作為職場新人,在公司里做什么都是一個熟悉和鍛煉的過程,所以就算做很多勤雜工的活也不應該太計較。但是如果被安排的工作嚴重超出了工作時間和工作內容,那我們該怎么辦呢?文中的Peter因為害怕失去工作,就算不會因此失去工作也怕不被老板喜歡,因此每天一大早起床給老板買早餐。如果你是Peter,你會怎樣做?
Peter: Hey, Suzanne, here are those files you wanted.
Suzanne: Great, thanks, Peter. Hey, I didnt notice before, but you look 2)bushed. Been getting enough rest lately?
Peter: Well, lately thats been…difficult.
Suzanne: Why? Is this internship too stressful?
Peter: The internship is nothing I cant handle. But its…nah, I shouldnt talk about it. That wouldnt be professional.
Suzanne: Peter, Im the Human Resources Manager for this department. If theres something uncomfortable about the work environment, you can tell me. Ill keep it 3)confidential. Peter: Well, in that case…actually, Ive been getting up pretty early every morning in order to get Andersons breakfast onto her desk before she arrives.
Suzanne: Wow! Youre really 4)hustling! I had no idea you wanted to 5)get ahead so badly.
Peter: Its not that. ①I wouldnt buy the boss breakfast on my own initiative, but Anderson told me to have a 6)bagel and coffee on her desk every morning before 7:00.
Suzanne: And you agreed to do it?
Peter: Did I have a choice? I mean, Im just the intern here.②I havent earned my stripes yet. I have to do what the boss wants.
Suzanne: I admire your 7)dedication, but buying your bossbreakfast isnt in your job description. ③And anyway, youre not even supposed to be on the clock until 9:00.
Peter: I know. Believe me, I know. But what choice do I have?
Suzanne: Well, you do have a choice. If you want to continue arranging Andersons breakfast then thats up to you, but its outside of your official responsibilities. Otherwise, you could try letting Anderson know that your work time doesnt begin until 9:00.
Peter: You mean, confront the boss? Well, my internship period will be over in four months,④and I dont really feel like inviting the bossanger before Im a full employee.
Suzanne: Technically, she cant fire you for not doing something thats not in your contract.
Peter: Yeah, ⑤but I want to stay on her good side.
Suzanne: It looks like you already know how to play the game. OK, then, if you want to be Andersons 8)gopher, thats up to you. But the plan can 9)backfire; do you really want to stay with this company if youre going to be buying coffee for the boss every day?
Peter: But if I quit, then I wont have enough money to buy coffee even for myself!
Suzanne: In that case, its my professional opinion that you should start going to bed earlier.
Peter: Now, that might be a 10)deal breaker for me…
彼得:嘿,蘇珊娜,這是你要的文件。
蘇珊娜:好極了,謝謝你,彼得。嘿,我之前沒留意到,你看起來很疲倦,最近沒休息好嗎?
彼得:呃,最近有點……困難。
蘇珊娜:為什么?實習期壓力很大嗎?
彼得:實習期的一切我都能應付得來,但是……不,我不該談這個,這會顯得不專業。
蘇珊娜:彼得,我是人力資源部門的經理。如果工作環境方面你感到哪里不舒服的,可以告訴我,我會保密的。
彼得:嗯,情況是……事實上,我每天早晨都起得很早,為了趕在安德森來之前幫她買好早餐放在她桌面上。
蘇珊娜:哇!你真的很匆忙!我不知道你那么想爭取進步。
彼得:不是那樣的。幫老板買早餐不是我個人的意愿,但是安德森吩咐我每天早上7點前要把面包和咖啡放在她的桌子上。
蘇珊娜:你答應這樣做了?
彼得:我有選擇嗎?我的意思是,我在這里只是個實習生。我還沒成為正式員工。我必須按照老板的吩咐做事。
蘇珊娜:我佩服你的奉獻精神,但是幫老板買早餐不是你的工作范圍。不管怎樣,你不應該9點前就上班。
彼得:我知道,相信我,我知道的。但我有什么選擇?
蘇珊娜:你當然有選擇。如果你想繼續幫安德森買早餐那是你的事,但那超出了你的工作職責。另外,你要設法讓安德森明白,你的上班時間是9點才開始。
彼得:你的意思是,反抗老板?呃,我的實習期還有四個月就結束了,我真的不想在轉為正式員工之前惹怒老板。
蘇珊娜:技術上,她不能因為你不做工作合同范圍外的事情而解雇你。
彼得:沒錯,但我想討得她的喜歡。
蘇珊娜:看來你已經很清楚游戲的規則。好吧,那么,如果你想當安德森的勤雜工,那隨便你。但是可能會適得其反。如果你每天都要給老板買咖啡,這樣的公司你愿意待嗎?
彼得:但是如果我辭職,我將連給自己買咖啡的錢都沒有!
蘇珊娜:那樣的話,我的專業意見就是你應該早點上床睡覺。
彼得:目前,那可能是我難以做到的事情……

Smart Sentences
① I wouldnt buy the boss breakfast on my own initiative. 幫老板買早餐不是我個人的意愿。
on (ones) own initiative: without prompting or direction from others(主動地)。例如:
You may sign the reimbursement of up to RMB1,000 on your own initiative.
你可以自主簽署一千元以下的報銷單。
② I havent earned my stripes yet. 我還沒成為正式員工。
earn ones stripes: do sth. to show that you deserve a particular rank or position and have the skills needed for it(通過努力贏得某種資格)。例如:
She earned her stripes as a junior reporter before becoming an education correspondent.
作為一名淺資歷的記者,她通過努力,成為了一名教育領域的記者。
③ And anyway, youre not even supposed to be on the clock until 9:00. 不管怎樣,你不應該9點前就上班。
on the clock: officially start working(正式開始工作,上班開始)。例如:
I wont be on the clock for another 20 minutes, let me grab a bite to eat.
我還有20分鐘才上班,我先去吃點東西。
④ And I dont really feel like inviting the boss anger before Im a full employee. 我真的不想在轉為正式員工之前惹怒老板。
invite sb.s anger: irritate sb.; make sb. mad(惹某人生氣,惹怒某人)。例如:
All you did this weekend was to invite Dads anger with questions for your stupid school project.
你整個周末就是拿你那個該死的作業問題惹老爸生氣。
⑤ But I want to stay on her good side. 但我想討得她的喜歡。
stay on sb.s good side: remain in someones favor(討某人歡心,為某人喜愛) 。例如:
If you want that trip paid for, you had better stay on Dads good side this week.
如果你想有人幫你付旅行費用,你這周最好讓老爸開開心心的。