Just an idle thought that spun out of an older thread, coupled with half-remembered dialogue from American movies. I was surprised to read that some people addressed their workplace superiors as “Sir”, “Ma’am”, “Mr”, or “Ms”.
Seems rather odd to this Australian. Since leaving high school, the only people I’ve called “Mr” or “Mrs” have been my friends’ parents and old Mrs Shepherd who lives across the street. (Most parents insist I call them by their first names, but sometimes I use the appropriate honorific.) I’ve don’t believe I’ve EVER used the titles “Sir” or “Ma’am”, except in jest. (Of course I’m talking about personal conversations here. I address letters using the addressee’s correct title; I introduce people at a formal or business meeting using their titles.)
IMO, with a few exceptions, it’s decidely unAustralian to personally address another adult other than by their first names.
So how does this work overseas?
Do you call your boss “Sir” or “Ma’am”? Slightly wider, do you address people as “Mr” or “Ms” in ordinary conversations? What about in professional or business situations? Does it matter if your addressee is older or younger than you?
My bosses have always been addressed by their first name. The only exceptions, at both jobs, were the owner - they were addresses Mr/Ms/Mrs LastName. The person I reported to was always addressed by their first name, no matter where they were on the scale.
Well, my supervisor’s initials are TT, so I usually address her with the proper phrase: “Whattup, double T.” As soon as I get to a company that’s more formal I’ll change my tune.
Initially, Mr. Mrs., then if first names seem to be okay, by first name. However, I inexorably slide for some unkknown reason into calling the boss either “Chief” or Bossman/lady" if we get familiar enough.
I think it really depends on where you work. Most places I’ve worked have been rather informal and I called by boss by their first name. However, being in Texas, “sir” is also an acceptable substitute, especially when answering questions about bugs
I would not be surprised if I worked for a larger company and my actual boss was several levels above me (having a team leader or what not instead of an actual boss), I would expect it could be Mr. (or Mrs.) or any other formal gretting.
I think I’ve always called my direct superiors by their first names with two exceptions. Once I worked for my programming professor as her student secretary, so I called her Ms. xxx (she wasn’t a Dr. and no one called the professors Professor xxx). Another time I worked in a grocery store and though we could call all management by their first names, we had to call them over the intercom by Mr. xxx.
First name basis. I’m not sure how I would address an executive way up in the corporation, though. When we talk amongst ourselves, though, we would call the high muckety mucks by their first names. “Sam is making a big speech today.” etc. I think it would still be first name, it would feel odd calling them Mr. so and so.
When they are around it’s usually by the first name. That is for my direct bosses, never talked to the ones above them. That’s been the same for all my jobs.
I call my boss Paul. I call his boss Nancy (Director of Finance). I call her boss Donnie (CFO). Everyone, down to the cook int he cafeteria, calls the president of the company David. It’s been that way everywhere I’ve worked.
I am an Engineer and have worked for three different companies in California over the last 12 years. I have always called everyone from my immediate supervisor to the CEO and President by their first name.
First name… even the President of the company and VP go by their first names with us (on the rare occassions that they visit the store.)
The President putting his hand on my back and going, “Hey, Blondie!” was another matter entirely. :mad: About six of my co-workers stood there watching me grit my teeth after that one.
I called my boss “Mr. Lastname” for about a week when I first started, and it really unnerved him. But in our office, everyone is first names. Now, if we are talking about someone else, then sometimes it’s Mr. Whatever for emphasis, but not usually.
I was raised where you call people older than you Mr./Mrs/Ms/ Last Name, and it’s a habit I’ve had a little trouble trying to break. I thank my boss at my internship at Rives Carlbergh for helping me break that one. Because he was head of the company, and I was still only 20 and in college, whenever I tried to get his attention, I would always call him Mr. Carlbergh.
He would then procede to completely ignore me.
Only when I called him Chuck would he acknowledge my address. At first it was really awkward for me, but I got over it pretty quick.
