Luyện tập IELTS Reading ngày 23 có chủ đề: Mental Health in the Workplace: Causes and Solutions. Bài này thuộc chuỗi IELTS Reading: 30 chủ đề luyện tập. Mỗi bài này luyện tập khoảng 30 phút.
Học lại bài cũ: IELTS READING Day 22: The Role of International Organizations in Crisis Management.
Đọc bài IELTS Reading và trả lời câu hỏi ở bên dưới
Section 1: Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace
In recent years, mental health has become an increasingly prominent issue in workplace discussions, with more employers acknowledging its impact on employee well-being and productivity. Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how they think, feel, and behave. In the workplace, poor mental health can lead to decreased productivity, higher absenteeism, and employee burnout. According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
Work-related stress is a significant cause of mental health issues. Factors like excessive workload, long working hours, lack of job security, and poor management can contribute to stress and anxiety. A negative work environment, bullying, or harassment can further exacerbate the issue. Many employees face the pressure to meet unrealistic targets, often leading to long-term mental health problems if left unchecked.
Section 2: Causes of Workplace Mental Health Issues
One of the most common causes of workplace-related mental health problems is workload imbalance. Employees who are constantly overloaded with tasks without the time or resources to complete them often experience stress and frustration. This stress can accumulate, causing feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.
Another major cause is poor communication and unclear expectations. When employees are uncertain about what is expected of them or feel that they do not receive adequate feedback from management, they are more likely to suffer from job-related anxiety. Additionally, a lack of recognition for their efforts can lead to feelings of demotivation and reduced job satisfaction.
Workplace culture also plays a vital role in influencing employees’ mental health. A culture that promotes long working hours, discourages taking breaks, or creates a fear of failure can result in a toxic environment where employees feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, companies that fail to support work-life balance often contribute to burnout, where workers feel physically and mentally exhausted.
Section 3: Addressing Mental Health Problems
Tackling mental health issues in the workplace requires a proactive approach from both employers and employees. Creating an open and supportive culture where mental health is discussed without stigma is essential. Managers can encourage employees to talk about their mental health struggles by promoting a non-judgmental environment and offering support. This can include access to counseling services, mental health days, and flexible work arrangements.
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) have also proven effective in providing confidential counseling and support for those experiencing mental health challenges. These programs often offer services like stress management workshops, mental health assessments, and coping strategies for workplace pressures.
Implementing workplace wellness programs can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. For example, some companies introduce initiatives like yoga, mindfulness training, or regular exercise sessions during the workday. Encouraging employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance and providing them with the autonomy to manage their workloads can significantly improve their mental health.
Finally, ongoing training for managers and supervisors on mental health issues is crucial. Managers need to recognize the signs of stress and burnout in their teams and know how to offer appropriate support. This might include reassigning tasks, reducing workload, or simply providing a listening ear when needed.
Section 4: Conclusion
In conclusion, mental health in the workplace is a critical issue that requires attention from both employers and employees. The causes of workplace-related mental health problems are varied, from heavy workloads to toxic workplace cultures. However, solutions are available, and with the right strategies, it is possible to create a healthier, more supportive work environment. Open communication, employee support programs, and wellness initiatives can all help to reduce the negative impact of work-related stress and promote positive mental health.
Từ vựng
- Mental health – Sức khỏe tinh thần
- Well-being – Sự khỏe mạnh, hạnh phúc
- Productivity – Năng suất
- Absenteeism – Tình trạng vắng mặt
- Burnout – Kiệt sức
- Depression – Trầm cảm
- Anxiety – Lo âu
- Work-related stress – Căng thẳng liên quan đến công việc
- Excessive workload – Khối lượng công việc quá nhiều
- Job security – An ninh công việc (tính ổn định trong công việc)
- Bullying – Bắt nạt
- Harassment – Quấy rối
- Pressure – Áp lực
- Workload imbalance – Mất cân bằng khối lượng công việc
- Frustration – Sự thất vọng, bực bội
- Inadequacy – Sự thiếu tự tin, không đủ năng lực
- Poor communication – Giao tiếp kém
- Unclear expectations – Mong đợi không rõ ràng
- Recognition – Sự công nhận
- Job satisfaction – Sự hài lòng với công việc
- Workplace culture – Văn hóa nơi làm việc
- Toxic environment – Môi trường độc hại
- Work-life balance – Cân bằng công việc và cuộc sống
- Burnout – Kiệt sức
- Proactive approach – Cách tiếp cận chủ động
- Non-judgmental environment – Môi trường không phán xét
- Counseling services – Dịch vụ tư vấn
- Flexible work arrangements – Sắp xếp công việc linh hoạt
- Confidential – Bảo mật
- Mental health assessments – Đánh giá sức khỏe tinh thần
- Wellness programs – Chương trình chăm sóc sức khỏe
- Stress – Căng thẳng
- Autonomy – Sự tự chủ
- Supportive environment – Môi trường hỗ trợ
- Ongoing training – Đào tạo liên tục
- Listening ear – Người lắng nghe
Câu hỏi IELTS Reading
Questions 1-5: Matching Information Match each cause of workplace mental health issues (Questions 1-5) with the correct paragraph (A-D) from the reading passage.
- Excessive workload
- Lack of feedback
- Toxic workplace culture
- Job-related anxiety
- Long working hours
A. Section 2
B. Section 3
C. Section 1
D. Section 4
Questions 6-10: True, False, Not Given Write True if the statement agrees with the information in the passage, False if it contradicts the information, or Not Given if there is no information on this.
- Depression and anxiety cost the global economy over a billion dollars annually.
- Work-life balance does not impact employees’ mental health.
- Employee assistance programs provide support for stress management.
- Mental health in the workplace is solely the responsibility of employers.
- Poor communication between staff and managers leads to job dissatisfaction.
Questions 11-13: Short Answer Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
- What do wellness programs like yoga aim to reduce?
- What can managers provide to assist employees struggling with mental health issues?
- Which programs offer confidential counseling for workplace stress?
Đáp án IELTS Reading
Questions 1-5: Matching Information
- Excessive workload – A (Section 2: Causes of Workplace Mental Health Issues)
- Lack of feedback – A (Section 2: Causes of Workplace Mental Health Issues)
- Toxic workplace culture – A (Section 2: Causes of Workplace Mental Health Issues)
- Job-related anxiety – C (Section 1: Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace)
- Long working hours – A (Section 2: Causes of Workplace Mental Health Issues)
Questions 6-10: True, False, Not Given
- True – (Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.)
- False – (Companies that fail to support work-life balance often contribute to burnout, which negatively affects mental health.)
- True – (Employee assistance programs provide support like stress management workshops.)
- False – (Mental health is the responsibility of both employers and employees, as stated in Section 3.)
- True – (Poor communication and unclear expectations lead to job-related anxiety and dissatisfaction.)
Questions 11-13: Short Answer
- Workplace stress
- A listening ear
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
