Is this flirting? Guy at work

[sunshiningsss]

I can't work it out and I'm not sure if I'm over thinking it?

I work from home in hr supporting multiple sites. There's one man who I've known for around a year now that regularly calls me, usually for help. All very informal (sometimes by phone, teams or text/whatsapp) he's a really nice guy, very funny and always making jokes.

The last few times he's rang me, I've answered and he's said "hello trouble" then today "hello treacle". I just laugh it off as I never know what to say. I've been single for a few years and I can't lie I was enjoying the attention but then he mentioned in conversation earlier something about his partner. I thought he was single, sigh. I won't pursue anything obviously if he's in a relationship and I did wonder after he told me if he was actually flirting or if I'd taken it the wrong way but when I spoke to my friend she said it was definitely flirting. I guess it doesn't matter really but how would you take it?

I would take it as either flirting or he is someone who is usually inappropriate with the way he refers to colleagues. It actually sounds like an HR issue. 😬

Maybe they're a business partner? 🤷

@kimbear87 afraid not, I had a nosy on his Facebook 😂

@comedycentral it's very common in the industry I work in unfortunately

I live / work in the north, "hello trouble" "hello duck" "hello love" etc are all very common greetings I get in work or any business I go into! Seems fairly common here!

@mushpush this is helpful. He's actually from/based in the Midlands so yes probably just being friendly 😅

Sounds like he gets a buzz and an ego boost from flirting but wants to make it clear he's not available. I personally wouldn't like that very much and would try to get things back on a professional, slightly more formal level.

Sounds like that's just his way.

My 80 year old neighbour calls me 'treacle', 'flower' and 'cocker' and I'm pretty sure it's not just to me 😁

Yes, but you said you work in HR. I'm not sure what your role is in HR, but if men can speak to HR colleagues like this, what chance does the rest of the workforce have?

Yes. Ew.

I have patients who say 'hello trouble' never taken it as flirting!

I think its just friendly - only flirting in the very lightest of ways because it's probably part of a male : female dynamic in some sense but wouldn't have read more into it. I expect he is like this with everyone and its jist part of his personality, that is a downside of remote working you don't see how people are with others. It doesn't sound like any workplace lines have been crossed to me