Try to explain the meaning of the following expressions: to drop by Fire away! We aim to please.

They break down in tears. They don't take you seriously. Catch you later. Youve done wonders. FIRE AWAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mo1dOAonqw http://abitoffryandlaurie.co.uk/sketches/firing

What is his name? How long has he been with the company? How long has been with the company according to the manager's notes? What are his main duties and responsibilities? Is he good at his job? How does he do it? What are his strategies? He explains the best way of doing his job. What is it? How do employees usually react to what he does and how he does it?

Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen Stephen Stephen Stephen Hugh Stephen Hugh Stephen

Ah, Terry, thanks for dropping by. No problem, Good, good. You got my memo, I take it? The one asking me to drop by? Yeah. Got it this morning. Excellent, excellent. You got mine, hopefully? Yours? I don't think I did, no. It's not important. Just said I would drop by. Right. Probably in my in-tray. I dare say Carol will have taken care of it. Right. How is Carol, by the way? Er ... How is Carol. Hold on a sec. Carol? // Carol (Off) Yes? How are you? // Carol (Off) Fine, thank you. She's fine. Oh good. I thought she was, but I don't have the paperwork in front of me. Anyway. Worth checking. Absolutely. Now, Terry. I'd like if I may to go through a little recap of your career. You've been with us for nearly three years, am I right? Hugh Seven actually. Stephen Seven, is it really? Seven years. Tscch. There was I thinking it was three, when all along it was seven. Well thanks for putting me right. Hugh No trouble. Stephen Now how would you describe your duties here in that time? Hugh Well I suppose as personnel manager I guess it's been my job to look after the hiring and firing around here. Stephen The hiring and ... Hugh Firing. Stephen Firing. Hmm. (Writing) Two "F's" in firing? Hugh No, just one. Stephen Just one. Firing. Yes of course it's one. One "F" in firing. It would look silly with two. Now by firing, I take it that you don't mean rifles or anything like that? You mean firing in the sense of sacking, or dismissing an employee. Hugh That's right. Although a rifle would be handy every now and then. Stephen Would it? Oh my dear chap, you should have said. Hugh No, not really. Stephen You sure? Hugh I've had to give courses of instruction to senior management. Stephen In how to fire people. You've done wonders, Terry. The whole company is massively grateful to you for the guidance you've given in how to fire, sack or dismiss employees. Hugh Well, I aim to please. Stephen Ha. Aim to please, and fire to please. Hugh Ha ha. Very good. Stephen Thanks. Well now, Terry, I need your advice. Hugh Fire away. Ha ha. Stephen Ha ha ha. That's it exactly. I have to fire away. So Terry, let us suppose for a moment, that I wanted to fire someone. Hugh Right. Well I advise directness and candour. Stephen Two s's in directness. Directness and candour. Hugh Start off with a brief recap of their career, how long they've held their present job ... Stephen Done that. Hugh ... and then tell them, as directly and candidly as you can, that they're fired. Stephen Just like that? Hugh Just like that. Stephen So, sort of "Terry, you're fired", you think would meet the case? Hugh Absolutely.

Stephen Terry, you're fired. Hugh That's it. Stephen Right. Good. Er ... Terry? Hugh Yup. Stephen You're fired. Hugh That's perfect. Stephen Good, good. Terry, you are actually fired. Hugh Yeah, you only have to say it once. Stephen Oh do I? I don't have to repeat it? Hugh Best not to. Stephen So having said, "Terry you're fired" you would ideally get up and walk out of the building. Hugh Sometimes. Stephen Sometimes? Hugh Sometimes I might break down in tears and beg you to take me back. Stephen Oh dear. Hugh I know. Stephen Well we don't want that. Hugh Other times, I would just go very quiet and nod. Stephen Well that's more the sort of thing I was hoping for, I must say. Hugh It varies a lot from case to case. Depends on the individual. Stephen Hmm. What about you? Hugh Me? Stephen Would you say that you were a crier, or a nodder? Hugh Well you never really know until it's happening. Stephen I see. I see. Hugh I think I'm a nodder. Stephen Right. Terry? Hugh Yes? Stephen You're fired. Hugh That's great. Stephen You're fired. Hugh No, just once. Stephen Mm. And if the person you want to fire, doesn't really take it seriously? Hugh That often happens. Stephen Does it? Hugh Thing to do is to look them right in the eyes and tell them. Stephen I see. Stephen Terry? Hugh Yes? Stephen You are ... fired. Hugh Just like that, perfect. Stephen Good. Excellent. Thank you, Terry. Hugh So, is that all? Stephen No. There's one other thing.I'm having the most tremendous difficulty firing someone. I've followed your instruction to the letter, directness with two s's, candour, look them in the eye ... Hugh And they can't take it on board, can't accept it's them, give me their name and department, and I'll take care of it for you. Stephen Would you Terry? That would be a great burden off my shoulders. Hugh That's what I'm here for. Catch you later. Stephen Possibly Terry, possibly. Hugh You bastard. Stephen I thought you said you were a nodder.

New personnel manager You have just started your work in the company, which is overstaffed. Your task is to interview the personnel and identify potential candidates for redundancy. Prepare some questions that you think will help you to identify the least useful employees. If you know nothing about their current post or duties, pretend that you do. They shouldnt suspect that you in fact know nothing about them and their jobs.

Employee You company has hired a new personnel manager. You know that the previous manager had hired too many people, and the company is now overstaffed. Prepare for a meeting with the manager. Your task is to create a very good impression on the manager and inform him/her of your progress and achievements in your current post. Avoid getting blacklisted.

New personnel manager You have just started your work in the company, which is overstaffed. Your task is to interview the personnel and identify potential candidates for redundancy. Prepare some questions that you think will help you to identify the least useful employees. If you know nothing about their current post or duties, pretend that you do. They shouldnt suspect that you in fact know nothing about them and their jobs.

Employee You company has hired a new personnel manager. You know that the previous manager had hired too many people, and the company is now overstaffed. Prepare for a meeting with the manager. Your task is to create a very good impression on the manager and inform him/her of your progress and achievements in your current post. Avoid getting blacklisted.

New personnel manager You have just started your work in the company, which is overstaffed. Your task is to interview the personnel and identify potential candidates for redundancy. Prepare some questions that you think will help you to identify the least useful employees. If you know nothing about their current post or duties, pretend that you do. They shouldnt suspect that you in fact know nothing about them and their jobs.

Employee You company has hired a new personnel manager. You know that the previous manager had hired too many people, and the company is now overstaffed. Prepare for a meeting with the manager. Your task is to create a very good impression on the manager and inform him/her of your progress and achievements in your current post. Avoid getting blacklisted.

New personnel manager You have just started your work in the company, which is overstaffed. Your task is to interview the personnel and identify potential candidates for redundancy. Prepare some questions that you think will help you to identify the least useful employees. If you know nothing about their current post or duties, pretend that you do. They shouldnt suspect that you in fact know nothing about them and their jobs.

Employee You company has hired a new personnel manager. You know that the previous manager had hired too many people, and the company is now overstaffed. Prepare for a meeting with the manager. Your task is to create a very good impression on the manager and inform him/her of your progress and achievements in your current post. Avoid getting blacklisted.