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Glossary：
1. devastate vt.摧毁；毁灭
2. self-esteem n.自尊
3. ignite vt.点燃
4. evoke vt.引起
5. enclosure n.圈地
6. deprive vt.剥夺
7. inevitable adj.不可避免的
8. enforced adj.强制性的
9. idleness n.无所事事
10. inadequacy n.不足；缺乏
11. necessitate vt.使成为必然
12. minimum adj.最低的；最小的
13. consequently adv.因此
14. laid-off adj.下岗的
15. remedial adj.治疗的
16. fringe adj.附加的；额外的；边缘的
17. affirm vt. 肯定；断言
18. scheme n.方案；计划；安排
19. proportion n. 比例
20. pension n.退休金
21. payroll n.薪水册；（公司）应付工资总额
22. inflationary adj.通货膨胀的
23. complement n.补充
24. directorate n.董事会
25. qualification n.条件
26. touchy adj.易怒的
27. courier n.旅行随从；旅行团的服务员；信使
28. promotion n.晋升
29. seniority n.资历
Background Reading
"I'm sorry, but we are going to have to let you go."
These words are among the things you least want to hear. They can devastate your self-esteem, ignite widespread anger and evoke fear.
Employment first became widespread when the enclosures of the 17th and 18th centuries made many people dependent on paid work by depriving them of the use of the land, and thus of the means to provide a living for themselves.
Coming with employment is unemployment. Though nobody is cared to admit it as inevitable, opinion polls are now beginning to show an unwilling general agreement that, whoever is to blame and whatever happens from now on, high unemployment is probably here to stay.
Unemployment is the enforced idleness of wage earners who are able and willing to work but cannot find jobs. It arises from an imbalance between the kinds of workers wanted by employers and the kinds of workers looking for jobs. The imbalances may be caused by inadequacy in skills, location, or personal characteristics. Technological developments, for example, necessitate nwe skills in many industries, leaving those workers with outdated skills out of work. Workers with inadequate education or training and young workers with little or no experience may be unable to get jobs because employers believe that these employees would not produce enough to be worth paying the legal minimum wage. Seasonal unemployment may occur when industries have a slow season, such as construction and other outdoor work in winter. Further, when the business cycle turns downward, demand for goods and services drops; consequently, there is a general lack of demand for labor and workers are laid off.
In societies where most people can earn a living only by working for others, being unable to find a job is serious problem. Because of its human costs in deprivation and a feeling of rejection and personal failure, the extent of unemployment is widely used as a measure of workers' welfare. The proportion of workers unemployed also shows how well a nation's human resources are used and serves as an index of economic activity.
We shall have to find ways of sharing the available employment more widely.
Sample Dialogues
1. Get Fired
A. Please come in, John, and close the door behind you.
B: All right, Mr. Brown.
A: Have a seat over there. How are things going in the office?
B: Pretty well. Everyone is working hard.
A: But you see, out business is going down sharply these couple of months. And we've to reduce some staff to save the costs.
B: You mean, I'm among the people who have to go?
A: I'm sorry to say so.
B: Did I do something wrong?
A: Well, you're the marketing manager. But our sales don't go up.
B: But you know I've been working very hard. And I have family to support.
A: I feel sorry, but that's the decision of the directorate.
2. Out of Work
A: Hi, stranger! I haven't seen you for ages. What's up?
B: Hi, man. I have some bad news. I got fired.
A: Oh, no! You must be kidding. You told me last time it was a good job and you'd like to take it as a career. That was only one week ago. How come?
B: It's a long story. In a word, I didn't do a good job of it. I messed up a business deal, a deal that would make ten million dollars and I messed it up.
A: I'm sorry, man. Then what are you going to do now?
B: I'm looking for a job. Mary doesn't know yet. I spent the last three days at a coffee store. She though I went to work as usual.
A: That's not the way to solve the problem. Did you check the classified ads?
B: Yes, but I don't think they'll work out. I find some good ones, but I'm not qualified though.
A: Listen. I'll see what I can do, OK? You now go home and tell Mary the whole story. She is your wife. She'll understand.
B: I just don't know how to bring it up..Well, all right. She has the right to know anyway.
3. Looking for a Job
A: Good morning, Mr. Robert.
B: Good morning, Miss Brown. Have a seat, please.
A: Thank you.
B: I have been looking through your appication. You seem to have many of the qualifications needed for this position, especially experience.
A: I have been working in hotels for eight years now.
B: Oh, really. That's actually a long time. Were you satisfied with your last position?
A: To be honest, not entirely. The boss was very touchy and hard to get along with. And chances for advancement were very limited.
B: I see. Was it hard work?
A: No, it was an interesting job and I loved meeting people. I knew how to handle a bad-tempered guest. But I had argument with my boss and he just asked me to go. Anyhow I'd like to try something new.
B: But have you ever done anything to do with tour--tour guide, for instance.
A: I did work for a short time as a courier for a tour operator, taking foreigners on guided tours of Londong. Perhaps that's the sort of thing you mean.
B: Yes, I think it is. Do you speak any foreign languages?
A: Yes, I do. I speak German and Spanish---you see, I spent several years abroad when I was young.
B: Oh, did you? That's very interstiong. Next is the question of salary, of course.
A: Well, I used to get 2,000 monthly, so I couldn't accept less than that.
B: Well, we ask for loyalty and hard work from our employees. But we pay well, and opportunities for promotion depend on merit, not just on age or seniority. I suppose you know that.
A: I'm very interested in working for your agency, Mr. Robert. And I don't mind hard work and working overtime.
B: That's fine. I have a few more applicants to interview today for this position. But at the moment, your chances look very good.
A: I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for your time, Mr. Robert.
B: Thank you for coming, Miss Brown. We well be in touch with you shortly.
Questions for buddies to think about:
1. How much does the depression affect your life?
2. Do you know someone whose life is seriously affectd by the depression？ Tell us something about him.
3. Many off-farm workers go back to their hometowns due to the closedown of some factories, especially those in the south of China, what impact do you think will this phenomenon make upon our society?
4. Have you any suggestions to laid-off workers?
5. What caused the depression? How long do you think it will last?
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