workers also complained about job cuts. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs (13) ______________________________________________ in early 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's (14) ______________________________________________ to climate change. The workers believe that asking people to commute to work will "(15) ______________________________________________ the climate crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy (16) ______________________________________________ " for staff to make complaints about company rules.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) declared "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a ______
     a.  public healthy emergency
     b.  public heath emergency
     c.  public health emergence
     d.  public healthy merge antsy
2)  Retail giant Amazon has decided it is time to end its ______
     a.  hybrid works policy
     b.  hybrid worked policy
     c.  hybrid woke policy
     d.  hybrid work policy
3)  We've decided that we're going to return to being in the office the way ______
     a.  we were before
     b.  we were afore
     c.  we were beef ore
     d.  we were beef awe
4)  He said being with other staff would help workers collaborate, ______
     a.  brains storm, and invent
     b.  brainstorm, end invent
     c.  brainstorm, and invent
     d.  brainstorm, and in vent
5)  He added that teaching and learning from one another ______
     a.  is more seam less
     b.  is more seem less
     c.  is more seamless
     d.  is more sea mess

6)  Some employees at Amazon are unhappy with the return-______
     a.  to-off ice rule
     b.  too-office rule
     c.  two-office rule
     d.  to-office rule
7)  Staff have a history of telling Amazon ______
     a.  about them concerns
     b.  about their concerns
     c.  about they concerns
     d.  about there concerns
8)  This caused many workers at the company's Seattle ______
     a.  head fifths to protest
     b.  headquarters to protest
     c.  head thirds to protest
     d.  head halves to protest
9)  believe that asking people to commute to work will accelerate ______
     a.  the primate crisis
     b.  the climate crisis
     c.  the climb ate crisis
     d.  the climate cry sis
10)  Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff ______
     a.  to make complains
     b.  to take complaints
     c.  to bake con plants
     d.  to fake complaints

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO declared "(1) __________________________________________________" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Sixteen months later, many workers are still working from home. (2) __________________________________________________ has decided it is time to end its hybrid work policy. The company has (3) __________________________________________________ they must return to a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff in a memo that: "We've decided that we're going to (4) __________________________________________________ in the office the way we were before Covid." He said being with (5) __________________________________________________ help workers collaborate, brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching and learning from one another (6) __________________________________________________ in the office.

Some employees at Amazon (7) __________________________________________________ the return-to-office rule. Staff have a history of telling Amazon about their concerns. In February 2023, Amazon (8) __________________________________________________ to be in the office for three days a week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle headquarters to protest. They walked out (9) __________________________________________________. The workers also complained (10) __________________________________________________. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs globally in early 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's contribution to climate change. The workers believe that asking people (11) __________________________________________________ work will "accelerate the climate crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff to (12) __________________________________________________ company rules.

Comprehension questions

  1. When did the WHO say COVID-19 was no longer a health emergency?
  2. What policy did Amazon decide it was time to end?
  3. From when must workers be in the office five days a week?
  4. When was the last time Amazon staff were in the office 5 days a week?
  5. What did Amazon's CEO say about learning from others in the office?
  6. When did Amazon tell workers to be in the office three days a week?
  7. In which city did Amazon workers protest?
  8. How many jobs did Amazon cut in 2023?
  9. What do workers think commuting to work will do to the climate crisis?
  10. Where can Amazon staff make complaints about company rules?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  When did the WHO say COVID-19 was no longer a health emergency?
a) 25th of May 2023
b) 23rd of May 2023
c) 23rd of May 2022
d) 23rd of June 2023
2)  What policy did Amazon decide it was time to end?
a) one of its website pages
b) night shifts
c) its hybrid work policy
d) retail giants
3)  From when must workers be in the office five days a week?
a) 1st of January 2025
b) 2nd of January 2026
c) 1st of January 2026
d) 2nd of January 2025
4)  When was the last time Amazon staff were in the office 5 days a week?
a) a decade ago
b) before COVID-19
c) September 3, 2019
d) last year
5)  What did Amazon's CEO say about learning from others in the office?
a) It's more seamless.
b) It was educational.
c) It creates good relations.
d) Nothing

