Encouraging Employees To Be Healthy: A Guide For Employers & Marama Beach Hotel And Bistro: Guidelines For Working In The Kitchen - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21 ====
Encouraging employees to be healthy: a guide for employers
Benefits
Putting effort into employee wellness can reduce absenteeism and encourage better teamwork in the workplace, as well as increased productivity. Once you’ve devised a program, continue to assess the outcomes and regularly survey your team to gather feedback.
Focus on general prevention
Consider offering flu vaccinations on site and look at offering employees incentives on health insurance. Some companies arrange for someone who specialises in health issues, such as a doctor, to visit the workplace and speak to employees.
Encourage a healthier diet
Most of us know that eating healthily can help prevent future diseases, but many are not aware that unhealthy eating is linked to a 66 percent increased risk of loss of productivity. It may be necessary to consciously develop a healthy food and drink workplace policy, including a healthy catering policy. A simple thing to do is substitute soda in any on-site vending machines with water or juice. Also investigate the nutritional value of food supplied for team meetings and work events. Consider putting a bowl of fruit out in the staff room and urge everyone to help themselves for free. You can encourage employees to bring in healthy lunches from home by making sure that there is a fridge in the break room.
Encourage more exercise
Encouraging employees to exercise needn’t be expensive as there are plenty of low-cost methods available. These might include: installing racks for bikes in your staff car park; encouraging employees to take part in fun runs and charity events; suggesting ‘walking meetings’ where people discuss business as they get fresh air and exercise; and putting in showers to assist those who ride or run to the workplace. Some companies negotiate group rates for their employees at a nearby gym.
Improve mental health
Recent reports have shown that ignoring mental health costs Australian companies at least $11 billion a year. We all have a responsibility to look out for one another. Some ways you can do this in the workplace include: running employee surveys to get valuable information on morale in the workplace; training managers on mental health strategies; offering rebates so employees are compensated for counselling if required; and refusing to accept any bullying and unprofessional behaviour in your workplace.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27 ====
Marama Beach Hotel and Bistro: guidelines for working in the kitchen
The health and well-being of customers and staff is our first priority, and we expect all staff to take every step possible to maintain food safety and work in a hygienic manner.
Hygiene
• Long hair must be tied back and no rings may be worn if touching food.
• The regulation chefs’ shirts and trousers are to be freshly laundered before starting a new shift, along with aprons if they are worn.
• Cross-contamination between raw and cooked food must be avoided. To this end, staff must use a clean board each time they cut different types of food.
• Staff should not touch money and then food without washing their hands in between.
• In the case of illness or a skin problem, the staff member should inform the manager. Cuts on hands and arms must be properly wrapped or bandaged.
Safety rules
• All injuries must be reported to management immediately.
• Safety guards must not be altered in any way, and staff must always wear protective clothing and gloves when working with sharp, hot, cold or corrosive items or materials.
• Loose clothing or jewellery must not be worn.
• Defective appliances must be turned off and not used – staff must not try to fix them themselves.
• Heavy boxes should be lifted carefully with bent knees and a straight back, holding the box close to the body.
• Work areas should be clean and free of hazards.
• Spills on the floor must be dealt with immediately.
• Flammable liquids must be stored away from flames.
• If storing containers of chemicals in the kitchen, they must have clear labels, so as to avoid any confusion about the contents.
Breaks
Staff have 20 minutes of paid break time per 3 hours of work, during which time they may not leave the premises. Every staff member who works a shift exceeding 5 hours is entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break and free meals. However, please be aware that the kitchen may not always be able to provide this service, especially in peak times. Beverages kept in the storeroom may not be consumed by staff, but filtered water is provided free of charge in the staff room.
Questions
Questions 15–21 Note Completion
Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Encouraging employee health
Benefits
• improved efficiency
• less 15
Preventing problems
• invite guests e.g. a doctor to give information
• provide vaccinations
Diets
• make healthier options available to replace 16
• have healthy food at meetings
• offer 17 at no cost
• provide a 18 for staff use
Exercise
• provide somewhere for employees to leave their 19
• provide 20 for workers who exercise
Mental health
• give managers appropriate training
• find out how employees feel at work by using 21
• do not tolerate bullying or other inappropriate behaviour
Questions 22–27 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
- Chefs’ uniforms and 22 must be washed for every shift.
- Kitchen staff need to change the 23 when they start chopping another kind of food.
- All staff must make sure their hands are clean after handling 24.
- Workers in the kitchen should not attempt to repair 25.
- 26 are required to identify any chemicals kept in the kitchen.
