08/10/13

Complaining | LearnEnglish | British Council

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Complaining

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(http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/sites/podcasts/files/podcast/professionals-podcasts-complaining.mp3)
Transcript
HRO Good morning, Mr Johnson. How can I help you?
Mr J Well, Id like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the department manager.
HRO What seems to be the problem?
Mr J Well ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like Ive been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. Tim has made me work overtime; Im expected to
attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paperwork.
HRO Im sorry to hear that
Mr J And on top of that, Id specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday, as Id done a lot of overtime during the week. But we had a deadline on Friday
afternoon and even though Id finished my specific work I was expected to help other colleagues finish their work too.
HRO But surely that is a positive sign showing that Mr Bond has a lot of trust in you, in getting you to help other colleagues?
Mr J Yes, but I feel like Im being singled out! Other colleagues get to leave early, and they dont have such a lot of work to do.
HRO So you feel hes been making unrealistic demands on you?
Mr J Yes, absolutely.
HRO Do you think its because Mr Bond is unaware of what you're doing?
Mr J Well, he never seems to ask us to do a job. He just delegates, and thats another thing, he never listens!
HRO Right. Have you approached Mr Bond about this particular problem?
Mr J Ive tried to approach him, but whenever I go to his office he is either in meetings, or he is never there. It seems like he just has no time for us.
HRO Well, at this stage it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else, showing that youve tried to solve the problem yourself, before you take it
further, makes it clear that youre not just a complainer and can boost your credibility. Why dont you send an email requesting a meeting with him in private?
Mr J Hmmm, Id be a bit worried about his reaction. I wouldnt know what to say!
HRO Well, firstly, youll need to plan what you are going to talk about before going ahead with a meeting. You can always take notes to which you can refer. This
shows that you have considered what you need to discuss.
Mr J OK.
HRO This is obviously a delicate situation, so be very careful not to criticise as this could bring on a defensive reaction. You need to be diplomatic when you speak to
him. If, after you have spoken to him in a rational way, you still find he is being unreasonable, come and speak to us and we can arrange a meeting between the
three of us. But do remember you need to have evidence for us to be able to take further action.
Mr J OK, Ill send him an email now to request a meeting, and well see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice.
HRO Good luck, and let us know the outcome.

Listen to a conversation between a human resources officer and an employee who is unhappy with the way he is treated by his boss.
Instructions
Preparation

Task

Task 2

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Complaining | LearnEnglish | British Council

Vocabulary activity - learn some useful language for complaining.

(http://gamedata.bcdev.org.uk/d/Matching_MTAxMw==.xml)

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See or print the audioscript and do a language activity on paper (91KB)

podcasts-complaining.pdf)

(http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/sites/podcasts/files/professionals-

Your rating: None (132 votes)

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COMMENTS

sl_tr

(/en/user/2353)

(/en/user/2353) replied on 22 April, 2010 - 21:33 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/387#COMMENT-387)

It was a good audio and especially the last part of the audio was pretty considerable. It's much better to communicate in a
diplomatic way rather than making comlaining and I suppose diplomacy is a skill really. Being diplomatic works.

Remelyne

(/en/user/3744) replied on 1 May, 2010 - 13:33 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/446#COMMENT-446)

(/en/user/3744)

The Lexical resources are very helpful and is a great help for me. Only that when I tried to do Exercise 2, I wasn't able to do it maybe
because this part is being updated. Is it? I am really looking forward to do this Exercise as well.
Nonetheless, I really am so greatful that British Council is very innovative and have many methodologies to make one more intersted in Learning in English.
Thank you so much!...c",)

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Konradzik

(/en/user/32832)

(/en/user/32832) replied on 3 September, 2010 - 13:59 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/2873#COMMENT-

2873)

Very interesting lesson. I especially liked the idea with preparing notes before such an important meeting. I had no problem with Exercise 2 - I don't know why
Remelyne did.

(/en/user/259885)

(/en/user/259885) replied on 1 May, 2012 - 16:07 PERMALINK

(/EN/COMMENT/31935#COMMENT-31935)
OUSSEYNOU TRAORE

very important ! it helped me point out many useful cases relating to my professional environment

sangjin.son

(/en/user/262089) replied on 7 May, 2012 - 05:50 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/32173#COMMENT-

32173)
(/en/user/262089)
I understood this situation. this chapter can be helpful to me to discuss my boss for my work

awa

(/en/user/110775) replied on 18 June, 2012 - 23:28 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/33678#COMMENT-33678)

(/en/user/110775)

How interesting!i really love the HRO's voice and her way of speaking.I wish i spoke english like her. Since i started working
my english skills here i feel i'm improving really in english .
I apologise if there are a lof of mistake.

irfan tirmizi

(/en/user/316935) replied on 11 December, 2012 - 07:33 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/40295#COMMENT-

40295)
(/en/user/316935)
I am a soldier by profession and english is my country's official language. i have recently been to a military school where we were put into analytically writing
practices and to admit the fact i failed miserably in that. now its my heart longed urge to become a good writer who would use different sweet expressions of
english so that i may get exclaimation my collegues and friends. having opend my heart out i am looking forward the learning community and Learn English
team here to help me achieve said excellence. well! learning how to complaign was very helpful in finding few mannered ways of how to complaign
diplomatically or avoid awkward situations in corporal culture ,i am living in. your suggestion are highly valued

(/en/user/236028) replied on 16 December, 2012 - 02:12 PERMALINK

(/EN/COMMENT/40480#COMMENT-40480)
Jeremy Bee

(/en/user/236028)
hello irfan!

Thanks for your kind words - I'm glad you found the article useful!
Good luck in your studies!
Regards
Jeremy Bee
The LearnEnglish Team

Black Beuty Model

(/en/user/342424) replied on 3 March, 2013 - 18:01 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/43576#COMMENT-

43576)
(/en/user/342424)
Hi English Team,nice conversation and it was well understood.You know what..? It is my first time to be here can you please assist me?I need your help please

(/en/users/adamjk) replied on 3 March, 2013 - 22:04 PERMALINK (/EN/COMMENT/43589#COMMENT43589)

AdamJK

(/en/users/adamjk)
Hi,
What sort of help do you need? We'll do what we can.
Best wishes,

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Adam
The LearnEnglish Team

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