English Rewind - 6 Minute English: Formality at work

Summary

The 6 Minute English episode from June 2009 explores the topic of formality in the workplace. Hosts Jackie Dalton and Neil Edgeller discuss the evolution of workplace dress codes and interaction styles, contrasting the relaxed, first-name basis culture of the BBC World Service with the more formal past where employees had to ask permission for basic needs like using the restroom. The episode also delves into the history of dress codes, including the surprising fact that 85% of British workers prefer a precise dress code, and the introduction of 'dress-down Fridays' in some workplaces.

Takeaways

• 📅 The script is from a June 2009 broadcast on the BBC Learning English website.
• 👋 Introductions are informal in the script, reflecting the workplace culture discussed.
• 👔 The main topic is formality and its absence in the workplace, including dress codes and interaction styles.
• 👗 A dress code is defined as rules dictating what to wear in certain situations.
• 📊 A survey in Britain revealed that 85% of people prefer having a precise dress code at work.
• 🤵 The BBC World Service is described as serious but not formal, with casual dress and first-name terms.
• 🕺 Historically, the BBC had stricter formality, including mandatory suits and titles for superiors.
• 🚻 There were instances of extreme formality, such as staff needing permission to use the restroom.
• 🎤 Newsreaders at the BBC used to wear dinner jackets, even when only on radio.
• 👕 'Dress-down Fridays' became a trend in Britain where casual attire was allowed on Fridays.
• 📚 The script provides a vocabulary lesson on terms like 'casual', 'formal', 'first-name terms', 'dress codes', 'dinner jacket', and 'to ask permission'.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the 6 Minute English programme discussed in the transcript?

The main topic of the 6 Minute English programme is formality, or the lack of formality, at work.

How does Jackie usually address Neil in the office?

Jackie usually addresses Neil by his first name because they are colleagues and their office interaction is informal.

What does a 'dress code' refer to in the context of the transcript?

A 'dress code' refers to the rules for what you should wear in a certain situation, such as a 'no jeans' policy in a restaurant.

What was the question Jackie asked Neil about British work dress codes?

Jackie asked Neil to guess what percentage of people in Britain said they would prefer to be given a precise dress code at work.

What was Neil's guess regarding the percentage of people preferring a precise dress code?

Neil guessed that 5% of people would prefer to be told what kind of clothes they should wear at work.

How does the BBC World Service environment compare to a formal workplace according to the transcript?

The BBC World Service is described as a serious place but not formal, where people wear what they want and are on first-name terms.

What was the formality like when Carrie first joined the BBC?

When Carrie first joined the BBC, the environment was more formal; her boss wore a suit and tie every day, and she had to address him as 'Mr Bowman'.

What was the strict rule that Carrie had to follow in a different department at the BBC?

In a different department, Carrie had to ask permission to go to the toilet, and her time was sometimes timed by the department head.

What did newsreaders at the BBC traditionally have to wear while presenting, even on radio?

Newsreaders at the BBC traditionally had to wear dinner jackets, a very formal style of suit, even when presenting on radio.

What is the concept of 'dress-down Fridays' introduced in some workplaces in Britain?

'Dress-down Fridays' is a concept where employees wear smart clothes during the week and can come in more casual attire, like jeans and T-shirts, on Fridays.

What was the actual percentage of people in Britain who prefer a precise dress code, according to the survey mentioned in the transcript?

The actual percentage of people in Britain who prefer a precise dress code is 85%, which was revealed to be surprising to the hosts.

What does Neil's comment about his current attire suggest about his preference for the workplace environment?

Neil's comment that he is wearing what he wore in bed suggests that he prefers a very informal and relaxed workplace environment.

Outlines

00:00

👔 Workplace Formality and Dress Codes

The first paragraph introduces a BBC Learning English program from June 2009, focusing on the topic of formality in the workplace. It discusses the informality of the office environment, the concept of a dress code, and the evolution of workplace norms over time. The conversation between the hosts, Jackie Dalton and Neil Edgeller, highlights the relaxed atmosphere at the BBC World Service, where first names are used and a casual dress code is the norm. The paragraph also includes a quiz question about British preferences for dress codes and a historical account of the BBC's more formal past, including strict rules and the requirement for newsreaders to wear dinner jackets even on radio.

05:02

📚 Recap and Preferences on Workplace Formality

The second paragraph serves as a vocabulary review and conclusion to the program. It revisits the terms introduced in the first paragraph, such as 'casual', 'informal', 'formal', 'first-name terms', 'dress codes', 'dinner jacket', and 'to ask permission'. It also reveals the surprising result of the quiz question, showing that 85% of people in Britain prefer having a precise dress code. The hosts express their disappointment with this preference, suggesting a lack of imagination among people. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to join the program again for more insights on the English language.

