残酷的现实
Reality bites
Morning everyone. How did you get on at the conference?
大家早上好。昨天会议怎么样啊？
Oh hi Denise. Yeah it was… it was OK.
哦，嗨，Denise。会议，也就那样吧，还好。
What do you mean ‘OK’? It was great.
你说还好是什么意思啊？应该是很棒。
We made some new contacts and we won an award – Best Plastic Innovation of the Year, for our Imperial Lemon.
我们接触了新客户，还因帝国柠檬而获得了最佳塑料创新奖。
Oh that’s wonderful. Wish I’d been there.
哇，简直太棒了，真希望我也在现场。
Maybe next year eh?
或许明年就可以了，是吧？
Maybe? Welcome back to the offices of Tip Top Trading where everyone is catching up on yesterday’s good news.
或许？欢迎回到顶级贸易公司办公室，大家都在询问昨天的好消息。
But today it’s bad news that everyone is going to hear following Paul’s chat with the big boss, Mr Socrates.
可今天的坏消息马上就要来临。（即Paul与大老板Socrates先生的谈话）
But how bad is it? Let’s find out.
消息到底有多坏呢？一起寻找答案吧。
Morning everyone.
大家早上好。
Hi Paul. Everything OK?
嗨，Paul。一切还顺利吧？
Yes, fine. Well done for winning Employee of the Year – I hope you can continue to be a great employee. Excuse me.
恩，还好。祝贺你获得最佳员工奖，我希望你继续保持，做个好员工。呃，对不起。
Hmm, he sounded odd. What did he mean?
恩？他好奇怪。说这话是什么意思呢？
Probably run out of biscuits!
可能是饼干吃没了吧！
He’s obviously got something on his mind.
才不是，很明显，Paul在想事情。
Denise, could I have a word with you in my office please?
Denise，能来我办公室谈谈吗？
Of course. I’ll bring my notepad and pen shall I?
当然可以。用带笔记本和钢笔吗？
What’s that all about? Anyway, now we’re alone, I wanted to see what you’re doing tonight… are you free?
他俩要谈什么呢？不管了，反正现在就咱俩，Anna，你今晚要干嘛去，有空吗？
Sorry Tom, I’m seeing Dave tonight. He’s offered to fix something on my computer at home.
抱歉，Tom，晚上我要见Dave，他提出来我家给我修电脑。
Oh, has he now? (Denise goes into Paul’s office and comes out a few minutes later)
哦，真的吗？（Denise走进Paul的办公室，几分钟后便走了出来）
All the years I’ve worked here – why me? Why now?
这么多年我一直在这工作，为什么是我，为什么是现在啊？
Denise, what’s up?
Denise，怎么回事？
Paul says he needs to move the furniture around and he has to let me go. He says he can’t afford me anymore.
Paul说要整顿员工（move the furniture），不得不让我离开。他说再也负担不起我了。
That’s terrible… but where’s he letting you go to? And what furniture is he moving?
真糟糕。。。可是他让你去哪？要搬什么家具啊？
No Anna! If someone says they are ‘moving the furniture’ they really mean they are restructuring or changing the business.
呃，Anna，moving the furniture不是搬家具，而是重组业务、改变业务的意思。
And if they say ‘they have to let you go’, it means they are sacking you or in other words, ending your job.
如果他们说‘不得不让你走’，其实就是解雇你，换句话说，结束你的工作。
Sacking you? Oh, that is serious. (To Denise) Denise, I’m really sorry to hear this.
解雇你？哦，太严重了吧。（对Denise说）Denise，听到这件事我很抱歉。
But why does Paul want to ‘move the furniture’ around?
但是Paul为什么想重组业务啊？
He says it’s because of the tough economic situation. My role is no longer needed.
他说现在经济形势严峻，再也不需要我了。
Hey, that’s not true. You make a great cup of tea Denise.
嘿，那肯定不是真的。Denise，你的作用其实很大。
I’ve got a good mind to smash Paul’s bourbons into tiny crumbs. Grrr.
我得想办法把Paul的波旁蔷薇碾碎。呃。。。
Calm down Tom. Now Denise, when did Paul say you had to go?
Tom，你冷静点。Denise，Paul说让你什么时候走啊？
He’s given me seven days’ notice.
7天后，他是提前通知我的。
A ‘notice period’ is an amount of time an employer must give an employee if they plan to terminate their employment.
备注：通知期，即老板解雇员工时给予他们的一段时间。
I never thought I would be facing redundancy… not now… not at my age.
我从没想过自己会失业，至少不是现在，不是在这个年龄。
Redundancy?
失业？
Yes, if someone says ‘they are facing redundancy’, it’s another way of saying they are losing their job.
是的，如果有人说‘面临冗余’，其实就是丢掉工作的意思。
Hmm, I think Denise needs a shoulder to cry on.
恩，我想Denise需要借个肩膀哭泣。
Yes. Denise, do you want my shoulder to cry on?
是的。Denise，你要借我肩膀哭一场吗？
Oh thanks.
哦，谢谢你。
Urgh! Erm… Denise, I’ve just made some tea would you like a cup?
呃。。。Denise，我刚刚沏了点茶，要来一杯吗？
Oh yes please.
恩，请帮我倒一杯吧。
Here you go. You know Denise, you’ve got to think positively.
给你。Denise，你应该往好的方面想。
You’ll get another job… and let’s face it you didn’t like working here anyway… you always looked so miserable.
你会找到其他工作的。再说，你也不喜欢在这工作。不过话说回来，你好像一直挺惨的。
I don’t think Tom’s attempts to cheer Denise up are going to work!
啊哦~我想Tom鼓励Denise的努力不会起作用！
Losing your job can be a traumatic experience. It can come as a surprise and a shock.
失去工作可能是痛苦的经历，但也可能给你带来惊喜。
Let’s hear the phrases Paul used to break the news to Denise:
一起听听Paul解雇Denise时用到的词语吧。
We’ve got to move the furniture around.
我们打算重组业务。
I’m afraid I’ve got to let you go.
恐怕不得不解雇你。
I’m giving you seven days’ notice.
现在是提前七天通知。
And here are some other expressions you may hear in connection with losing your job:
下面是一些有关失业的表达语。
Facing redundancy
面临冗余
Getting the sack
被解雇
Terminating your employment
终止受雇
Leaving the company
离开公司
Right, well, I might as well start clearing out my desk.
好了，我还是清理桌子吧。
Yeah it’s a real shame. Any chance I could have your stapler?
哎，真是遗憾！不过，Denise，你能把订书机给我吗？
(Whispering) Tom, you could be a bit more sympathetic.
（悄悄话）Tom，你应该多点同情。
Oh right. (Door opens)
哦，好吧。（门开了）
Tom, Anna. Could I have a word in my office please?
Tom，Anna，你俩来我办公室一趟。
Oh no. This is it. It’s my turn to get the chop!
呃，不是吧？这回轮到我被解雇了！
Ha, You might not need my stapler after all!
哈哈，你可能不需要我的订书机了。
Crikey! Things aren’t looking good at Tip Top Trading.
哎呀，顶级贸易公司的事情不妙呀。
Are Tom and Anna getting the chop… I mean, the sack? Join us again next time on English at Work.
Tom和Anna也要被解雇吗？一起在下期职场英语中寻找答案吧。