They were schoolmates and agemates, they play together, party together, dine together, and all and ecetra together. He knows and called him 'stone' during those days. But he just got employed by this classmate/agemate who is the owner of the firm. Now he is finding it difficult to be answering any question or command with 'yes sir, ok sir, excuse me sir.'
Advice

Respect is reciprocal!!
Ethically, the boss demands some respect. He is pinned, he have to do it and see what his boss will say (if they were true friends).

In this life, some people are served what they dont deserve; its now up to them to confront it, live with it, or flee from it! -big-T!!

in my office, there is a man who is older than our oga. He says yes sir,etc everytime and oga also reciprocates!!

So if your friend becomes President and he/she makes you Minister,you will call him/her by his/her first name?Even in private, you will still refer to him/her as "Mr President" or 'Madam President', unless he/she says you should speak on a first name basis.IT IS JUST PROTOCOL.

Nigeria and it's power distance. It is not protocol to say Sir or Ma. Never worked in a place where everyone is not addressed by their first name... Even in Nigeria. Maybe it's more the culture in academia, but even then, not when you're obviously peers.

Sammy107_d: Nigeria and it's power distance. It is not protocol to say Sir or Ma. Never worked in a place where everyone is not addressed by their first name... Even in Nigeria. Maybe it's more the culture in academia, but even then, not when you're obviously peers.

If the ethical standards(whether formal or informal) in the organisation require such..........why not ''Yes sir''.......for a formal pal!!!

I would even ''Yes sir'' him first until He asked me to stop and If He never ask me to stop ''I would continue ''Yes sir'' him !!!

Have to say that's an unfortunate organizational culture. If it's the culture one finds himself, then sure. i just disagree that it's the blanket address symbolising respect. If someone respects you, you'd know beyond sirs or ma. For me, its getting the required work done and on time. Generally, not playing around the quality of work and deadlines I assign. Also being open to learning and asking questions. I'd like for this thread to take the casual/dynamic workplace vs formal/structured workplace direction. Really interested in learning what people prefer.

It is not an unfortunate organisational culture.

There is this english called Dynamism and versatility...........this is a quality I believed one must possessed in order to fit into any role in an organisation!!!


If u find urself in the ''Military'' u must ''yes sir'' even the ''last born'' of ur immediate sister if such has Higher rank ....!!!

While in some organisation,u can adress ur boss by his first name (been in d shoe before) .......thats the norm!!!


So,whatever Ideally makes you get things done even ''yes sir'' do and say it !!

I'm so sorry but he has no choice dear, that is what is ethically obtainable in the work environment here in naija, U must use "sir" or "ma" for ur boss. If he doesnt want to, then he should go set up his own company. But sincerely, does saying"sir" or "ma" change anything? If they are truly friends, it shouldn't mar their relationship he will also be a boss someday. Life is in phases, men are in sizes. #MyTake#