The Reading / Listening - Toxic Workplaces - Level 6

New research has revealed that toxic workplaces can be hazardous to mental health. The year-long study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees' mental health are three times more likely to suffer from depression. The researchers examined the adverse effect of "toxic" environments on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices, bullying, and a failure to consider mental health issues. The researchers indicated that if employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will increase.

Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can be attributed to poor management practices and values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to reward or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable demands on workers, and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater risk of depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not only negatively affect the victim, but also the perpetrator....It is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience burnout as a result." Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to take their own lives.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Toxic Workplaces - Level 4  or  Toxic Workplaces - Level 5

Sources
  • https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e044133
  • https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/24/toxic-work-culture-makes-you-three-times-more-likely-to-be-depressed-14820538/
  • https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/your-risk-of-depression-increases-by-300-percent-in-a-toxic-work-environment/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. TOXIC WORKPLACES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about toxic workplaces. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       research / toxic / health / mental health / adverse / management / failure / suffer /
       workplace / values / companies / employees / autonomy / depression / worldwide
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. COMFORTABLE: Students A strongly believe companies should be legally required to provide comfortable workplaces; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. THE WORKPLACE: How should these things be to create a good workplace? What experiences have you had of these? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

A Good Workplace

My Experiences

The boss

 

 

Desks

 

 

Breaks

 

 

Staff room

 

 

Holidays

 

 

Promotion

 

 

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

5. TOXIC: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "toxic". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. STRESS: Rank these with your partner. Put the most stressful things at work at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Boss
  • Deadlines
  • Start time
  • Salary
  • Customers
  • Overtime
  • Colleagues
  • Technology

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. revealed a. Decide that or treat something as more important than other things.
      2. hazardous b. Pointed out; showed.
      3. prioritise c. Made previously unknown or secret information known to others.
      4. adverse d. Risky; dangerous.
      5. consider e. Preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable.
      6. indicated f. Think carefully about something, typically before making a decision.
      7. absenteeism g. The practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

    Paragraph 2

      8. attributed h. Freedom from external control or influence; independence.
      9. value i. Regarded something as being caused by someone or something.
      10. evidence j. Accept or admit the existence or truth of.
      11. acknowledge k. A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.
      12. autonomy l. A principle or standard of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.
      13. perpetrator m. Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.
      14. burnout n. The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The research is from the University of North Australia.     T / F
  2. Researchers said one in three companies do not prioritise mental health. T / F
  3. Researchers said bullying is an aspect of a toxic workplace.     T / F
  4. Researchers said absenteeism will suffer and productivity will increase.    T / F
  5. A researcher said management practices are poor in all companies.     T / F
  6. Workers without autonomy are at greater risk of depression. .     T / F
  7. The researcher says bullying also adversely affects the bully.     T / F
  8. Over 260 million people around the world are affected by depression.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. revealed
  2. hazardous
  3. adverse
  4. consider
  5. productivity
  6. attributed to
  7. values
  8. acknowledge
  9. autonomy
  10. affects
  1. think about
  2. principles
  3. efficiency
  4. impacts
  5. perilous
  6. appreciate
  7. showed
  8. freedom
  9. unfavourable
  10. put down to

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. toxic workplaces can be hazardous
  2. three times more likely to
  3. poor management
  4. mistreated or
  5. productivity will suffer and
  6. impose unreasonable demands
  7. staff at a much greater
  8. not only negatively affect the victim, but
  9. experience burnout
  10. Depression affects over 260 million
  1. also the perpetrator
  2. people worldwide
  3. absenteeism will increase
  4. as a result
  5. practices
  6. to mental health
  7. on workers
  8. burnt out
  9. risk of depression
  10. suffer from depression

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
full-time
absenteeism
consider
hazardous
mistreated
likely
revealed
adverse

