What’s the right way to address your boss?
...and how do these unwritten rules vary around the world?
Imagine you’ve just started a new job or it’s your first day at uni. You’re talking to your boss or teacher, someone who’s much older, much richer, or much more powerful than you. Do you call them by their first name? Or do you go with Mr, Mrs, Professor, Doctor?
In Nigeria, a video of a young woman being corrected for calling a billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name has sparked a conversation about respect, age and power.
We speak to three Nigerians to get their take on the story and how you should refer to your boss.
Plus our reporter Basma El Atti in Nairobi, Kenya, tells us about the unwritten rules elsewhere in the world.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Mollie Perella and Stefania Okereke
Video Producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editors: Verity Wilde
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 3 Sep 202617:50GMTBBC World Service News Internet
- Fri 4 Sep 202602:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only
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