To not find 'guys' an offensive term?

[DrSheldonCooperPHD]

We have a new manager at work. Our team is 20 people (12 women and 8 men).

New manager held a mini informal meeting this morning, all very nice and very chatty. At the end he said something along the lines of 'thanks guys, great meeting' and one of the women in the team said 'excuse me? guys? That's extremely offensive to the majority of the team who are female!' And walked out of the meeting room.
The MD was also in the room and he and new manager left for another meeting shortly after so I've no idea what happened (if anything) after.

Would this offend you? It didn't even really register with me until she piped up. Everyone seemed very bemused by it all.

It irritates me mostly because guys would be used to address a group of both men and women. But girls or ladies would only ever be used for a group women only and not men. I'm not the kind to challenge though because I know it's my own aspie irritations and it doesn't bother anyone else.

@Neolara there's been a lot of change recently and she is in a handful of the team (who have been here the longest - 10+ years) who have been very resistant to the changes.
His appointment is the latest change, I thought it might have been a mini protest piece.

"Guys...used to address a group of people of either sex:" - Cambridge Dictionary.

It's both sexes now. (I'm in the groove with the hepcats!)

When guys is used this way I don’t even hear it as being Male - I hear it as informal/friendly. That in itself is interesting and obviously language and usage can be incredibly important (thinking of all of the compelled language debated currently). I think ‘guys’ is one of the most sexless and inoffensive words imaginable.
I was brought up with it as have American family.

Totally unnecessary woman and I feel for the new manager.

Op I think I may want a job wherever you are simply to witness what unfolds over the next weeks/months.

What? I always use the term guys to mean everyone

I find 'guys' far less offensive than 'girls' in a professional business context.

Pathetic.

Guys and Dolls hmm let’s see which would work best

Well of course it doesn’t do to get offended by it because it’s standard practice and therefore standard people use it.

But technically she’s right because the fact that it is standard practice means that we see men as the norm. I mean ask yourself why it would seem incredibly odd to refer to a mixed group as “ladies” or “gals”. It would seem odd right? But why?

Why gender surrender in Latin languages? Why man as generic human but woman not? I mean each individual instance is tiny and nothing to get offended by but the whole grand scheme has a certain undeniable pattern.

But good on you for not being offended. You’re very cool

I think it's an age think that you don't mind.Im older and know that just the way it is but it grates.

Can't agree. I'm old in MN terms and I hear it as "people", being used in a friendly way.

I think ‘guys’ is one of the most sexless and inoffensive words imaginable.
This ^

I was thinking the same as @Neolara too - if she felt it actually was an offensive term, then what was wrong with calmly expressing that to him ? What does she hope to achieve by such a dramatic flounce and by embarrassing a new colleague in such a way ?...... Talking about lacking professionalism.

Yeah, you'd have to be trying hard to be offended by this in any genuine sense. Shit behaviour to do this to a new guy.

I find 'guys' far less offensive than 'girls' in a professional business context.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone use “girls” to refer to a mixed group of people.

I'm in the 'find it irritating' camp.

It's an example of the masculine term being used to describe both male and female. Whilst people who use aren't deliberately being sexist, it is definitely minimising the presence of women when it is used.

I try hard not to say it and would never make a public scene to make a point.

Every workplace/school etc could benefit from using words which aren't male dominated.

She’s an asshole. Everyone I know uses guys. Even my sister when she’s talking about me and my mum - and not one ‘guy’ in sight! Was she trying to make a point?!

Thank you it's helpful to hear why people find it genuinely irritating, maybe I could try and talk to him tomorrow and let him know it's not a general consensus that he was super offensive but at the same time politely explain why it could have been taken badly.

Bloody office politics.

I’m a lecturer and use “guys”, and “folks” interchangeably for mixed groups.

Just wanted to add that I work in a very male dominated field. So when a manager speaks to us all as 'guys' it does make me question my visibility to them.

I see folks as interchangeable. A “guy” is s man as far as I am concerned. I’m in my 50s do I can see that usage may have changed. But whilst there is ambiguity, surely it is better to use a neutral term.

Now 'folk' is a term I cannot stand.
What's the difference between 'folk' and people?

It's not a word I use, but it's used at work all the time and I don't object to it at all.

We have a colleague who addresses our mostly female team by saying "Here we go then lads"... And I don't object to that either.

What @coolwalking said. This irritates me. Not as much as "girls" which I will always challenge.

It doesn't bother me at all.

Folk makes me think of The Far Away Tree and fairies, I've never heard it used to address a group in a work setting. I think as suggested above that 'everyone' is the best to use.. or maybe 'team'?

She's a cock.