Last updated at 16:33 GMT, Thursday, 26 February 2009

Mr Smith or John?

An office scene

Do you work somewhere where you can behave in a relaxed way around colleagues, or do you have to be very polite and a bit distant? Is there a dress code? Do you have to ask permission to leave the room? This programme is about formality at work - we find out how things have changed over the years for some of us here.

This week's question: A survey was carried out in Britain into dress-codes at work. What percentage of people do you think said they'd prefer to be given a precise dress-code, i.e. told what kind of clothes they should wear?

Listen to the programme

Mr Smith or John?

a) 5%
b) 23%
c) 85%

Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme.

Vocabulary from the programme

to be formal
to behave in a polite, slightly distant way
to be casual/informal
to be relaxed, not formal
to be on first name terms with someone
to be in a relationship where it's okay for you to use each others' first names
dress code
rules about what kind of clothes you should wear
dress-down Fridays
when you don't have to wear smart, formal clothes at work on Fridays
dinner jacket
a very formal, dark outfit usually worn for special occasions
to ask permission
to ask if you're allowed to do something

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