How many people do you employ?

Variations:

How many people does X employ?
How many people does X have on staff?
How many employees are there at X?

Related Questions:

How many divisions are there?
How many people are on staff in that branch?
How many people do you employ in (City)?

What's your annual revenue?

Variations:

What's your turnover?
What type of revenue do you do?

Related Questions:

What's your net profit?
What are (were) your quarterly earnings?
What type of a margin do you have?

Is your company public?

Variations:

Are you a publicly traded company?
Are you on the stock market?
Is your company privately held?

Related Questions:

What's your company's stock symbol?
Which market are you traded on?

Where are your products manufactured?

Variations:

Where are your goods produced?
Where do you manufacture / produce your merchandise?

Business Jargon

Tim: Hey, can I get a little facetime?
Randall: Sure, let's dialogue.

Tim: Great. I tried to ping you earlier, but you weren't in.
Randall: Yeah, I had to handle some pushback on my proposal.

Tim: Really, why was that?
Randall: Well, I've come up with a number of synergies in the value chain. My value proposition was to seamlessly integrate our customer service reps.

Tim: Sounds like a win-win. How long is the ramp-up?
Randall: That's the problem. I projected a roll-out in two months. C-level people want to dial-in the project in two weeks.

Tim: ...but you're proposing an end-to-end solution!
Randall: Yeah, I know. I had the time-frame mapped out for all the deliverables, too.

Tim: Sometimes you have to wonder about high-level management's capabilities to leverage people like you!
Randall: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Tim: Nothing much, I just wanted to give you a heads-up on some performance management issues I've been having with Pete.
Randall: No room to breathe?

Tim: You've got it ....

Translation into easy (well, easier) English:

Tim: Hey, do you have some time for me?
Randall: Sure, let's talk.

Tim: Great. I tried to contact you earlier, but you weren't in.
Randall: Yeah, I had to manage some complaints about my idea for the company.

Tim: Really, why was that?
Randall: Well, I thought of a number of tasks that can complement each other in how we provide our service. My improvement idea was to include our customer service representatives our processes.

Tim: That sounds like a good idea for everybody. How long will it take to put your plan into action?
Randall: That's the problem. I think it will take two months to put into place. The directors want to put the project into action in two weeks.

Tim: ...but you've suggested a complete solution to the problem!
Randall: Yes, I know. I had developed a schedule for all of the improvements, too.

Tim: Sometimes it's difficult to understand why upper management can't take advantage of people like you!
Randall: You're much too kind! Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

Tim: Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you ahead of time about some problems I'm having with Pete trying to control everything I do.
Randall: No room for your own efforts?

Tim: That's right.

Key Vocabulary

facetime (noun)- time together
to dialogue (verb) - to speak
to ping (verb) - to contact someone
pushback (noun) - to object to, complain about
synergies (noun) - combinations in efforts that improve something
value chain (noun) - the group of processes that provide something positive
value proposition (noun) - the improvement idea
seamlessly (adverb) - flowing smoothly
to integrate (verb) - to include in a process
win-win (noun, also used as an adjective) - successful outcome for everyone involved
ramp-up (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something
roll-out (noun, also used as a verb) - time it takes to do something
C-level (adjective) - upper management, directors
to dial-in (verb) - time it takes to do something
end-to-end (adjective) - complete
time-frame (noun) - amount of time needed
to map out (verb) - to plan
deliverables (noun) - specific improvements or products to be made
to leverage (verb) - to take advantage of something
heads-up (noun) - notice of something
performance management (noun) - way of managing someone

Test your knowledge

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

Начало формы

1. We __________________________ up with a new structure. = We developed/created a new structure.
came
brought
gave

2. We have to __________________________ out ( = develop) a better way to communicate with our customers.
figure
come
give

3. They cut __________________________ ( = eliminated) the middleman and started providing this service themselves.
off
up
out

4. Tom found a way to __________________________ ( = bypass/eliminate) this problem.
get down
get around
get up

5. Please __________________________ on. = Please continue.
give
get
go

6. We need to __________________________ ( = examine/review) these reports before 3:00 PM.
go through
get around
give off

7. We need to _________________ ( = schedule/arrange) an interview for Friday.
set up
take off
save up

8. The meeting has been __________________________ off ( = cancelled).
made
talked
called

9. The president has called __________________________ ( = requested) sweeping changes in the way we do business.
up
for
around

