{"id":"mgr-x-overtime-partial-approval","audience":"managers","category":"writing-emails","track":"writing","technique":"verification","title":"Approve part of an overtime request with the math","free":false,"task":"A shift lead asked for overtime hours, and you can approve only part of it. Reply in under 70 words, plain text, with the approved hours in the first sentence, then exactly 2 numbered lines showing the budget math and how the rest is covered. Use the updated remaining budget, and don't share other teams' numbers.","materialLabel":"The request and your notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"From: Raul (shift lead), Slack\n\"Can I get 40 overtime hours approved for next week? We're short 2 pickers for the Brightwater rush.\"\n\nMy notes:\n- Overtime rate: $33/hour.\n- Remaining overtime budget this month: $990.\n  UPDATE (finance, today): $1,320 remaining after a credit came through.\n- So I can approve $1,320 / $33 = 40 hours?? No wait, check: that would be exactly 40. Hmm, finance also said hold back $330 for the month-end inventory count. So usable budget is $990, which is 30 hours.\n- The other 10 hours: Bea's team (Dock A) can lend 1 picker for 10 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bea confirmed.\n- Dock A's own overtime budget is $2,400 (don't share).\n\nRaul likes direct answers. He'll plan the schedule tonight.","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":2},{"type":"maxWords","max":70},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Burying the answer","why":"The AI explains the budget before saying how many hours are approved.","fix":"Add: \"First sentence: 30 hours approved.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead: \"each line under 20 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Skipping the hold-back","why":"The notes go back and forth, and the AI may approve 40.","fix":"Add: \"Show the math: $1,320 - $330 = $990; $990 / $33 = 30 hours.\"","checks":["r1","r0"]},{"title":"No plan for the rest","why":"The AI says no to 10 hours without saying how they're covered.","fix":"Add: \"Exactly 2 numbered lines: the math, then Bea's picker for 10 hours.\"","checks":["numberedItems","r2"]},{"title":"Sharing other teams' numbers","why":"The AI mentions Dock A's budget to explain the loan.","fix":"Add: \"Don't share Dock A's budget. Plain text.\"","checks":["r2","plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Puts the answer first","patterns":["first sentence","approve.{0,10}first","lead with"]},{"label":"Shows the math","patterns":["math","\\$?990","/ ?\\$?33","1,?320"]},{"label":"Covers the rest","patterns":["bea","dock a","lend","rest"]},{"label":"Keeps other budgets private","patterns":["don'?t share","other teams?","2,?400","private"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"When you approve part of a request, show the math and cover the gap. Tell the AI the answer goes first, the exact math, and what stays private.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence approves 30 overtime hours (not 40)","One numbered line shows the math: $1,320 remaining minus $330 held for the inventory count = $990, and $990 / $33 = 30 hours (equivalent clear math is fine)","The other numbered line says Bea's team (Dock A) lends 1 picker for 10 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Dock A's $2,400 budget is not mentioned"]}