All work, no pay

All work, No pay 💰

1) Why do you think people do these different kinds of work?
2) Do you know anyone who has done / does any unpaid work?
3) Do you think people should earn money for any of these different kinds of work? Why? / Why not?

Read about the three people. Try to find:
- some similarities
- some differences between their stories

​CLAUDIA, MUNICH, GERMANY

I graduated in Munich two years ago with a degree in Media Studies. After that, I applied for lots of jobs in film and television. I know it’s a competitive area, but I didn’t get any interviews! Not one! Everyone wanted me to have work experience, but how can you get work experience if nobody gives you a job?

In the end, I took unpaid work with a public relations company. To begin with, I hated it. I only did boring jobs like making coffee for people and photocopying, but recently I’ve started doing more interesting things. At the moment, I’m organising the European distribution of a new German film.

I’m not happy about working for no money, and sometimes I think the company is exploiting me, so I’m looking for other work. I can’t live without pay for another year!

​JEROME, SIERRA LEONE

I worked as a doctor in a small town in Switzerland for almost thirty years and I retired five years ago. To begin with, I enjoyed it, but I soon got bored. Then I saw an advertisement for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and applied. They offered me a job working in Sierra Leone and I moved here nine months ago. They paid for my flight and they pay my rent, but basically I’m working for nothing.

I’m not complaining, though. It’s amazing! I’m having the best time of my life. Life can be very hard for people here, but everyone has a really positive attitude. Now, I’m doing some training with local doctors and advising them on how to improve services. My contract ends in three months, but I’m planning to stay here for another year, if I can.

​SULOCHANA, KERALA, INDIA

I’m a housewife but I’m also working for an organisation that’s fighting for women’s rights. I don’t get paid, but I don’t mind because we’re hoping to make our government pay housewives like me a fixed salary and a pension for the work we do in the home. Venezuela did something similar a few years ago.

Women play an important role in building the nation. Without mothers and wives at home, men need to do more work – and this takes more energy. But men don’t understand this and that’s why we’re organising ourselves.

We’re planning to start a website to tell more people about our situation and we’re also thinking of stopping work and going on strike. Let’s see how men survive on their own then!

​Can you remember which of the three people mentioned each of the following things and why?

​a website

going on a strike

competitive area

got bored

a fixed salary and a pension

positive attitude

making coffee

building the nation

advising

a German film

contract ends

exploiting

- Do you agree that companies that don't pay young workers are exploiting them? Why? / Why not?

- Is voluntary work common in your country? What kind is most common?

- Do you agree that housewives play an important role in building the nation? Why? / Why not?

Drag and Drop

Complete the sentences with the verbs:



1) I'm currently ​

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the government on how to improve hospitals.

2) This week I'm ​

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some training with some new people. I'm ​

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them how to sell over the phone.

3) I'm ​

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a big party for a car company. They're launching a new car soon.

4) We're ​

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a big deal with a Chinese media company.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

advising

doing

teaching

organising

negotiating

installing

Drag and Drop

Complete the sentences with the verbs:



5) I'm currently ​

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some research on why people forget things.

6) I'm ​

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on a new collection of dresses for Milan fashion week.

7) I'm ​

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a new kitchen in an apartment in town.

8) I'm ​

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a conference this week. I'm ​

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a talk on time management.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

doing

working

installing

attending

giving

negotiating

Drag and Drop

Complete the sentences with the verbs:



9) A: So, Meena, how's work?

B: Oh, don't ask! We're ​installing some new software in the office at the moment, and it's ​

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all sorts of problems.

10) A: So, are you doing anything interesting at the moment, Pavlo?

B: Yes, I am, actually! As part of my nurse's training, I'm ​

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some voluntary work in an old people's home. I've met some wonderful people, and I'm ​

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some valuable work experience!

11) A: Fiona, how are you getting on with your research?

B: Fine. I'm ​

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ways to deal with stress in the office.

12) A: So, how are things at work, Malik?

B: OK. I'm attending an exhibition this week. We're ​

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our new photocopying equipment.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

causing

doing

gaining

studying

advertising

attending

installing

advising

Think of:
- something you can teach people how to do
- something you had to organize
- some things scientists are doing research on
- something you've installed recently
- something you could give a talk on
- something that's causing problems at work
- something you'd like to gain more experience in