Flexible working

In many organisations, there is still a culture in which the employee who arrives the earliest and leaves the latest is considered the most 1. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: industrious

An adjective is needed after ‘the most’ to describe the employee. ‘Industrious’ (from industry) means regularly or habitually active or hard-working.

(INDUSTRY), and many bosses still believe that they can’t trust their employees to work independently. They worry that there are too many distractions for workers at home or that team working and 2. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: communication

A noun is needed following ‘team working and’ to complement the noun phrase.

(COMMUNICATE) won’t be as good if workers are physically 3. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: disconnected

An adjective/past participle is needed after ‘are physically’. ‘Disconnected’ (from connect) means not joined or linked.

(CONNECT) from each other. Some employers think management is about the close 4. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: supervision

A noun is required after the adjective ‘close’. ‘Supervision’ (from supervise) is the act or function of overseeing something.

(SUPERVISE) of employees.

However, the nature of work today involves meeting deadlines. How productive you are is less about how many hours you spend in the office. Micromanaging bosses don’t help 5. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: productivity

A noun is required after ‘help’. ‘Productivity’ (from product) is the effectiveness of productive effort.

(PRODUCT) either. In fact, research shows that controlling bosses can have a negative effect on their employees’ 6. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: performance

A noun is required after the possessive ’employees”. ‘Performance’ (from perform) refers to how well a person does a piece of work.

(PERFORM).

In contrast, giving employees the 7. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: ability

A noun is required after the article ‘the’. ‘Ability’ (from able) is the possession of the means or skill to do something.

(ABLE) to organise their working schedule creates 8. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: responsible

An adjective is needed to describe ‘workers’. ‘Responsible’ (from responsibility) means having an obligation to do something.

(RESPONSIBILITY) and motivated workers who are likely to get better results, knowing they can meet the demands of both their job and their 9. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: personal

An adjective is required to describe ‘life’. ‘Personal’ (from person) refers to things belonging to or affecting a particular person.

(PERSON) life.

Flexible working is not just about practical working 10. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: arrangements

A plural noun is required to follow the adjective phrase. ‘Arrangements’ (from arrange) means plans or preparations.

(ARRANGE) but also about a culture and a 11. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: mindset

A noun is needed after the article ‘a’. ‘Mindset’ (from mind) is the established set of attitudes held by someone.

(MIND). Companies might need to consider training both workers and 12. ?

Explanation

Correct Answer: management

A noun used as a modifier is needed for ‘staff’. ‘Management’ refers to the people in charge of an organization.

(MANAGE) staff to help them better understand results-driven approaches.