And [to echo Martin’s point] while we are on the subject, could I please suggest we avoid terms [negative signifiers] such as Human Resources when we mean people, workers, staff or personnel. Human beings are not impersonal disposable resources for other people’s use and should not be described as such. Before this term came into use with the new managerialism, organisations had staff or personnel departments, and could have them again if we insisted that people be respected as collaborators and not impersonal resources.

 

Why do we tolerate this when we don’t tolerate gendered, discriminating or demeaning language?

 

John.

 

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