DEAR MISS MANNERS: The new boss in the finance department where I and several others work will only acknowledge her staff who are in middle management.
Several times she has said "Good morning" or "Good night" to these middle managers while I have been standing right next to them. On a personal level I find this hurtful and rude.
Is this acceptable behavior in the workplace? Even the president of the company says good morning to me.
GENTLE READER: Snubbing a co-worker is rude. Snubbing a subordinate is worse, because of the inequality in the relationship.
But it is also poor management. Miss Manners applauds the president, at least, for being polite, whether he is genuinely interested in the happiness of his employees -- or merely realizes that being polite is a cheaper way to boost morale than giving out raises.