Keywords

💡formality

Formality refers to the adherence to traditional or official rules of behavior, often in a professional setting. In the context of the video, formality is contrasted with a more relaxed, informal workplace environment. The script discusses how the level of formality can affect how colleagues interact with each other and what they wear to work.

💡informal

Informality is the opposite of formality, indicating a relaxed and casual approach to behavior and dress. The video's theme revolves around the shift towards informality in the workplace, as evidenced by the use of first names and more casual dress codes, which is exemplified by the hosts wearing jeans and the discussion of 'dress-down Fridays'.

💡dress code

A dress code is a set of rules or guidelines dictating what types of clothing are appropriate in a certain environment. The script mentions a dress code in the context of workplace attire, with a specific example of a 'no jeans' policy, and discusses how some people prefer having a precise dress code to avoid confusion about what to wear.

💡first-name terms

Being on 'first-name terms' means addressing people by their first names rather than using formal titles such as 'Mr.' or 'Mrs.' This indicates a more relaxed and informal relationship. The script uses this term to highlight the casual nature of interactions at the BBC World Service, as opposed to the more formal practices of the past.

💡casual

Casual, as an adjective, describes clothing or a manner of dress that is relaxed and not formal. The term is used in the script to describe both the type of clothing people wear to the office and the overall atmosphere, which is less rigid and more comfortable than traditional formal settings.

💡dinner jacket

A dinner jacket, also known as a tuxedo, is a formal suit worn to elegant events. The script refers to the historical practice at the BBC where newsreaders, even on radio, had to wear dinner jackets while presenting, illustrating the contrast between past formality and present-day casualness.

💡to ask permission

To 'ask permission' is to seek approval or consent before doing something. The script recounts a time when employees had to ask permission to use the restroom, highlighting a strict and formal workplace environment that has since become more relaxed.

💡BBC Learning English

BBC Learning English is the source of the video script and represents the educational platform providing English language learning materials. It is mentioned in the script as a resource for more English language learning programs and podcasts, indicating the video's educational purpose.

💡6 Minute English

6 Minute English is the name of the specific program within BBC Learning English that the script is from. It is a segment that discusses various topics in English in a concise format, with the script serving as an example of one such discussion focused on workplace formality.

💡colleagues

Colleagues are individuals who work together, especially in a professional context. The script discusses how formality levels can affect interactions among colleagues, whether they use first names or titles, and how they behave in a workplace setting.

💡survey

A survey is a method of gathering information from a group of people, often to analyze their preferences or opinions. In the script, a survey conducted in Britain about workplace dress codes is mentioned, revealing that a significant percentage of people prefer having a precise dress code.

Highlights

The program was first broadcast in June 2009 on the BBC Learning English website.

The topic of the program is formality, or the lack of formality, in the workplace.

A survey in Britain found that 85% of people would prefer to be given a precise dress code at work.

At the BBC World Service, the workplace is fairly informal, with most people on first-name terms.

Casual dress and informal interactions are now common in the BBC workplace, but this wasn't always the case.

When Carrie started at the BBC, it was more formal; she had to address her boss as 'Mr' and follow strict rules.

In some departments, staff even had to ask permission to go to the toilet, and their time away was sometimes monitored.

Decades ago, BBC newsreaders had to wear dinner jackets, even when broadcasting on radio where no one could see them.

'Dress-down Friday' was introduced in some British workplaces, allowing employees to dress more casually at the end of the week.

Key vocabulary discussed includes 'casual' (informal), 'formal', 'first-name terms', 'dress codes', 'dinner jacket', and 'ask permission'.

The informal environment at the BBC today allows more flexibility and comfort for employees.

The program highlights the shift from formal to more relaxed workplace cultures over time.

The change in dress codes and addressing practices reflects broader cultural shifts in work environments.

The program underscores the importance of adapting to changes in workplace norms and expectations.

Despite the shift to informality, a significant number of people still prefer clear dress code guidelines.

Transcripts

Hello!

The programme you're about to listen to

was first broadcast in June 2009 on the BBC Learning English website.

For more English language learning programmes and podcasts,

search for BBC Learning English.

Hello, this is 6 Minute English.

I'm Jackie Dalton and with me today is Neil Edgeller.

— Hello, sir! — Sir!

Very unusual: you don't usually call me 'sir', Jackie!

I don't usually, I usually call you Neil, don't I?

— Yes, you do. — And that's because we're colleagues

and the way we interact in the office is pretty informal, really.

It's quite relaxed, we just use each other's first names.

And the reason I called you 'sir' is because the topic of today's programme

is formality, or lack of formality at work.

So, do you work somewhere where you can behave in a relaxed way around colleagues,

or do you have to be very polite and maybe a bit distant?

