37 - Rachel the rabbit!
Language for dealing with a difficult colleague
Anna is struggling to work with Rachel, Mr Socrates' favourite Sales Executive. Rachel was sent to help out but she is becoming more of a hindrance and Anna has to deal with it. What will she say?
Intermediate · 170315 · 2017-03-15
Anna is struggling to work with Rachel, Mr. Socrates' favorite Sales Executive. Rachel was sent to help out but she is becoming more of a hindrance and Anna has to deal with it. What will she say? Language for dealing with a difficult colleague This episode focuses on what to say when you have to deal with a difficult person at work.
1. I'm concerned that she's made a mistake that might affect the business.
BBC UK: I'm concerned that she's made a mistake that might affect the business.
2. She's not pulling her weight.
BBC UK: She's not pulling her weight.
3. I'm finding it very difficult to work with her.
BBC UK: I'm finding it very difficult to work with her.
1. Narrator
Hello. It's another busy day at the offices of Tip Top Trading...
BBC UK: Hello. It's another busy day at the offices of Tip Top Trading…
2. Denise
And I said no John, not at my age, I'd rather take the bus...
BBC UK: And I said no John, not at my age, I'd rather take the bus…
3. Tom
...yeah Pete, that's great, so we'll deliver 2,000 bananas by Friday. Let's have a beer soon... yeah... cheers mate.
BBC UK: …yeah Pete, that's great, so we'll deliver 2,000 bananas by Friday. Let's have a beer soon… yeah… cheers mate.
4. Narrator
But there are two people who are busy annoying each other...
BBC UK: But there are two people who are busy annoying each other…
5. Anna
So you did what? You ordered the second-hand ones?!
BBC UK: So you did what? You ordered the second-hand ones?!
6. Anna
Anna!
BBC UK: Anna!
7. Rachel
...they're just oranges...
BBC UK: …they're just oranges…
8. Anna
...plastic lemons actually.
BBC UK: …plastic lemons actually.
9. Narrator
Anna is struggling to work with Rachel, Mr. Socrates' favorite Sales Executive, who he's sent in to help out... or hinder more like!
BBC UK: Anna is struggling to work with Rachel, Mr Socrates' favourite Sales Executive, who he's sent in to help out… or hinder more like!
10. Rachel
Look, I'm off for a cappuccino, everything will be just fine. Ciao.
BBC UK: Look, I'm off for a cappuccino, everything will be just fine. Ciao.
11. Tom
Anna, has Rachel gone out?
BBC UK: Anna, has Rachel gone out?
12. Anna
Yes.
BBC UK: Yes.
13. Tom
She's a bit of a man-eater. She almost ate me once.
BBC UK: She's a bit of a man-eater. She almost ate me once.
14. Anna
She eats men?
BBC UK: She eats men?
15. Tom
Well, not exactly. I worked with her in my last job. She was always listening in to other people's conversations and she's always changing jobs. That's why they call her Rachel Rabbit - you know, big ears, always jumping from one job to another.
BBC UK: Well, not exactly. I worked with her in my last job. She was always listening in to other people's conversations and she's always changing jobs. That's why they call her Rachel Rabbit – you know, big ears, always jumping from one job to another.
16. Anna
Rachel Rabbit! That's funny. So she isn't that good then?
BBC UK: Rachel Rabbit! That's funny. So she isn't that good then?
17. Tom
Oh, useless! She only worked for Mr. Socrates because her father threatened to sue the company, after one of our plastic pineapples fell off a shelf and broke his toe. But, better keep that under your hat.
BBC UK: Oh, useless! She only worked for Mr Socrates because her father threatened to sue the company, after one of our plastic pineapples fell off a shelf and broke his toe. But, better keep that under your hat.
18. Anna
My hat?
BBC UK: My hat?
19. Tom
I mean, keep it secret.
BBC UK: I mean, keep it secret.
20. Anna
Oh right, I see. Well, now she's ordered loads of second-hand oranges to send to our new customer in France.
BBC UK: Oh right, I see. Well, now she's ordered loads of second-hand oranges to send to our new customer in France.
21. Tom
But they wanted Imperial Lemons?
BBC UK: But they wanted Imperial Lemons?
22. Anna
I know. I'm not sure what to do, so I'm going to have to speak to Paul about this.
BBC UK: I know. I'm not sure what to do, so I'm going to have to speak to Paul about this.
23. Narrator
Yes it's a good idea to refer up sometimes - ask the boss for advice. Say to him "I'm concerned that Rachel has made a mistake that might affect the business". You might also say "she's not pulling her weight", meaning she's not doing the work she is supposed to do. And you could say "I'm finding it very difficult to work with this person."
