Tech Workers Take Off Shoes in the Office

Level 3 Lesson by: Aron Thode Source:nytimes.com

How to study this lesson

Ask: (1) What do you usually wear on your feet at home? (2) Have you ever been to an office? What was it like?

Three coworkers stand in an office hallway, shown only from about the waist down: one is barefoot in cropped green pants, one wears green striped socks with black pants and an ID badge, and another stands nearby in gray pants beside a bench and planter.
Some people feel comfortable without shoes.

Actions

Some technology companies in the United States are asking workers to take off their shoes in the office. This new trend is becoming more common, especially at small start-up companies.

At one company in New York, all workers put on special slides (open-toe slippers) when they arrive. Guests must do the same. Company leader, Sneha Sivakumar, says the no-shoes rule "makes it feel like a second home." Growing up in an Indian family in Singapore, she often took off her shoes in homes and temples. This was a way to show respect. She also says it keeps the office clean because people don't bring in dirt from outside.

Nick Bloom is an economist at Stanford University who studies how people work. He says this trend started because many people worked from home during the pandemic. Now they are back in the office, but they want to keep their comfortable home habits. He calls this "the pajama economy."

Some tech workers spend 12 hours a day at the office. Bloom notes, "You might as well wear your slippers in the office as you're not getting to wear them at home."

However, this trend may not spread to all workplaces. Young people often have healthy feet, but older workers might feel uncomfortable going shoeless. Also, some people think feet are a private part of the body.

Vocab List

  • Trend (n.) — A new style or way of doing something that becomes popular.
  • Slides (n.) — Open-toe slippers that are easy to put on.
  • Respect (n.) — A feeling of admiration for someone or something.
  • Economist (n.) — A person who studies money, business, and how people buy and sell things.
  • Pandemic (n.) — A disease that spreads to many countries around the world.
  • Private (adj.) — Something personal that you do not want to share with others.
  • Guests (n.) — People invited to a place.
  • Slippers (n.) — Soft shoes worn inside.

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Some technology companies in the United States are asking workers to take off their (1) __________ in the office. This new trend is becoming more common, especially at small start-up companies.

At one company in New York, all workers put on special (2) __________ (open-toe slippers) when they arrive. Guests must do the same. Company leader, Sneha Sivakumar, says the no-shoes rule "makes it feel like a second home." Growing up in an Indian family in Singapore, she often took off her shoes in homes and temples. This was a way to show (3) __________. She also says it keeps the office clean because people don't bring in dirt from outside.

Nick Bloom is an economist at Stanford University who studies how people work. He says this trend started because many people worked from home during the (4) __________. Now they are back in the office, but they want to keep their comfortable home habits. He calls this "the pajama economy."

Some tech workers spend 12 hours a day at the office. Bloom notes, "You might as well wear your (5) __________ in the office as you're not getting to wear them at home."

However, this trend may not spread to all workplaces. Young people often have healthy feet, but older workers might feel uncomfortable going shoeless. Also, some people think feet are a (6) __________ part of the body.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The no-shoes trend is becoming popular at large companies.
    The article says this trend is especially common at small start-up companies, not large ones.
  • Sneha Sivakumar says the no-shoes rule makes the office feel like home.
    The article states she says the no-shoes rule 'makes it feel like a second home.'
  • Nick Bloom works at a university.
    The article says Nick Bloom is an economist at Stanford University.
  • The no-shoes trend started before the pandemic.
    According to Nick Bloom, this trend started because people worked from home during the pandemic.

True or False

1. The no-shoes trend is becoming popular at large companies. T / F

2. Sneha Sivakumar says the no-shoes rule makes the office feel like home. T / F

3. Nick Bloom works at a university. T / F

4. The no-shoes trend started before the pandemic. T / F

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • ___ Nick Bloom calls this 'the pajama economy.'

  • ___

  • ___ Workers return to the office but want comfortable home habits.

