Times sure have changed! Or have they? When you think about workplace culture and respect between employees, what comes to mind?
Each Canadian province has its own rules regarding workplace and labour laws. Do you know the provincial labour laws? If you are a young worker, you might want to learn about your own rights.
Vocabulary
Activity 1: Vocabulary
Activity 2: Grammar: modals for requests
Activity 3: Watch the capsule & answer the comprehension questions
Activity 4: Reading & discussion questions
Activity 5: Vocabulary & grammar review
Grammar
Using modal auxiliaries to make requests
Modals are words like would, should, could, must.
We can use some of these words to make requests or ask for permission. Some are more polite than others.
- Can you help me? (standard, not very polite)
- Could you help me? (polite)
- Can I help you? (standard)
- May I help you? (polite)
- Would you have time for a meeting? (polite)
- Do you have time for a meeting? (standard, not a modal)
- You must finish your report this afternoon? (very direct)
- Could you finish your report this afternoon? (indirect request)
In a work situation or with people you do not know very well, it is better to use polite language; therefore, learning how to use modals properly will help you raise your standard of speaking.
There are some other ways we can show that we want to be polite. Two easy words or expressions will help.
- Thank you
- Thanks (more informal)
- You are welcome (you’re welcome)
- No problem (informal)
Remember, the correct expression is Thank you. It is NOT “thanks you.”
One last thing about using “thank you.” In a sentence, it can be followed by a preposition and a gerund.
- Thank you FOR helping me.
- Thanks FOR being with me this afternoon.
- Thank you FOR agreeing to come to our conference.
- Thank you FOR inviting me.
Watch the capsule
Answer the comprehension questions that follow.
Reading
Read this text about conflict resolution at the workplace.
Conflict resolution at work is about finding a peaceful way to deal with disagreements between people. In any workplace, people have different opinions, personalities, and working styles. Sometimes these differences lead to arguments, frustration, or tension. Conflict itself is not always bad. When handled well, it can help people understand each other better and even improve teamwork.
Conflicts at work can happen for many reasons. They may come from poor communication, like mixed signals or unclear instructions. They may also come from limited resources, for example when two employees both need the same printer at the same time. Personal differences, competition, or even stress about deadlines can also cause conflict.
Imagine this: two coworkers argue because one likes the office very cold while the other likes it warm. One wears three sweaters, the other wishes for snow indoors. At first, they complain and glare at each other across the room. But instead of fighting forever, they decide to talk it out. They listen, laugh a little at the situation, and finally agree to set the air conditioner at a middle temperature. One brings a blanket, the other buys a small fan. Problem solved!
In real life, solving conflicts starts with calm communication. People should listen carefully, share their ideas respectfully, and try to find common ground. Often, compromise is the key. When things are more serious, a manager or human resources staff can act as mediators.
Not all conflicts can be solved perfectly. If the problem continues, the best choice is to stay professional. Avoid gossip, focus on your work, and respect others. Sometimes it’s okay to “agree to disagree”—as long as nobody freezes or melts at their desk.
- What are some common causes of workplace conflict mentioned in the text?
- In the example about the office temperature, how did the coworkers solve their disagreement?
- Why is it important for employees not to gossip about their colleagues?
Speaking: What could you say to a colleague to help resolve a conflict?
OR – what advice could you give a friend or colleague about these conflictual situations at work?
- You have a supervising manager who does not work very hard. At small group meetings, that person listens but does not contribute to the discussion, but at big meetings with the boss, the supervising manager always presents your ideas as their own. How do you solve this problem?
- At your work, there is a shared refrigerator where you put your lunch every day. For the last week, your lunch has gone missing and you see that someone has thrown half of it in the garbage. What do you do?
- You and your colleague have different working styles. She is very structured, and you like to be able to have freedom, which allows you to be creative. You have a serious conflict and have stopped speaking to each other because you think that your colleague has made complaints about you to Human Resources. How do you solve this conflict?
Vocabulary & grammar review