this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023
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We're using "problem" to mean "imposition", not "difficulty"/"error".
"I had no problem with having to do this for you", not "I encountered no problems while doing this".
'No problem' is me telling you that I was happy to do the service for you, such that it wasn't an imposition to do. When I do something for a person I like, I have 'no problem' expending the effort to do it.
If I have to do the same for someone I don't like, I will have a problem with having to do it, but since it's my job I will not begrudge them whatever it is: they are welcome to it, since it's my job to provide it. But I don't have to be happy about it.
'Sure thing'/ 'ya no worries'/ 'ya of course', etc are neutral phrases.
Bear in mind though that tone and body language are ultimately what you should be cuing on. When I deliver an unhappy "you're welcome", it will be deadpan, and I won't be smiling.
No, I know, but it still sounds bizarre, as if it were going to be an imposition to be brought food, or that asking for a jug water might be. Imposing on someone is still a difficulty & as a customer, one is imposing on the worker to a degree.
I agree that tone & body language are far more important than the words, and also that a lot of people use whichever phrase their boss prefers them to use.