Dear Annie:
Each year, the company my wife works for hosts aChristmas dinner party at a local restaurant. Whatused to be an enjoyable meal with a handful ofemployees has become a large, drunken event lasting late into the night. One year, twoemployees had a fistfight outside the entrance. Last year, they actually set fire to one of thetables.
I am not opposed to drinking, but this is out of control. The spectacle is viewed by otherpatrons of the restaurant. Each year, my wife talks about not going, but always does andinsists we stay to the bitter end. This year, I've suggested we have cocktails and dinner, thankthe hosts and leave. I think we would be setting a good example and other employees wouldfollow. What do you think?
- Embarrassed Out West
Dear Out West:
We're with you. It is not rude to stay for cocktails and dinner and then make your farewells,as long as you do so in an unhurried manner and don't give the impression that you are in arush. The ones who get drunk may not even notice you're gone. More importantly, you may giveother uncomfortable employees the courage to do the same, and perhaps if enough of themwalk out, the boss will find another way to celebrate the holiday.
【詞匯注釋】
to get out of hand 失控;脫序
a handful of 少量;少數(shù)
enjoyable adj.令人愉快的;好玩的
fistfight n.斗毆;打斗
spectacle n. 出丑;出洋相
patron n. 顧客;客人
cocktail n.雞尾酒
to set a good example 當(dāng)好榜樣;做楷模
farewell n. 道別;告別
courage n. 勇氣;膽量
Annie你好:
每年,我妻子工作的公司都要在當(dāng)?shù)仫埖昱e行圣誕節(jié)晚宴。過(guò)去本是很快樂(lè)的和幾個(gè)職員的聚餐已經(jīng)變成了一個(gè)人數(shù)眾多的,大家都要喝得醉醺醺的,持續(xù)到深夜的聚會(huì)。有一年,2個(gè)員工在入門處打了起來(lái)。去年他們甚至將一張桌子點(diǎn)著了。
我不反對(duì)喝酒,但是這已經(jīng)失控了。飯店的其他客人會(huì)看到我們出丑。每年,我妻子都說(shuō)不去,但最終都是去了,并一直熬到聚餐結(jié)束。今年,我建議喝些雞尾酒,吃些東西,然后向主人致謝就離開(kāi)。我想我們應(yīng)該做個(gè)好樣子,這樣其他員工都可以照做。你怎么認(rèn)為?
- Embarrassed Out West
Out West你好:
我們贊成你的做法。喝些雞尾酒,吃些東西后告別,只要你不必急匆匆的,并給人你們著急走的印象,這是符合禮儀的。喝醉的人可能追不到你們已經(jīng)離開(kāi)。更重要得是,你們這樣會(huì)鼓勵(lì)其他想走的員工和你們一樣離開(kāi),也許,有很多人都離開(kāi)得花,老板都會(huì)尋找其他方式來(lái)慶祝節(jié)日。