実践ビジネス英語 2018/12/26 L18 (4) Office perks26 水 Lesson18 Office Perks (4)
Salmans says pressure and stereotypes often prevent fathers from taking advantage of programs aimed at supporting child-rearing. Ueda describes another perk that is highly popular among job seekers. And Salmans says progressive companies are offering employees all they want of a certain benefit. In return, employees are expected to do a good job.
I think A&A sould do more to encourage employees who are new parents to share child-raising responshibilities on a more equal basis.
More companies are tying to eliminate gender distinctions when it comes to perks like that. But some new dads are reluctant to take advantage of such well-meant programs because of lingering stereotyps or unspoken pressure at work.
Another benefit that smart companies offer their employees is flexible scheduling. Allowing wokers to design their own schedules shows that the compay respects them and trusts them to make their own decisions. It's one of the most populer employee perks - and a major incentive for job-seekers.
Yes some people function better in the morning, while others are at their peak in the afternoon. Some people work better from home. Snd employees with kids like to start and finish work early so they can have dinner with their family and spend quality time together at home.
I hear that some forward-looking eompanies offer unlimited paid time off. Thery don't keep track of the number of days off employees take for vacations, sick leave, family commitments or whatever. In return, the company expects employees to turn in a good work performance. The point is to treat workers as responsibile adults.
child-raising responsibilities 育児の責任
eliminate gender distinctions ジェンダーの差をなくす More companies are trying to eliminate gender distinctions, when it comes to perks like that.
In this case, “distinction” refers to differences. Things that distinguish that separate one thing from another. The company makes no distinction between full-time and part-time employees in terms of parental leave, you could say. Or, to use a verb, it doesn’t distinguish between them.
be reluctant to -, 〜するのを嫌がる、〜したがらない
take advantage of -, 〜を活用する、活かす
Here “take advantage of” means “use an opportunity, utilize a resource.” There’s no negative nuance here. But “take advantage of” also can mean “exploit something” in an unethical or mercenary way. Like, she took advantage of his kindness to borrow lots of money. 否定的には、搾取する。利用する
lingering stereotype 根強い固定観念、無くならない固定観念
If something lingers, it remains, it persists. This data reveals lingering weakness in the economy, for example. Or, I have a lingering pain in my ankle. And the verb “linger” can also mean “slow to leave a place.” I lingered in the bookstore for a while. Or, we lingered over coffee before heading to the departure gate.
unspoken pressure 暗黙のプレッシャー
We often use “unspoken” when something isn’t put into words or isn’t directly expressed. But the atmosphere is clear. The understanding is there. Like, there’s an unspoken rule that nobody leaves before the boss. Or, slight variation, there’s an unwritten rule that no one leaves before the boss.
unspoken rule 暗黙の内に理解されたルール/unwritten rule 不文律/unwritten agreement 口頭による契約
flexible scheduling 柔軟にスケジュールをたてること。
Ueda says, “Another benefit that smart companies offer their employees is flexible scheduling.” Scheduling that can be changed as the employee needs to. Likewise, we often say, “we’re flexible on something,” meaning “we can adjust as necessary, we can consider multiple options.” Like, “Oh, I’m flexible on scheduling. Ah, I don’t mind coming in early a few days.” Or, Country X is flexible on allowing more imports.
incentive job-seekers 求職者に対する誘引
An incentive encourages someone to do something. Like an incentive program for buying eco-friendly appliances. And job seeker is obviously a person seeking a job, looking for a job. There are a number of terms we use hyphen seeking as well. profit-seeking investors, heat-seeking missiles, and publicity-seeking celebrities. 資産追求投資家、熱感知ミサイル,名前を売りたいセレブ
function 昨日を果たす、正常に活動する
Performs the task, the things that we need to do. I personally cannot function before my first couple of coffee.
forward-looking 進歩的な、先見の明のある
Salmon says, “I hear sone forward-looking companies offer unlimited paid time off.
unlimited paid time off 無制限の有給休暇
There are no limits on how much time people can take off with pay. Likewise a restaurant could offer unlimited refills of drinks. So I can get my drink refilled as often as I want it.
