Employees Aren't Resources
Compassionate Management
I joined a software company in 2018 that opened my eyes in more ways than one. One of those ways was the deep respect this company had for its employees. This has left an indelible mark on me.
Employees are not “resources.”
In the event this term came up, the owner of the company would gently stop the speaker, mid-sentence, and inform them that their coworkers were not to be referred to as “resources.”
It’s an easy thing to overlook.
The word “resources” is used so frequently it even identifies a critical department in many companies: Human Resources. I would argue “resources” has become a form of euphemistic labeling*. It lets us distance ourselves from the people we work with so that the bottom line of business becomes easier to execute.
Nowadays “resources” is like nails on a chalkboard for me. I think we should all take a moment to consider if this is the environment we want to foster at work. Or if a little more recognition of the humanity all around us, with all that entails, can lead to richer work environments.