- It is forbidden for kitchen staff to have drinks from the 27.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Absenteeism | Putting effort into employee wellness can reduce absenteeism and encourage better teamwork in the workplace, as well as increased productivity. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that helping employees to be healthy can lead to fewer people missing work, which helps the team work better together and do more work. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'absenteeism.' This means when employees are not at work, usually because they are sick or cannot come. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'absenteeism' because the passage explains that when employers put effort into health, it can reduce the number of days employees are not at work. This is important for teamwork and productivity. |
| Q16 | Soda | A simple thing to do is substitute soda in any on-site vending machines with water or juice. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that one easy way to promote good health is to take out soda from vending machines and put in water or juice instead. This helps workers choose better drinks. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'soda'. This means the sweet, fizzy drink that many people drink, which is not very healthy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'soda' because the passage talks about replacing soda in vending machines with healthier drinks like water or juice. It means that soda is seen as unhealthy, and changing it can help create a healthier workplace. |
| Q17 | Fruit | Consider putting a bowl of fruit out in the staff room and urge everyone to help themselves for free. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says to put a bowl of fruit in the staff room so that workers can take it for free. This helps them to eat healthy. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'fruit'. It means healthy food like apples or bananas. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'fruit' because the passage talks about encouraging employees to eat healthy. It mentions putting out a bowl of fruit for everyone to take for free, which helps promote healthy eating in the workplace. |
| Q18 | Fridge | You can encourage employees to bring in healthy lunches from home by making sure that there is a fridge in the break room. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that having a fridge in the break room helps employees keep their healthy homemade lunches cold. This is important for them to eat well at work. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'fridge'. A fridge is a machine that keeps food cold so it doesn't spoil. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'fridge' because it refers to the need to provide a place for employees to keep their food cold. This encourages them to bring healthy lunches from home. The passage mentions, 'Consider putting a bowl of fruit out in the staff room and urge everyone to help themselves for free. You can encourage employees to bring in healthy lunches from home by making sure that there is a fridge in the break room.' |
| Q19 | Bikes | These might include: installing racks for bikes in your staff car park; encouraging employees to take part in fun runs and charity events; suggesting 'walking meetings' where people discuss business as they get fresh air and exercise; and putting in showers to assist those who ride or run to the workplace. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that one idea to help employees exercise is to put up bike racks in the parking area. This means giving workers a place to keep their bikes safely. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Bikes'. This means that employees can have a place to keep their bicycles. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Bikes' because the passage mentions providing racks for bicycles as a way to encourage employees to exercise. This shows that helping employees find a safe place for their bikes is a good idea for promoting health. |
| Q20 | Showers | putting in showers to assist those who ride or run to the workplace. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that companies can put in showers to help workers who bike or run to work. This makes it easier for them to exercise. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'showers', which are facilities for employees to clean up after exercising. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'showers' because the passage mentions that companies can install showers to help employees who ride bikes or run to work. Having showers available makes it easier for employees to get exercise during the day. |
| Q21 | Surveys | running employee surveys to get valuable information on morale in the workplace; | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that companies should ask their employees questions to learn more about how they are feeling at work. Answer Explanation: The answer 'surveys' means asking employees questions to understand how they feel about their work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'surveys' because the passage mentions running employee surveys to gather valuable information on morale in the workplace. This helps management understand employees' feelings about their work environment. |
| Q22 | Aprons | The regulation chefs' shirts and trousers are to be freshly laundered before starting a new shift, along with aprons if they are worn. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that chefs must wear clean shirts, trousers, and aprons every time they begin to work. This means that chefs need to make sure their aprons are clean to follow the rules. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'aprons'. Aprons are the clothing that chefs wear to keep their uniforms clean while working in the kitchen. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'aprons' because the passage says that the chefs' shirts and trousers should be freshly washed, just like the aprons if they are worn. This shows that aprons are an important part of a chef's uniform that should also be clean each shift. |
| Q23 | Board | Cross-contamination between raw and cooked food must be avoided. To this end, staff must use a clean board each time they cut different types of food. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us to avoid mixing raw and cooked food. To do this, staff need to use a clean board whenever they cut different kinds of food. This is important for food safety. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Board'. This means that the word we are looking for is 'Board'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Board' because the text says that kitchen staff must use a clean board each time they cut different types of food. This means they need to change the board to keep the food safe. So, 'Board' is the right word that fits the sentence about changing it when chopping food. |
| Q24 | Money | Staff should not touch money and then food without washing their hands in between. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that staff must wash their hands if they touch money before they handle food. This is important to keep the food safe. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'money'. This means that kitchen staff must be careful and cannot touch money before they handle food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'money' because the passage states that staff should not touch money and then food without washing their hands in between. This rule helps keep the food safe and clean. |
| Q25 | Appliances | Defective appliances must be turned off and not used – staff must not try to fix them themselves. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that broken machines should be turned off and staff should not try to repair them. This means that 'appliances' are the machines or tools in the kitchen that staff should not touch if they are broken. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'appliances.' This means machines or tools used in the kitchen. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'appliances' because the passage says that kitchen staff should not try to fix broken machines. This shows that 'appliances' refer to the equipment in the kitchen that can become defective. |
| Q26 | Labels | If storing containers of chemicals in the kitchen, they must have clear labels, so as to avoid any confusion about the contents. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when keeping containers of chemicals in the kitchen, they need to have clear labels. This is important because it helps people understand what is in each container and prevent any mistakes. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'labels'. This means tags or stickers that tell what something is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'labels' because the passage mentions that when storing containers of chemicals in the kitchen, they must have clear labels. This helps avoid confusion about what the chemicals are. |
| Q27 | Storeroom | Beverages kept in the storeroom may not be consumed by staff | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that drinks that are stored in the storeroom cannot be drunk by the staff. Answer Explanation: The answer 'storeroom' means a place where things are stored. In this case, it refers to where drinks are kept. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'storeroom' because the passage states that 'Beverages kept in the storeroom may not be consumed by staff'. This means that staff are not allowed to drink from there. |