Q Is the word "gal" sexist? I referred to a female colleague by this term in conversation recently and received a very negative reaction from a supervisor.
I'm from the East Coast and have been using "gal" for 35 years. Now I reside in California and am discovering that this word is frowned upon at my work.
A: In the past, I've heard women referred to as "gals," and it hasn't seemed to be a problem.
In researching this question, however, I got a universally negative reaction to the word — particularly when it's used at work.
When I asked women about the word's male counterpart, "guys," they told me "guys" has a nongender aspect that makes it acceptable ("you guys are really the best" might be said to a team that includes women and men), whereas "gals" is gender-specific and is seen as demeaning.
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In general, I advise not using the word, especially in business situations. In your case, even though you've used "gal" without difficulty in other places, given that it's unacceptable at your current workplace, you should respect that culture and refrain from using the term.
Q: I recently transferred within my company to a new job that I've held for just one month. In the meantime, I got an offer from outside the company that I've accepted. In this case, how much information should I include in my letter of resignation?
A: The most important information is your statement of resignation and the amount of notice you're giving.
When resigning, what really matters is how you work with your current employer to minimize the impact of your leaving and how your new employer views your handling of the situation.
First, explore what kind of time frame your new employer has in mind for your start date — explaining you don't want to leave your old employer in the lurch. Meanwhile, in your letter of resignation, offer to meet with your current employer to discuss the timing of your departure.
Then seek a compromise that meets your new employer's needs but also gives your old employer a reasonable amount of time to find a replacement. That way you won't burn bridges with your old employer, while your new employer will see you as an upright person who'll be an excellent addition to their team.
In your letter, you might say something like: "While I realize I transferred recently to a new role, an opportunity has come up outside the company that advances my career significantly, and I've decided to accept this position. I'd like to discuss a time frame for my leaving that will make the transition as smooth as possible for you."