Boss Repeatedly Gets My Name Wrong: What do I do?!?!

nodeerforamonth · 08-11-06, 12:42 AM

Got a new boss (yet again) about 4 months ago. He likes to call people by their last names. He's on the East Coast, I'm on the West.

He ALWAYS gets my name wrong. It's a simple last name. Say my name is "Russo" (Roo-so), he would pronounce it "Russ-so". I correct him EVERY TIME right after he gets it wrong. In the past 7 days, I've corrected him 6 times (out of 3 conversations; 3 times last Monday, twice last Thursday, and once this last Monday). I corrected him so far about 20 times. Maybe more. I feel like Homer Simpson and he's Mr. Burns. In my 39 years of existance, I don't know ANYONE who has gotten my name wrong like that.

What should I do?

1) just take it and keep correcting him. Maybe he'll get it someday. (Doubt it though... he makes Dilbert's boss look like Einstein)

2) start calling him by a wrong name (i.e. "Mook" instead of "Mark")

3) at the next meeting when he does it, say "Look, you get this wrong EVERY TIME. Please stop. It's "Roo-so". (I've done this before yet he still keeps saying it wrong. Sometimes not even 5 minutes later. Say it more forcefully?)

4) call him separately (if I can get ahold of him) and say "Look, please stop. It's getting insulting. I've corrected you about 2 dozen times now."

5) take it to HR

HN · 08-11-06, 12:45 AM

he's doing it because you keep correcting him.

Numanoid · 08-11-06, 12:47 AM

After you corrected him the second time, the point is made. He's doing it on purpose. It's a pissing match. And you're getting all wet.

MartinBlank · 08-11-06, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodeerforamonth

2) start calling him by a wrong name (i.e. "Mook" instead of "Mark")

If your example is his real name, you're screwed. Calling him a mook will piss off the Italians

, unless you called him Mack or Markey. I'd go the lines of a complete phonetic pronunciation of his name.

elperdido · 08-11-06, 01:14 AM

Send him an e-mail and he will stop because there is a paper trail.

How old are you if you do not mind me asking? I am asking because I think you are in your mid/late twenties, hold a decent job (maybe your 2nd or even 3rd since college graduation) and I would like to know if I am correct.

antennaball · 08-11-06, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elperdido

Send him an e-mail and he will stop because there is a paper trail.

How old are you if you do not mind me asking? I am asking because I think you are in your mid/late twenties, hold a decent job (maybe your 2nd or even 3rd since college graduation) and I would like to know if I am correct.

Quote:

He ALWAYS gets my name wrong. It's a simple last name. Say my name is "Russo" (Roo-so), he would pronounce it "Russ-so". I correct him EVERY TIME right after he gets it wrong. In the past 7 days, I've corrected him 6 times (out of 3 conversations; 3 times last Monday, twice last Thursday, and once this last Monday). I corrected him so far about 20 times. Maybe more. I feel like Homer Simpson and he's Mr. Burns. In my 39 years of existance, I don't know ANYONE who has gotten my name wrong like that.

On topic, is it that hard to just ignore him?

Deftones · 08-11-06, 01:23 AM

How can you ignore your boss?

elperdido · 08-11-06, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antennaball

There is a reason for my madness. Be patient please, it is thread related, I just need the answer from nodeer

antennaball · 08-11-06, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elperdido

There is a reason for my madness. Be patient please, it is thread related, I just need the answer from nodeer

My point is that he's 39, as he stated in the part I bolded.

And not ignore the boss, but ignore the mistaken name. If my boss did that, I would just answer to what he called me.

elperdido · 08-11-06, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elperdido

How old are you if you do not mind me asking? I am asking because I think you are in your mid/late twenties, hold a decent job (maybe your 2nd or even 3rd since college graduation) and I would like to know if I am correct.

What can I say.....

Giantrobo · 08-11-06, 05:21 AM

Wear Prada?

zekeburger1979 · 08-11-06, 06:13 AM

Kick him in the crotch and run!

Brian Shannon · 08-11-06, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deftones

How can you ignore your boss?

Easily if he is not calling you by your correct name!

Bandoman · 08-11-06, 07:11 AM

Ignore it. He is aware of the correct pronunciation, and he's deliberately mispronouncing it because he's an ass. But he's your boss, so don't make an issue out of it. Chances are, once he realizes it no longer bothers you, he'll stop. Then he'll find somethng else that bothers you.

Abelkems · 08-11-06, 07:26 AM

It reminds me of this commercial.

I had a boss who insisted on calling me Jerry (not remotely close to my real name). I corrected him a few times, but he never changed. I worked there for two years as Jerry. I didn't really think it was a big deal, as long as my paycheck had the proper name.

nazz · 08-11-06, 07:30 AM

Since you have a new boss "yet again" it sounds like you could just live with it and you'll have a new boss soon anyway.

