Gary Martin: Should we stop using hi guys in the workplace? – PerthNow

Its an expression used to greet family, friends and work colleagues. It is also a turn of phrase that increasingly has many gasping for a more inclusive greeting.

The word guys, along with the phrases hi guys and hey guys, has become ingrained in our day-to-day conversations and is used by most with absolutely no intention to offend.

In the singular, guy is masculine. But for some of us the plural version guys has come to include everyone as a sort of casual alternative to ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

We all have a pet peeve when it comes to the way we are greeted by others. Some detest being called dude, precious, sugar, doll or honey, and there are many more who bristle at the gender disconnect created by the word guys.

Critics of those who use the term to address groups that include women and those who identify as non-binary argue it is not gender neutral and is therefore exclusionary.

Using you guys, for example, may make some women feel overlooked or ignored in a mixed-gender group.

There are those, however, who argue the word has evolved to be entirely gender neutral.

They claim attempts to remove the word from our banter is yet another case of political correctness out of control.

While those seeking to do away with guys concede the words meaning may have shifted slightly, they maintain it has retained a certain male flavour.

They argue those who continue to use the exclusionary term are simply imagining that male words are gender neutral. The expressions good guys, bad guys, old guys, tough guys and even wise guys, for example, have not lost their gendered associations.

Besides, the term actually positions men as the default because guy in the singular invariably means male.

One of the reasons guys has endured is that the English language, at first glance, does not offer many gender-neutral alternatives.

Folks, while having some merit, may come across as a little forced or even too folksy.

People sounds plausible, but can sound too pushy, a little impersonal and perhaps a touch contrived.

Team may work in some, but not all, situations and can come across as a patronising. Friends is good for certain social contexts, but may seem a little awkward or out of place in the workplace.

While those seeking to do away with guys concede the words meaning may have shifted slightly, they maintain it has retained a certain male flavour.

As our voices for inclusion become louder and louder, diehard fans of the word guys will be forced to accept that language has the power to make some people invisible, and they will be prompted to surrender a word they maintain is harmless.

If you are trying to edit guys out of your vocabulary, you cannot go wrong with using one of two words that ooze inclusivity and will not leave at least half of the world feeling left out, ignored or an afterthought. Those words are everyone or everybody.

For further insights and expertise on current workplace topics visit AIM WAs Workplace Conversations

Professor Gary Martin is chief executive at the Australian Institute of Management WA

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Gary Martin: Should we stop using hi guys in the workplace? - PerthNow