Informal greetings to public banned by local council

Council
staff are being told to stop using informal greetings such as ‘love’ or ‘dear’
when welcoming the public, following a complaint by a local councillor.

Employees
at Bristol City Council have been told to use more formal greetings after
Barbara Janke, the councils Liberal Democrat leader, complained staff’s
attitude towards the public was too casual.

In
a memo to reception and security staff, managers said they must now use the
terms ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’.

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However,
the Daily Telegraph reports that a Tory councillor, Richard Eddy, has attacked
the move, claiming visitors prefer a friendly welcome to faceless bureaucracy.

By Ross Wigham