礼节美语 Business Etiquette 115

公司执行总裁Dave召集董事会成员Helen和Pete开会，讨论业务外包和公司重组。

H: I guess one of the biggest questions here is how the general public might perceive these moves. Will we face a backlash for cutting some local jobs and moving some operations abroad?

P: Yes, it's entirely¹ possible that we will get some negative press over this decision. We will need to do some damage

control and try to explain as best as possible the reasoning behind our decision.

D: I'll have a chat with our public relations people and brief them on how to respond to media inquires.

Helen担心公司业务外包，裁减员工，会引起社会反响，face a backlash。Pete也表示，媒体很可能会有负面报道， negative press, 因此要尽量控制不良影响， do some damage control。执行总裁 Dave表示，会和公关部门讨论，告诉他们如何回答媒体的问询。

P: The logic² is pretty simple; either we make some needed cuts or the company risks going under and even more jobs will be lost.

D: We also want to be responsible players here. Let's offer job counseling and let's be reasonably generous with severance³ packages.

H: The companies that we plan on contracting to work for us have all been vetted⁴ by an independent auditor⁵, right?

D: Yes, and they all passed with flying colors.

Pete表示，公司重组理由很简单，不裁员公司就可能破产，the company risks going under。Dave建议为遣散员工提供就业咨询，job counseling，遣散费也多给点，be generous with severance packages. Severance packages是遣散员工时给的补贴。Helen问，外包公司是否都已经通过了独立审计单位的审查， vet，是审查的意思。Dave表示，审查结果非常好，to pass with flying colors，意思是成功通过考查。

D: The law says sub-contracted firms must follow some basic guidelines such as no child labor⁶, equal pay for men and women, etc. If they're not up to snuff, they have a certain number of days to rectify⁷ the situation. Otherwise, we have to find another firm.

H: So it's decided⁸ then. All in favor of outsourcing accounting⁹ and web maintenance please raise your hand.

P: Looks like it's a unanimous decision.

D: Thank you all for understanding. I'll write up a memo¹⁰ explaining this decision to everyone and send it out in a couple of days.

H and P: Sounds good.

D: All right, then. This meeting is adjourned¹¹.

Dave表示，法律规定，如果分包公司达不到基本要求，if they're not up to snuff, 必须在特定时间内改正to rectify the situation。 Up to snuff, snuff, 意思是合格的，符合标准的。

最后三人举手表决，同意将财会和网站管理业务外包。It's a unanimous decision. 决定一致通过。Dave准备写一份备忘录，几天后宣布。
 

1 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

2 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

3 severance   

n.离职金；切断

参考例句：

• Those laid off received their regular checks,plus vacation and severance pay.那些被裁的人都收到他们应得的薪金，再加上假期和解职的酬金。Kirchofer was terminated,effective immediately--without severance or warning.科奇弗被解雇了，立刻生效--而且没有辞退费或者警告。

4 vetted   

v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的过去式和过去分词 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• The recruits were thoroughly vetted before they were allowed into the secret service. 情报机关招募的新成员要经过严格的审查。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All staff are vetted for links with extremist groups before being employed. 所有职员录用前均须审查是否与极端分子团体有关。 来自辞典例句

5 auditor   

n.审计员，旁听着

参考例句：

• The auditor was required to produce his working papers.那个审计员被要求提供其工作底稿。
• The auditor examines the accounts of all county officers and departments.审计员查对所有县官员及各部门的帐目。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 rectify   

v.订正，矫正，改正

参考例句：

• The matter will rectify itself in a few days.那件事过几天就会变好。
• You can rectify this fault if you insert a slash.插人一条斜线便可以纠正此错误。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

10 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

11 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。