Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- millennial / mɪˈlen.i.əl / (n) – people born in the 1980s and 1990s
Example:A lot of millennials rely too much on technology.
- hefty / ˈhef·ti / (adj) – great in amount or size
Example:He is not yet ready for a hefty responsibility because he is still very young.
- impair / ɪmˈpeər / (v) – to make something weaker
Example:Criticisms impaired his self-esteem.
- take a toll / teɪk ə toʊl / (idiom) – to cause a negative effect
Example:Doing overtime work took a toll on my health.
- talk (something) through / tɔk θru / (idiom) – to discuss something in detail
Example:When you have problems at school, you should talk it through with your parents.
Article
Read the text below.
A survey revealed that millennials are more stressed at work than their older colleagues.
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF), an organization that raises awareness about mental health in the United Kingdom, conducted the survey among 4,500 respondents aged 18 and above. Results showed that 18- to 38-year-old millennials felt more pressured at work, with 28% saying that coping with stress comes naturally with their jobs. Nonetheless, only 12% of employees aged 53 to 71 felt the same.
MHF representative Richard Grange explained that factors like job insecurity, low pay, and a hefty workload may have impaired the millennials’ mental health. He added that the present job market poses different challenges compared to previous years.
In order to improve employees’ mental health, Grange claimed that having a sense of security and support in their jobs is important for employees. Otherwise, work-related pressure can take a toll on their personal lives.
Jaan Madan, a lead at Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), an organization of mental health educators, said that the first step in handling work-related stress is talking it through with a manager. However, according to the same survey, only 14% of both age groups are willing to discuss their stress levels with their managers.
In line with this, MHFA England launched the ‘Address Your Stress’ toolkit, a set of resources that people can use as a reference in determining signs and causes of stress and ways to handle them. The toolkit is free of charge and is available for everyone to download from the organization’s website.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
• What practices or lifestyle changes can millennials adopt to avoid work-related stress?
• How do you think companies can ensure that their employees feel secure and supported?
Discussion B
• Based on your observations, what are some notable differences between millennials and older age groups? Discuss.
• In your opinion, how can people break the generation gap between millennials and older age groups?