Talk:ご苦労様でした

I take issue with the "usually used by a senior towards subordinates" bit of this, it's not primarily a hierarchical phrase, people of the same rank use this between themselves all the time. The bit in parentheses makes it sound as if it signifies the person saying it is, is considered to be, or is trying to convey that, he/she is of a higher status than the receiver. I do not believe this to be the case.