Unit 4

NEW AGEISM LAWS LET OLDER BANKERS SUE FOR MILLIONS

Give Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.

Employment law – трудовое право

middle-aged and older workers – служащие среднего и старшего возраста

EU-wide initiative – инициатива, поддерживаемая Европейским Союзом

to stop ageism – остановить дискриминацию пожилых людей

job seekers – соискатель какой-либо должности

legislator - законодатель; член законодательного органа

to be on a par with – наравне с чем-либо

ethnic minorities – национальные меньшинства

claim significant levels of compensation – требовать компенсации в значительном размере

to be found guilty of – признавать виновным в чём-либо

to fire staff for – уволить персонал за что-либо

chief executive – глава фирмы, исполнительный директор

speeding – превышение скоростного режима

drunk driving – управление транспортным средством в состоянии опьянения

to benefit from – извлекать выгоду из чего-либо

ambitious counterparts – амбициозные, честолюбивые коллеги

human resource departments – отдел кадров

employment law solicitor – адвокат, специализирующий на трудовом праве

to pass a law – принять закон

unfair dismissal – несправедливое увольнение

to cap - превышать

fraction – доля, часть

multi-million-dollar payouts – многомиллионные выплаты, возмещения

disgruntled staff – рассерженный, раздражённый персонал

Listen to the text “New ageism laws let older bankers sue for millions”. Make notes about the names of the organizations, proper and personal names, and numbers which you might hear.

The European Union, The Employment Equality Age Regulations, Sam Mercer, the Employers’ Forum on Age, The Guardian newspaper, Jurassic Park, 70% of 16-24-year-olds, $110,000.

Agree or disagree to the following statements.

1. Traders in their 40’s in one bank are known as “dinosaurs” and their desks as "Jurassic Park". (t)

2. Young people are happy with the new ageism laws. (f)

3. The Employment Equality Age regulations became law on November 1. (f)

4. Sam Mercer is the chief executive of the Employers’ Forum on Age. (t)

1. The Times newspaper said, “Ageism is still seen as not that bad as ethnic minorities discrimination”. (f)

2. Human resource departments call white middle-aged men “pale, stale males”. (t)

3. New employment laws in the EU will make it harder for older people to get a job. (f)

4. Many middle-aged bankers will benefit most from the new laws. (t)

5. The new laws mean that employers can fire their staff for being “too old”. (f)

Listen to the text again and fill in the gaps using the following words.

Compensation; employment laws; middle-aged bankers; European Union; payouts; Equality Age Regulations; unfair dismissal; ageism; legislators; counterparts; claim; law solicitor; guilty; speeding; traders; drunk driving; financial ruin; experience; human resource departments.

New employment laws have been introduced in the European Union that will help middle-aged and older workers. The Employment Equality Age Regulations became law on October 1 as part of an EU-wide initiative to stop ageism in the workplace. Legislators decided discrimination against older workers and older job seekers was on a par with sex discrimination and that against ethnic minorities. The new laws mean staff can claim significant levels of compensation from employers found guilty of firing staff for being “too old”. Sam Mercer, chief executive of the Employers’ Forum on Age told The Guardian newspaper: "Ageism is still seen as not that bad like speeding. While racism and sexism are viewed like drunk driving - totally unacceptable." However, not everyone is happy with the new laws. The Guardian reports a recent study which revealed 70% of 16-24-year-olds believed older workers should not receive higher pay because of their age or experience.

Those likely to most benefit from the new laws are middle-aged bankers, who are often “let go” by their employers for being less dynamic than their younger and more ambitious counterparts. In effect, this means the law will give greater protection to white middle-aged men - called "pale, stale males" by human resource departments. The Guardian reports that one bank allowed staff to call traders in their 40s "dinosaurs" and their desks as "Jurassic Park", according to a leading employment law solicitor. Before the new law was passed, these workers had a very hard time reconstructing their lives after being wrongly fired by companies. Compensation for unfair dismissal claims was capped at around $110,000, which is a fraction of the income for many bankers in their 40s. This often meant financial ruin for many middle-aged bankers. The new laws change that. Companies now need to be extremely careful when “releasing” older workers, or risk multi-million-dollar payouts to disgruntled staff.

Match the following words from the text placed in the left column with their synonyms given in the right column. Consult a dictionary if necessary.

speeding unacceptable workers income capped disgruntled males companies fired experience

bombing inexcusable employees earnings limit fed up men organizations sacked hands-on

Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

	Compensation for unfair dismissal claims	was capped at around $110,000
	Racism and sexism are viewed	like drunk driving - totally unacceptable
	Ageism is seen as	not bad like speeding
	Financial ruin for	many middle-aged bankers
	The new laws mean staff can	claim significant levels of compensation
	The Employment Equality	Age Regulations
	However not everyone	is happy with the new laws
	16-24-year-olds believed older workers	should not receive higher pay
	New employment laws	have been introduced in the EU
	One bank allowed staff to	call traders in their 40s “dinosaurs”