Do you know anyone who is a piece of work?
Listen in on today’s episode and learn vocabulary that may break connections at work.
Lindsay and Aubrey talk about different words that are offensive and should be avoided.
They share alternatives to remain professional.
What not to say at work
Aubrey asks Lindsay if she knows anyone that is a piece of work.
Lindsay says that she does but notes that this is a mean thing to call someone.
Aubrey says that if someone called her a ‘piece of work’ she’d feel horrible.
Today’s episode was inspired by a funny error Lindsay made in a previous podcast episode she recorded with Michelle.
They were talking about the show Seinfeld and what she meant to say was the show was a ‘work of art.’
Instead she said, “Seinfeld is a piece of work.”
The term ‘work of art’ means something is very valuable and creative.
It’s very different from the meaning of ‘piece of work.’
Describing work colleagues
Listen today you’ll learn four things you should not call a coworker.
These are unprofessional, offensive and unkind.
Lindsay and Aubrey will teach you four alternatives, so you have better options.
Even if you have trouble working with someone, using offensive language can be detrimental.
You should stay civil and keep the connections positive at work.
#1: Piece of work
This means someone is difficult or annoying.
It can also mean someone is dishonest or offensive.
Here is a quick comparison on how not to use it and what word to use instead.
Example:
No: That guy is a real piece of work!
Yes: It can be challenging to work with him.
#2: Flake
This means someone is unreliable.
It is offensive to use this term because it has a very negative connotation.
It means someone is always late or doesn’t finish their work.
Here is a quick comparison on how not to use it and what word to use instead.
Example:
No: She’s such a flake.
Yes: She can be unreliable.
#3: Headcase
This refers to someone who is crazy or extremely unreasonable.
You should never call someone this at work because it’s extremely insulting.
Here is a quick comparison on how not to use it and what word to use instead.
Example:
No: He’s a real headcase!
Yes: I don’t always agree with his decisions.
#4: Oddball
This means strange or weird.
It can refer to someone who acts bizarre.
Here is a quick comparison on how not to use it and what word to use instead.
Example:
No: She’s an oddball.
Yes: Her behavior is at times surprising.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey how to properly address or talk to people at work.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Aubrey are talking about a coworker.
Aubrey: Amanda is a piece of work. I never know what she’s going to do.
Lindsay: It can be challenging to work with her, but on the flip side, she’s extremely creative!
Aubrey: She’s such an oddball though. I find her behavior to be so erratic.
Lindsay: Her behavior is at times surprising. Weren’t you impressed by her work on the Duvernay deal though?
Aubrey: That’s true. She’s an amazing designer. But she’s also a flake. She was 20 minutes late to that meeting!
Lindsay: It’s true she can be unreliable. Hopefully she’ll be on time next time.
Takeaway
Some words are offensive or cruel and should be avoided, especially at work.
Use today’s alternatives to discuss negative character traits in a more professional way.
Learn the right vocabulary to use so you don’t offend any one at work and break the connection.
There are a lot of good episodes on the All Ears English podcast that can help you have better conversations at work.
Check out episode 2324: This Is Indisputably the Best Way to Talk About Your Opinions in English to get good tips on sharing your opinions through a conversation.
What words in English do you use to describe coworkers?
We’d love to hear from you in the comment section.