A female co-worker refers to her client contacts, especially the admin assts, as “my gal” or even “my little girl” if the contact is young. Do you find this condescending and demeaning? Am I being overly sensitive?

This co-worker would never refer to a male admin asst as “my boy” yet doesn’t seem to understand the difference. These terms indicate to me a romantic girl friend, a young daughter, or a subservient employee, as in the old fashioned “my gal Friday.” I’ve even heard her refer to the client attorney as “my gal” and I just cringe. I can’t imagine using these terms to refer to a professional contact, client or co-worker. My 59 yr old husband thinks he’d be hauled off to HR if he used those terms.

What do you think?

Anyone have a website with professional etiquette guidelines that might address this?

I’m in a quandary about what to do but I hate being on the phone with her and a client and have her referral to her own co-workers this way. I feel tarnished.