Dear Prudie,
I work in our small, mostly family-owned company. The other day when I was in a casual conversation with another employee who directly reports to a non-family partner, she used the phrase “Jewed him down” to describe how she negotiated with a street vendor on a trip to New York. I was too stunned to say anything and so changed the topic of conversation to work-related matters. While we have different bosses and even work out of different locations, we are currently working together on a project and need to be corresponding. I’m uncomfortable with her antiquated views. What’s the best way to let her know that those kinds of views aren’t acceptable in the workplace (to say nothing of decent society) without coming off as the bratty relative of the owners? I don’t want to give her the impression I’ve shared this or that her job’s on the line. I just want her to know that there’s no room for that phrase in the 21st century.