It's against the rules

​It's against the rules 🙅🏻‍♀️

​RULES

​basic
written
strict
company
legal
tax
safety

​obey
stick to
follow
break
violate
relax
tighten up

according to the ...
against the ...
within the ...
... about / regarding / on sth

a system of rules
respect for the rules
rules and regulations

​Look at the list of rules at work. Why do you think companies have these rules? Do you think they're sensible and fair?

1) Women have to wear skirts or dresses at work.
2) We have to agree holidays with our boss. We can't just take time off when we want.
3) We have to ask the admin assistant to make photocopies for us. We can't just do them ourselves.
4) We have to take our breaks at set times.
5) We have to wear a hard hat at all times.
6) We can't surf the Internet on company computers.
7) We can't talk to each other while working.
8) We can work from home one day a week.

​Listen to three conversations. Match each to one of the rules.

1) Women have to wear skirts or dresses at work.
2) We have to agree holidays with our boss. We can't just take time off when we want.
3) We have to ask the admin assistant to make photocopies for us. We can't just do them ourselves.
4) We have to take our breaks at set times.
5) We have to wear a hard hat at all times.
6) We can't surf the Internet on company computers.
7) We can't talk to each other while working.
8) We can work from home one day a week.

D: Did you hear about Patrick?

L: No. What?
D: Apparently, he’s been given a written warning.

L: You’re joking! What for?

D: He was going on the Internet to buy concert tickets and book holidays. And he was always sending personal emails.

L: Yeah? So what? Doesn’t everyone do that? I mean, we’re certainly allowed to do it in our breaks.

D: Well, apparently, you’re not allowed to use the company computers like that at all. Not in his company, anyway.

L: That’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?

D: You say that, but actually what happened to him was he visited some site or other and somehow got a computer virus and then it infected the whole system. He said the company had to spend a fortune sorting it all out.

L: Oh right. Well, in that case, I can see why they might be a bit angry, then!

F: Are you thinking of buying that?

J: Yeah, what do you think?
F: Very smart. I don’t usually see you wearing stuff like that.

J: No, I know, but I’ve got this new job working in a law firm.

F: Oh really? That’s great news! What are you going to be doing there?

J: Just admin work really, but they have a strict dress code – you can’t even wear smart trousers; you have to wear skirts!

F: You’re joking! Is that legal?

J: I guess so. They can do what they want, can’t they?

F: You think? What if you can’t wear something for religious or health reasons?

J: I don’t know! I guess they make an exception. Anyway, listen, I’ve been looking for a job for ages so I’m not going to complain!

A: Bill, sorry to interrupt, but can I have a quick word?

B: Yes, of course. What’s up?

A: Listen, I’d like to take the day off on Friday. My son’s performing in a school concert.

B: Friday? I’m afraid that’s impossible.

A: Are you sure?

B: Sorry, Adam. It wouldn’t be a problem normally, but we’ve got a bit of a crisis this week. Vicky’s off sick and we really have to complete this order by Saturday.

A: Can’t someone else help? My son will be so disappointed if I don’t watch him play. And I do have some holiday left for this year.

B: I’m sure. But if we’re late with this order, we might lose the whole contract.

A: I see.

B: You’re supposed to arrange time off with me a month in advance, you know.

A: I know, I know. It’s just I’ve asked you at short notice before and it hasn’t been a problem.
B: Well, as I say, normally it isn’t.

A: Well, I guess that’s all. I don’t know what I’ll tell my son.

B: I’m sorry. You’ll be really helping me and the company.

​Who do you have more sympathy with in each conversation - the company or the workers? Why?

❗️must do sth - have to do sth / be supposed to do sth
*be supposed to use - the rule has just been broken or is often ignored

❌ mustn't do sth - can't do sth / be not allowed to do sth

✅ can do sth / be allowed to do sth

Do I have to do sth? /
Can I do sth? / Are we allowed to do sth?

❗️must do sth - have to do sth / be supposed to do sth
*be supposed to use - the rule has just been broken or is often ignored

❌ mustn't do sth - can't do sth / be not allowed to do sth

✅ can do sth / be allowed to do sth

​Talk about the rules at work / at home / in your English class :)

- the rules you like / don't like
- the rules which are often broken
- the rules which should be introduced

Drag and Drop

1) It's actually a legal ​

Placeholder

to pay the minimum wage, but the government doesn't do enough to ​

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the law.

2) The company was found guilty of ​

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environmental laws so they had to pay a huge​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

requirement

enforce

breaking

fine

discrimination

reduce

fire

Drag and Drop

3) The company ​

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the use of social media during work hours, which was quite an ​

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decision.

4) The government has ​

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employment laws, so it's easier for companies to hire and ​

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people.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

banned

unpopular

changed

fire

against

ignored

introduced

Drag and Drop

5) The company was ​

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because it had ​

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health and safety rules and had put its workers at risk.

6) The workers took the company to ​

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because they had been exposed to dangerous chemicals and they ​

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their case.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

fined

ignored

court

won

reduced

unpopular

fire

Drag and Drop

7) They recently​

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new rules about accepting gifts because they're trying to ​

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corruption.

8) It's ​

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the law to discriminate against women, but it doesn't mean that ​

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doesn't still happen at work.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

introduced

reduce

against

discrimination

requirement

enforce

breaking

• Have you heard of any companies being taken to court? Who by? Why? Who won the case?

• What employment laws do you know? Do you think they're good? Why (not)?

• How strict are health and safety rules in your country? Is that good or bad? Why?

• Would you like to see any rules / laws introduced or relaxed? Which ones? Why?

• Is there much discrimination in your country? Against who?