Eastern is obviously blessed with luxuries that many of us do not enjoy
Am I?..I believe that our manning alllows for 2 in app/apr for a large portion of the day with Apr being self relieving. That is what is required for the level of traffic.Even if Apr has cleared off and I require another person to handle something like a special flight or emergency I can call on them.If you are working a one man band without support then more fool you!
I agree that the assistant (whom I said was not always there) has his/her own task to perform .....but IF listening, does speak english and should have a grasp of whats occuring around them .Teams is the buzzword these days .
As to the original scenario Spitoon is correct .