New research has (1) _____________________ that toxic workplaces can be (2) _____________________ to mental health. The year-long study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that (3) _____________________ workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees' mental health are three times more (4) _____________________ to suffer from depression. The researchers examined the (5) _____________________ effect of "toxic" environments on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices, bullying, and a failure to (6) _____________________ mental health issues. The researchers indicated that if employees are unhappy at work, (7) _____________________ or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and (8) _____________________ will increase.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reward
negatively
causes
attributed
risk
burnout
demands
perpetrator

Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can be (9) _____________________ to poor management practices and values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to (10) _____________________ or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable (11) _____________________ on workers, and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater (12) _____________________ of depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not only (13) _____________________ affect the victim, but also the (14) _____________________....It is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience (15) _____________________ as a result." Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and (16) _____________________ many people to take their own lives.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  New research has revealed that toxic workplaces ______
     a.  can being hazardous
     b.  can be hazardous
     c.  can been hazardous
     d.  can bee hazardous
2)  full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that ______
     a.  do not priority is
     b.  do not priory ties
     c.  do not prioritise
     d.  do not priory 'tis
3)  employees' mental health are three times more likely to ______
     a.  suffer from deep ration
     b.  suffer from deep pressing
     c.  suffer from depression
     d.  suffer from depressing
4)  Elements of a toxic workplace included ______
     a.  poor management practices
     b.  poor management practice is
     c.  poor management particles
     d.  poor management practice
5)  mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and ______
     a.  absent schism will increase
     b.  abs sent teams will increase
     c.  absent teams will increase
     d.  absenteeism will increase

6)  Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues ______ workplace
     a.  create in the
     b.  create it in the
     c.  created in the
     d.  created it in the
7) acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable ______
     a.  demands in workers
     b.  demands son workers
     c.  demands on workers
     d.  demand son workers
8)  do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater ______
     a.  risk of depression
     b.  risqué of depression
     c.  brisk of depression
     d.  bisque of depression
9)  Bullying in a work unit can not only negatively affect the victim, but ______
     a.  also the perpetrate or
     b.  also the perpetrate tour
     c.  also the perpetrator
     d.  also the perpetrate our
10)  It is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience ______ result
     a.  burn out as a
     b.  burn nowt as a
     c.  burnt out as a
     d.  burr nowt as a

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research has (1) ____________________ workplaces can be hazardous to mental health. The (2) ____________________ is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees' mental health are three times (3) ____________________ suffer from depression. The researchers examined the (4) ____________________ "toxic" environments on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices, bullying, and a (5) ____________________ mental health issues. The researchers indicated that if employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their (6) ____________________ and absenteeism will increase.

Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can (7) ____________________ poor management practices and values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who (8) ____________________ or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable (9) ____________________, and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much (10) ____________________ depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not (11) ____________________ the victim, but also the perpetrator....It is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience (12) ____________________ result." Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to take their own lives.

Comprehension questions

  1. How long was the research in this article?
  2. What university carried out the research?
  3. What might workers be three times more likely to suffer from?
  4. What do researchers say some companies fail to consider?
  5. What will increase if workers are mistreated or burnt out?
  6. Who is Amy Zadow?
  7. What did a researcher suggest some companies impose on workers?
  8. Who can be negatively affected by bullying besides the victim?
  9. What can bullying lead to in a work unit?
  10. How many people worldwide are affected by depression?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How long was the research in this article?
a) two years
b) a year
c) six months
d) 18 months
2) What university carried out the research?
a) the University of Australia
b) the University of North Australia
c) the University of West Australia
d) the University of South Australia
3) What might workers be three times more likely to suffer from?
a) the sack
b) adverse conditions
c) depression
d) demotion
4) What do researchers say some companies fail to consider?
a) mental health issues
b) desk space
c) work relations
d) pricing
5) What will increase if workers are mistreated or burnt out?
a) anger
b) absenteeism
c) bitterness
d) animosity

6) Who is Amy Zadow?
a) the lead researcher
b) a work relations expert
c) a mental health expert
d) a psychologist
7) What did a researcher suggest some companies impose on workers?
a) overtime
b) long hours
c) unreasonable demands
d) unrealistic titles
8) Who can be negatively affected by bullying besides the victim?
a) the perpetrator
b) customers
c) bosses
d) researchers
9) What can bullying lead to in a work unit?
a) silence
b) fights
c) arguments
d) burnout
10) How many people worldwide are affected by depression?
a) just fewer than 260 million
b) exactly 260 million
c) over 260 million
d) around 260 million

Role play

Role  A – The Boss
You think the boss is the most stressful aspect of working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): deadlines, colleagues or technology.

