Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Resenting My Job Title...

Several years ago my mentor and friend Pat Freston told me, "Never worry about the title." I have often taken that advice to heart but I am not resenting my level of title, but the very nature of my title which contains the words "Human Resources." Those of you who know me probably understand my deep love for humanity and the inherent value and rights contained in each and every one of us. For this reason, I resent that title: Human Resources. It implies that people are some kind of resource for a business to use such a natural resource, tool or piece of equipment. Some companies and even people within my profession have the audacity to call it "Human Capital Management."

Mankind is not a resource for someone else's gain and an employer should never look at the people that have chosen to work for them as such. We should be looked at as fellow humans, brothers and sisters in the human race with Divine parentage. Too many employers look at their people as just another resource they purchase and attempt to do so at the lowest possible cost - just the same as they would any other "resource" such as a part, computer chip, software code, metal, plastic, fabric or dirt. I refuse to agree with that mentality however and consider it base and inhumane.

When viewing the people that have chosen to work with you it is critical to remember that the way we view each other will determine how we treat each other. When we view one another as brothers and sisters we will be likely to treat them as much more than "human resources."

Don't get me wrong, I love my job and have a passion for what I do - but it is because I don't view my job as Human Resources - I view it as "Resources for Humans and Humanity." God be thanked for the individual dignity and unalienable rights he gave us as His children.

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