11/05/2024

Nicknames in the Workplace

Here’s when it’s okay to use them—and when it’s not

If you've ever worked in an office, chances are you've encountered at least one person who wasn't called by their real name. Nicknames in the workplace are a pretty common phenomenon, and they run the gamut from describing a personality trait to a worker’s favorite outfit.

Now new research is digging into the impact of using nicknames in the workplace—and when it's better to abstain.

The study, conducted by researchers Zhe Zhang and Shuili Du and published last Friday in the Harvard Business Review, is called The Rules of Using Playful Nicknames at Work. Zhang and Du polled more than 1,100 U.S.-based adults to better understand the role and impact of nicknames in the office. For their purposes, a nickname is categorized as “giving the named a new identity,” like Space Cowboy for Elon Musk, as opposed to simply shortening a name from Elizabeth to Liz. 

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.