Role  B – Deadlines
You think deadlines are the most stressful aspect of working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): the boss, colleagues or technology.

Role  C – Colleagues
You think colleagues are the most stressful aspect of working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): deadlines, the boss or technology.

Role  D – Technology
You think technology is the most stressful aspect of working. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least stressful of these (and why): deadlines, colleagues or the boss.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'toxic'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'workplace'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • revealed
    • full
    • long
    • suffer
    • included
    • unhappy
    • lead
    • shows
    • fail
    • placing
    • victim
    • affects

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Toxic Workplaces

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'toxic'?
    3. How can the workplace affect our health?
    4. What is your ideal workplace?
    5. What do you think of the places you have worked at?
    6. What responsibility do managers have to create a positive workplace?
    7. What can companies do to create a positive workspace?
    8. How do bad workplaces affect people?
    9. What companies are great places to work for?
    10. What can lead to burnout?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'workplace'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Why are there poor management practices?
    5. How can companies stamp out bullying at work?
    6. Have you ever had a bad boss?
    7. What can workers do about toxic workplaces?
    8. What one thing creates a great workplace?
    9. What do you know about depression?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research has revealed that (1) ____ workplaces can be hazardous to mental health. The year-long study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees' mental health are three times more (2) ____ to suffer from depression. The researchers examined the (3) ____ effect of "toxic" environments on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included (4) ____ management practices, bullying, and a failure to consider mental health issues. The researchers indicated that (5) ____ employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and (6) ____ will increase.

    Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can be attributed (7) ____ poor management practices and values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to reward or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable demands (8) ____ workers, and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater risk (9) ____ depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not only negatively affect the victim, but also the (10) ____....It is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience (11) ____ as a result." Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to (12) ____ their own lives.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     toxic     (b)     toxicity     (c)     tuxedo     (d)     taxonomy    
    (a)     liked     (b)     likeable     (c)     likely     (d)     liking    
    (a)     advert     (b)     advent     (c)     adverse     (d)     advantage    
    (a)     poverty     (b)     strapped     (c)     broke     (d)     poor    
    (a)     if     (b)     should     (c)     what     (d)     that    
    (a)     boggling     (b)     absenteeism     (c)     dragging     (d)     diminish    
    (a)     at     (b)     for     (c)     of     (d)     to    
    (a)     at     (b)     on     (c)     as     (d)     via    
    (a)     on     (b)     as     (c)     of     (d)     by    
    (a)     spoof     (b)     believer     (c)     shambles     (d)     perpetrator    
    (a)     burner     (b)     burns     (c)     burning     (d)     burnout    
    (a)     case     (b)     take     (c)     frame     (d)     just

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. can be hasduozar to mental health
    2. more likely to suffer from eirdsnpose
    3. the deesvra effect of "toxic" environments
    4. The researchers anddcitei that
    5. their drctyopitvui will suffer
    6. ebseesimant will increase

    Paragraph 2

    1. tduebtirat to poor management
    2. niceveed shows that
    3. reward or ndeaowkcegl their employees
    4. give them taomnoyu
    5. but also the oeretprrtpa
    6. experience butruno as a result

