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> "Family" doesn't mean employing you past the point it makes sense Actually family does mean that, literally. It makes absolutely no sense to use this term in

> "Family" doesn't mean employing you past the point it makes sense Actually family does mean that, literally. It makes absolutely no sense to use this term in a business context.

xyzelement 3y ago
Apologies if I didn't make this super clear. I agree that the "family" metaphor breaks down around termination of employment (whether initiated by employee or employer) What I was trying to say in the line you quoted, that IN THE WORK CONTEXT nobody uses family to imply permanent employment - it's strictly about how you are with each other while there. Which is still a big deal.
- bluefishinit 3y ago
  No one should use "family" at work, it's as the other commenter put, creepy. You can treat people with respect and trust without taking on a para-familial relationship with them, that's super inappropriate and exploitative (although sadly all too common).
- e_i_pi_2 3y ago
  I'd agree that "family" implies you're going to put the relationship itself over most rational reasons, and businesses can't do that. If you want to say they're family then the business should also plan for a pension that all employees get or something similar - otherwise it's just a tactic to manipulate people Of course you treat family members well when they "deliver" for you, the real part is when they can't deliver and you still support them.
- constantcrying 3y ago
  >I agree that the "family" metaphor breaks down around termination It breaks down the second you actually compare your family to your company. I think that basically every single person would do many, many things for members of his family that he wouldn't do for the members of his company.
wink 3y ago
I'm confused, if we take out the paycheck how many people have lost or broken off contact with parts or all of their family? The people are still your family but you might have not talked to them for decades, so you're maybe only part of it on paper but not in practice? So that's why I think the family term makes no sense, because there are a million possible constellations for family/immediate family/in contact/etc.

> "Family" doesn't mean employing you past the point it makes sense Actually family does mean that, literally. It makes absolutely no sense to use this term in a business context.

xyzelement 3y ago

Apologies if I didn't make this super clear. I agree that the "family" metaphor breaks down around termination of employment (whether initiated by employee or employer) What I was trying to say in the line you quoted, that IN THE WORK CONTEXT nobody uses family to imply permanent employment - it's strictly about how you are with each other while there. Which is still a big deal.

bluefishinit 3y ago
No one should use "family" at work, it's as the other commenter put, creepy. You can treat people with respect and trust without taking on a para-familial relationship with them, that's super inappropriate and exploitative (although sadly all too common).
e_i_pi_2 3y ago
I'd agree that "family" implies you're going to put the relationship itself over most rational reasons, and businesses can't do that. If you want to say they're family then the business should also plan for a pension that all employees get or something similar - otherwise it's just a tactic to manipulate people Of course you treat family members well when they "deliver" for you, the real part is when they can't deliver and you still support them.
constantcrying 3y ago
>I agree that the "family" metaphor breaks down around termination It breaks down the second you actually compare your family to your company. I think that basically every single person would do many, many things for members of his family that he wouldn't do for the members of his company.

wink 3y ago

I'm confused, if we take out the paycheck how many people have lost or broken off contact with parts or all of their family? The people are still your family but you might have not talked to them for decades, so you're maybe only part of it on paper but not in practice? So that's why I think the family term makes no sense, because there are a million possible constellations for family/immediate family/in contact/etc.