Patrick G · 08-11-06, 08:00 AM

Get me his email address and I guarantee you he will never mispronounce your name again.

lordwow · 08-11-06, 08:06 AM

Pronounce his name incorrectly and when he corrects you tell him that names aren't really important because he'll be gone in a week or two anyway.

Lunatikk · 08-11-06, 08:14 AM

tell him to call you by your first name

dtcarson · 08-11-06, 08:20 AM

He's the boss. He's either stupid, very forgetful, or a controlling dominant type person. You've done all you can for any of those situations. I definitely would not correct him in public/meeting, if this is accidental that could embarass him, if he's controlling that could enrage him.
As long as you know when he's talking to you, sad as it is, I'd let it slide, especially since it seems there's reasonable fast turnover/transition.

Since he's on the East, you're on the West, maybe his mispronounciation is due to his dialect? My boss mispronounced two coworker's names; one with the accent on the 2nd syllable rather than the first, the other with a 'y' sound instead of a 'j'.
Like someone else said, the paycheck was right, though.

Mopower · 08-11-06, 08:29 AM

Just quit. Jobs with bosses are a dime a dozen. Maybe you'll get a good one next time.

Patrick G · 08-11-06, 08:32 AM

Seriously, if it were me, I would bring it out in the open in a big way, but very light-heartedly. The next time he mispronounces your name, just stop him and say something like, "Okay, I gotta ask - do you know someone else with a last name of Roo-so, but it's pronounced Russ-o?" and go from there. Then, if he continues to do it, at least he'll know that you know he's just an asshole.

Mrs. Danger · 08-11-06, 09:06 AM

Option "other". Mentally change your name to whatever it is he calls you. Next time he calls you that, smile real big and say, "You got it right this time! Thanks!"

bunkaroo · 08-11-06, 09:20 AM

Change your name to Max Power.

jonw9 · 08-11-06, 09:27 AM

I have a difficult last name, so it is easy for me to ignore whatever pronunciation is being used at the moment. Just go with it, it is not a big deal.

You have corrected him enough times, that it is probably getting annoying to the others in the meetings (if there are others). As stated above, either he will never get it, or he does get it and is fucking with you.

My vote is other.

View Poll Results: What do I do?
Just take it and keep correcting him.	4	8.33%
Start mispronouncing HIS name everytime, everywhere	15	31.25%
Stop the meeting next time and point it out.	3	6.25%
Call him privately about this.	11	22.92%
Take it to HR (it's obviously on purpose.)	3	6.25%
other	12	25.00%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

08-11-06, 12:42 AM	#1
nodeerforamonth DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 7,318	Boss Repeatedly Gets My Name Wrong: What do I do?!?! Got a new boss (yet again) about 4 months ago. He likes to call people by their last names. He's on the East Coast, I'm on the West. He ALWAYS gets my name wrong. It's a simple last name. Say my name is "Russo" (Roo-so), he would pronounce it "Russ-so". I correct him EVERY TIME right after he gets it wrong. In the past 7 days, I've corrected him 6 times (out of 3 conversations; 3 times last Monday, twice last Thursday, and once this last Monday). I corrected him so far about 20 times. Maybe more. I feel like Homer Simpson and he's Mr. Burns. In my 39 years of existance, I don't know ANYONE who has gotten my name wrong like that. What should I do? 1) just take it and keep correcting him. Maybe he'll get it someday. (Doubt it though... he makes Dilbert's boss look like Einstein) 2) start calling him by a wrong name (i.e. "Mook" instead of "Mark") 3) at the next meeting when he does it, say "Look, you get this wrong EVERY TIME. Please stop. It's "Roo-so". (I've done this before yet he still keeps saying it wrong. Sometimes not even 5 minutes later. Say it more forcefully?) 4) call him separately (if I can get ahold of him) and say "Look, please stop. It's getting insulting. I've corrected you about 2 dozen times now." 5) take it to HR __________________ "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." -nodeerforamonth

08-11-06, 01:23 AM	#7
Deftones DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 59,473	How can you ignore your boss? __________________ John Henson: McDonald's has dumped Kobe Bryant as their spokesperson and have replaced him with Yao Ming. Apparently McDonald's prefers Yao because he is a bigger international star, and he doesn't rape so much. "You are everything that's wrong with this forum".---SleepyW

08-11-06, 05:21 AM	#11
Giantrobo DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: TORRANCE, CA Posts: 48,382	Wear Prada? __________________ XBOX Gamertag: Giantrobo On my 4th 360 as of 3.26.10

08-11-06, 06:13 AM	#12
zekeburger1979 DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Muskegon, MI Posts: 4,929	Kick him in the crotch and run! __________________ No Good movie is ever long enough, no bad movie is ever short enough.--- Roger Ebert I believe that a movie is not good (or bad) because of what it is about, but because of how it is about it. ---Roger Ebert PSN Name ZacharyTF

08-11-06, 12:45 AM	#2
HN DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,987	he's doing it because you keep correcting him.

