Civil servants advised to stop using informal family titles in official settings
Chillax, here's the lowdown:
Some bureaucrats at the Interior Ministry are now asked to spoke to people they serve in a more formal manner instead of using friendly nicknames like "Uncle" or "Auntie." That's right, no more casual vibes while handling government stuff.
The new rule came about after a grumble to the Office of the Prime Minister from a citizen who wasn't feeling the familial vibes at one-stop service centers in shopping malls. They thought it was inappropriate for staff to call them "Pa" (aunt) or "Loong" (uncle).
The critic suggested that staff should use formal titles, such as "Khun" (equivalent to Mr/Ms) or "Khun Look-kha" (Mr/Ms Customer), to keep things professional.
The department's missive advises clerks to be polite and address the service recipients as "Khun" followed by their full names. However, there's still some wiggle room to adapt to local norms.
After the memo caused a stir on social media, the ministry spokeswoman explained their intentions. She underlined that the memo was in response to one specific complaint and primarily focused on the one-stop service counters in shopping malls, where people from diverse backgrounds go for assistance.
"The department isn't demanding that officials call everybody 'Mr/Ms' or 'Mr/Ms Customer.'," she iterated. "They're just suggesting that they keep things classy while keeping the flexibility to choose fitting titles according to the community's norms."
The spokeswoman admitted that the memo may have caused confusion and assured that they're working on a revised edition to offer clearer instructions.
Even a former high-ranking officer, Sutthipong Juljarern, found the new guidelines bewildering. He shared his thoughts on Facebook, critiquing the use of "Mr/Ms Customer," expressing initial shock and dismay. He mentioned that several people within the civil service community disagreed with the directive, perceiving the friendly and respectful informal titles as an unnecessary change.
Notable Facts:- The new guidelines were prompted by a member of the public's complaint about informal titles used at one-stop service centers.- The expected change aims to standardize and professionalize interactions between civil servants and the public.- The directive doesn't totally prohibit the use of informal titles and allows some flexibility based on local customs.- A former high-ranking officer criticized the new guidelines, viewing the informal titles as warm and friendly.
- The servants at the Interior Ministry are now required to address people they serve formally, instead of using friendly nicknames, following a complaint about informal titles at one-stop service centers.
- The recipients of services at shopping malls were not comfortable with being called "Pa" or "Loong" by staff, prompting the critic to suggest using formal titles like "Khun" or "Khun Look-kha."
- In response to the controversy, the departmental directive advises clerks to be polite and address the service recipients as "Khun" followed by their full names but allows for flexibility in choosing fitting titles based on local norms.
- The policy-and-legislation regarding this matter has sparked debate within the civil service community, with a former high-ranking officer, Sutthipong Juljarern, criticizing the use of "Mr/Ms Customer," perceiving the friendly and respectful informal titles as an unnecessary change.
