Is it okay to use お帰りなさい on a collegue?


I just want to ask what is the impact of using お帰りなさい on someone who just come
back from a business trip? well to elaborate a little, we have a Japanese
employee in our company, and one of my colleague say that to him, sometimes
she is using お帰りなさいませ on him. While my other colleague are saying like welcome
back on him; So I am just wondering what is its impact on him since every time
she said it to him he seems happy and sometimes laughing.

Thanks a lot




First of all, yes it is perfectly fine to say おかえりなさい to a colleague coming
back from somewhere.

Second, a female colleague saying おかえりなさいませ is likely kidding by imitating the
overly elaborate manner of speaking in Maid cafes or such, which makes him
laugh. However, another possibility is the female colleague simply being very
polite.

