The ‘work wife’

[GrannyBags]

My boss sometimes refers to me as his ‘work wife’. For context, he is a vicar and I’m his PA. His wife is my closest friend and our families spend a lot of time together. I noticed on here a couple of posters objecting to the term but didn’t think anything of it until a person I know got very upset and said that it is ‘code’ for the people concerned having an affair! A
Cringing a bit now. AIBU in thinking it’s just a bit of fun?

Equal colleagues- fine & joky.

Boss to his PA - eeeeeeeewwwww

Boss to her PA - a bit ewwww and probably wouldn't go there.

I have a work husband.

He has the same name as my actual DH and we have a laugh. Nothing more to it than that

@namechangedjustforthisonething Our parents don’t mind or find it weird. It was his wife who started it! The four of us are very good friends so maybe that’s why I don’t find it demeaning. We can be a little ‘innocent’ at times so that’s why I asked if it was code or anything.

My husband has a work husband. I’m pretty certain they’re not having an affair.

YUP in our office you;'re sexuality is irrelevant, our hetero director has a work hubbie ( also straight)

FML.

What's wrong with just calling them a 'friend'?!

Cringe-o-rama.

I have a "work husband", we're good friends, I tell him where he needs to be and when because he's hopeless, and sometimes bring him food (or he doesn't eat and gets cranky).

Christ, it gets worse. 'Hopeless' is he?

Manages to do his job though, doesn't he?

But has you running around after him like some little maid. Classy.

I think it highly depends on the person.
Would also refer to a female collegue that I was very close with as ‘ my work wife’ and no way I was sexually attracted to her. I see it as another way to say it’s my favourite collegue.

Work wife is a derogatory name for a female who does the grunt work / running around / PA work for a male colleague. I guarantee the OP’s boss’ wife is not using this term in any complimentary way.

I’m definitely someone’s work wife and in no way would I ever consider an affair. We just work really well together. Sometimes our work involves my DH, which is great because they have very similar ways of working and personalities that really helps projects move along well.

But no, definitely not code for an affair!

I travelled long haul and worked closely with a fellow consultant for a year. We commonly referred to each other as work wife/husband. There was a lot going on under the surface I wasn't aware of at the time but I think it can be totally harmless.

I have two work husbands and a work wife.
I like to play the employment field.

I am female and have two work wives. It helps that we're equal, we just work really well as a team. Would probably feel different if my male boss called me it though. Luckily my workplace is 99% women.

Women have work wives too, and my dd has a work mum. I don't see anything wrong with it (and I'm very grateful to the work mum).

Awful expression, even in the context it was used, with no offence meant.

It’s a grim term but not one for an affair.

I suspect I am workwife to at least two men, I love them both furnishing sordid going on at all.

But nothing sordid...honestly,fat fingers

The head of the department I work in has a work husband and my god she gives him hell!

My work wife is on maternity leave

It's fine! I use it for my female colleague and we're both married to men. It just means I often see more of her than my DH and she knows me pretty well. She uses the expression too.

To caveat the above- it's fine unless of course he gives you creepy vibes or something, in which case it isn't.

I went into work for Christmas breakfast this morning and my 'work husband' and his wife who I also work with had got me a big bag of gifts for helping her look after him... he has MH issues, ASD and OCD so can get a little overwhelmed. I'd love knowing my DP had someone in work who he got on closely with...