...
By Rachael O'Connor
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Giving co-workers nicknames at work can make a major difference in the office—both positively and negatively.
This is the conclusion of researchers from Western University who ran experiments involving more than 1,100 US-based adults.
Each participant was placed in workplace scenarios where nicknames were used either the boss or the employees.
Read More
Is ‘Kind Productivity’ the Future of Work?11 min read
The role-players were then asked if the nicknames had shaped their sense of power, respect and psychological safety in the workplace environment.
Paper author and marketing researcher professor Zhe Zhang said that two clear lessons had emerged from the study—that managers should not give their employees nicknames and that employees nicknaming a manager can give them a sense of empowerment.
...
"Because there is a power disparity between the supervisor and the subordinate, nicknaming a subordinate may make the manager seem like they are abusing their power," Zhang said in a statement.
And he told Newsweek: "Nicknames in the workplace aren't for everyone, and leaders should exercise caution when using them with subordinates.
"While it's important not to discourage employees from using a leader's nickname, the appropriateness of nicknames often depends on the organizational culture. When in doubt, it's always best to seek one's consent before using a nickname."
An employee assigned a nickname by a manager felt less safe, powerful and respected than their colleagues addressed by their proper names, and may have perceived it as a way for the boss to assert control over them, the study found.
But when an employee gave their manager a nickname, that employee felt safer, more respected and more powerful.
An estimated 133 million people were in full-time employment in the United States in 2024, a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to data from Statista, where full-time reflects weekly working schedule of more than 30 hours per week.
At the same time, there were an estimated 28.1 million part-time employees in the US as of January 2024.
Zhang's study found that the culture of the office also plays a role in how nicknames are perceived among staff, with a hierarchical workplace giving a "more pronounced" impact of nicknames than a more egalitarian organization.
Managers considering the use of nicknames in the workplace should take things into consideration, he advised, including by setting expectations around nicknames to ensure a respectful environment, and being aware of the company culture, as nicknames in hierarchical workplaces could reinforce power imbalances.
Regardless of hierarchy, a leader should never assume an employee is comfortable with a nickname, as it could lead to anything from discomfort to a HR or legal issue.
The best approach, the researcher advised, is to simply ask—ensuring the employee feels respected and comfortable with how they are addressed in the workplace.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about psychology? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Reference
Zhang, Z., & Du, S. (2024). The Effects of Nicknaming in the Workplace on Perceived Supervisor Communality and Employee Well-being. Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4929259
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines