商務禮節美語第39期:加班工作(2)

星期五晚上，Jason和Wanda勸同事Larry不要老加班，應該勞逸結合。Larry卻說，手頭總有做不完的工作。

L: But I feel like I'm wasting time if I go home and watch TV... even if I'm reading a good book I still feel like I should be working!

J: You know Larry; you might be addicted to work.

L: Really? A person can get addicted to work?

J: Well, maybe it's not the same as being addicted to drugs, but many people believe you can get addicted to stress.

W: Yeah. If you find that you can't enjoy being at home and relaxing, it might be a problem.

Larry說，如果回家去看電視、讀書，就會覺得自己是在浪費時間。Jason和Wanda都覺得，他簡直是個工作狂addicted to work。原來，除了毒品會讓人上癮，addicted to drugs, 工作和疲勞同樣會讓人上癮，addicted to work and addicted to stress. Larry繼續說：

L: I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist. It irritates me when things aren't perfect.

J: Maybe you are too hard on yourself. If you were your own boss, would you demand such long hours?

L: No way... I think it would be illegal anyway.

J: Well then maybe you need to treat yourself better. You have to believe that you deserve to relax!

W: You not only deserve it, you need it. You know, I find that sometimes I have my best ideas in the strangest places. The last time I had a really great idea, I was scuba diving on vacation!

Larry說自己的問題可能是過於追求完美。Perfection意思是完美，後面加上-ist, perfectionist就是追求、崇尚完美的人。Jason說Larry對自己過於嚴格too hard on yourself，應該對自己好一些，treat yourself better.

L: But I want the boss to notice my devotion! The economy is not great these days and I don't want to get laid off!

W: Yeah, that's true. Some bosses do think the guy who puts in overtime is the Most loyal. But smart bosses know that quantity is not as important as quality.

J: Besides, this is your job, not your life. You're too young to die of a heart attack!

L: Thanks guys! Your advice makes sense. I'm going to go home and have a nice long bath! See you on Monday!

Larry說，自己加班也是爲了讓老闆注意到自己的敬業精神，my devotion. Devotion is spelled d-e-v-o-t-i-o-n, devotion. Wanda卻說，聰明的老闆都知道，工作數量的重要性遠遠趕不上質量。Quantity is not as important as quality. 再說了，按Jason的話說，This is your job, not your life. 這畢竟是你的工作，不是你生活的全部。Larry最後終於想通了，決定回家去，好好洗個熱水澡。