Depends, the 'can you' (or 'can I get') phrasing appears to be a USA English thing. Managers often expect subordinates to just know what they mean, but checkin

Depends, the 'can you' (or 'can I get') phrasing appears to be a USA English thing. Managers often expect subordinates to just know what they mean, but checking instructions and requirements is usually essential and imo is a mark of a good worker. "Can you dispose of our latest product in a landfill"... Generally in UK, unless the person is a major consumer of USA media, "can you" is an enquiry as to capability or whether an action is within the rules. IME. YMMV.