Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 517
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 517 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 517
READING PASSAGE – 2
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Training of employees is the key to success for any organisation. Yet, often resistance to trainings is encountered either from the employee or from managers. One common excuse is that training takes them away from work. But this can be argued against by demonstrating that training is a crucial part of the job. Reasons why training is crucial are many.
For those dealing in technology or switching to a technological process, training helps to educate workers about its effective use, and ensures that the company has a competitive edge in the market. Occupational training involving health and safety among workers creates opportunities for career development and personal growth; both of which are important factors for employee retention. Many organisations are bound by regulatory commissions or agencies and these agencies require that some if not all employees undergo certain training. By providing training for their employees, organisations stay in compliance. Finally, training improves the company’s productivity and profitability.
IELTS General Reading Test
As mentioned, some employers are legally required to offer training to their employees. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, specific types of training are required. Under the federal law, training is recommended regarding ethics and sexual harassment. With regard to training against sexual harassment, the Supreme Court has stated that organisations can be held liable for instances of sexual harassment especially if the employer failed to exercise reasonable care to stop, prevent and correct any such behaviour. One aspect of doing this is to make all employees aware of and understand their responsibilities in accordance with the organisation’s anti-discrimination policy. Furthermore, providing this training and enforcing the company’s policy reduces any liability for the organisation.
Ethics training can reduce the liability of an employer, should an employee be found guilty of criminal misconduct. If there was no such training, this could be the grounds to show that the company contributed knowingly or unknowingly to an atmosphere where the rules of ethics were taken in disregard.
IELTS General Reading Test
Besides greater exposure for legal consequences, employers imparting negligible or no training at all typically encounter other negative results. One big result is that of high turnover. In this sense, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, those organisations that offer very little or no training often have the highest turnover rates.
Questions 14 – 20
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text in each gap.
Training not only makes employees aware of how to use (14)……………. efficiently but also secures an advantage over rivals in market.
For (15)……………. it is important that such training be provided as will help in career development and personal growth.
To remain in (16)……………. with the regulatory agencies, many organisations offer certain training to at least some of their employees.
Organisations may be considered accountable if they do not (17)……………. preventive and regulatory measures to deter any inappropriate conduct.
IELTS General Reading Test
Company’s (18)……………. against inappropriate misconduct is reduced if training is provided along with implementation of company’s policy.
Companies have to face increased (19)……………. implications and other negative effects if they fail to provide adequate training.
(20)……………. is a major consequence for employers providing negligible or no training.
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 21-27.
DEALING WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION AT WORK
If your employer has concerns or a complaint about your work, they might decide to take disciplinary action against you. There are a number of reasons why your employer might decide to take disciplinary action against you. These include your:
• behaviour at work
• absence from work
• standard of work
IELTS General Reading Test
If your employer decides to take disciplinary action against you, your employer should follow a written process, which explains the standards of fairness they’ll follow in the disciplinary action. They might use the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Code of Practice, or they might have their own procedure, which should be similar.
Your employer’s first step should be to investigate what happened. You don’t have the right to bring someone with you to a meeting if your employer is just investigating what happened. If your employer wants to take disciplinary action after they complete their investigation, they should write to you.
IELTS General Reading Test
When they write, they should:
• explain what they think you’ve done wrong – there should be enough detail for you to be able to prepare your response
• tell you the next step will be a meeting to discuss the problem – they should also let you know when and where it will take place
• let you know you have the right to have someone at the meeting with you – this could be a colleague from work or a trade union representative
IELTS General Reading Test
Your employer shouldn’t take any disciplinary action before the meeting. Your employer should give you the opportunity to set out your case at the meeting. After the meeting, your employer should tell you what they’ve decided – they should do this in writing.
If you don’t agree with your employer’s decision
Your employer should give you the opportunity to appeal against their decision. You don’t have to appeal, but it’s worth it if you might later decide to go to an employment tribunal. If you win your case, the tribunal could reduce your compensation if you didn’t appeal to your employer first. If you’re still not happy with your employer’s decision, you might want to make a claim to an employment tribunal.
IELTS General Reading Test
If your employer doesn’t follow the steps
You might decide to make a claim to an employment tribunal. If you win your case, the amount of compensation your employer has to pay you could be more than it would have been if they’d followed the ACAS code of practice. If they dismiss you, you might be able to challenge your dismissal because they didn’t follow the ACAS code of practice.
Questions 21 – 27
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER in each gap.
DEALING WITH DISCIPLINARY ACTION AT WORK
Reasons for disciplinary action at work:
• behavioural issues
• absenteeism
• work standard
Method to be followed by the employer:
• follow a written process explaining fairness standard for the (21)…………….
• can use either Code of Practice of ACAS or own similar method
• (22)……………. the incident first to find out what happened
IELTS General Reading Test
What employer should do afterwards:
• in case a disciplinary action is to be taken it should be communicated in writing
• detailed explanation of misconduct should be provided in writing so that a (23)……………. can be prepared
• details of the meeting for follow-up discussion
• inform about the right to have a colleague or a trade union representative at the meeting
• should not take disciplinary action prior to the meeting
• give (24)……………. to present the other side at the meeting
• send the decision in writing
IELTS General Reading Test
In case of disagreement with decision of employer:
• you should (25)……………. against the decision, in case you decide to go to employment tribunal later
• even after winning, your (26)……………. can be cut down by the tribunal, if no plea was made to the employer earlier
In case of non-compliance by employer:
• you can present a claim to employment tribunal
• your compensation may be more than what you would have got if the employer had been compliant
• in case of unfair (27)……………., you can challenge the decision
IELTS General Reading Test
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
14. TECHNOLOGY/TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS
15. EMPLOYEE RETENTION
16. COMPLIANCE
17. EXERCISE
18. LIABILITY
19. LEGAL
20. HIGH TURNOVER/TURNOVER RATES
21. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
22. INVESTIGATE
23. RESPONSE
24. OPPORTUNITY
25. APPEAL
26. COMPENSATION
27. DISMISSAL
IELTS General Reading Test