6)  When did Amazon tell workers to be in the office three days a week?
a) February 2023
b) a few weeks ago
c) ages ago
d) March 30th 2021
7)  In which city did Amazon workers protest?
a) Buenos Aires
b) Tokyo
c) London
d) Seattle
8)  How many jobs did Amazon cut in 2023?
a) 29,000
b) 28,000
c) 27,000
d) 26,000
9)  What do workers think commuting to work will do to the climate crisis?
a) They're not too sure.
b) help it
c) nothing
d) accelerate it
10)  Where can Amazon staff make complaints about company rules?
a) at a post office in New York
b) a "bureaucracy mailbox"
c) on a Facebook page
d) in secret

Role play

Role  A – The Office
You think the office is the worst thing about offices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): meetings, co-workers or meetings.

Role  B – Meetings
You think meetings is the worst thing about offices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): the office, co-workers or meetings.

Role  C – Co-workers
You think co-workers is the worst thing about offices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): meetings, the office or meetings.

Role  D – Meetings
You think meetings is the worst thing about offices. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least bad of these (and why): meetings, co-workers or the office.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'working'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'home'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • declared
    • still
    • end
    • memo
    • before
    • more
    • unhappy
    • history
    • caused
    • cut
    • commute
    • mailbox

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Working from Home

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'hybrid'?
    3. What do you think of working from home?
    4. What are the good things about working in offices?
    5. What do you know about Amazon?
    6. What's the best number of days to work in a week?
    7. Are you good at collaborating?
    8. Are you good at teaching people things?
    9. Is an office the best place to work?
    10. What advice do you have for Amazon's workers?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'office'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the bad things about working in offices?
    5. What do you think about Amazon?
    6. Have you ever been unhappy at work?
    7. What would you protest about?
    8. How can companies change to help climate change?
    9. How important is Amazon in your life?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Amazon's boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO declared "with (1) ____ hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency. Sixteen months (2) ____, many workers are still working from home. Retail (3) ____ Amazon has decided it is time to end its hybrid work policy. The company has told its employees they must return (4) ____ a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff in a memo that: "We've decided that we're going to return to (5) ____ in the office the way we were before Covid." He said being with other staff would help workers collaborate, brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching and learning from one (6) ____ is "more seamless" in the office.

    Some employees at Amazon are unhappy with the return-to-office rule. Staff have a (7) ____ of telling Amazon about their concerns. In February 2023, Amazon required its employees to be in the office for three days (8) ____ week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle headquarters to protest. They walked (9) ____ of their offices. The workers also complained about job cuts. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs globally in (10) ____ 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's contribution to climate change. The workers believe (11) ____ asking people to commute to work will "accelerate the climate crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff to (12) ____ complaints about company rules.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     grate     (b)     greet     (c)     great     (d)     greatly    
    2. (a)     later     (b)     earlier     (c)     now     (d)     past    
    3. (a)     giant     (b)     goblin     (c)     ghost     (d)     monster    
    4. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    5. (a)     is     (b)     boing     (c)     been     (d)     being    
    6. (a)     others     (b)     the other     (c)     other     (d)     another    
    7. (a)     history     (b)     science     (c)     reading     (d)     writing    
    8. (a)     the     (b)     this     (c)     next     (d)     a    
    9. (a)     out     (b)     up     (c)     in     (d)     on    
    10. (a)     fast     (b)     early     (c)     quick     (d)     prompt    
    11. (a)     real     (b)     that     (c)     whole     (d)     what    
    12. (a)     make     (b)     do     (c)     hate     (d)     be

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. the WHO arlddcee with great hope
    2. a public health eecgmenry
    3. end its hybrid work cliyop
    4. We've decided that we're going to tnrure
    5. staff would help workers etblaolcaor
    6. brainstorm and tevnin

    Paragraph 2

    1. Some elsyeepmo at Amazon
    2. at the company's Seattle adrteaqehusr
    3. Amazon's coobiuittnrn to climate change
    4. omecumt to work
    5. ateeelrcca the climate crisis
    6. make onmaptlsic about company rules

