【一起听英语】工作上的压力（在线收听）

每个人生活中都有压力，工作中的、生活中的，工作上的压力你们是如何排遣的呢？

Rob: Hello, I'm Rob…

Neil: And I'm Neil.

Rob: And this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Today we're talking

about stress.

Neil: Yes, stress. It's becoming a common problem in our modern society. Most of

us have felt it at some point in our life… perhaps at home with the kids and

family or maybe when you are watching your favourite football team lose. Or

when you're stuck in a traffic jam.

Rob: Well Britain is facing increasing stress-related issues at work and this is what

we are going to talk about today. But first Neil, I've got a question for you to

answer. According to a survey carried out this year, what is considered to be

the most stressful job? Is it:

 a) A commercial airline pilot

 b) A schoolteacher

 c) A surgeon

Neil: It's got to be a teacher, a schoolteacher. You can't escape for the hour length of

 that lesson.

Rob: That's true! OK, well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme. Now

let's talk more about stress and a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 2 of 6

and Development. It's found that the number of people who are suffering from

stress in the UK is increasing.

Neil: So why is that?

Rob: It seems that the economic problems we are all facing are mainly to blame.

Neil: To blame – in other words, the economic problems are the cause of the stress.

So Rob, I guess it's the high prices of things like food and petrol that's

worrying people?

Rob: Well not just that. It's stress in the workplace that is the biggest issue. This

report discovered that it's become the number one cause of long-term

workplace absence.

Neil: So people are off sick – or absent – from work. And what's causing this stress?

Rob: Again, it's the financial situation as we can hear from the BBC's John Moylan.

Listen out for the word he uses to describe how bad the economic situation

is…

John Moylan, BBC

The world of work is rarely stress-free. But now there is fresh evidence of the impact that the

tough economic climate is having on employees. According to this annual report of

workplaces across Britain, the downturn is taking its toll. There's a particular problem in the

public sector. 50% of public sector firms say that stress-related absence has increased in the

past year.

Rob: John Moylan describes the workplace as being rarely stress-free. It's often a

stressful place but now he's saying the current economic climate is tough – it's

hard – and this is having an impact on employees – or staff - and businesses.

Neil: John uses another phrase, taking its toll – it's taking its toll on the workplace. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 3 of 6

Rob: So the picture is not good and half of the UK's public sector companies have

reported a rise in employee absence caused by stress.

Neil: That's interesting because jobs in the public sector are traditionally seen as

more stable and secure than those in the private sector.

Rob: Yes it's surprising. Public sector jobs, such as civil servants and teachers, were

seen as jobs-for-life but perhaps that's not the case anymore. It's a worrying

time.

Neil: So how exactly is the poor economic situation affecting the workplace?

Rob: Well let's hear more from John Moylan on what the report says are the reasons

for this increase. Listen out for the phrase he uses to describe the main cause

for concern by employees…

John Moylan, BBC

The main causes they cite are organisational change. With staff numbers being cut, workloads

are also a problem, as are concerns over job security. The survey found that employers

planning to make redundancies are more likely to report an increase in mental health

problems among their staff.

Neil: So it's organisational change – or changes in the structure of the workplace –

that is the main problem.

Rob: This includes cutting the number of staff and that leads to increased workloads

for others. And everyone is worried about how secure their job is – or what we

call job security.

Neil: The other worrying factor is employers who are planning to make

redundancies have reported an increase in mental health problems in their

staff. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 4 of 6

Rob: That's not good. And staff are also concerned that if they lose their job they

won't find another one.

Neil: Yes, it might mean they are unemployed for longer than they had expected. So

what can be done to reduce this stressful situation?

Rob: Well the report has made some recommendations for managers on how to help

 their staff. It says companies should have a plan – or a strategy – in place to

 help staff. Offering counselling is one option.

Neil: Well the economy doesn't look like improving very soon so the problem of

stress in the workplace looks set to stay.

Rob: OK Neil. I think it's time we revealed the answer to today's question.

Neil: Am I right or am I wrong?!

Rob: Let's see. Earlier I asked you: According to a survey carried out this year, what

is considered to be the most stressful job? Is it:

a) A commercial airline pilot

 b) A schoolteacher

 c) A surgeon

Neil: And I said a schoolteacher.

Rob: Well, it's a stressful job but it's actually wrong. According to a survey by

employment website Careercast, commercial airline pilots are the most

stressed. They are not only expected to guarantee the safety of passengers, but

also to keep their flights on-time, even when flying in bad weather.

Neil: It's not a job for me then!

Rob: Nor me! Anyway Neil, could you please remind us of some of the vocabulary

we've used today:

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 5 of 6

Neil: Sure. We had:

stress

absence

tough

employees

taking its toll

public sector

organisational change

job security

redundancies

a strategy

counselling

Rob: Thanks Neil. We hope you've enjoyed today's programme. Please join us again

for another 6 Minute English very soon.

Both: Bye!