Lesson Introduction: In today's podcast we're working too much! We need an assistant and we need one now! Learn and find out how to negotiate in English with your manager, but we must warn you, be careful what you wish for!

A: ...like I told you before, we just don’t have the resources to hire you an assistant.
B: I understand that, but the fact is we’re understaffed.
A: The timing is just not right. The economy is bad,and it’s too risky to take on new staff.
B: Yeah, I guess you’re right.... here’s an idea, what if we hire an intern? She would take some of  the weight off my shoulders.
A: She?
B: Yeah, you know, a recent graduate. She could give me a hand with some of these projects and
we could keep our costs down.

A: That sounds reasonable... let me see what I can do.
A: Tony, I’d like to introduce you to your new assistant.
B: OK, great! Let’s meet her!
C: Hi, I’m Adam.
B: Oh... hi... I’m Tony...

resources   money
understaffed   not enough people to do the job
the timing is just not right  it is not a good time now
weight off my shoulders  remove pressure or stress
give me a hand  help
that sounds reasonable   is OK
recruit  hire
overworked  working too much
short staffed  not enough people to do the job
cut costs  reduce spending
overstaffed   having too many employees