Vol 6 Test 6 Part 2

Good morning. My name’s Mark Bergen. I’m a human resources manager at Johnson Jones, and I'm here to tell you about what it's like working for one of the country's best employers. The company has 225 department stores and owns a further 150 supermarkets. At our latest store opening, we had over 9,000 applicants for 750 posts. So why do so many people want to work for us?

Well, the first thing that attracts them isn’t so much the salary. Although the salary is a little above average, it’s the idea of getting a massive 25% off everything—from washing machines to designer handbags. People are prepared to put in long hours to get those kinds of perks. Johnson Jones has been going strong for nearly 150 years and has outlived many of its strongest competitors.

Of course, this has something to do with the high-quality products that we sell and our motto better for less, which means customers know they are getting good value for money. But we are not alone in that. Where we are different is in our approach to making a profit. Other companies think in the short term, whereas we always take a more strategic view, looking three or five years ahead.

The company isn’t owned by a family or shareholders. It’s a partnership, which means it’s owned by its full-time employees who are all partners and have a share in the company. In return for the very generous benefits they get, they’re expected to put in extra effort and take an active role in running the company. This means they’re involved in things like making decisions about pension contributions, for example.

Another very attractive reason for working for us is the annual bonus, which employees receive as a percentage of their salary. Last year, the bonus was 15%—about two months’ salary, which is pretty standard. It can go down to 8%, but that’s unusual, and a couple of times it has even been above 20%.

Some employees use the bonus to pay off loans. Others save it for a deposit on a house. The most popular benefit for partners is the subsidized holiday centers, which are owned by the company. Once a year, partners can book in for up to two weeks. This is available to anyone—from cleaners to directors—with a minimum of three months’ service. After six months’ service, partners are entitled to a further subsidy on the cost of their stay.

Let me give you an idea of what’s on offer at these holiday centers. The Grange, which is the largest of the holiday centers, is used for conferences by the company, and the Board of Directors always hold their annual meeting there. It’s all very informal—not like a normal conference center. Meadow House is located in Kent, which is famous for its apples and other fruit. It’s a large country house, and what’s unusual about it is that, unlike other hotels, employees have access to the kitchen, so it feels more like staying with a friend.

Coombe Manor is a working farm. There are loads of cows and sheep, none of which actually end up on our supermarket shelves. It’s a paradise for kids, as there is plenty of space to run wild and also an indoor pool. Visitors can choose to stay in cottages or camp by the lake.

The barn is where I recently celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary. Employees can rent the whole place for a large group of up to 40 friends. We had all our food delivered from the nearest Johnson Jones supermarket, so there was no cooking to be done—perfect. All that was missing was the spa, which should be opening next year. The stable is often hard to get into because it’s so popular. That’s partly because it’s right on the beach with beautiful sea views and only an hour by train from London—ideal for weekends. The company sailing club is located there, and it was started by the company’s founder in 1885.

I’m sure you’ll all agree that there really is something for everyone at Johnson Jones. Now, before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20 on page four. Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20. That is the end of section two. You now have half a minute to check your answers.