BBC UK: Yes it's a good idea to refer up sometimes – ask the boss for advice. Say to him "I'm concerned that Rachel has made a mistake that might affect the business". You might also say "she's not pulling her weight", meaning she's not doing the work she is supposed to do. And you could say "I'm finding it very difficult to work with this person."
24. Anna
Right. I'll try. There's Paul now... Paul, could I have a word please?
BBC UK: Right. I'll try. There's Paul now… Paul, could I have a word please?
25. Paul
Of course, Anna. Let's go in my office. Now, how can I help?
BBC UK: Of course, Anna. Let's go in my office. Now, how can I help?
26. Anna
Err, well, it's Rachel.
BBC UK: Err, well, it's Rachel.
27. Paul
Yes, amazing woman. Mr. Socrates' favorite.
BBC UK: Yes, amazing woman. Mr Socrates' favourite.
28. Anna
I know... but I'm finding it difficult to work with her.
BBC UK: I know… but I'm finding it difficult to work with her.
29. Paul
Oh why's that?
BBC UK: Oh why's that?
30. Anna
I'm a bit concerned that she's made a mistake and it might affect our business.
BBC UK: I'm a bit concerned that she's made a mistake and it might affect our business.
31. Paul
Golly gosh. Really?! Why's that?
BBC UK: Golly gosh. Really?! Why's that?
32. Anna
Well, she's ordered second-hand oranges for our new client in France.
BBC UK: Well, she's ordered second-hand oranges for our new client in France.
33. Paul
That's marvellous... isn't it?
BBC UK: That's marvellous… isn't it?
34. Anna
Well, I asked her not to. They wanted lemons... new Imperial Lemons.
BBC UK: Well, I asked her not to. They wanted lemons… new Imperial Lemons.
35. Paul
Ah... not so marvellous. Anything else?
BBC UK: Ah… not so marvellous. Anything else?
36. Anna
Well, speaking personally, I don't think she's pulling her weight. She doesn't seem to do any work and just keeps going out to buy cappuccinos.
BBC UK: Well, speaking personally, I don't think she's pulling her weight. She doesn't seem to do any work and just keeps going out to buy cappuccinos.
37. Paul
Well, that's just not on. Look Anna, I will look into this straight away and see if I can sort this out. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Now, I think you've earned a custard cream.
BBC UK: Well, that's just not on. Look Anna, I will look into this straight away and see if I can sort this out. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Now, I think you've earned a custard cream.
38. Narrator
So Anna has expressed her concerns to Paul, the boss. It's up to him to investigate. As long as you have a fair reason to complain about a difficult member of staff, these are some of the phrases you could use: I'm concerned that she's made a mistake that might affect the business. She's not pulling her weight. I'm finding it very difficult to work with her. I wonder how Paul is going to handle the situation?
BBC UK: So Anna has expressed her concerns to Paul, the boss. It's up to him to investigate. As long as you have a fair reason to complain about a difficult member of staff, these are some of the phrases you could use: I'm concerned that she's made a mistake that might affect the business. She's not pulling her weight. I'm finding it very difficult to work with her. I wonder how Paul is going to handle the situation?
39. Paul
Ah, there you are Rachel. Nice cappuccino? Could you step in to my office for a moment... I'd like a word.
BBC UK: Ah, there you are Rachel. Nice cappuccino? Could you step in to my office for a moment… I'd like a word.
40. Rachel
Ya, sure.
BBC UK: Ya, sure.
41. Denise
Ooh, I wonder what that's all about. Do you know Anna?
BBC UK: Ooh, I wonder what that's all about. Do you know Anna?
42. Anna
Hmm, no idea.
BBC UK: Hmm, no idea.
43. Tom
She's probably going to get a promotion and a pay rise... and a custard cream!
BBC UK: She's probably going to get a promotion and a pay rise… and a custard cream!
44. Rachel
Thanks Paul, ciao. What a great guy he is. Such a great sense of humour! Looks like we're doing some good work Anna!
BBC UK: Thanks Paul, ciao. What a great guy he is. Such a great sense of humour! Looks like we're doing some good work Anna!
45. Anna
Wwwhat?!
BBC UK: Wwwhat?!
46. Narrator
Oh Anna. I'm not sure Paul has really sorted out your concerns. But don't worry, we're here to help you out. See you next time on English at Work. Bye!
BBC UK: Oh Anna. I'm not sure Paul has really sorted out your concerns. But don't worry, we're here to help you out. See you next time on English at Work. Bye!
Question
How does Tom describe Rachel to Anna?
Answer
He says she's a bit of a man-eater.