Talking about Stress at Work
Kate works for a marketing business. Recently, she has been feeling very stressed at work. She talks to her colleague, Sandra, about it...
Kate: Sandra, do you ever feel like you carry a heavy burden on your shoulders in work? I mean, we have to work very long hours, we have alot of responsibilities and we don’t get the salary we really deserve...
Sandra: Well, yes. I do. I agree with you, but I don’t know what to do about it...
Kate: I think we should ask what the other think too. If they think the same as we do, we can arrange a meeting with our manager to talk about our concerns.
Sandra: That’s a good idea, Kate. I’ll try to find out if everyone else feels the same way we do.
Kate: And I forgot to mention another thing! We should demand to be paid extra when we work at the weekend.
Sandra: Let’s start by finding out everyone else’s opinions first...
Kate: OK, it’s better if we voice our opinions together, as a team.
Sandra: Of course it is. Together, we have more chance of making a difference.
Kate: As the saying goes - Teamwork makes the dream work!
PHRASAL VERBS
Phrasal verb | Meaning | Example sentence | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
To let down someone | To make someone disappointed when you have not fulfilled a promise. | She promised that she would be there but she let me down. | Feelings |
To break down | 1. To become very upset. 2. When something stops working | 1. She broke down when she opened her results. 2. The lift broke down. | Feelings |
To bring somebody/something down | 1. To make someone lose their powerful position. 2. To make something end. | 1. He brought his boss down by exposing personal emails. 2. The rise in export prices could bring the hospitality industry down. | Feelings |
To bottle something up | To refuse to talk about things when someone is worried or upset. | After his father passed away, he bottled his emotions up and wouldn’t talk to anyone. | Feelings |
To get something across | To make someone believe or understand something | He tried to get his point across but his manager wouldn’t listen. | Feelings |