This co-hosted Business English podcast episode focuses on professional communication etiquette in the workplace. The hosts discuss four phrases ("piece of work," "flake," "headcase," and "oddball") that are considered unprofessional and offensive to use when referring to colleagues, providing alternative, more respectful phrasing for each. They illustrate appropriate responses through a role-play scenario, demonstrating how to reframe negative comments while maintaining professionalism. Listeners gain practical advice on improving workplace communication and maintaining positive professional relationships by avoiding offensive language and adopting more constructive alternatives, such as replacing "She's a flake" with "She can be unreliable." The episode concludes with a reminder to check out a previous episode where one host mistakenly used the phrase "piece of work."
