Saying "Sir or Ma'am" (applying, job, paid, how to)
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Obviously, it depends on where you're from. I'm a native New Yorker and I never used either term in NYC. Here in Texas (and pretty much elsewhere in the south), however, it is very common to use both terms regardless of social position or status. It is a nicety and having been here over ten years, I've found myself using the terms often. I've had security guards and CEOs use "ma'am" with me. It's really no big deal and like I said, a nicety..
Just one of many things I like about Texas and the South...
It makes you polite dealing with customers or even strangers. It could get old in a work environment real fast.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joe from dayton
No one ever said it had to be used over and over again every day. The original question was about the appropriateness of using the phrase/s in an interview setting.
But... when you're asking somebody to hire you so you can pay your bills, make sure you inform them ahead of time that you're expecting to be treated like an "equal" by your bosses. That way they'll know they need to walk on eggshells around you.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
Going through the posts on this and other threads, we see a lot of people have this attitude. They brag how they let the HM know this at interviews, and then they wonder why they go to interview after interview and can't get hired.
So many young people today, show no respect to anyone in authority, including Hiring Managers, and some have said they have been to as many as 100 interviews and could not get a job. It is their attitude and their showing of lack of respect to the HM that keeps them from being hired. I know that back in my corporate days, those with this attitude were never hired. The HM does not expect them to bow and scrape (they don't hire those kind either), but they do expect a showing of respect and if it not given them, they hire someone else.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
Let's go back to the original statement I responded to on this one:
"Why the hell would I call anybody sir like they are a superior being to me? First name should be more than fine, we're all really equals."
And here was my response (for others reading this post now):
"But... when you're asking somebody to hire you so you can pay your bills, make sure you inform them ahead of time that you're expecting to be treated like an "equal" by your bosses. That way they'll know they need to walk on eggshells around you."
So, all I'm saying to that person is.... be up front with how you feel! Give the boss a fair chance so he can make an informed decision about hiring you! No need to get into a discussion about "why the boss shouldn't treat me as an equal"! Tell the boss you want to be completely equal to him on the day you fill out the application!
BUT If I don't want to make an agreement to be under authority in exchange for a paycheck, why ask for a job? On the other hand, should I explain to the boss that I will be his equal as a condition of employment?
Why the presupposition that good manners or respect are degrading gestures performed by those who are inferior beings? I'm insulted by the insinuation that I am inferior because I call my boss "sir". I work there voluntarily and I got the job by agreeing to be under his authority in exchange for a paycheck. Other people call me "sir", and they will eventually be called "sir" by people under them. And their kids probably call them sir already.
Why the implicit anger in this statement? "Why the hell would I...." What's up with that?
It's not about equality. First of all. It's about the functionality of a social unit along lines of authority and delegation for the purpose of accomplishing objectives for the common good. i.e., to generate profits to pay people and expand operations.
I bet this definition of "equal" doesn't include being responsible for all the same things as the boss is. "Jenny is the boss who's responsible for Employees number 1-20. But.... since we're all equal, all of you will get consequences just like Jenny if any of those employees messes up. Because we're equal! How about, you'll get paid the same salary as everyone else no matter how long they've worked here, because we're all "equal"? Who says the company has to treat everyone as equals in the way you're implying? Nobody is forced to work there.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
I think part of the problem (and again, it's human nature) is that a lot of bosses tend to equate "respect as a authority figure" with "kissing their butt" or "being their best buddies," as they want to have their egos stroked for the little bit of control they've been given (and this sometimes is done by people who like them on a personal level, as they don't want to hurt their feelings).
In reality, all you SHOULD owe your boss is the completion of your work they've paid you to do (an equal business exchange) and maintaining a cordial relationship with them. While you should never be rude to anyone (including your boss), you should never have to bow down to them either. Instead, your work quality/qualifications and amicable personality should be enough to speak for itself.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
Because they are not equal, even the government understands this as shown by their labor laws and labor investigative practices. The fed gov itself demonstrates this difference every day among its own employees.
Why shouldn't bosses treat employees as equals? A manager's function is to organize resources (of which employees are one kind). That's it.
A boss must tell some one what to do and how to do it. If an employee does not respect that things may not work out well.
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