Reducing Staff Absenteeism

Students discuss ways to reduce stress at a call center, improve working
conditions, reduce staff turnover, and minimize absences among employees. 

In this case study, students discussed and came up with ways to improve staff morale and reduce absenteeism at a call center of a car rental company. Facing steep competition and rising costs, the company needed to motivate staff and improve productivity. Students read a report enumerating the reasons why staff were unhappy at work. The main reason for rampant absences was minor ailments including migraines and colds. Based on this report, students worked in groups to brainstorm ways to reduce stress and improve the work environment as a whole. 

The following proposals were submitted by representatives of each group.

Group Presentations to Increase Profit Margins and Save the Earth

In the spirit of Earth Day, business English students brainstormed and came up with ways to minimize a supermarket chain's energy costs in order to increase profit margins and meet recent energy legislation requirements.

The assignment was to think of how to encourage and mobilize employees to be conscientious about energy usage. In groups of three and within a short time frame, students put together a short presentation and designed posters to help convey their message.

Groups listed the benefits of healthy eating, healthy living and taking care of the environment as a whole. Students also offered financial incentives for employees who contributed ideas and helped the company save on energy costs. Proposed incentives were in the form of bonuses, the size of which depended on the company's profits and amount saved due to energy awareness, as well as in the form of recognition by the company CEO and as an employee of the month, which would be chosen on a monthly basis.

The following are a few of the posters that went with the presentations.

... and by "die", they mean perish with the planet if we don't take care of it.

Joe Yu, ESL teacher

Business email

This business email confirms plans to meet with a fellow salesperson at a sales event in Munich to discuss products and services and turns down the same salesperson's invitation to spend time socially following the event.

Hi John,

How are you? Thank you for the details of the new products that you sent me. It was interesting to get some information about them. 

As far as the invitation, I wish I could be there, but actually my schedule has changed. I now have to leave soon after the event. If you don't mind, let me take a rain check for now, and we will make plans to hang out next time. 

By the way, we can plan to meet socially at the next meeting in San Francisco next month if that sounds good to you?

I look forward to hearing from you sometime.

Sincerely,

Maria

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Hi John,

I hope you are doing fine. I look forward to meeting you and learning more about your products and services, especially after reading the details which you sent me earlier.

It would be nice to meet with you socially. Unfortunately I have to leave Munich right after the meeting. However, perhaps we can do that in San Francisco since I will be there in a month.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Khalid Qurehi

Contributors: Maria Falcon with Cedric Reoulengar, Khalid Qurehi

Business email

This is an informal email to Pat at Human Resources.


Hi Pat,

I would like to receive more information about the staff development day. I've heard something about it but have not seen anything else.

Could you send me more details?  I'd like to attend it.

Thanks a bunch,
Stan


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Hi Pat,

How are you doing? I have heard about this 'staff development day', and I was wondering if it fits my profile.

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Could you please give me details about this?

-

Thanks a bunch.

-

Regards

Vera

Contributors: Stan Lukoki, Vera Lima

idioms & phrases

1. Daphné has a passion for traveling; she loves it.  She travelled a lot in the USA, Israël, and most countries in Europe. But once, she was very sad and out of the blue, she bought a plane ticket in order to return to France because she couldn't do without her family.  - CD
2. My mother showed up out of the blue in NYC last night. - AZ
3. I have a passion for traveling because I like to learn about new cultures from other countries. - AZ 
4. After the short break, the meeting got back on track. - SM
5. The company should get customers' input on the new product before bringing it to market. Otherwise, it could fail. - SM
6. I didn't get the meaning of the third paragraph on page 200. Could you go over it again? - SM

Contributors: Cecile Descamps, Alexandro Zhaz, Sue Moon

Business letters: Accepting an invitation

September 15, 2010

Dear Sir Gus Siregar,

In reference to your invitation, I would like to thank you for this honor and confirm my attendance at the annual International Relations Dinner. I am sure it will be a great event with opportunities to enhance partnerships.

 

I would like to mention that a new manager will be joining our team. His name is John Smith, and he will be in charge of human resources. I wonder if he may join me at the dinner.

 

Once again, I appreciate your kindness. I look forward to seeing you at the event.

Best Regards,

Vera Lima

Manager - Logistaid Co.

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Dear Gus Siregar,

I appreciate your invitation to the International Relations Dinner. At this moment, I am very pleased to say that I am able to attend. There is no doubt that your annual International Relations Dinner will bring better understanding between our countries.

If I may, I would like to invite a colleague who is joining me from our overseas office next month. She is currently in charge of a training program in Amsterdam. As one of the most influential people in our organisation, I believe she would make a good business partner with your government.

I hope it would be fine to invite her to join us at the dinner event. 

Best Regards,
Moon
Representative of Logistaid

Contributors: Vera Lima, Sue Moon

Vocabulary: words & phrases

1. Our review did not cover enough of the exam that we took yesterday. AZ
2. I can't figure out people like Justin Bieber. AZ
3. Indeed, the seminar needs to be brought to a conclusion now. AZ
4. I need to improve my skills in business English because sometimes I can't figure out the topic. VL
5. Looking at the current situation, we can't make assumptions about the next election. VL
6. I must study hard for this presentation to avoid being misinterpreted. VL
7. They have made arrangements for an international exhibition. NP
8. The CEO never gives us an explanation of his plans clearly. NP

Contributors: Alexandro Zhaz, Vera Lima, Nihan Pekmezci