Job-sharing apps are becoming increasingly popular, with some comparing the experience to online dating. These platforms, such as WeJobShare and Job Share Connect, allow users to find potential job-sharing partners, expanding the pool of candidates beyond friends and colleagues. Ford, for example, has its own in-house "matchmaking tool" for employees interested in job sharing. The platforms use algorithms to match users based on their skills, preferences, and career goals. The goal is to create more opportunities for women, who are more likely to work part-time due to factors like childcare responsibilities. Job sharing is seen as a critical solution to the challenges women face in the job market, such as hindrances to career progression due to childcare responsibilities. However, there are concerns about biases in the algorithms used by these platforms and the ability to assess soft skills and chemistry between potential job-sharing partners. Despite these concerns, job sharing is seen as a beneficial arrangement for both employees and employers, challenging fixed expectations and broadening perceptions of what is possible in the workplace.
Original news source: The job sharing apps that feel like online dating (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs, create a catchy headline for an article about job-sharing apps. Make sure to summarize the main idea and highlight the benefits and challenges of this new trend.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Create a spectrum on the board with "Strongly Agree" on one end and "Strongly Disagree" on the other. Give each student a sticky note and ask them to write their opinion on job-sharing apps. Have them place their sticky notes on the spectrum based on their level of agreement or disagreement. Then, encourage students to discuss their opinions with a partner and try to find common ground.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide students into small groups. Give each group a set of vocabulary words related to job-sharing apps. One student from each group will draw a word while the other group members try to guess what it is. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes and ask students to individually write a summary of the article. After the time is up, have students pair up and share their summaries. Then, ask students to find a new partner and share their partner's summary. Repeat this process until students have shared their summaries with multiple classmates.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of job-sharing apps. Encourage them to consider the potential impact on the job market, workplace dynamics, and gender equality. After the discussion, ask each group to share their predictions with the class and facilitate a class-wide discussion on the topic.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Some people compare the experience of using job-sharing apps to online dating.
The purpose of these platforms is to allow users to find potential job-sharing partners, expanding the pool of candidates beyond friends and colleagues.
Job sharing is seen as a critical solution because it provides more opportunities for women, who are more likely to work part-time due to factors like childcare responsibilities. It helps address hindrances to career progression that women face.
There are concerns about biases in the algorithms used by job-sharing platforms and the ability to assess soft skills and chemistry between potential job-sharing partners.
Job-sharing apps match users based on their skills, preferences, and career goals using algorithms.
The goal of job-sharing apps like Ford's "matchmaking tool" is to create more opportunities for job sharing and help employees find suitable job-sharing partners.
Job-sharing apps expand the pool of candidates by allowing users to connect with potential job-sharing partners beyond their immediate network of friends and colleagues.
Job sharing challenges fixed expectations by showing that it is possible to share a job and still be successful. It broadens perceptions by demonstrating that there are alternative ways to work and progress in one's career.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Job-sharing apps are becoming increasingly popular, with some comparing the experience to online dating. These platforms, such as WeJobShare and Job Share Connect, allow users to find potential job-sharing partners, expanding the pool of candidates beyond friends and colleagues. Ford, for example, has its own in-house "matchmaking tool" for employees interested in job sharing. The platforms use algorithms to match users based on their skills, preferences, and career goals. The goal is to more for , who are more likely to work part-time due to factors like childcare responsibilities. Job is seen as a critical solution to the challenges women face in the job market, such as hindrances to career due to childcare responsibilities. However, there are concerns about in the algorithms used by these platforms and the ability to assess soft skills and between potential job-sharing partners. Despite these concerns, job sharing is seen as a arrangement for both employees and , challenging fixed expectations and broadening perceptions of what is possible in the workplace.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a job-sharing app and how does it work?
2. Have you ever used a job-sharing app or considered using one? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you had to share a job with someone you didn't know before?
4. Do you think job-sharing is a good solution for women who have childcare responsibilities? Why or why not?
5. What are some potential benefits and drawbacks of job sharing for both employees and employers?
6. How do you think job-sharing apps can help to challenge fixed expectations in the workplace?
7. Do you believe algorithms can accurately assess soft skills and chemistry between potential job-sharing partners? Why or why not?
8. Have you ever faced biases in the workplace? If so, how did you handle it?
9. How do you think job-sharing can contribute to women's career progression?
10. What are some other ways companies can create more opportunities for women in the job market?
11. Do you think job-sharing apps could be useful for other groups of people, such as individuals with disabilities or seniors? Why or why not?
12. How important do you think it is for employees to have a good relationship with their job-sharing partner? Why?
13. Have you ever had a job-sharing experience? If so, what was it like?
14. What are some potential challenges that could arise when job-sharing?
15. How do you think job-sharing can help to broaden perceptions of what is possible in the workplace?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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