Meeting a new person at the office - English Conversation Practice - Improve Speaking Skills

Summary

In this conversation, a newcomer in the company seeks to speak with the supervisor, only to discover the supervisor's unprofessional behavior—often absent during work hours, going out for coffee or smoking. The worker reveals the relaxed atmosphere in the area, where employees hardly work hard but still get paid. Additionally, the supervisor helped the worker get hired in exchange for money, and the company owner is rarely present, often traveling. The newcomer is introduced as the general manager of the company, signaling a possible change in the work environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The supervisor of the area, Sebastian, is often absent from work and spends time outside the office, sometimes smoking or drinking coffee during working hours.
• 😀 New workers are expected to follow the supervisor's laid-back approach to work or face potential termination.
• 😀 The company culture in this area is notably relaxed, with little emphasis on hard work or productivity.
• 😀 Despite a decline in production, the workers are primarily focused on earning money rather than improving performance or addressing business challenges.
• 😀 The supervisor helps new employees get their positions, even if they are not fully qualified, as long as they agree to the company’s casual work culture.
• 😀 Workers feel the owner of the company, who travels frequently, has little involvement in the daily operations of the office.
• 😀 The general manager of the company is also the owner, and it’s implied that they are rarely present at the office.
• 😀 The employees’ lack of concern for the company’s struggles and potential bankruptcy is largely due to the consistent monthly payment they receive.
• 😀 The employees believe the company’s owner is wealthy enough to continue the business, even without addressing internal problems.
• 😀 The main character, Max Thorne, reveals that he is the general manager and owner of the company, coming in to make significant changes.
• 😀 The conversation ends with a hint of Max's leadership plans, but the workers remain complacent about their work and responsibilities.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the supervisor in the company?

The supervisor, Sebastian, is often absent from his duties, spending time away from the office for coffee breaks or smoking instead of supervising the team as expected.

How does the employee describe the supervisor's behavior during working hours?

The employee describes the supervisor as frequently leaving the office to drink coffee or smoke, despite it not being allowed to smoke inside the office.

What happens when employees have questions or problems while the supervisor is absent?

Employees can call the supervisor, but they are advised to text him instead as he prefers reading messages and is not fond of being called.

What does the employee think about the company's work culture?

The employee views the work culture negatively, stating that most workers, including the supervisor, do not put much effort into their tasks and just show up to work without needing to work hard.

What does the new employee think about the company’s financial situation?

The new employee believes the company is financially stable, even though it is losing money, and does not appear to worry about its future or possible bankruptcy.

What is the employee's perspective on the importance of hard work?

The employee dismisses the need for hard work, claiming that coming to work is enough to get paid, and they do not think hard work is necessary to earn money.

How did the employee get their job, and what role did the supervisor play in it?

The employee got the job with the help of the supervisor, who was a friend and assisted them by securing the position, for which the employee paid him $500.

Why is the employee not worried about being fired despite their unprofessional behavior?

The employee is not worried about being fired because they believe the general manager, who is also the owner, is rarely present and will not notice the issues, especially since the general manager is always traveling.

What does the new employee think about the company owner and his role?

The new employee thinks the company owner is not hard-working and is only spending his parents' money, even though he helped grow the company and has contributed to its expansion.

How does the conversation end, and what is revealed about the new employee’s role?

The conversation ends with the new employee, Max Thorne, revealing his true identity as the general manager and owner of the company, and his intention to make real changes in the company, starting with the team.