• TheFlopster@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    When did “call in” change to “call out”? And why? You “call in” to work to tell them you will be out.

    It feels like it was in the last 5 years or so, but all the new people (younger than me) at work now say “call out,” and I don’t understand the lexicon shift.

    • objectionist@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      you’re calling to get out. calling in sounds like you’re providing a reason to go in that day, which imo makes even less sense

    • cmbabul@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Maybe it’s a regional thing but I’ve been saying call out since I got my first job bagging groceries in 2003

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      7 months ago

      In my experience “call out” was more common for a shift-style job at a place with many low-level, younger employees. Think fast-food, retail, etc. Maybe had to do with the perception that another employee is just “slotted in” to replace the shift? Regardless, these same people are now getting older and the term has spread to other types of jobs…