Handling Office Confiicts
(W: Woman B: Boss K: Kevin)
W: Excuse me, do you have a minute?
B: I'm sorry, not right now. I'll be free in about 15 minutes. Could you come back then?
W: No, I'm afraid we have an emergency upstairs.
B: Can't you handle it?
W: No, I think it would be best if you were there.
B: OK, I'll finish this call and be right with you.
Exercise:
1.— What's the problem?
— They have an emergency upstairs.
2. Put the sentences below in order:
(1) I'm sorry, not right now.
(2) Excuse me, do you have a minute?
(3) I'll be free in about 15 minutes.
(4) Could you come back then?
Correct Order: (2) (1) (3) (4)
B: OK, what is it?
W: Kevin and Bob are shouting at each other, and it's upsetting everyone.
B: Oh, not again. Those two have got to grow up. Who started it?
W: I'm not sure, but they were even pushing each other.
Exercise:
1. In this case, "they have to grow up" means to act like adults and not children.
2. Kevin and Bob are shouting at each other, and it's upsetting everyone.
B: OK, this is unacceptable. You run on ahead and warn them that I'm coming. I want them to calm down before I get there. Can you do that?
W: OK, I'll do what I can to calm them down. But you know Kevin, he is such a hot head.
Exercise:
1. "Kevin is a hot head" means "he can't control his emotions".
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Excuse me, do you have a minute?
2. Those two have got to grow up.
3. I want them to calm down before I get there.
4. Kevin and Bob are shouting at each other, and it's upsetting everyone.
5. I'm not sure, but they were even pushing each other.
B: OK, Kevin, I've warned you before. This has got to stop.
K: Yes, I know. But Bob doesn't cooperate. He is impossible to work with.
B: Even so, you can't go around pushing people. That's no way to handle things. If you weren't doing such a good job, I'd have to let you go right now. Your behavior just isn't acceptable.
Exercise:
1. "To let him go" means to fire him.
K: Yeah, I understand and I'm sorry. I just can't stand working with him.
B: I'm not sure what to do. What would you do if you were me? Do you have any suggestions?
K: To be honest, if I were you, I wouldn't have the two of us work in the same office. I know Bob has been with the company longer than I have, but he's doing a terrible job. When you are not around, he just bullies people. People are afraid of him.
Exercise:
1.— Why people are afraid of Bob?
— He acts like a bully.
2.— How does Kevin feel about working with Bob?
He can't stand it.
B: OK, I'll look into it a bit more. But you've got to promise me to keep cool and not let this happen again.
K: OK, I'll try to handle things differently next time.
Exercise:
1. He'll "look into it" a bit more means he's going to get more information.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Even so, you can't go around pushing people.
2. I just can't stand working with him.
3. Do you have any suggestions?
4. Kevin thinks Bob doesn't cooperate and is difficult to work with.
5. If you weren't doing such a good job, I'd have to let you go right now.