Life in the modern office - 6 Minute English

Most modern offices include large spaces without internal walls dividing them up. The idea is to create a sense of togetherness, but many employees prefer having their own space. Neil and Sam talk about the ways workers find to personalise their workplace and teach you vocabulary along the way.

This week's question
According to a 2021 survey by the Metro newspaper, what did British workers vote the worst thing about working in an office?
a) printers not working
b) people speaking too loudly
c) co-workers leaving empty milk cartons in the fridge
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
hot-desking
system where office workers do not have their own personal desk but use any available desk on a day-by-day basis

nine-to-five
work which begins at 9am and ends at 5pm - the normal Monday to Friday office working hours

montage
a piece of work made up by putting together several different items, often in interesting combinations

sense of familiarity
feeling of knowing something or someone so well that you feel close, comfortable, and relaxed around them

worn out
so old or damaged from continual use that it cannot be used any more

hard graft
(slang) hard work

[Cover: Getty Images]
You can download audio and text here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220505

More 6 Minute English episodes:
Remembering Desmond Tutu

Are you afraid of numbers?
https://youtu.be/DvBWBSl2DKA

Britain's love affair with coffee
https://youtu.be/fJoCs5Z_QvE

Intimacy on screen
https://youtu.be/4pDImFxHNuY

Personalised diets
https://youtu.be/dJZ9CSbGueU

How green is nuclear energy?
https://youtu.be/naB_3XYRtew

Why we forget the things we learn
https://youtu.be/1iHeeMlOsyc

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