Office, remote or

hybrid?

ESL
Let’s get started
with a warm-up

ESL Brains
Discuss how you or the people you know felt about the
following activities when the first lockdown started.

setting up a workspace at home managing workload

separating work life and

frequent videoconferencing
home life

spending less time with

colleagues

ESL 3
Let’s think!

ESL Brains
Read the results of different surveys conducted in 2022 in the
UK. Choose the most suitable options to complete the
sentences.
A. 21% of respondents never want to work from home/in the office.

B. People under/over 55 are the most likely to want to work from home
permanently.

C. People aged 16 to 24 mostly prefer to work from home/in the office

full-time.

D. 78% of those who worked from home said that this

improved/worsened their work-life balance.

E. 55% say that they concentrate better working from home/in the
office.

F. 81% of younger workers admit they would feel more free/isolated

without time in the office.
ESL G. 30% have found separating their home lives from their work lives 5
Let’s check the answers.

A. 21% of respondents never want to work from home/in the office.

B. People under/over 55 are the most likely to want to work from home
permanently.

C. People aged 16 to 24 mostly prefer to work from home/in the office

full-time.

D. 78% of those who worked from home said that this

improved/worsened their work-life balance.

E. 55% say that they concentrate better working from home/in the
office.

F. 81% of younger workers admit they would feel more free/isolated

without time in the office.
ESL G. 30% have found separating their home lives from their work lives 6
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
Discuss which trends you find surprising.

● 21% of respondents never want to work from home.

● People under 55 are the most likely to want to work from home
permanently.

● People aged 16 to 24 mostly prefer to work in the office full-

time.

● 78% of those who worked from home said that this improved
their work-life balance.

● 55% say that they concentrate better working from home.

● 81% of younger workers admit they would feel more isolated

without time in the office.

● 30% have found separating their home lives from their work
lives difficult.
ESL 8
Let’s work with some
vocabulary!

ESL Brains
Match each sentence beginning with two endings.

1. ...another global trend urges them to review their

A. By letting people
policies.
choose how they
work, companies… 2. ...demonstrate trust in their employees by letting them do
things on their own terms.
B. Companies might
stop allowing 3. ...employees who value the freedom of remote work
employees to work might push back.
from home unless… 4. ...follow suit with industry leaders, staying competitive
in attracting top talent.
C. If companies decide
to force people to 5. ...should meet them where they’re at, acknowledging
return to the office,… the diverse needs of their workforce.

D. Assuming that 6. ...shouldn’t impose strict guidelines to ensure a smooth

companies aim to transition back to the office.
retain the best 7. ...they finally embrace the advantages of a hybrid work
employees, they… model combining in-office and remote work.
ESL 10
Let’s check the answers.

1. ...another global trend urges them to review their

A. By letting people
policies.
choose how they
work, companies… 2. ...demonstrate trust in their employees by letting them do
things on their own terms.
B. Companies might
stop allowing 3. ...employees who value the freedom of remote work
employees to work might push back.
from home unless… 4. ...follow suit with industry leaders, staying competitive
in attracting top talent.
C. If companies decide
to force people to 5. ...should meet them where they’re at, acknowledging
return to the office,… the diverse needs of their workforce.

D. Assuming that 6. ...shouldn’t impose strict guidelines to ensure a smooth

companies aim to transition back to the office.
retain the best 7. ...they finally embrace the advantages of a hybrid work
employees, they… model combining in-office and remote work.
ESL 11
part
1/4
Match the words and phrases in bold with the definitions on
the right.
1. accept or welcome something with
enthusiasm
A. By letting people choose how
they work, companies 2. according to one’s own preferences and
demonstrate trust in their conditions
employees by letting them do
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
things on their own terms.
something
B. By letting people choose how
4. do the same thing as someone else
they work, companies follow
suit with industry leaders, 5. force or introduce something like a rule
staying competitive in or decision on someone
attracting top talent.
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
do something

