Do you work somewhere where you can behave in a relaxed way around colleagues, or do you have to be very polite and a bit distant? Is there a dress code? Do you have to ask permission to leave the room? This programme is about formality at work - we find out how things have changed over the years for some of us here.
This week's question: A survey was carried out in Britain into dress-codes at work. What percentage of people do you think said they'd prefer to be given a precise dress-code, i.e. told what kind of clothes they should wear?
Listen to the programme:
Mr Smith or John?
a) 5%
b) 23%
c) 85%
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme.
Vocabulary from the programme
- to be formal
- to behave in a polite, slightly distant way
- to be casual/informal
- to be relaxed, not formal
- to be on first name terms with someone
- to be in a relationship where it's okay for you to use each others' first names
- dress code
- rules about what kind of clothes you should wear
- dress-down Fridays
- when you don't have to wear smart, formal clothes at work on Fridays
- dinner jacket
- a very formal, dark outfit usually worn for special occasions
- to ask permission
- to ask if you're allowed to do something
