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The Careerologist: Can I call a colleague ‘dear’?

Pet names can often feel like a put down, especially when used by male colleagues talking to female colleagues

The Careerologist: Can I call a colleague ‘dear’?
Photo: Bill Brown

Is it ever ok to call a colleague ‘dear’ or ‘darling’?

In pretty much all situations, bar talking to loved ones, pet names are not OK at work and that includes 'dear' or 'darling' all the way through to the 'babe', 'honey' or 'sweetheart'.

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