7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 12

part
2/4
Match the words and phrases in bold with the definitions on
the right.
1. accept or welcome something with
enthusiasm
C. Companies might stop
allowing employees to work 2. according to one’s own preferences and
from home unless another conditions
global trend urges them to
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
review their policies.
something
D. Companies might stop
4. do the same thing as someone else
allowing employees to work
from home unless they finally 5. force or introduce something like a rule
embrace the advantages of or decision on someone
a hybrid work model
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
combining in-office and
do something
remote work.
7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 13

part
3/4
Match the words and phrases in bold with the definitions on
the right.
1. accept or welcome something with
enthusiasm
E. If companies decide to force
people to return to the office, 2. according to one’s own preferences and
employees who value the conditions
freedom of remote work
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
might push back.
something
F. If companies decide to force
4. do the same thing as someone else
people to return to the office,
they risk creating a negative 5. force or introduce something like a rule
work environment where or decision on someone
employees shy away from
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
responsibilities due to
do something
dissatisfaction.
7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 14

part
4/4
Match the words and phrases in bold with the definitions on
the right.
1. accept or welcome something with
enthusiasm
G. Assuming that companies
aim to retain the best 2. according to one’s own preferences and
employees, they should conditions
meet them where they’re
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
at, acknowledging the
something
diverse needs of their
workforce. 4. do the same thing as someone else

H. Assuming that companies 5. force or introduce something like a rule

aim to retain the best or decision on someone
employees, they shouldn’t
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
impose strict guidelines to
do something
ensure a smooth transition
back to the office. 7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 15

part
1/4
Let’s check the answers.

1. accept or welcome something with

enthusiasm
A. By letting people choose how
they work, companies 2. according to one’s own preferences and
demonstrate trust in their conditions
employees by letting them do
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
things on their own terms.
something
B. By letting people choose how
4. do the same thing as someone else
they work, companies follow
suit with industry leaders, 5. force or introduce something like a rule
staying competitive in or decision on someone
attracting top talent.
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
do something

7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 16

part
2/4
Let’s check the answers.

1. accept or welcome something with

enthusiasm
C. Companies might stop
allowing employees to work 2. according to one’s own preferences and
from home unless another conditions
global trend urges them to
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
review their policies.
something
D. Companies might stop
4. do the same thing as someone else
allowing employees to work
from home unless they finally 5. force or introduce something like a rule
embrace the advantages of or decision on someone
a hybrid work model
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
combining in-office and
do something
remote work.
7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 17

part
3/4
Let’s check the answers.

1. accept or welcome something with

enthusiasm
E. If companies decide to force
people to return to the office, 2. according to one’s own preferences and
employees who value the conditions
freedom of remote work
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
might push back.
something
F. If companies decide to force
4. do the same thing as someone else
people to return to the office,
they risk creating a negative 5. force or introduce something like a rule
work environment where or decision on someone
employees shy away from
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
responsibilities due to
do something
dissatisfaction.
7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 18

part
4/4
Let’s check the answers.

1. accept or welcome something with

enthusiasm
G. Assuming that companies
aim to retain the best 2. according to one’s own preferences and
employees, they should conditions
meet them where they’re
3. refuse to accept or try to prevent
at, acknowledging the
something
diverse needs of their
workforce. 4. do the same thing as someone else

H. Assuming that companies 5. force or introduce something like a rule

aim to retain the best or decision on someone
employees, they shouldn’t
6. strongly advise or persuade someone to
impose strict guidelines to
do something
ensure a smooth transition
back to the office. 7. try to avoid something

ESL 8. understand and accept someone’s 19

Do you agree?

ESL Brains
part
1/2
Choose two sentences you agree or disagree with the
most and explain your point of view.

● By letting people choose how they work, companies demonstrate

trust in their employees by letting them do things on their own
terms.

● By letting people choose how they work, companies follow suit

with industry leaders, staying competitive in attracting top talent.

● Companies might stop allowing employees to work from home

unless another global trend urges them to review their policies.

● Companies might stop allowing employees to work from home

unless they finally embrace the advantages of a hybrid work
model combining in-office and remote work.

ESL 21
part
2/2
Choose two sentences you agree or disagree with the
most and explain your point of view.

● If companies decide to force people to return to the office,

employees who value the freedom of remote work might push
back.

● If companies decide to force people to return to the office, they

risk creating a negative work environment where employees shy
away from responsibilities due to dissatisfaction.

● Assuming that companies aim to retain the best employees, they

should meet them where they’re at, acknowledging the diverse
needs of their workforce.

● Assuming that companies aim to retain the best employees, they

shouldn’t impose strict guidelines to ensure a smooth transition
back to the office.

ESL 22
In a moment, you’ll watch a
video about:

companies, including
Google,
making changes to the way
they work
ESL Brains
Watch the first part of the video (to 01:14) and note down
what Google is planning to do to make employees return to
the office.

ESL
ESLBrains
Let’s see a possible answer.

They are going to track attendance and include the topic

of working from the office as a talking point in
performance reviews.

ESL 25
Do you agree?

ESL Brains
Read the statements and say if you agree with them.
Provide one argument to support your view.

