Topic 1.10.5 Work Clothes
WORK CLOTHES
1A.Warm up
open-toe shoes trouser suit three-piece suit sandals dress shoes
business formal business casual button-down shirt
1B. Discussion
In pairs, talk about the following:
- Which of the above clothes do you wear for work?
- Which of them should you wear in your company?
- Which of them do you not need to wear in your company?
2A. Vocabulary
2B. Practice exercise
3A. Reading
3B. True or False
Based on the text are the following questions true or false?
4. Discussion questions
- Why do you think some companies require a specific uniform for their employees?
- Do you believe dress codes improve professionalism in the workplace? Why or why not?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a strict dress code at work?
- Should employees have the right to wear whatever they want at work? Why or why not?
- In what types of jobs is a dress code most important for safety reasons?
- How can inappropriate clothing create risks in certain work environments?
- How does an employee’s appearance affect a company’s image?
- Should employees be allowed to wear casual clothing in customer-facing jobs? Why or why not?
- Do you think wearing a uniform makes employees feel more connected to the company?
- How should companies handle dress code policies when they conflict with religious or cultural beliefs?
- Have you ever heard of a case where an employee faced discrimination because of their clothing? What happened?
- How should a manager handle a situation where an employee is not following the dress code?
- Do you think a dress code should be flexible or strictly enforced? Why?
5. Listening
Part A
Part B
6. Discussion
In pairs, discuss the following questions.
- What advice would you give to Speaker 1 in the listening exercise?
- What advice would you give to Speaker 2 in the listening exercise?
- What advice would you give to Speaker 3 in the listening exercise?
- Is there a dress code in your company? What is it?
- What clothes do you generally wear for work?
- Do you have any tattoos? If not, would you get one? Why/why not? Are you allowed to show them in your company? Why/why not?
- Are piercings allowed in your company? Why/why not?
- What kind of discipline would there be if you didn’t follow the dress code in your company?
7. Extended activity/Homework
Imagine you have started your own company. Write a dress code that you would want your employees to follow. Consider the following questions.
- What do you think is acceptable/unacceptable to wear at work?
- What are your reasons for this?
- What kind of image do you want your customers to have of you?
- What action will you take if employees don’t follow the dress code?
- Does your dress code allow for people of different cultures and religions? Are there any legal risks with your code?