My career started in the late 70s, when "Human Resources" was replacing "Personnel Department". I've always thought the term "human resource" was terribly degrading, and I still don't understand how it caught on and never left.
this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2026
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Personnel department sounds so much neater.
This is literally the distillation of all corporate thought.
Someone left and the role wasn't filled and the work kept still getting done? I guess 3 people can do those 4 people's jobs.
Something worked well but it doesn't fit with the corporate culture? No it didnt
Corporate thought also simultaneously believes the reverse:
Things aren't getting done? The team that went from 11 members to 3 while their incoming work rate tripled must not be working hard enough. We should consider outsourcing.
Well not really, because that's like saying women "simultaneously" like to flaunt their bodies and hate having men stare at them. Different women and different managers think differently.
“But… we gave the team AI so they can go faster! Why is everything turning into shit?”
Some executives are so fucking dense.
That's because you rise through the ranks through nepotism or by being a sycophant. It is very rarely due to critical thinking skills, intelligence, or mastery of the industry.
Also the Peter principle
Clearly the team just needs to prompt better. Time to invest in AI training!
oh! oh! time for a reorg!?
Corporate culture is patriarchal. If it doesn't put everyone into a hierarchy where they're forced to subjugate themselves then that can't work because that's against the emotional reason the bosses got the job in the first place.
It’s because people don’t know how to draw boundaries, and perhaps will get replaced with the sheep that says yes to everything. (?)