To understand anyone's use of a word really requires an understanding of their corporate culture. Here's our story.

The girls i was referring to was not even a term that i invented for them, it actually came from themselves. That group has been together for nearly seven years without turnover. Pretty hard to do these days but one of the factors for that is that as a small company - less than 50 employees, they bond, have fun on the job and enjoy a personal approach toward their work. As for the company, we've always enjoyed a rather casual work environment that fostered the idea we're all equal. Equal? Well, I help take out the trash. I clean toilet bowls in the men's room and even the ladies room from time to time. I change light bulbs and even vacuum areas that aren't my office. As well, I even take my turn to clean the kitchen. They do similar things and we're really a one level company which probably contributes greatly to the extreme low turnover we have.

Now the term "girls." I didn't invent it, they taught me the term. It came from the the girls themselves as they were joking years ago about being the "Vanna's Girls" when they were helping with the Freddie Awards (ala Vanna White). So among themselves the term "girls" sort of stuck and then i used it to refer to something they were doing with the Freddies. It stuck as well to refer to that group since again, they have been together for some time.

As well, the layout of the building contributed to it. For some reason (and i did not do the hiring, a female did) one half of the building ended up all female employees and the other half ended up all male. Kitchen, laundry room, conference room and reception separating the two halves. That as well probably contributed to the idea of the girls half and the boys half of the building.

So that's the story of the "girls." Fun in a way, not threatening and if anything representing that this is a fun, enjoyable and easy to work for company without any pretense.

Hope this helps dispel any notion that I was sexist.

[QUOTE=belleNY]