可以问，但要明白问的目的！

当然可以问 -- information never hurts! Yet, gotta be sophisticated, 要力戒急吼吼！这是个敏感问题，关系到利益，又关系到权力结构，还关系到个人好恶，所以不问则已，问则争取一问就准！可以这样进行：

Q: What happened to Mr. Jones? -- He seems pretty nice to me? （小心翼翼地，安全地打开话题）

A: Does not get along with Mr. Meanman -- and we need Mr. Meanman. (核实了是王八蛋投诉搞走的)

Q: What exactly he did wrong? This makes me a little nervous -- who else Mr. Meanman does not like? (看看王八蛋还搞了别人没有).

A: It's a hard decision. But don't need to worry, you should be working fine.  （老板也不喜欢那倒霉蛋，你没事）