The Reading / Listening - Level 5

Companies in the UK face a multibillion-dollar bill after a court said overtime should be part of holiday pay. This means the more overtime a worker does, the higher the holiday pay will be. A judge said it was wrong just to use basic working hours when working out holiday pay. Thousands of companies must now recalculate their holiday pay. Many workers can get money back from their employers from as long ago as 1998. The judge also said voluntary overtime and being on stand-by for emergencies should be included in holiday pay.

Over 15 per cent of UK workers do overtime. The UK government said the new law was unacceptable. It said: "We do not believe voluntary overtime should be included in holiday pay and are concerned about the potential impact on employers." Companies said the cost to businesses will be "unbearable" and could hurt Britain's economy. A labour union said: "This ruling not only secures justice for our members,…but means employers have got to get their house in order." It said it would fight for workers to "receive their full entitlement".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/11207421/Overtime-should-count-in-holiday-pay-landmark-tribunal-hearing-rules.html
  • http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/jobs/overtime-compensation---millions-brits-4563306
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29896810


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

face a multibillion-

a.

as 1998

2.

overtime should be part

b.

overtime

3.

use basic

c.

their holiday pay

4.

recalculate

d.

of holiday pay

5.

get money back

e.

working hours

6.

as long ago

f.

for emergencies

7.

voluntary

g.

dollar bill

8.

being on stand-by

h.

from their employers



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

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

15 per cent of UK workers

a.

on employers

2.

the new law was

b.

overtime

3.

voluntary

c.

in order

4.

included

d.

economy

5.

the potential impact

e.

unacceptable

6.

hurt Britain's

f.

entitlement

7.

get their house

g.

do overtime

8.

receive their full

h.

in holiday pay

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Companies in the UK face a multibillion-dollar (1) ___________________ overtime (2) ___________________ holiday pay. This means the more overtime a worker does, the higher the holiday pay will be. A judge said it was (3) ___________________ basic working hours when working out holiday pay. Thousands of companies (4) ___________________ their holiday pay. Many workers can (5) ___________________ from their employers from as long ago as 1998. The judge also said voluntary overtime and being on (6) ___________________ should be included in holiday pay.

Over 15 per cent of UK (7) ___________________. The UK government said the new law was unacceptable. It said: "We (8) ___________________ overtime should be included in holiday pay (9) ___________________ about the potential impact on employers." Companies said the cost to businesses (10) ___________________ and could hurt Britain's economy. A labour union said: "This (11) ___________________ justice for our members,…but means employers have got to get their house in order." It said it would fight for workers to "receive (12) ___________________ ".

HOLIDAY PAY SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about holiday pay 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.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------  

FREE WRITING

Write about holiday pay for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

Help Support This Web Site

  • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

Sean Banville's Book

Thank You