B737-700
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 376
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
One would have thought we caused a runway incursion with this 'event'. First off; I DO NOT appreciate ZZZ's handling of the situation. We landed and were initially given the standard taxi routing. Tower instructed us to hold short of a runway which we complied with. Eventually; we were cleared to cross the runway and to contact Ground Control; amid the chaos that is ZZZ. Now; here's where the alleged 'crime' was committed. Are you ready for it? My First Officer; he read back the clearance; and responded with only HALF of our call sign; calling us 'XXXX.' OUTRAGEOUS! Right? If it appears as if I'm making a mockery of all this; I now am. We were given a phone number to call once in the gate.I had no idea what this was about; but I did; lightheartedly. The Ground Control Supervisor; in his monotone demeanor; began explaining to me the nature of my crime. I chuckled; because I carry a spirited disposition. This was about when Mr. Ground Control Supervisor became very angry. He asked if I was 'laughing' at him. No; I was not. I was chuckling at the situation. Well; that was enough to sound the alarms; and call in the National Guard. I became a good little student and shut my mouth; and listened; intently. Once off the phone; I decided to make a few other phone calls. I called the Union. The Union told me to NEVER call 'the number.' This was the first time in my career this has happened; how was I to know? So; the Union told me that we have been in hot water; the Union used more colorful language; with ZZZ. I was given the phone number of our ATC Representative; who handles this kind of business. I talked to ATC Representative; and he gave me a schooling too. Lesson learned.Right about the time I got off the phone with the Union and ATC Representative; my Chief Pilot calls me. WOW! This thing was escalating QUICKLY. Chief Pilot is frantically asking what I did; because Mr. Ground Control Supervisor apparently had called him. Upset; because of my spirited disposition; Mr. Ground Control Supervisor was determined to push this issue as far; and as fast; as he could. Chief Pilot asked if I'd call back and apologize to Mr. Ground Control Supervisor; I guess I hurt his feelings. Now I'm in a pickle; because ATC Representative told me to NEVER call that number. Here I am again; calling the number that I'm not supposed to be; to bring back honor to my defamed airline; apparently. 'Take one for the team;' was Chief Pilots advice. I did; against ATC Representative's wishes. The last words out of Mr. Ground Control Supervisors mouth were; 'No problem. We're good.' That was it. Those words tell me that all is forgiven; and I HOPE IT IS.Again; you would have thought we caused a catastrophic meltdown at ZZZ with the way this was handled. On taxi out of ZZZ; we heard all sorts of botched up call signs and readbacks. I can't help but feel; maybe; perhaps; it is possible; Company is being a tad discriminated against. Now; I want to give a quick note on my 'spirited disposition.' For example; my father passed away a few months ago. In talking to the coroner; I happened to chuckle and laugh with her a little bit. Certainly not out of disrespect to my father; god no; but because it is the way I choose to handle things. Even tough situations. It helps me keep a cool head and deal with the situations at hand. I really don't want to hear any more of this; and I hope I didn't offend anyone with my; accurate; reenactment of the day's event. I don't know. Maybe I need to; specifically; bid away from ZZZ. There is nothing that can come of this. Proper phraseology will certainly help to mitigate any further wrong-doing.
We were holding short of the runway. Tower told us cross the runway and contact Ground Control. I read back the clearance as given to us. Tower came back on the frequency and said 'please say full call sign.' Unbeknownst to me; I failed to add Company to the beginning of my read back. I apologized and said 'Company XXXX.' After checking into ramp for clearance to our gate; we were told to call ATC. The Captain called the phone number given to us. He was speaking to the Tower/Ground Supervisor. From what I heard of the conversation; surprisingly; the tone was somewhat adversarial. The Supervisor said he is always onto his guys to ensure the entire call sign of each aircraft is used. The Captain agreed and said we (him and I) would discuss using the full call sign; which we did.Apparently; the Supervisor did not like the tone of the Captain's remarks and said he did not appreciate how we were going to handle the situation. The Supervisor thought we were not seeing the seriousness of the situation. At that point the phone call was concluded. The Captain then called the Union Rep as well as the Company ATC Rep for further guidance. The Captain also received a call from the Chief Pilot wanting to know what was going on in ZZZ. Apparently; the Supervisor called the Chief Pilot directly. The Captain explained the situation to the Chief Pilot. The Chief Pilot asked the Captain if he would call back the Supervisor and apologize one more time. The Captain obliged. He called the Supervisor back and apologized. The Supervisor ended the phone call with 'No problem. We're good.' Even though ZZZ is very busy; don't let trying to repeat instructions so fast that you fail to use proper and complete phraseology. Take your time and pay attention to detail with consideration to the environment where you are operating.
Air carrier flight crew reported the First Officer failed to use the complete call sign when acknowledging taxi instructions.