Is there a dress code?

Yes, a dress code is the rules for what you should wear in a certain situation.

So if a restaurant has a 'no jeans' policy or dress code,

it means you have to wear smart trousers, you're not allowed in if you wear jeans.

Well, in a moment, we'll be talking a bit about things have changed for us here,

— but, first, I have a question for you. — Mm-hm.

A survey was carried out in Britain into dress codes at work

and I'd like you guess what percentage of people

said they'd prefer to be given a precise dress code.

In other words, would prefer to be told what kind of clothes they should wear.

Was it 5%, 23% or 85%?

Well, I don't think people like being told what to wear,

so I'm going to say 5%.

Well, we'll find out at the end of the programme whether your answer was correct.

Would you say the BBC World Service is a fairly formal place to work?

It's quite a serious place, but it's certainly not formal.

People wear pretty much what they want to wear.

And most people are on first-name terms, aren't they?

Yes, they are. That means they don't call each other Mr Smith or Mrs Jones,

they call each other Brian and Keith.

Walking around here most of the time,

people you see look pretty casual, don't they?

Yes, 'casual' means the opposite of formal,

another way of saying 'informal'.

Well, it wasn't always so.

Carrie has been around the BBC for nearly 30 years

and things used to be quite different when she joined.

How would she have to address her boss?

Well, when I started in the BBC, my boss was very formal.

He wore a suit and tie every day to work

and you had to call him 'Mr', so he was 'Mr Bowman'.

I wouldn't have dreamt of calling him Eric, which was his first name.

On the other hand, he didn't actually call us by 'Miss' or 'Mrs',

we were called by our first name because we were his underlings, we were his staff,

but the boss was always called 'Mr' or 'Mrs',

but, actually, on most occasions, it would have been a 'Mr'.

Did you get that? She had to call her boss 'Mr',

so they certainly weren't on first-name terms.

Well, Carrie also had to face even stricter rules after that.

What did she have to do?

A couple of years after I started at the BBC, I moved to a different department

and there was a lady in that department who ran an office

with about six or seven staff in it

and the staff had to ask permission if they wanted to go to the toilet.

They weren't allowed to just leave the office.

And in fact, she timed them sometimes too

and decided if they were too long in the toilet.

Carrie had to ask permission to go to the toilet.

Yep, to 'ask permission' means to ask if you can do something,

— if it's allowed. — Yes.

And in our office, we don't have that kind of regime any more, do we?

We don't have to ask permission if we want to leave the room for a while.

No, we, we can do pretty much what we want to do,

as long as we finish our work.

Exactly.

BBC Learning English dot com.

Well, we're quite lucky, sitting here in our jeans or corduroys,

because there was a time when that would have been out of the question.

Listen to Carrie again.

What did newsreaders at the BBC used to have to wear while they were presenting?

Long, long before I joined, the newsreaders,

which at that stage would've been on radio rather than on television,

had to wear dinner jackets to read the news, even though nobody could see them,

other than the other people in the studio.

Neil, they had to wear dinner jackets,

even when they were on radio and no-one could see them.

Yes, a 'dinner jacket' is that very formal style of suit

that people wear when they go out to a formal event,

for example, at the Oscars or something like that.

It's that black jacket, black trousers and a bow tie,

not a normal tie, a very small bow tie.

This kind of suit is often called a 'tuxedo' as well.

A few decades ago in some workplaces in Britain,

this concept of 'dress-down Fridays' was introduced.

'Dress-down Friday' means that during the rest of the week,

you wear quite smart clothes, maybe a shirt and tie, possibly a suit,

and on a Friday, you can come in in your jeans, T-shirt, whatever you want.

You 'dress down', it's less formal.

Well, let's have a quick reminder of some of the vocabulary that we've looked at.

We've had 'casual', which also means the same as 'informal'.

We've had 'formal', which means the opposite.

'First-name terms', which means being able to call somebody by their first name,

and not 'Mr something'.

We have 'dress codes' which is the rules about you should wear.

We've had 'dinner jacket' which, Neil, you just explained,

a certain formal suit.

And we had 'to ask permission' which means to ask if you can do something,

if it's allowed.

And finally, the answer to this week's tricky question.

I asked what percentage of people in Britain

said they would prefer to have a precise dress code

and you said 5%, Neil,

and you were absolutely wrong.

It's 85%, believe it or not, which I find shocking.

Well, that's really disappointing.

People have got no imagination.

Exactly. So I can take it from that, Neil,

that you prefer to work in a fairly informal environment?

Exactly. I mean, what I'm wearing at the moment is what I wore in bed.

Well, that's all for this week,

but do join us again soon for more 6 Minute English.

— Goodbye. — Bye.

BBC Learning English dot com.