paid time off (PTO) 有給休暇
keep track of – 〜の記録をとる、経過を負う
sick-leave 病気休暇、欠勤
in return 代わりに、引き換えに
In exchange, as reciprocation for something. Like, John worked my late-shift last Friday. So, I’m doing his late-shift today in return. 夜勤の
turn in 業績などをあげる、成し遂げる
In this case, “turn in” means “produce something.” Iit can be tangible or intangible. Betty turned in an excellent presentation. Or, Betty turned in an excellent report.
good work performance 仕事の優れた業績
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well-meant 善意の
But some new dads are reluctant to take advantage of such well-meant program.
well-meant remark 良かれと思って言った言葉
well-intentioned
Jeremy uses rough language, but it means well.
27 木 Lesson18 Office Perks (5)
Grace says that people who use all their vacation time are more likely to be promoted because they properly balance work and relaxation. McMillan describes how many employees struggle to find time for volunteer work. So more companies are letting them do it during work hours. Grace says many companies now offer fertility benefits.
不妊治療のメリット
HR(=Human Resources) 人事担当の部署
get a promotion 昇進する
head to the beach 海辺に向かう
“Head to” means “travel toward, go toward some area or purpose.” I might say, “I think I’ll head to lunch.” or
“Ah, better head to work now.” There’s also the expression “head home.” Start going toward our home. The trains will be stopping soon. We should be head home. 家に帰る
recharge one’s batteries 英気を養う
Do something to regain our physical or mental energy. I’d like to watch a funny movie to recharge my batteries.
And we also just say, “recharge.” An afternoon nap is a great way to recharge. 充電する , get one’s batteries recharged
give back to the community 地域社会に利益を還元する
Repay the community that has supported our career or business, you know, bought our products or services.
There’s also a very common shorter expression just “give back.” And this can mean “repaying a specific benefit”
or “just making a contribution to society in general.” In the latter case, I think, there’s a feeling of repaying a good fortune because we can make a contribution, saying society has overall been good to us so we’re giving back.
Like, he donates money to a homeless shelter as a way to give back. 還元する、恩返しする
dedicated 専用の、特化した
In this case, “dedicated” means “designed for a particular use or function.” A company may use a dedicated server. So it’s a server only for that company. “Dedicated” can also mean “committed to some purpose or goal.” Works very hard, toward that purpose or goal. A dedicated student, right, who studies very hard, takes extra classes. A dedicated employee. That kind of thing. 献身的な、熱心な、打ち込んでいる dedicated = comitted
on company time 勤務時間中に
During work hours, during time when we’re supposed to be doing the company’s work. You could say, “He was downloading music on company time.” Or, union meetings can be held on company time. We also say, “on someone’s own time,” meaning when they’re not working. Like, personal errands should be run on our own time.
勤務時間以外の on one’s own time
progressive 進歩的な
McMillan says, “progressive companies are turning to bigger and better fertility-treatment benefits.”
turn to にとりかかる、頼る
Apply to for help. Utilize to address a problem or address a need. Say, you have a problem at work. You’re not sure how to handle it. You turn to your colleague you admire for advice.
fertility treatment benefit 不妊治療給付、不妊治療給付金
lure 惹きつける
costly 高額な
In vitro fertilization (IVF) 体外受精 “In vitro” is Latin for “in glass.” And it refers to something that happens outside the human body. Someone might say, “Our son was conceived in vitro.” Or to use the abbreviation for “in vitro fertilization.” They used IVF to have their daughter.
assisted-reproduction treatment 生殖補助医療
Here the “assisted” indicates that help was needed to achieve reproduction. A scientific word for having a baby.
The verb would be “reproduce.” It’s often used about animals and such, like, pandas don’t reproduce very often. Unlike rabbits which reproduce like rabbits.
same-sex couple 同性のカップル
More companies are now extending the same degree of support. The same sex couples that want to have a family.
Couples where both people are the same gender. Not men, women. Likewise there is now same-sex marriage and same-sex weddings.
signs of the times
時代の象徴、時代の特徴を端的に示すもの、時勢の現れ
歓迎できない時代の趨勢を嘆く時
Three-Martini lunches are the signs of the times in the 1960’s and 70′ in the United States.
マティーニを３杯を中心とした昼食は時代の象徴だった