Unit 5: At work: colleagues and routines Flashcards
opposite number
The Foreign Secretary is currently having talks with his opposite number in the White House.
has the same position/ does the same job as you, but in a different organisation
working relationship
way of communicating and working together
counterpart
The women’s shoe, like its male counterpart, is specifically designed for the serious tennis player.
more formal equivalent of “opposite number”
rapport
/ræˈpɔː(r)/
She understood the importance of establishing a close rapport with clients.
communication/relationship
take the initiative
make decisions without being told what to do
hierarchical
The company’s structure is rigidly hierarchical.
(n): hierarchy
has a structure with important and less important people
pecking order
He started as a clerk but gradually rose in the pecking order.
a system where some people have the right to get benefits/promotions before others
job-share
The company encourages job-shares and part-time working.
an agreement where two people each share the same job
hot-desking
a policy of sharing desks in an office, so people sit at whichever desk is gree on a particular day
talk shop
Whenever we meet up with Clive and Sue they always end up talking shop.
talk about work
stimulating (adj)
She was a very stimulating teacher who got the best out of her students.
encouraging new ideas or new thinking
workload
We have taken on extra staff to cope with the increased workload.
amount of work that has to be done
mechanical
My work has become mechanical—I could do it in my sleep.
done without thinking, like a machine
knock off
Let’s knock off for lunch.
finish work
dull, repetitious
monotonous
New secretaries came and went with monotonous regularity.
never changing and therefore boring
