News Mash-up: COVID-19

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Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. accelerate / ækˈsɛl əˌreɪt / (v.) – to happen or to cause something to happen more quickly
    Example:

    The unemployment rate accelerated as many businesses closed down.


  2. associated with (something/someone) / əˈsoʊ ʃiˌeɪ tɪd wɪθ / (adj.) – connected or related to something or someone
    Example:

    Experts say that the majority of lung cancer cases are associated with smoking.


  3. stroke / stroʊk / (n.) – a serious medical condition in which the blood supply to the brain is blocked
    Example:

    The patient cannot move his legs normally after having a stroke.


  4. fulfillment / fʊlˈfɪl mənt / (n.) – the act of packing and sending a customer’s order
    Example:

    Our department is responsible for the fulfillment of orders for office supplies and equipment.


  5. logistics / loʊˈdʒɪs tɪks / (n.) – the arrangement of things that are needed for the successful run of something, such as an event, business operation, etc.
    Example:

    The products were delivered late because of a logistics problem.


Article

Read the text below.

Long work hours are a killer, WHO study shows


Working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization said on May 17.


In the first global study of the loss of life associated with longer working hours, the paper in the journal Environment International showed that 745,000 people died from stroke and heart disease associated with long working hours in 2016.


That was an increase of nearly 30% from 2000.


The joint study, produced by the WHO and the International Labor Organization, showed that 72% of victims were men of middle age and older.  (Reuters)


Amazon to give $100 to new hires with vaccine


Amazon.com, Inc. will give $100 (¥10,900) more to new hires with proof of COVID-19 vaccination, the world’s largest e-commerce retailer said on May 13, as part of its plan to employ 75,000 workers for fulfillment and logistics operations.


As vaccines become crucial to the reopening of the economy, several U.S. retailers are offering bonuses or other perks to staff getting their shots.


Demand for hourly staff at restaurants, factories, retail stores and fulfillment centers is rising as e-commerce demand remains robust and consumers are expected to leave their homes more.


Amazon will also pay a sign-on bonus of up to $1,000 (¥109,000). (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Why do you think some people do a lot of overtime (ex. they want the overtime pay, their company doesn’t have enough employees)? In the future, do you think all companies can fully stop excessive overtime? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • According to the WHO, working long hours is killing hundreds of thousands of people a year in a worsening trend that may accelerate further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Why do you think the pandemic is worsening the trend (ex. no boundary between employees’ work-life and home-life)? In what ways can this trend be prevented from getting worse (ex. revise company rules for working from home)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Amazon.com, Inc. will give $100 (about ¥10,900) more to new hires with proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Do you think this will encourage all new hires to get vaccinated? Do you think some people will bring fake proof? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think people should be required to get COVID-19 vaccines? Why or why not? Discuss.