  • ___

  • ___

  • ___

  • ___ Many people work from home during the pandemic.

  • ___

  • ___ Tech companies start asking workers to remove their shoes.

Multiple Choice

1. Why do workers at one New York company wear slides?

   A) Because shoes are not allowed

   B) Because it is too hot in the office

   C) Because the floor is wet

   D) Because they forgot their shoes

2. What did Sneha Sivakumar often do when she was growing up?

   A) She wore special shoes inside

   B) She cleaned her family's house

   C) She took off her shoes in homes and temples

   D) She studied at Stanford University

3. What does Nick Bloom call the new trend?

   A) The home trend

   B) The comfort economy

   C) The pajama economy

   D) The office economy

4. Why might older workers feel uncomfortable with this trend?

   A) Because they have healthy feet

   B) Because they like wearing slides

   C) Because they might not have healthy feet

   D) Because they worked from home

Vocab List
  • Trend (n.)
  • Slides (n.)
  • Respect (n.)
  • Economist (n.)
  • Pandemic (n.)
  • Private (adj.)
  • Guests (n.)
  • Slippers (n.)

Vocab Match

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Trend

2. Slides

3. Respect

4. Economist

5. Pandemic

6. Private

a) Something personal that you do not want to share with others.

b) A disease that spreads to many countries around the world.

c) A person who studies money, business, and how people buy and sell things.

d) A feeling of admiration for someone or something.

e) Open-toe slippers that are easy to put on.

f) A new style or way of doing something that becomes popular.

Discussion Builder
  1. My friend thinks shoes should always stay on at work.
  3. Some people think feet are private.

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. My friend thinks shoes should always stay on at work. ________ I understand why some people like going shoeless in the office.

    But, / So, / Also, / For example,

  2. Taking off shoes at work is becoming popular ________ it makes the office feel more like home.

    because / but / and / so

  3. Some people think feet are private. ________ it's fine to go shoeless if everyone agrees.

    To me, / But, / So, / For example,

Discussion Questions

  1. In your country, is it common to take off your shoes when going into a house?
  2. Some companies have rules about what to wear or not wear. Is this a good idea? Why or why not?
  3. Why do tech companies have more casual ways of dressing than other companies?
  4. How do you like to dress? Do you prefer formal clothes or casual clothes?
  5. What are some advantages of not wearing shoes at work? What problems could there be?
  6. Are feet ugly? Are all feet ugly?
  7. Why does the article say older workers might feel uncomfortable going shoeless?
  8. What things make a workplace feel comfortable?
  9. Do you like wearing pajamas? Do you ever wear them outside?
  10. Is the coronavirus pandemic still affecting your life in some way?

Answers

Listening: (1) shoes, (2) slides, (3) respect, (4) pandemic, (5) slippers, (6) private

True or False:

  1. False. The article says this trend is especially common at small start-up companies, not large ones.
  2. True. The article states she says the no-shoes rule 'makes it feel like a second home.'
  3. True. The article says Nick Bloom is an economist at Stanford University.
  4. False. According to Nick Bloom, this trend started because people worked from home during the pandemic.

Multiple Choice: A, C, C, C

Put Events in Order:

  1. Sneha Sivakumar grows up taking off shoes in homes and temples in Singapore.
  2. Many people work from home during the pandemic.
  3. Workers return to the office but want comfortable home habits.
  4. Tech companies start asking workers to remove their shoes.
  5. Nick Bloom calls this 'the pajama economy.'

Vocabulary:

  1. Trend: A new style or way of doing something that becomes popular.

  2. Slides: Open-toe slippers that are easy to put on.

  3. Respect: A feeling of admiration for someone or something.

  4. Economist: A person who studies money, business, and how people buy and sell things.

  5. Pandemic: A disease that spreads to many countries around the world.

  6. Private: Something personal that you do not want to share with others.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Contrast. 2) Reason. 3) Opinion.

  1. But,

  2. because

  3. To me,

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