Can a subordinate person use "you're welcome" in response to a superior person's thanking him/her?
Some believe only superiors can use "you're welcome" in response to subordinates thanking them for something. I would like to know whether using it vice versa would also sound OK and not impolite. Further, if this is the case, what alternatives a subordinate can use in response to his/her boss thanking him for a job he has done for him/her.

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You're welcome is more formal and thanks is more informal is the same, but is nice to use you're welcome when you're in a formal environment.

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If you want to be more formal/more courteous,  you could say "my pleasure."

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Your welcome would be fine to use. It is standard and polite is used formally and informally, to anybody.
It would be best to respond as you normally would to anybody else.

However if there is an etiquette for the particular workplace. It would be best to say "no problem, you're welcome + Sir/Mr/Mrs/Miss +(name if that is normal in that environment"

For the armed forces or emergency services or similar organisations like fire, ambulance, rescue etc you will be told the etiquette to use.

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What a subordinate can say to a boss is VERY regional/culturally dependent.
Some places it would be inappropriate to refer to anyone as a subordinate.
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Your question is a polite option.
Polite is usually a good start.
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What makes for polite varies form place to place too.

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It is polite to say "You're welcome" to a superior, even a boss. "You're welcome" is the proper response to "Thank you" for all people. It might actually be considered impolite to not say "You're welcome" after your boss thanks you. I hope this answer helps explain things.

Answers · 7

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