Terms of Endearment and Their Impact on the Workplace: How Personal Should Interpersonal Communication Be?

Abstract

This study investigates how overly familiar personal communication habits, specifically the use of terms of endearment, impact professional workplace relationships. It examines the role of demographic factors—such as age, ethnicity, geographic region, and sexual orientation—in shaping perceptions of these communication patterns. Additionally, the study addresses the legal and ethical implications of such language usage in the workplace. Using data from 154 respondents, the results provide insight into how various demographics perceive personal communication in a professional context.

Keywords

terms of endearment interpersonal communication professional relationships workplace ethics demographic perceptions

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