# Do you call your boss "Boss"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805 "2019-12-13T13:09:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/1 "2019-12-13T13:09:08Z")
Sort of inspired by the first name/last name thread, but mostly something I’ve noticed on TV. My wife watches several of the dramas on CBS, and it seems like on every show she watches, characters always call their boss “Boss”. I think I first noticed this on “The Mentalist” several years ago, and I found it jarring because I don’t know anyone who does this in real life. But then it turned into one of those things that, once you notice it, you notice it _a lot_. So, anybody here call their boss “Boss”? What about higher-ups, do you address them by name or by their title? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/2 "2019-12-13T13:21:25Z")
Only in jest. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/3 "2019-12-13T13:26:41Z")
Never in my life. In fact, all the way up to CEO it’s been a first name basis. I once addressed the CEO of the nuclear facility that I worked at as “Dr. xxxxx.” He responded with “Oh, just Bob please.” ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/4 "2019-12-13T13:40:23Z")
Like **DCnDC** , only as a joke, and only once in a very great while. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/5 "2019-12-13T13:51:27Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Never in my life. In fact, all the way up to CEO it’s been a first name basis. This. I’ve worked in many, many places, back to the early 1960s, and I have NEVER called anyone anything other than their first name. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/6 "2019-12-13T13:55:51Z")
Yes. Somewhat as a joke and because I call a lot of people ‘boss’, it’s a disarming way to address people. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/7 "2019-12-13T14:29:28Z")
My son is a prison guard in Florida. One of the many strange things he experiences is being called “Boss” by elderly black prisoners. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/8 "2019-12-13T17:40:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Yes. Somewhat as a joke and because I call a lot of people ‘boss’, it’s a disarming way to address people. I’m not your “boss”, pal. As for the OP, no. I’ve only worked in “Corporate America” for my career where, since the early 90s, we only call our “boss” by his or her first name. I mean, assuming I can even identify who my actual “boss” is. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/9 "2019-12-13T18:07:37Z")
I say it as a term of endearment. (I mainly call them by their first name. But when I’m in a good mood, it’s boss) If I don’t like the boss, I’ll cal him/her by their first name. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/10 "2019-12-13T18:30:17Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m not your “boss”, pal. No, you are not, Nobody is my boss so I’ll call anybody ‘boss’ that I want to. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/11 "2019-12-13T18:36:27Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Like **DCnDC** , only as a joke, and only once in a very great while. Yeah, I’ve had bosses who would occasionally get addressed as “fearless leader”. For example “oh Fearless Leader, thou who fightest the pile of paperwork… get a move on or we’re going to miss the plane and remember, it’s your company paying for the hotels and tickets.” ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/12 "2019-12-13T18:39:06Z")
I had one boss, a conductor, whom I never addressed by any name at all. Everyone else has just been firstname. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/13 "2019-12-13T18:40:06Z")
Yeah, maybe in some fringe case, like Nava’s example. But since my first corporate job I have always addressed my boss, and most everyone else I work with, by their first name. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/14 "2019-12-13T18:42:17Z")
If you work for Bose, do you call your boss Bose Boss? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/15 "2019-12-13T18:52:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, you are not, Nobody is my boss so I’ll call anybody ‘boss’ that I want to. Hey, hey, easy there, chief. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/16 "2019-12-13T19:26:24Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > I had one boss, a conductor, whom I never addressed by any name at all. > > Everyone else has just been firstname. He didn’t make you (and everyone else) call him “Maestro”? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/17 "2019-12-13T19:32:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Hey, hey, easy there, chief. [Don’t call me Chief!](https://youtu.be/-yUeqIXOh54?t=18) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/18 "2019-12-13T20:02:34Z")
To answer the OP, I haven’t really had that many “bosses,” really, but, no I never called any of them, boss. I do sometimes use the word “boss” in a friendly manner and hear it used in a friendly manner with me, even from strangers (exclusively by men). Like, I may go to get my oil changed, and the guy might say something like “whatcha need today, boss?” ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/19 "2019-12-13T20:09:40Z")
One of my first jobs was as a door-to-door salesman. We were under orders to get the [del]sucker’s[/del] customer’s first name, and work it into the conversation as often as possible. If they think you are their friend, you can screw them out of more money. That job left me with a knee-jerk suspicion of people who insist on first names. I don’t like using my boss’ first name, and I don’t really care if he prefers it. I use “Boss” as often as I can get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805/20 "2019-12-13T20:14:33Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > One of my first jobs was as a door-to-door salesman. We were under orders to get the [del]sucker’s[/del] customer’s first name, and work it into the conversation as often as possible. If they think you are their friend, you can screw them out of more money. That job left me with a knee-jerk suspicion of people who insist on first names. > > I don’t like using my boss’ first name, and I don’t really care if he prefers it. I use “Boss” as often as I can get away with it. I, too, am suspicious of salespeople who use my first name. I find it a little invasive. But I expect people who actually know me, that I see every day, to use my first name if they name me at all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-call-your-boss-boss/844805.md?page=2)