✅ Question
Some think the best way to motivate and encourage people to work hard is to pay them based on how much they produce and sell.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
📄 Sample Answer (Agree to some extent)
In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive work environment, many believe that offering performance-based pay is the most effective way to boost employee motivation and productivity. While I agree that financial incentives can drive people to work harder, I believe they are not the only solution, and a more balanced approach should be considered.
On the one hand, linking income directly to performance can certainly encourage employees to be more productive and results-oriented. For instance, in sales-driven industries such as real estate or insurance, individuals who earn commission-based salaries often outperform those on fixed wages. This is because the more they sell, the more they earn — a concept that creates a direct relationship between effort and reward. Additionally, performance-based pay can help companies identify top performers, improve competitiveness among staff, and align personal goals with organizational objectives.
However, relying solely on monetary rewards has its downsides. Not all jobs can be measured in terms of tangible output or sales. For example, teachers, healthcare workers, and customer service staff play critical roles in society, yet their performance cannot always be quantified in numbers. Moreover, excessive focus on money might lead to unhealthy competition, burnout, and unethical practices, especially if employees are under constant pressure to meet unrealistic targets. In the long run, this could reduce job satisfaction and damage workplace morale.
In my opinion, while performance-linked salaries can be effective in certain sectors, motivation should be nurtured through a variety of methods. Providing opportunities for professional growth, recognizing efforts, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and fostering a positive work culture are equally essential in encouraging employees to perform well consistently.
To conclude, paying employees based on their output is a powerful motivator in some contexts, but it is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. A combination of financial and non-financial incentives is the most sustainable way to boost both performance and satisfaction in the workplace.
🔑 Useful Vocabulary & Collocations:
| Word / Phrase | Meaning / Use |
|---|---|
| performance-based pay | Salary linked to employee’s productivity or sales |
| financial incentive | Monetary reward to motivate behavior |
| results-oriented | Focused on achieving outcomes or goals |
| commission-based salary | Income dependent on sales or results |
| align goals with objectives | Ensure personal efforts match company targets |
| unhealthy competition | Excessively aggressive rivalry |
| burnout | Extreme physical or emotional exhaustion |
| quantify performance | Measure how well someone is doing in numbers |
| non-financial incentives | Motivation strategies that do not involve money |
| professional growth opportunities | Chances for career advancement or skill development |
| healthy work-life balance | Maintaining proper time between job and personal life |
| sustainable motivation | Long-term encouragement and enthusiasm |
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