This is the first of a two-part Business English Pod series on giving bad news and layoffs.
If a person gets “laid off”, it means they will lose their job. But it’s not the same as being fired. Layoffs usually occur because of outside forces. A poor economy might cause a company to reduce its staff. Or changes in the industry may make some types of jobs unnecessary. After a merger, there might be redundancies, or duplicates. Two people may be doing the same type of job. If the company only needs one person in that position, the other could be laid off.
Nobody likes giving bad news. And a conversation about layoffs can become awkward and emotional. そこで今回のレッスンでは, we’ll talk about ways to prepare an employee for bad news so that you can soften the shock. We’ll also cover ways to get to the point and how to respond to an angry or emotional employee. ついに, we’ll go over some language to clearly explain the reasons for a layoff.
Angela and David work at a hotel resort that is having some financial difficulties. Angela is a manager and David is the head chef at Zapata’s, one of the resort’s restaurants. 残念ながら, Angela has to tell David he’s being laid off.
リスニングの質問
1. Why has management decided to close 2 restaurants? 2. What type of food does Zapata’s serve? 3. 具体的には, why is Zapata’s closing?
This is the first in a two-part Business English Pod series on working in multicultural teams.
今日の世界では, it’s common to work with people from different cultures. And since effective business depends on clear communication, it’s important to consider different aspects of culture. Your colleagues may do business differently than you do. そう, knowing more about intercultural communication can help your work go more smoothly and avoid any misunderstandings.
このエピソードでは, we’ll go over some points to consider for working in a multicultural team. We’ll look at general business culture, specific business customs, levels of formality, and local cultural awareness. And since food is often served in business settings, we’ll talk about that, too.
We’ll be listening to, a manager at a biotechnology company based in the United States. Although Ming is originally from China, he has worked for many years at the head office in New York and is now heading to Brazil to manage a team of international researchers. このエピソードでは, Ming is preparing for his trip by talking to a colleague, ターニャ, who lived and worked in Brazil for 3 年.
リスニングの質問:
1. What has Ming heard about Curitiba? 2. What does Tanya say about relationships in Brazil? 3. What honorary title does Ming ask about?
Asking for a pay raise is a two-step process. Before any discussion of compensation begins, it’s important to state your case and demonstrate why you deserve a raise. Let your boss know of your achievements and your value to the company.
The second part involves negotiating. This is the time to start talking about specific numbers and benefits, but it must be handled diplomatically. You’ll need to outline what you want, acknowledge the other party’s concerns and bargain for the best deal.
最後のエピソードで, we listened to Ryan, a salesman at an industrial supply company called Pylon, present his case to his boss, Jacob. Ryan pointed out that his relationship with Alliance Builders brought in more sales overall. He also took on some web design work in addition to his sales duties. 今, Ryan and Jacob are ready to start negotiating Ryan’s compensation.
質問を聞く
1. How much does Ryan think he should receive for the web design work? Why? 2. Why can’t Jacob give Ryan the amount of money he wants? 3. What do Jacob and Ryan agree to in regard to Alliance Builders?
