The Nudge at Work
Grammar: Modal Verbs
A Business English English lesson exploring business.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on business, practising modal verbs. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Nudge at Work
Seventy-nine per cent. That is the participation rate in pension schemes at UK firms where enrolment is set as the default option — the choice employees face unless they actively opt out. At firms where the same scheme requires workers to opt in, participation falls to around 38 per cent. The product, the contribution rate, and the tax benefit are identical in both cases. The only variable is the architecture of the choice. Behavioural economists call this a nudge: a design that steers decisions without issuing a mandate or restricting freedom.
Vocabulary
- accountable for
- in line with
- on behalf of
- subject to
Grammar: Modal Verbs
- must — firm obligation
- All employees must complete the data protection training by Friday. — non-negotiable policy requirement
- should / ought to
- Teams should notify their line manager before opting out of the scheme. — expected but not enforced
Discussion questions
- Do you think companies have the right to engineer employee behaviour without telling them?
- Is it ever acceptable to design a system that pushes people towards a specific choice?
- Should employers be held responsible for the decisions their workplace environment encourages?
The Nudge at Work
Grammar: Modal Verbs
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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