When you're expected to show up and initially liaise with others (2,2)
I believe the answer is:
et al
'with others' is the definition.
(short for 'et alia', Latin for 'and others')
'when you're expected to show up and initially liaise' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'when' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'tal' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for et al that I've seen before include "Latin abbreviation meaning 'and others'" , "And others (abbrev.)" , "... and other people (or things) (abbr)" , "and everyone else)" , "along with others" .)