    Put the text back together

    (...)  going to return to being in the office the way we were before…Covid." He said being with
    (...)  headquarters to protest. They walked out of their offices. The workers also complained about job
    (...)  cuts. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs globally in early 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's contribution to climate
    (...)  to a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff in a memo that: "We've decided that we're
    (...)  other staff would help workers collaborate, brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching
    (...)  Some employees at Amazon are unhappy with the return-to-office rule. Staff have a history
    (...)  change. The workers believe that asking people to commute to work will "accelerate
    (...)  of telling Amazon about their concerns. In February 2023, Amazon required its employees to
    (...)  and learning from one another is "more seamless" in the office.
    (...)  be in the office for three days a week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle
    (...)  decided it is time to end its hybrid work policy. The company has told its employees they must return
    (...)  emergency. Sixteen months later, many workers are still working from home. Retail giant Amazon has
    (...)  the climate crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for staff to make complaints about company rules.
    (..1..) On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO declared "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health

    Put the words in the right order

    1. a   to   emergency   .   COVID-19   end   health   An   as
    2. home   .   workers   Many   still   from   working   are
    3. policy   .   work   to   time   It's   hybrid   its   end
    4. return   five-day   to   They   must   a   week   .
    5. help   would   collaborate   .   workers   staff   other   Being   with
    6. with   are   employees   unhappy   return-to-office   Some   the   rule   .
    7. office   in   Be   a   week   .   three   days   the
    8. also   about   complained   The   cuts   .   job   workers
    9. crisis   .   accelerate   Commuting   will   to   the   climate   work
    10. bureaucracy   for   make   mailbox   staff   to   A   complaints   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    On the 23rd of May 2023, the WHO declared "with great hoping / hope" an end to COVID-19 as / was a public health emergency. Sixteen months later / earlier, many workers are still working for / from home. Retail giant Amazon has decided it is time to send / end its hybrid work policy. The company has told its employees they must return to / on a five-day week from the 2nd of January 2025. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told staff / stuff in a memo that: "We've decided that we're going to return to being in the office the how / way we were before Covid." He said being with other staff would help workers collaborate, sandstorm / brainstorm, and invent. He added that teaching and learning from one / once another is "more seamless" in the office.

    Some employees at Amazon are unhappily / unhappy with the return-to-office rule. Staff have a history / historian of telling Amazon about their concerns. In / On February 2023, Amazon required / requires its employees to be in the office for three days the / a week. This caused many workers at the company's Seattle headquarters to / for protest. They walked out of their offices. The workers also complaint / complained about job cuts. Amazon cut 27,000 jobs globally in early 2023. Another complaint was about Amazon's contribute / contribution to climate change. The workers believe that asking people to commute to work will "accelerate the climate critics / crisis". Mr Jassy has created a "bureaucracy mailbox" for / of staff to make complaints about company rules.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _n  th_  23rd  _f  M_y  2023,  th_  WH_  d_cl_r_d  "w_th  gr__t  h_p_"  _n  _nd  t_  C_V_D-19  _s  _  p_bl_c  h__lth  _m_rg_ncy.  S_xt__n  m_nths  l_t_r,  m_ny  w_rk_rs  _r_  st_ll  w_rk_ng  fr_m  h_m_.  R_t__l  g__nt  _m_z_n  h_s  d_c_d_d  _t  _s  t_m_  t_  _nd  _ts  hybr_d  w_rk  p_l_cy.  Th_  c_mp_ny  h_s  t_ld  _ts  _mpl_y__s  th_y  m_st  r_t_rn  t_  _  f_v_-d_y  w__k  fr_m  th_  2nd  _f  J_n__ry  2025.  _m_z_n  C__  _ndy  J_ssy  t_ld  st_ff  _n  _  m_m_  th_t:  "W_'v_  d_c_d_d  th_t  w_'r_  g__ng  t_  r_t_rn  t_  b__ng  _n  th_  _ff_c_  th_  w_y  w_  w_r_  b_f_r_  C_v_d."  H_  s__d  b__ng  w_th  _th_r  st_ff  w__ld  h_lp  w_rk_rs  c_ll_b_r_t_,  br__nst_rm,  _nd  _nv_nt.  H_  _dd_d  th_t  t__ch_ng  _nd  l__rn_ng  fr_m  _n_  _n_th_r  _s  "m_r_  s__ml_ss"  _n  th_  _ff_c_.

