# "Hey, what's up?" Is it alright to say that in a business setting, at any point in time? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118 "2010-12-14T15:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![K-MAN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/838e76/32.png) [@K-MAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K-MAN)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/1 "2010-12-14T15:08:07Z")
If you were to answer the phone at your business/place of work, and said, “Hey, what’s up?” Would you consider that professional? I guess it depends on who your talking to, lets just consider, it was someone you already know, such as your own boss. …Is it becoming a casual norm now? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/2 "2010-12-14T15:13:06Z")
My “hello, this is Tom Scud at [place of business]” spiel apparently sounds pretty canned - a lot of the people who call think I’m a voicemail message - so I sometimes append a quick “what’s up?” if there’s a pause. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/3 "2010-12-14T15:13:55Z")
Moved to IHMO from GD, dudes. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/4 "2010-12-14T15:16:09Z")
I answer the phone with the appropriate spiel. But if someone walks into my office, I sometimes greet them with a “what’s up”. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/5 "2010-12-14T15:18:18Z")
Depends on the relationship between the boss and the employees. If the boss is someone you have a close working relationship with and you feel relaxed around, then “what’s up” may be perfectly fine. If you say it to a member of top brass that you just met, that’s probably not going to go over well. Context is everything. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/6 "2010-12-14T15:20:59Z")
I won’t _answer_ the phone that way, but I’ll say it as a follow-up, even to customers. I think it makes them feel a bit more comfortable and friendly. I’m in TN, so I don’t know if that makes a difference, and I’m in the telecommuncations industry. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/7 "2010-12-14T15:30:31Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > Depends on the relationship between the boss and the employees. If the boss is someone you have a close working relationship with and you feel relaxed around, then “what’s up” may be perfectly fine. If you say it to a member of top brass that you just met, that’s probably not going to go over well. Context is everything. Yep. Also, I would add, depends on whether or not clients/customers can overhear you. It even more so depends on caller ID. My boss’s boss\* seems to get very vaguely … annoyed? maybe? or just a little :dubious: … if I pick up the phone with my canned professional spiel when she calls, like she’s thinking “WTF, **purple**? You _know_ it’s me!” So now I just say, “Hey, what’s up?” or something along those lines when I see it’s her, and frankly she does seem more comfortable with it that way. But she’s the same age as the rest of us and has a pretty joking way with all of us, so YMMV and all that if you work for an old stodgy curmudgeon. - new term I learned recently: she’s my grandboss! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/8 "2010-12-14T16:21:04Z")
Never for any unknown callers, almost always for coworkers, even bosses. I think it’s become the default for people you know are calling you for a reason. Also if I’ve talked to a client a lot recently and we’re both taking care of a situation I will say "Hey, Client, what’s up?’ meaning what’s going on with our situation. The “hey” is more of a cross between “Hi” and “Hey”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/9 "2010-12-14T18:29:09Z")
“Casual norm” would cover it for me. I wouldn’t normally answer the phone that way or open a conversation with my boss’ boss that way but I’d say it in a routine business setting. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/10 "2010-12-14T18:34:41Z")
I have call display on my phone line. I use it when the person calling and I are friendly. (Actually, I use ‘How’s it goin’?’ but same thing.) Otherwise, I just answer it with my name. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/11 "2010-12-14T18:38:51Z")
I say it to both customers and colleagues, but only after the whole “Daerlyn speaking, oh hello, Caller, how are you, I’m fine” is out of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/12 "2010-12-14T18:41:46Z")
I think I could safely say that to anyone in my company, including the CEO who is three levels up from me in the corporate hierarchy. In fact, I might say it to him next time I see him in the cafeteria. (Yes, he buys his lunch at the same place as we minions do.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/13 "2010-12-14T19:10:26Z")
I don’t have clients. If I don’t know whose on the other end of the call, I answer with “This is Dangerosa.” If I do, it depends - if its Dave who I’ve been working with for ten years and gone to conferences and seen drunk “Hey, what’s up?” is perfectly appropriate. If its my CIO, no, it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/14 "2010-12-14T19:29:49Z")
I’d do it with peers, subordinates, and even superiors with whom I’ve established a certain rapport. Coworkers generally call me by a nickname comparable to Oak being short for Oakminster. Never with clients. They get the formal treatment, and are expected to call me Mr. Oakminster. ---
**Author:** ![Add99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Add99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Add99)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/15 "2010-12-15T02:48:11Z")
Yo dude, wat uuup dog. I can say that. I could say that guy looks like he has a pickle up his ass. I could hike my shirt up above my belly and tie it in a knot. I can blow snot out of my nose onto the floor. I can do all this and more. I’m in … construction. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/16 "2010-12-15T12:46:59Z")
I answer the phone with my name, unless it is one of a few friends or family, in which case I very well might say “What’s up?” I read this thread yesterday, and then smiled later on when I passed a couple folk in the hallway and said, “Hey, what’s up!” Of course, that is one of the pleasures of being a judge - very few people will tell you to your face that you are wrong! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/17 "2010-12-15T13:36:12Z")
Thanks to call display you can answer the phone in a personalized fashion for whoever is calling. One of the things that I’ve found really improves my relationships with coworkers is to pay attention to how they like to communicate and mirror that to them. That includes not only the choice of formality level in speech but whether I call with a request, email or use our internal instant messaging system. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/18 "2010-12-15T14:22:30Z")
I don’t say “what’s up” because it’s stupid. When I greet someone it’s Hi or Hello or Hey there or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/19 "2010-12-15T16:19:56Z")
If it’s my boss or I don’t know who’s calling I answer with “This is Oredigger”. On the other hand if you walk into my office and I don’t know why you’re there you get a “What’s up?”. Depending on the reason I know you’re there I’ll range from “I’m not here you’re seeing a figment of your imagination” to “How’s it going?” The last is exactly what what I said to our VP when he walked into my office a couple of months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118/20 "2010-12-15T20:12:06Z")
A guy just walked into my office, and I didn’t realize it until the words were out, but as I turned from my computer I said “Hey, what’s up?” So I guess I really DO find it appropriate in at least some work situations! 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-whats-up-is-it-alright-to-say-that-in-a-business-setting-at-any-point-in-time/564118.md?page=2)