Things are a bit busy at Tip Top Trading – the leading manufacturer of plastic imitation fruit. Mr Socrates is the big boss from America. He’s announced he’s flying over to London for a ‘spot check’ to see how the team is doing. So Anna is getting everyone to do a bit of spring cleaning to make the office look clean and tidy.
Listen out for these useful phrases which are used to tell people it’s the end of the working day…
Narrator
Hello, it’s time again for English at Work. Things are a bit busy at Tip Top Trading – the leading manufacturer of plastic imitation fruit. Mr Socrates – the big boss from America – has announced he’s flying over to London for a ‘spot check’ on how the team’s doing. So Anna is getting everyone to do a bit of spring cleaning to make sure the office looks clean and tidy – although it’s not spring and so far, nobody has done any cleaning.
Denise
Well there’s nothing in my contract about cleaning… I only do sales – oh and a bit of admin…
Tom
More admin than sales actually Denise. But I don’t see why we need to tidy up for Mr S – I mean, it’s a working office – it’s not like our house Anna, that’s a real dump!
Anna
Hmm… it is Tom – we need to talk about that – but anyway, I want Brad… I mean Mr Socrates to see we mean business – we have a clean, organised working environment – it shows we’re serious about work…
Tom
Well not that serious…
Anna
Tom! No, I want us all to spend today tidying up, throwing away paperwork we don’t need, washing up dirty coffee mugs – that sort of thing. Come on everyone – let’s do it!
[everyone moans and groans]
Narrator
Well done Anna – you’re taking the lead – showing them who’s in charge – but how about offering them an incentive for doing a good job?
Anna
An incentive?
Narrator
Yes – a reward that makes people want to work harder because they know they’ll get something for doing it.
Anna
Ah I see – OK I’ll give it a try.
[to team] Oh I forgot to say, if we do a good job there’ll be a reward for your hard work
[to herself] although I’m not sure what it will be yet.
Denise
Oh well, why didn’t you say – I’ll get on with filing these invoices straight away, shall I?
Tom
[suddenly keen] No, no it’s OK Denise – leave those to me – you can rearrange the staplers if you like…
Denise
I’m quite capable of doing it thank you Tom – and then Anna shall I polish your desk?
Narrator
The team has really risen to the challenge – especially now there’s an incentive. But what’s going to happen at the end of the day when everyone usually goes home?
Anna
OK everyone – thank you for your hard work – but it’s five o’clock now.
Tom
Oh good – Is it time to knock off now?
Anna
Knock off?
Tom
Yeah, time to finish for the day – go home – I’ll get my coat shall I?
Anna
Well, yes it is time to… ‘knock off’, so…
Denise
It’s OK Anna, there’s still a bit more spring cleaning to do – I know my contract says I work from 9 to 5 but… I’ll ignore that just for today.
Tom
Of course, I don’t need to go home yet, I could do some more tidying if you like – don’t want to miss out on the ‘incentive’ do I Anna?
[Tom and Denise argue as they continue to tidy up]
Anna
Look both of you, just stop! Stop! Could you… err…
Narrator
Oh Anna – are you lost for words?
Anna
If you mean, am I looking for the right thing to say, then yes – I think they’ve done enough work and should go home – even Tom.
Narrator
Well say that – or something like…
‘I think that’s enough for now.’… or
‘Let’s leave it there’…
Anna
Leave it where?
Narrator
There! – stop doing the task you were working on – it can always be finished later. And you could say… ‘let’s call it a day’ – meaning let’s end what we have been doing today.
Anna
OK, very useful. I’ll give those phrases a go.
[To team] It’s now ten past five. I really think you’ve done enough for now – let’s leave it there.
[They continue to tidy up]
Narrator
Try a bit louder – oh and try saying ‘let’s wrap it up there’ – that means bring the task to a close.
Anna
Right. Denise, Tom let’s wrap it up there – you’ve done really well but I think you should go home – especially you Tom – you’re cooking dinner tonight.
Tom
[surprised] Oh right.
Anna
So let’s leave it there – the office is looking much better and…
[Door opens]
All
Oh no! Mr Socrates!
Narrator
Oh no, he’s arrived early. Luckily the office looks tidy. The team has worked hard but Anna’s been a great manager and told them it’s the end of the working day and to stop working by using these phrases…
It’s time to knock off
You’ve done enough.
I think that’s enough for now.
Let’s leave it there.
Let’s call it a day.
Let’s wrap it up there.
The team has done plenty of spring cleaning – but will Mr Socrates notice?
Tom
Oh hello Mr Socrates – what do you think of our… tidy office?
Mr Socrates
Impressive – I can see Anna has everything in order – including you!
Tom
[nervously] Ha ha! So Anna… what about that… incentive?
Anna
[Realises she’s forgotten] Oh, the incentive! Hmm… I know! Tom’s cooking dinner tonight so Mr Socrates, Denise – would you like to come for dinner?
Tom
Wwwhat!
Great,