In my last company, there was this culture of addressing an unknown person / or person whose name your don’t know as -”BOSS”. Everyone was being called with the same connotation without giving any consideration to position, seniority, age , gender or experience. It was ingrained, adopted and was working very well in topical environment.

But somewhere in their heart associates wanted to have a better word as you can’t call anyone and everyone as “BOSS”.

Suggestions started pouring in for the words like “pal” , “companion”,” comrade” , “sir” etc. But none of these were better alternatives.

May be through you I would like to ask this forum if they know any such word which:

- Shows respect to individual
- Should be formal
- Can we used with people whom you know by face but not by name
- Shouldn’t denote bias (implicitly or explicitly) toward any gender, age, position, designation etc.

Thanks for your help.

Nafees