10. I knew they'd __________________________ to our way of thinking. = I knew that they would eventually accept our way of thinking.
get up
come around
feel out

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

Начало формы

1. We have to keep __________________________ with our competitors. = We have to be as successful as our competitors.
up
on
at

2. That factory __________________________ ( = produces) 10,000 milk cartons every day.
brings in
turns out
out

3. That branch __________________________ ( = makes, earns) a lot of money.
brings in
factors in
takes up

4. You forgot to __________________________ in employee benefits. = You forgot to include employee benefits in your calculation.
bring
factor
lead

5. I'll look __________________________ it. = I'll investigate it.
around
in
into

6. We'll have to do __________________________ with ( = eliminate) some of these provisions.
up
over
away

7. Robert _________________ as CEO ( = replaced the previous CEO) back in 2008.
took over
looked up
went around

8. I'd like to point _________________ ( = mention/remind everyone) that this has always worked in the past.
up
out
in

9. Robert brought __________________________ ( = raised) a very interesting point.
around
in
up

10. We can't just __________________________. ( = admit defeat and stop trying)
give up
get up
get around

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

1. Barack Obama has a plan to __________________________ out ( = save, financially speaking) the automotive industry.
give
bail
make

2. It will take a long time for the board to __________________________ ( = clear up, fix) this mess.
turn around
put in
sort out

3. We can't __________________________ this option. = We have to consider this option.
write up
rule out
sign off

4. The research was __________________________ ( = done/conducted) by a team of French scientists.
carried out
led into
placed under

5. I'm sure we can __________________________ something out. = I'm sure we can arrange something.
work
lead
do

6. The committee members have already __________________________ on this project. ( = formally approved this project)
worked off
carried out
signed off

7. We have decided _________________ pursuing ( = decided not to pursue) this course of action.
against
out
off

8. I would like to _________________ my partner in on this discussion. = I would like my partner to take part in this discussion.
bring
take
carry

9. The new functionality will speed __________________________ the checkout process. ( = will make the checkout process faster)
in
up
on

10. I'm going to ask John sit __________________________ on this meeting. = I'm going to ask John to attend this meeting (although he won't participate).
up
off
in

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

1. We brought him __________________________ ( = we hired him) to help us with the new website.
on
up
in

2. Matel had to __________________________ on their advertising budget. ( = to reduce their advertising budget)
come off
cut back
let down

3. We __________________________ ( = rejected) the offer because we weren't happy with several of the stipulations.
let off
brought out
turned down

4. That issue never __________________________ up ( = was never raised) during the meeting.
came
drew
measured

5. This product doesn't __________________________ up to its predecessors. = This product is not as good/effective as its predecessors.
work
bring
measure

6. We've run __________________________ paper. = We have no more paper left.
off
out of
out

7. Noone likes to sit through drawn _________________ negotiations. ( = negotiations that take much longer than they should).
out
off
up

8. Make sure you _________________ ( = complete) all the necessary paperwork.
write off
fill out
off

9. I'm sure they'll recover. Let's not write them __________________________ just yet. ( = Let's not assume that they're finished.)
out
off
up

10. We usually __________________________ aside ( = reserve) 15% of our budget for marketing.
sit
place
set

QUESTIONS:
Fill in the blank with the correct response:

Начало формы

1. In the weeks __________________________ up to ( = before) the meeting, we'll all have to work very hard.
bringing
leading
taking

2. They __________________________ ( = created, developed) a brilliant marketing strategy.
turned around
brought in
drew up

3. We always contract that work __________________________. ( = we get someone else to do it)
up
out
around

4. I want Mary to __________________________ ( = assume the lead in) the new Latin American unit.
head up
factor in
lead off

5. Let me __________________________ ( = start) by saying how proud I am of your contribution to this company.
lead off
write off
start on

6. You two should work together on this project. = You two should __________________________ on this project.
work off
put in
team up

7. The new cellphones will _________________ ( = will be launched) in November.
roll out
come off
go through

8. I'm not sure what you're getting _________________. = I'm not sure what you mean.
at
out
off

9. Ford plans to __________________________ off 1,000 workers. = 1,000 Ford workers will lose their jobs.
lift
lay
go

10. Our business is really taking __________________________! = Our business is really becoming successful!
up
in
off

Time Idioms