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This is pretty tangential, but my company just rolled out a new HR system. I don’t like the term Human Resources very much, because it implies a level of fungib
by atty 4y ago
This is pretty tangential, but my company just rolled out a new HR system. I don’t like the term Human Resources very much, because it implies a level of fungibity that isn’t really true, but the new one is simply astounding - they call it the “human capital management system”. I was awe struck that anyone thought calling employees “human capital” was at all acceptable, going from implied fungibility to full on “you are a replaceable cog in the machine”. I imagine the PM on that one got an MBA from a place that taught that management and labor need to be in a constant struggle because workers are greedy and lazy.
- chris-orgmenta 4y ago'HR' used to be known as 'Personnel' in my neck of the woods. I don't know why the switch occurred - Perhaps a zeitgeist / subconscious conspiracy on a culture level.
- mgkimsal 4y agoIt's a strange one, because... while we actually have many physical resources - physical plants, physical equipment, etc. - I don't think 'Computer Resources' or 'Engineering Resources' or 'Cleaning Resources' are terms anyone uses. The actual equivalencing(?) of Humans with Resources is reserved just for the "HR" label, and it's ... dehumanizing.
- nelsondev 4y agoAt Amazon, engineers are frequently referred to as “resources” and “head count”. For example, “Hi Priya, how much are you resourcing project z” translates to, “how many of the engineers you manage will you tell to work on project z”.
- mgkimsal 4y agoI think I meant 'engineering' like... physical engineering equipment. Perhaps poor choice of words. The people who manage a physical location don't use the term 'visibility resources' to talk about lighting and windows.
- fallingfrog 4y agoI feel the same. The phrase "human capital" is one of the most loathsome I've ever encountered.
- notaslave 4y agoI see any one who refers to people as 'resources' or any similar terms as just a parasite. Unfortunately, I had the misfortune for working with so many of these parasitic slave traders.
- dudul 4y agoGive it a few more iterations and we'll get "soylent green is people".