a) What time does Janet start work in the morning?

b) What time does she normally get to the office?

c) How long does she take off for lunch?

d) Why does she prefer to call people rather than send an email?

e) How often does she have to work at the weekend?

f) How typical do you think Janet’s life is? Does she have a good work-life balance? Why / Why not?

A day in the life of Janet Walls

Janet Walls is the international operations manager of a major telecoms company, with operations in most of Europe and Latin America. Her career has included periods of work in Portugal, Paris and London. She speaks Spanish, French and Russian, as well as English.

‘People often ask me how I manage to combine a successful career with family life. The secret is that I don’t need much sleep! Five hours is enough, so by 5.30 am I am usually up, reading reports and checking emails on my smartphone. Then I have breakfast at 8 am together with my husband, Derek, and my 15-year-old daughter, Katie.

I go to work in a taxi which picks me up at 8.30 am every day. On the way to work I look through the daily papers. It normally takes us about 20 minutes to get to the office. When I arrive my secretary joins me, and we go through any correspondence and plan the day. I make decisions about appointments and organize meetings. I drink a lot of coffee and mineral water. I usually have just a sandwich for lunch, but I am never out for more than an hour. Then, in the afternoon, I’m back to work and have more meetings. Once a month I take an afternoon off, if it’s possible. When I’m not in a meeting I am constantly on the phone. I use the phone whenever possible because it’s nearly always quicker than using email. Even if I’m in the office, I prefer to use my smartphone. I hardly ever send text messages except to my daughter – it’s just too time-consuming.

I like to pick Katie up from school when I can, but most days I work until at least 8 pm. Weekends are reserved for my family. I don’t often have to work. All in all, it’s hard work, but I enjoy my job.’

always • never • sometimes • often • usually • rarely • hardly ever • every day • once a week • twice a year

Example: I go to work by car. → I don’t often go to work by car.

a) I go to work by car.

b) I get home late.

c) I work at the weekend.

d) I have a holiday.

e) I feel bored with my job.

f) My boss leaves work before me.

g) My computer crashes.

h) I find time to relax and enjoy myself.

i) I have arguments with people at work.

j) I read the financial papers.