Extra felicity O’Dell fce

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TEST 1
Paper 1
Recording scripts
28
© 2010 Cideb Black Cat Publishing
telecommunications company specialising in the
manufacture of computer chips employing nearly
2,000 people in this country alone. So, Ann, how
long have you worked for Redcom?
F
For well over twenty years now. I got my first job
there in 1981. It was my first job in Personnel and
the first task I was given was to conduct a survey
into employees’ attitudes to their colleagues. I
decided to do a similar survey again this year and it’s
been fascinating to see the changes in people’s
feelings over this period.
M So how have things changed?
F
Well, in the past there was a very noticeable
difference between the attitudes of men and those
of women. For example, women regularly reported
that they couldn’t stand office gossip. At least 76 per
cent of the women I interviewed said that they tried
to avoid colleagues who wasted time on this and
they felt their behaviour had a very negative effect
on the atmosphere at work. Surprisingly, perhaps,
their male colleagues on the other hand were much
less likely to be annoyed by this – they expressed
particular objections to people jamming the
photocopier. 60 per cent of men said that their
working life would be considerably improved if they
knew the machine would always be in working order
whenever they needed to use it.
M They both sound pretty annoying things. Don’t
people still complain about them?
F
Very little, in fact. The most striking thing from the
recent survey was that men and women today
share the same pet hate, which is that they detest
being emailed by colleagues who are sitting at the
next desk. They wish they would just speak to
them instead! There are still some differences
between men and women’s attitudes, though.
Men, for example, are much more likely to
complain about their colleagues’ choice of radio
station. This rarely bothers women who don’t
seem to mind what people opt to listen to while
they are working. Women are irritated much more
by those people who always let everyone else
make the tea. They report that they would be
much less likely to agree to cover for such people
as they see them as fundamentally selfish.
M How significant do you really think that these
complaints are?
F
Actually, I think they are very significant indeed.
Unfortunately we didn’t do this with the first
survey, but this time round we took the opportunity
to ask our interviewees what they would be
prepared to do without if they could work
somewhere where all their colleagues were
sympathetic. Over half of those we questioned
said that they would be ready to give up a week’s
holiday for this. We were amazed as we know how
important time off is for all of us. Rather fewer but
still 26 per cent said they would agree to be paid
less if it would improve their working environment.
M So, is Redcom planning to do anything to improve
working relationships, given their clear importance
to employees?
F
Yes, we take the results very seriously. So much so
that we have organised a workshop on employee
relationships. All our staff will be obliged to attend it
and we hope that it will to some extent make our
company a happier working environment.