Every boss expects a different level of formality from their employees. I know a lot of Southern people who feel disrespected if they’re not addressed as «yes sir» or «yes ma’am.» On the other side, I know Northerners who get incredibly offended if people call them «ma’am» because it makes them feel old. In general, society has become less formal over time. 40 years ago, there were still some offices where it wasn’t appropriate for a female employee to wear slacks. Today, I can wear a cutoff t-shirt to the office that says «Caution, Paul Dano Fan.» These are pretty extreme ends of the spectrum of formality, with most offices falling somewhere in the middle. Formality in the office certainly serves a purpose. It distinguishes casual social relationships from professional ones, and allows one to craft a work persona that’s more in line with their professional goals. That being said, formality can go too far.