    S_m_  _mpl_y__s  _t  _m_z_n  _r_  _nh_ppy  w_th  th_  r_t_rn-t_-_ff_c_  r_l_.  St_ff  h_v_  _  h_st_ry  _f  t_ll_ng  _m_z_n  _b__t  th__r  c_nc_rns.  _n  F_br__ry  2023,  _m_z_n  r_q__r_d  _ts  _mpl_y__s  t_  b_  _n  th_  _ff_c_  f_r  thr__  d_ys  _  w__k.  Th_s  c__s_d  m_ny  w_rk_rs  _t  th_  c_mp_ny's  S__ttl_  h__dq__rt_rs  t_  pr_t_st.  Th_y  w_lk_d  __t  _f  th__r  _ff_c_s.  Th_  w_rk_rs  _ls_  c_mpl__n_d  _b__t  j_b  c_ts.  _m_z_n  c_t  27,000  j_bs  gl_b_lly  _n  __rly  2023.  _n_th_r  c_mpl__nt  w_s  _b__t  _m_z_n's  c_ntr_b_t__n  t_  cl_m_t_  ch_ng_.  Th_  w_rk_rs  b_l__v_  th_t  _sk_ng  p__pl_  t_  c_mm_t_  t_  w_rk  w_ll  "_cc_l_r_t_  th_  cl_m_t_  cr_s_s".  Mr  J_ssy  h_s  cr__t_d  _  "b_r___cr_cy  m__lb_x"  f_r  st_ff  t_  m_k_  c_mpl__nts  _b__t  c_mp_ny  r_l_s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    on the 23rd of may 2023 the who declared with great hope an end to covid19 as a public health emergency sixteen months later many workers are still working from home retail giant amazon has decided it is time to end its hybrid work policy the company has told its employees they must return to a fiveday week from the 2nd of january 2025 amazon ceo andy jassy told staff in a memo that weve decided that were going to return to being in the office the way we were before covid he said being with other staff would help workers collaborate brainstorm and invent he added that teaching and learning from one another is more seamless in the office

    some employees at amazon are unhappy with the returntooffice rule staff have a history of telling amazon about their concerns in february 2023 amazon required its employees to be in the office for three days a week this caused many workers at the companys seattle headquarters to protest they walked out of their offices the workers also complained about job cuts amazon cut 27000 jobs globally in early 2023 another complaint was about amazons contribution to climate change the workers believe that asking people to commute to work will accelerate the climate crisis mr jassy has created a bureaucracy mailbox for staff to make complaints about company rules

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Onthe23rdofMay2023,theWHOdeclared"withgreathope"anendtoCO
    VID-19asapublichealthemergency.Sixteenmonthslater,manyworke
    rsarestillworkingfromhome.RetailgiantAmazonhasdecideditistimet
    oenditshybridworkpolicy.Thecompanyhastolditsemployeestheymu
    streturntoafive-dayweekfromthe2ndofJanuary2025.AmazonCEOA
    ndyJassytoldstaffinamemothat:"We'vedecidedthatwe'regoingtoret
    urntobeingintheofficethewaywewerebeforeCovid."Hesaidbeingw
    ithotherstaffwouldhelpworkerscollaborate,brainstorm,andinvent.H
    eaddedthatteachingandlearningfromoneanotheris"moreseamless"i
    ntheoffice.SomeemployeesatAmazonareunhappywiththereturn-to-
    officerule.StaffhaveahistoryoftellingAmazonabouttheirconcerns.In
    February2023,Amazonrequireditsemployeestobeintheofficeforthre
    edaysaweek.Thiscausedmanyworkersatthecompany'sSeattleheadq
    uarterstoprotest.Theywalkedoutoftheiroffices.Theworkersalsocom
    plainedaboutjobcuts.Amazoncut27,000jobsgloballyinearly2023.An
    othercomplaintwasaboutAmazon'scontributiontoclimatechange.Th
    eworkersbelievethataskingpeopletocommutetoworkwill"accelerate
    theclimatecrisis".MrJassyhascreateda"bureaucracymailbox"forstaff
    tomakecomplaintsaboutcompanyrules.

    Free writing

    Write about Amazon hybrid work policy for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    We should all be able to choose whether or not to work from home. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. AMAZON: Make a poster about Amazon. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. WORKING FROM HOME: Write a magazine article about working from home. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on working from home. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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