08-11-06, 12:47 AM	#3
Numanoid DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Down in 'The Park' Posts: 27,070	After you corrected him the second time, the point is made. He's doing it on purpose. It's a pissing match. And you're getting all wet.

08-11-06, 01:14 AM	#5
elperdido Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 525	Send him an e-mail and he will stop because there is a paper trail. How old are you if you do not mind me asking? I am asking because I think you are in your mid/late twenties, hold a decent job (maybe your 2nd or even 3rd since college graduation) and I would like to know if I am correct.

08-11-06, 07:11 AM	#14
Bandoman DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: a small cottage on a cul de sac in the lower pits of hell. Posts: 27,852	Ignore it. He is aware of the correct pronunciation, and he's deliberately mispronouncing it because he's an ass. But he's your boss, so don't make an issue out of it. Chances are, once he realizes it no longer bothers you, he'll stop. Then he'll find somethng else that bothers you. __________________ "...Bando...you are perfect and awesome." - 4KRG

08-11-06, 07:26 AM	#15
Abelkems DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW GA Posts: 2,784	It reminds me of this commercial. I had a boss who insisted on calling me Jerry (not remotely close to my real name). I corrected him a few times, but he never changed. I worked there for two years as Jerry. I didn't really think it was a big deal, as long as my paycheck had the proper name.

08-11-06, 07:30 AM	#16
nazz DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 5,989	Since you have a new boss "yet again" it sounds like you could just live with it and you'll have a new boss soon anyway.

08-11-06, 08:00 AM	#17
Patrick G DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,758	Get me his email address and I guarantee you he will never mispronounce your name again.

08-11-06, 08:06 AM	#18
lordwow DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 9,418	Pronounce his name incorrectly and when he corrects you tell him that names aren't really important because he'll be gone in a week or two anyway. __________________ Her clam does taste like honey though. Now honey I LOVE. That alone makes her awesome in my book. - Slayer2005 Xbox Live:Wowous\|Twitter\|Join The 360Voice DVDTalk Group

08-11-06, 08:14 AM	#19
Lunatikk DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: My Car Posts: 6,571	tell him to call you by your first name

08-11-06, 08:20 AM	#20
dtcarson DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Triangle, NC, USA Posts: 8,091	He's the boss. He's either stupid, very forgetful, or a controlling dominant type person. You've done all you can for any of those situations. I definitely would not correct him in public/meeting, if this is accidental that could embarass him, if he's controlling that could enrage him. As long as you know when he's talking to you, sad as it is, I'd let it slide, especially since it seems there's reasonable fast turnover/transition. Since he's on the East, you're on the West, maybe his mispronounciation is due to his dialect? My boss mispronounced two coworker's names; one with the accent on the 2nd syllable rather than the first, the other with a 'y' sound instead of a 'j'. Like someone else said, the paycheck was right, though. __________________ I have nothing to say. My dvds 360 Gamertag: dtcarson

08-11-06, 08:29 AM	#21
Mopower DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Janitor's closet in Kinnick Stadium Posts: 15,717	Just quit. Jobs with bosses are a dime a dozen. Maybe you'll get a good one next time.

08-11-06, 08:32 AM	#22
Patrick G DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,758	Seriously, if it were me, I would bring it out in the open in a big way, but very light-heartedly. The next time he mispronounces your name, just stop him and say something like, "Okay, I gotta ask - do you know someone else with a last name of Roo-so, but it's pronounced Russ-o?" and go from there. Then, if he continues to do it, at least he'll know that you know he's just an asshole.

08-11-06, 09:06 AM	#23
Mrs. Danger Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 15,192	Option "other". Mentally change your name to whatever it is he calls you. Next time he calls you that, smile real big and say, "You got it right this time! Thanks!"

08-11-06, 09:20 AM	#24
bunkaroo DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 12,087	Change your name to Max Power.

08-11-06, 09:27 AM	#25
jonw9 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: On the banks of the Red Cedar Posts: 9,863	I have a difficult last name, so it is easy for me to ignore whatever pronunciation is being used at the moment. Just go with it, it is not a big deal. You have corrected him enough times, that it is probably getting annoying to the others in the meetings (if there are others). As stated above, either he will never get it, or he does get it and is fucking with you. My vote is other. __________________ "Damn straight! Today the mad scientist can't get a doomsday device, tomorrow it's the mad grad student! Where will it end?!" - Professor Hubert Farnsworth