● When people work together in an office, they can

accomplish more.
● People will get used to working in an office again just like
they got used to working from home.
● People are more likely to embrace new rules if they are
afraid of being laid-off.
● People miss the perks they had when working in offices.

ESL 27
Watch the second part of the video (from 01:15) and tick the
points that are mentioned in the video.

A. When people work together in an

office, they can accomplish more.

B. People will get used to working in

an office again just like they got
used to working from home.

C. People are more likely to embrace

new rules if they are afraid of
being laid-off.

D. People miss the perks they had

when working in offices.

ESL 28
Let’s check the answers.

A. When people work together in an

office, they can accomplish more.

B. People will get used to working in

an office again just like they got
used to working from home.

C. People are more likely to embrace

new rules if they are afraid of
being laid-off.

D. People miss the perks they had

when working in offices.

ESL 29
Now, we’ll put it into practice!

ESL Brains
part
1/2
Complete the comments about the video using the
correct form of the words in the boxes. Some of the
words are not needed.
embrace guideline hybrid impose meet push
retain shy suit term trend urge

A. The leading tech company is _________ employees to return to the office

because they think technology can’t help them be more productive. How
ironic is that?

B. Ugh, look at all those strict rules for the office return they’re _________ . I
don’t think it’s about really _________ us where we’re at. Why not
introduce a _________ work model?

C. I can’t understand why so many people _________ back against going

back to the office. I’m kind of fine with that. Perhaps it’s about time we left
those home office PJs behind.

D. Tracking attendance? Give me a break! As if people have been _________

ESL away from their responsibilities all this time. I’ve been doing almost twice 31
part
2/2
Complete the comments about the video using the
correct form of the words in the boxes. Some of the
words are not needed.
embrace guideline hybrid impose meet push
retain shy suit term trend urge

E. I’m afraid the good old days of working from home are over. Once Google
started a trend, the rest are bound to follow _________ .

F. Smaller companies that _________ working from home will attract the
biggest talent and become a direct competition to the big companies over
the next few years.

G. Not happening. I’d rather get sacked on my own _________ than go back
to a life of soul-destroying commuting.

ESL 32
part
1/2
Let’s check the answers.

embrace guideline hybrid impose meet push

retain shy suit term trend urge

A. The leading tech companyurging

is _________ employees to return to the office
because they think technology can’t help them be more productive. How
ironic is that? imposi
meetin ng
hybrid_________ . I
B. Ugh, look at allgthose strict rules for the office return they’re
don’t think it’s about really _________
pushus where we’re at. Why not
introduce a _________ work model?

C. I can’t understand why so many people _________ back against going

shying
back to the office. I’m kind of fine with that. Perhaps it’s about time we left
those home office PJs behind.

D. Tracking attendance? Give me a break! As if people have been _________

ESL away from their responsibilities all this time. I’ve been doing almost twice 33
part
2/2
Let’s check the answers.

embrace guideline retain

suit term trend

E. I’m afraid the good old days of working from home are over. Once Google
suit
started a trend, the rest are bound to follow _________ .
embrac
F. Smaller companies that e_________ working from home will attract the
biggest talent and become a direct competition to the big companies over
the next few years.
terms
G. Not happening. I’d rather get sacked on my own _________ than go back
to a life of soul-destroying commuting.

ESL 34
Let’s discuss!

ESL Brains
part
1/2
Choose any four comments and discuss how you feel
about them and why.
● The leading tech company is urging employees to return to the
office because they think technology can’t help them be more
productive. How ironic is that?

● Ugh, look at all those strict rules for the office return they’re
imposing. I don’t think it’s about really meeting us where we’re
at. Why not introduce a hybrid work model?

● I can’t understand why so many people push back against going

back to the office. I’m kind of fine with that. Perhaps it’s about
time we left those home office PJs behind.

● Tracking attendance? Give me a break! As if people have been

shying away from their responsibilities all this time. I’ve been
doing almost twice as much since I started working from home.

ESL 36
part
2/2
Choose any four comments and discuss how you feel
about them and why.
● I’m afraid the good old days of working from home are over.
Once Google started a trend, the rest are bound to follow
suit.

● Smaller companies that embrace working from home will

attract the biggest talent and become a direct competition
to the big companies over the next few years.

● Not happening. I’d rather get sacked on my own terms than

go back to a life of soul-destroying commuting.

ESL 37
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
Choose two topics and discuss the questions.

HYBRID WORK MODEL RETURNING TO THE OFFI

CE

MOTIVATION PERKS

ESL 39
THANKS!

ESL Brains