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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Tech Workers Take Off Shoes in the Office
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-02-03-tech-workers-take-off-shoes-in-office/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Why do you think some tech workers take off their shoes at work?

a) Their office is testing a new health rule.

b) Their company wants workers to feel more equal.

c) They think it makes the office cleaner and more relaxed.

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.

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

VOCAB LIST

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

Reading

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.

Tech Workers Take Off Shoes in the Office

Level 3 Source: nytimes.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

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.

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.

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:28  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com 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. TRUEFALSE False

2. Sneha Sivakumar says the no-shoes rule makes the office feel like home. TRUEFALSE True

3. Nick Bloom works at a university. TRUEFALSE True

4. The no-shoes trend started before the pandemic. TRUEFALSE False

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.
  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.'

Multiple Choice

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

   a) Because shoes are not allowedCorrect

   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 templesCorrect

   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 economyCorrect

   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 feetCorrect

   d) Because they worked from home

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

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

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

3. Respectd) A feeling of admiration for someone or something.

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

    because / but / and / so

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

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

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

    Some people think feet are private. To me, it's fine to go shoeless if everyone agrees.

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 Tech Workers Take Off Shoes in the Office / Level 3

Think Ahead: c

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.
  1. Economist: A person who studies money, business, and how people buy and sell things.
  2. Pandemic: A disease that spreads to many countries around the world.
  3. 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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