I don't really think it is,
you're at work, there are different rules, don't make personal insults, talk down to people or call anyone any names no matter how innocent.
Doesn't stop you having conversations or enjoying the company of the people you work with. and better to limit that sort of stuff than either potentially make people uncomfortable (they often won't show it) or open yourself and your employers up for fat law suits.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:50, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

I blame the Americans.
Used to be you could have a laugh at someone's expense without worrying about law suits.

And how boring would work be without some friendly name calling. A bit like here.
( girlinthehole, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:52, Reply)

Can you imagine if work was like here?
People would run off crying every week only to come back begging for their job back the next monday.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Haha!

( girlinthehole, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:56, Reply)

I think you're applying the rules of your workplace to everyone else's
In principle all of the above makes sense, I'm just lucky enough to work in a very relaxed environment
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:52, Reply)

Well I do work for an organisation that takes all that very seriously
and has powerful unions to back up anyone who has a complaint. That said the law's there already, it doesn't just apply to us.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:56, Reply)

Given who you work for I'm not at all surprised that things are stricter for you

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Thu 21 Jul 2011, 15:58, Reply)