Objectives:

Understand what could be possibly recognized as unethical behavior in the workplace;

Think about how to prevent unethical behavior

Practice reading for summarizing

Vocabulary:

Text structure:

Part 1 Introduction: general introduction of unethical behavior in the workplace, pointing out that measures can be taken.

Part 2 Explanation: what might be considered as unethical behavior at work with a set of examples.

Part 3 Solution: possible ways for companies to limit unethical behavior

Part 4 Case study: four cases involving unethical behavior in the workplace

Language points:

1. For some, taking a short cut to complete a task might simply be perceived as an efficient way of working.  (Para.2)

   和第一及第四单元中所提及的 hedging language一样，本句中的might也是模糊限制语，其功能在于使原本肯定的语气趋于缓和或模糊，避免使用过于武断的表述从而偏离事实。在本文中可见多处例句，比如作者还使用了be likely to，it is unlikely that，to a certain extent等hedging language来避免将表述绝对化。

2. Reinforcing this document each year or whenever unethical behavior occurs can remind people of the company’s expectations. (Para.3)

   本句的主语为reinforcing this document each year or whenever unethical behavior occurs，其中each year作时间状语修饰reinforcing this document, or作为连词连接两个并列成分，故whenever unethical behavior occurs也作状语起到修饰reinforcing this document的作用，而且这是一个由whenever引导的时间状语从句。

3. This will result not only in the task being completed well, but also in a manner that matches the company’s values. (Para.4)

   the task being completed well 中 being completed well 为现在分词作后置定语，该句可被转写为This will result not only in the task which is being completed well…。相比which引导的从句作后置定语，以现在分词作后置定语使表述相对更简练。本句中but also 后的完整表述应为 but also result in the task being completed in a manner that…，此处in a manner that…和前半句中well的功能相同，都用来补充说明the task being completed，其中manner后为that引导的定语从句。原文中之所以在but also后直接使用in a manner，省略掉result in the task being completed，也是为了使表达更为简练。

4. If all the employees had worked their full hours, more work could have been completed. (Para.5)

   本句为虚拟语气，表达与过去事实相反的情况，其直译为“如果所有的员工都满时长工作（在这一周内都没有迟到早退），那么他们本可以完成更多工作。”（事实是：没完成更多工作）。

5. Since she sometimes worked from home, she believed it was fine to take these supplies home. (Para.7)

     需注意本句中work from home中的介词from，并将此短语与work at home区别开。work at home更强调某人有私人事项要在家做，比如打扫房屋；而work from home更强调某人在家为公司或他人办公，例如，He has to work from home due to the heavy rainstorm. 由于下大暴雨，他不得不居家办公。在职场，人们常常使用WFH来指代work from home这一状态。

6.After an inspection, it was decided that they are not evading tax illegally, but they are avoiding paying the maximum amount possible by using this policy. (Para.8)

本句中作者使用了it was decided…，即被动语态。作者在此处意欲传递的主要信息是“该公司的行为被认定是合法避税”这一事实，该决定是由谁实施的则是非必要信息，故使用被动语态避免提及动作的实施者。在学术英语中，当动作的实施者不明确或动作的实施者与要传递的主要信息不相关时，较之主动语态，被动语态能够更有效地传递信息。在自然科学学术论文的methods / methodology部分，也常使用被动语态。但也需注意，不可过度使用被动语态。