Overtime becomes part of holiday pay

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

UK companies have a multibillion-dollar bill to pay after a court said overtime is part of holiday pay. The more overtime a worker does, the higher the holiday pay will be. A judge said it was wrong to use only basic working hours to decide holiday pay. Thousands of workers can get money back from their employers from 1998. Voluntary overtime and being on stand-by for emergencies is also now part of holiday pay.

Over 15 per cent of UK workers do overtime. The UK government said: "We do not believe voluntary overtime should be included in holiday pay." Businesses said the cost of the law will be "unbearable" and could hurt the economy. A labour union was happy with the court's decision. It said the law "secures justice for our members". It added that it would continue to fight for workers to "receive their full entitlement".

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 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.	a multibillion-	a.	will be
2.	the higher the holiday pay	b.	for emergencies
3.	use only basic working	c.	dollar bill to pay
4.	get money back from	d.	of holiday pay
5.	on stand-by	e.	their employers
6.	now part	f.	hours to decide

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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Over 15 per cent of UK	a.	economy
2.	voluntary overtime should	b.	"unbearable"
3.	the cost of the law will be	c.	decision
4.	hurt the	d.	workers do overtime
5.	happy with the court's	e.	entitlement
6.	receive their full	f.	be included

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

UK companies have a multibillion-dollar (1) ___________________ a court said overtime is part of holiday pay. (2) ___________________ worker does, the higher the holiday pay will be. A judge (3) ___________________ to use only basic working (4) ___________________ holiday pay. Thousands of workers can (5) ___________________ from their employers from 1998. Voluntary overtime and (6) ___________________ for emergencies is also now part of holiday pay.

Over 15 per cent of UK (7) ___________________. The UK government said: "We do not believe voluntary overtime (8) ___________________ in holiday pay." Businesses said the (9) ___________________ will be "unbearable" and could (10) ___________________. A labour union was happy with the court's decision. It said the (11) ___________________ for our members". It added that it would continue to (12) ___________________ to "receive their full entitlement".

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.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

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)	________________________________________________________

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

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

FREE WRITING

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

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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