Miranda Live: Why ‘mum and dad’ are banned at Qantas
AUSSIE airline Qantas wants to ban the word “guys” and phrases like “mum and dad” — but the bizarre guideline’s creators say it’s just about making workplaces more welcoming to everyone.
AUSSIE airline Qantas wants to ban the word “guys” and phrases like “mum and dad” — but the bizarre guideline’s creators say it’s just about making workplaces more welcoming to everyone.
The airline’s People and Culture group executive Lesley Grant sent an information pack on how to make employees feel comfortable as part of its Spirit of Inclusion month, suggesting words like “darl, honey or love” were offlimits because they could offend.
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The Diversity Council of Australia provided the material and to Qantas and its 450 member organisations.
But Council CEO Lisa Annese told Miranda Live the information pack was more of a “guide than a rule book”.
“There’s no word that’s off limits, we’re not telling people what to say or not say,” Ms Annese told columnist Miranda Devine on the online radio show.
“It’s about the choices people make and the impact that have on other people — we want to have organisations to have conversations about language they use in the workplace.”
As part of the program, Qantas staff were advised to use “humanity” instead of “mankind”, “manager” instead of “foreman” and “team, folks, you all or people” instead of “guys”.
“Always using the terms ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ can reinforce the idea that people are always in heterosexual relationships ... in the same way, always referring to ‘mum and dad’ can make many families feel excluded — both same-sex couples and single-parent families,” the pack advised.
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