| A: | Hi Isabel! You wanted to see me? |
| B: | Yes Anthony, come on in. Have a seat. |
| A: | Is everything okay? You seem a bit preoccupied. |
| B: | Well, Anthony, this is not going to be an easy conversation. The company has made some decisions which will have a direct impact on your employment. |
| A: | Okay... |
| B: | I don't want to beat around the bush so I'm just gonna come out with it. We are going to have to let you go. |
| A: | What? Why? I mean... just like that? I'm fired? |
| B: | I'm sorry but, to be honest, you are a terrible employee! |
| A: | What! I resent that! |
| B: | Anthony, you were caught making international calls from the office phone, you called in sick in eight times this month and you smell like alcohol! |
| preoccupied | Adjective | worried; thinking about something else |
| direct | Adjective | connected to, related to |
| impact | common noun, singular | strong influence or effect |
| beat around the bush | phrase | avoid saying something by talking about other things |
| come out with it | phrase | say something directly |
| let (someone) go | phrase | have someone fired or dismissed |
| to he honest | phrase | used to say something directly |
| resent | phrase | find something very insulting |
| call in sick | verb | call the office to say you can't come to work because you're sick |
| severance package | phrase | money or benefits you give someone when they are fired |
| lay off | verb | end an employment because of business reasons, not performance |
| layoffs | common noun, plural | the action of ending employment because of business reasons |
| dismissal letter | common noun, singular | a letter written to tell an employee his is fired |
| terminate | verb | end the employment of a person; fire |