A. Read the full report and decide whether the statements are true or false.

The best companies to work for

A new report has identified the top 25 companies in the USA to work for. The report comes out every year and always has some surprises. It ranked the best places to work in 2014 by taking a survey of employee satisfaction. Top of the list was Google, which has become famous for its excellent working conditions. Google knocked Facebook off of the number one position. A Google software engineer earns an average salary of $119,000 a year. He or she also gets free access to a gym, laundromat, sports facilities and a place which looks after their pets when the employee goes on holiday. One ex-employee said Google staff are so happy that it is unusual for anyone to take time off.

Another survey released at the same time shows a slightly different picture. The careers website Glassdoor asked employees to rate how happy they are with their company, career opportunities, pay, culture, and values. It found that the consulting firm Bain and Company was the best place to work. Russ Hagey, Global Chief Talent Officer at Bain and Co. said: "We are incredibly proud to be named the number one best place to work." He added that: "For more than 40 years, we have placed significant focus on creating an outstanding professional and personal work experience that in turn has fueled our growth anchored in a mission of delivering results for clients and organizations around the globe." Sources: ndtv.com / cnbc.com / techspot.com

True of False?

a) A report listed the best companies in the world to work for. T / F

b) The report is made once every two years. T / F

c) Facebook was number one last year. T / F

d) Google has a kind of pet hotel for when staff go on holiday. T / F

e) A company called Glassdoor paints pictures. T / F

f) Another survey said a consulting company was the best place to work. T / F g) The consulting company has been number one for 40 years. T / F

h) The company's mission is to help its clients around the world. T / F

B. Read the report again and answer the questions:

1.	How many companies were in the report?
2.	What was the survey on?
3.	Which company was number one last year?
4.	What is the number 119,000 in the article?
5.	Why don't Google workers take a lot of time off work?
6.	What did a different survey show?
7.	What is the name of the careers website that did the other survey?
8.	Who is Russ Hagey?
9.	How many years has Bain & Co. been focusing on work experience?
10.	Where are the clients of Bain and Co.?

C. Synonym Match.

1 every year	a. job
2 ranked	b. issued
3. survey	c. strange
4. salary	d. ordered
5. unusual	e. bringing
6. released	f. annually
7. slightly	g. excellent
8. career	h. a little
9. outstanding	i. questionnaire
10. delivering	j. pay

D. Rank these with your partner. Put the most important at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• pay   • uniform   • nice boss   • training

• lots of overtime   • long holidays   • friendly co-workers • responsibility

E. Role-play. Work in groups of four. Study the information in the card and share ideas with your group.

Role  A – Nice uniform

You think a nice uniform is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): lots of training, friendly co-workers or lots of overtime.

Role  B – Lots of training

You think lots of training is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): a nice uniform, friendly co-workers or lots of overtime.

Role  C – Friendly co-workers

You think friendly co-workers is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why): lots of training, a nice uniform or lots of overtime.

Role  D – Lots of overtime

You think lots of overtime is the most important thing about a job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that aren't so good about their things. Also, tell the others which is the least important of these (and why):  lots of training, friendly co-workers or a nice uniform.

F. Working conditions survey.

Work in groups of four. Each student chooses three questions and interviews other students from the group. Write down the answers in the table.

	STUDENT 1	STUDENT 2	STUDENT 3
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.

List of questions:

What do you think it would be like to work for Google?

Would you prefer to work for Google or Starbucks?

What are the things that would make you happy at work?

Are you a good employee? Why do you think so?

What's more important - long holidays or pay?

What's the minimum salary you would work for?

What should a company do to be a professional employer?

Would you be a good boss (why do you think so)?

What is your ideal (perfect) job?

What questions would you like to ask Google's boss?