    Put the text back together

    (...)  Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can be attributed to poor management
    1  ) New research has revealed that toxic workplaces can be hazardous to mental health. The year-long
    (...)  placing their staff at a much greater risk of depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not only negatively
    (...)  unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will increase.
    (...)  for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees' mental health are three
    (...)  study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that full-time workers who work
    (...)  practices and values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to reward or acknowledge their employees for hard
    (...)  times more likely to suffer from depression. The researchers examined the adverse effect of "toxic" environments
    (...)  work, impose unreasonable demands on workers, and do not give them autonomy are
    (...)  on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices, bullying, and a failure to
    (...)  million people worldwide and causes many people to take their own lives.
    (...)  in the same unit to experience burnout as a result." Depression affects over 260
    (...)  affect the victim, but also the perpetrator....It is not uncommon for everyone
    (...)  consider mental health issues. The researchers indicated that if employees are

    Put the words in the right order

    1. workplaces   can   Research   be   revealed   that   hazardous   .   toxic
    2. employees'   health  .  do   prioritise   that   Organizations   mental   not
    3. environments   adverse   health   .   toxic   effect   of   The   on
    4. a   poor   toxic   management   .   Elements   of   included   workplace
    5. employees   at   Researchers   that   unhappy   work   .   are   indicated
    6. the   created   issues   in   workplace   .   Mental   health
    7. poor   and   to   values   .   management   Attributed   practices
    8. to   acknowledge   employees   .   reward   or   their   Fail
    9. risk   a   at   of   Staff   greater   depression   .   much
    10. worldwide   .   affects   over   260   million   Depression   people

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research has revealed that toxic workplaces can be hazard / hazardous to mental health. The year-long study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found / fond that full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that do not priorities / prioritise employees' mental health are three times more likely to / for suffer from depression. The researchers examined the advents/ adverse effect of "toxic" environments on / in health. Elements of a toxic workplace inclusive / included poor management practices, bullying, and a fail / failure to consider mental health issues. The researchers indicated / vindicated that if employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt in / out, their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will increase.

    Lead researcher Dr Amy Zadow said mental health issues created in / on the workplace can be attributed at / to poor management practices and worth / values. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to rewind / reward or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable demands on workers, and do not give them anatomy / autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater risk / risky of depression." She added: "Bullying in a work unit can not only negative / negatively affect the victim, but also the perpetrator....It is not uncommon / uncommonly for everyone in the same unit to experience burnout as / was a result." Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to take their down / own lives.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    N_w  r_s__rch  h_s  r_v__l_d  th_t  t_x_c  w_rkpl_c_s  c_n  b_  h_z_rd__s  t_  m_nt_l  h__lth.  Th_  y__r-l_ng  st_dy  _s  fr_m  th_  _n_v_rs_ty  _f  S__th  __str_l__.  R_s__rch_rs  f__nd  th_t  f_ll-t_m_  w_rk_rs  wh_  w_rk  f_r  c_mp_n__s  _r  _rg_n_z_t__ns  th_t  d_  n_t  pr__r_t_s_  _mpl_y__s'  m_nt_l  h__lth  _r_  thr__  t_m_s  m_r_  l_k_ly  t_  s_ff_r  fr_m  d_pr_ss__n.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _x_m_n_d  th_  _dv_rs_  _ff_ct  _f  "t_x_c"  _nv_r_nm_nts  _n  h__lth.  _l_m_nts  _f  _  t_x_c  w_rkpl_c_  _ncl_d_d  p__r  m_n_g_m_nt  pr_ct_c_s,  b_lly_ng,  _nd  _  f__l_r_  t_  c_ns_d_r  m_nt_l  h__lth  _ss__s.  Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _nd_c_t_d  th_t  _f  _mpl_y__s  _r_  _nh_ppy  _t  w_rk,  m_str__t_d  _r  b_rnt  __t,  th__r  pr_d_ct_v_ty  w_ll  s_ff_r  _nd  _bs_nt___sm  w_ll  _ncr__s_.

