# Is it unprofessional to say, "Whats up?" when answering a phone call from your boss? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229 "2011-09-22T18:36:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/21 "2011-09-24T00:02:16Z")
Agreed that your relationship with your boss and your tone should dictate what’s appropriate. Saying that, I can’t imagine a situation where you say “'sup duuuude?” in your best surfer voice. Even casual professional relationships have their limits. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/22 "2011-09-24T00:58:42Z")
It depends on context and who my boss is. Mine’s American, so, answering his call goes like this: “Hey, MyBoss, what’s up?” if I walked out a meeting, to, “Hey, MyBoss, what can I do for you, sir?” if I’m not in a hurry. I should note that “sir” is very casual, and is a very different type of “sir” than I would use if pulled over by a cop. Since I have Chinese working for me, it takes a lot to get them to not be so damned reverent all the time. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/23 "2011-09-24T06:16:33Z")
I wouldn’t answer the phone that way with my current boss or any boss I’ve ever had, or in fact any of my co-workers. It sounds a little too much like “I’m busy, what do you want?” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/24 "2011-09-24T10:53:49Z")
Yes, it is unprofessional, but that doesn’t mean it’s a wrong or a problem. That’s what depends on your boss. If she’s the type who wants you to be professional to her, then, more likely than not, she won’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/25 "2011-09-24T15:07:46Z")
Not a problem where I work. I’m sufficiently casual for that with my boss, also my boss’s boss and my boss’s boss’s boss. However I would not be that casual with my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss or his boss ( at the top of the food chain ). Just depends on where the comfortably casual relationship ends and the slightly more formal begins. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229/26 "2011-09-26T04:40:03Z")
Depends on your office culture and your relationship with your boss. My boss: “What’s up?” would be ok. HER boss: “Hey there, (name)” Anyone higher: “(Name of my office), this is PandaBear” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-unprofessional-to-say-whats-up-when-answering-a-phone-call-from-your-boss/597229.md?page=1)