Work Etiquette Question

[xeney]

Ugh. When I first passed the bar I worked as a legal research assistant for a defense attorney in the foothills. It was not a terrible job, but I was in his office one day when he was on the phone with someone at the district attorney's office, and he said to the person, "I'll have my girl come pick it up." Meaning me.

When he got off the phone I raised my eyebrows and said, "Would you like me to pick up your dry cleaning while I'm out?" If he'd had an ounce of shame he'd have gotten the point, but he was so dumb that he just went, "Huh? What? Of course not, my wife takes care of that."

(The happy ending is that I later wound up supervising him on a couple of cases. I did not refer to him as "my boy.")

[SadieKate]

"Power squish" cannot be found in any HR guidelines that I know of, since I just made it up this minute.

It's perfect!

I just sent an email to her director about lack of cooperation, respect, blah-blah-blah. I have not said anything about this term, but am hoping to slip it into a personal conversation with him. This isn't her only power squishing behavior. I'm tired of this crap.

[Miranda]

I voted the term "gal" doesn't bother me. Been called worse. A word doesn't define me, or our relationship. It's how you treat me. Actions speak louder than words...

It sound like it's way more that just the term "gal" that's the problem. Even if this person didn't use the term "gal", it's the other behaviors that are really frustrating.

[sundial]

I think it's unprofessional. Hope your client discontinues the usage.

[Mr. Bloom]

I don't mind the term gal. I would not be offended if a (female) friend referred to me as one of her gals.

But--I think it's totally inappropriate for a supervisor to be referring to a supervisee or someone lower on the work totem pole that way.

I respect your position...but I grew up in Alabama...and frankly, even that context would have cultural overtones to slavery and derogatory racial and social stereotyping.

As I see it, in the workplace, rank may exist, but it does not have to be exaggerated.

In a meeting, one of our property managers referred to her assistant as "her girl" and I felt compelled to correct her (and it gave me insight into why she is on her 7th assistant in three years...).

I also hate it when women call me "hun" as well...although I'm not offended by it in the proper context.