    L__d  r_s__rch_r  Dr  _my  Z_d_w  s__d  m_nt_l  h__lth  _ss__s  cr__t_d  _n  th_  w_rkpl_c_  c_n  b_  _ttr_b_t_d  t_  p__r  m_n_g_m_nt  pr_ct_c_s  _nd  v_l__s.  Sh_  s__d:  "_v_d_nc_  sh_ws  th_t  c_mp_n__s  wh_  f__l  t_  r_w_rd  _r  _ckn_wl_dg_  th__r  _mpl_y__s  f_r  h_rd  w_rk,  _mp_s_  _nr__s_n_bl_  d_m_nds  _n  w_rk_rs,  _nd  d_  n_t  g_v_  th_m  __t_n_my  _r_  pl_c_ng  th__r  st_ff  _t  _  m_ch  gr__t_r  r_sk  _f  d_pr_ss__n."  Sh_  _dd_d:  "B_lly_ng  _n  _  w_rk  _n_t  c_n  n_t  _nly  n_g_t_v_ly  _ff_ct  th_  v_ct_m,  b_t  _ls_  th_  p_rp_tr_t_r...._t  _s  n_t  _nc_mm_n  f_r  _v_ry_n_  _n  th_  s_m_  _n_t  t_  _xp_r__nc_  b_rn__t  _s  _  r_s_lt."  D_pr_ss__n  _ff_cts  _v_r  260  m_ll__n  p__pl_  w_rldw_d_  _nd  c__s_s  m_ny  p__pl_  t_  t_k_  th__r  _wn  l_v_s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research has revealed that toxic workplaces can be hazardous to mental health the yearlong study is from the university of south australia researchers found that fulltime workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees mental health are three times more likely to suffer from depression the researchers examined the adverse effect of toxic environments on health elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices bullying and a failure to consider mental health issues the researchers indicated that if employees are unhappy at work mistreated or burnt out their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will increase

    lead researcher dr amy zadow said mental health issues created in the workplace can be attributed to poor management practices and values she said evidence shows that companies who fail to reward or acknowledge their employees for hard work impose unreasonable demands on workers and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater risk of depression she added bullying in a work unit can not only negatively affect the victim but also the perpetrator it is not uncommon for everyone in the same unit to experience burnout as a result depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to take their own lives

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchhasrevealedthattoxicworkplacescanbehazardoustome
    ntalhealth.Theyear-longstudyisfromtheUniversityofSouthAustrali
    a.Researchersfoundthatfull-timeworkerswhoworkforcompaniesor
    organizationsthatdonotprioritiseemployees'mentalhealtharethreeti
    mesmorelikelytosufferfromdepression.Theresearchersexaminedth
    eadverseeffectof"toxic"environmentsonhealth.Elementsofatoxicwo
    rkplaceincludedpoormanagementpractices,bullying,andafailuretoc
    onsidermentalhealthissues.Theresearchersindicatedthatifemploye
    esareunhappyatwork,mistreatedorburntout,theirproductivitywillsu
    fferandabsenteeismwillincrease.LeadresearcherDrAmyZadowsaid
    mentalhealthissuescreatedintheworkplacecanbeattributedtopoorm
    anagementpracticesandvalues.Shesaid:"Evidenceshowsthatcompa
    nieswhofailtorewardoracknowledgetheiremployeesforhardwork,im
    poseunreasonabledemandsonworkers,anddonotgivethemautonom
    yareplacingtheirstaffatamuchgreaterriskofdepression."Sheadded:"
    Bullyinginaworkunitcannotonlynegativelyaffectthevictim,butalsoth
    eperpetrator....Itisnotuncommonforeveryoneinthesameunittoexpe
    rienceburnoutasaresult."Depressionaffectsover260millionpeoplew
    orldwideandcausesmanypeopletotaketheirownlives.

    Free writing

    Write about toxic workplaces for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Companies that have toxic workplaces should be heavily fined. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. TOXIC WORKPLACES: Make a poster about toxic workplaces. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FINES: Write a magazine article about imposing big fines on companies that have toxic workplaces. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on toxic workplaces. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to end toxicity. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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