Love, the pet name that women hate
The term 'love' is most likely to rile a female employee
‘Love’ has been revealed as female employees’ most hated pet name.
The term of affection is the comment most likely to rile women in the nation’s workplaces.
Second place went to ‘darlin’, followed by ‘babe’, ‘mate’ and ‘hun’.
The study of 3,000 female workers revealed that almost three quarters think pet names in the office are 'unacceptable', while another one in four say it makes them angry.
One in four even thinks it is unprofessional.
A spokesman for market research site www.onepoll.com said: 'These results show that women clearly aren't happy to be called by anything other than their name.
'Guys might think they are being affectionate by calling someone babe or love, but it seems women simply find them patronising and demeaning.
'Many are just cringe-worthy and dated - it's hardly surprising that many women can't stand being called pet or poppet by their 50-year-old boss.
'Some of the pet names may get an OK reception in your workplace, but in general, the impression we got is that the best advice is to stay away from them.'
WOMEN'S TOP TEN MOST HATED NICKNAMES
- Love
- Darlin'
- Babe
- Mate
- Hun
- Kiddo
- Chick/Chicken
- Dear
- Poppet
- Pet
Researchers found that 'love' is considered too over-familiar while 'babe' was labelled as patronising.
Hun' is irritating and 'mate' was said to be too personal.
And women felt 'darlin' wasn't respectful enough.
The pet names are most likely to be used during a face-to-face conversation with almost two thirds saying this is when they usually hear the terms.
But one in ten regularly get called by them over the phone and another 15 per cent get addressed by the terms in an email.
And male bosses or colleagues are most likely to address a women with one the terms of endearment.
For one in 20 women it has gotten so bad, they have even complained about it to a manager.
Most watched News videos
- Robert Buckland speaks after losing his Swindon South seat to Labour
- Labour's new Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks about Gaza
- 'You have no remorse': Judge sentences Lucy Letby to life in prison
- 'Let's get the party started!': Carol Vorderman reacts to exit polls
- Former Prime Minister Liz Truss LOSES her seat in General Election
- Jacob Rees-Mogg concedes defeat as Labour swoops down on seat
- King Charles arrives at Buckingham Palace to meet Sunak and Starmer
- Explosive exit poll result shows Labour on track for huge majority
- Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing St for last time with wife and kids
- PM Keir Starmer and Labour members arrive for cabinet appointment
- Cooper says the new government has inherited a 'difficult legacy'
- Penny Mordaunt loses Portsmouth North seat to Labour