usage of words

[F0zziebear]

Something has got me slightly bugged in the last couple of days:

Management are criticised for using terms such as 'our people' 'guys' 'team' yet it seems active front liners on this site regularly use the word comrade. To me it seems a bit like double standards.

When I worked in Ops as a manager I was unsure what word to use for the collective of postmen/women under my line/DO manager. Saying gents seemed to be gender specific and possibly discriminatory, guys felt a bit American, people was cringe worthy so what does an employer call its employees? Why is it OK for others to use comrades.

What do you want managers to call you?

And do you think it is fair to poor scorn on such a term when you refer to managers as 'screws.' If there was one thing I wanted to get anyone from during my time in Ops was the feeling of being in a prison or just de-mobbing from the Second World War.

[Stormproof]

Me and someone else got told this morning 'oi you 2 on the sorting', what bracket would you put that in Fozzie

[Bluebird]

I find using peoples names is usually effective.

When addressing a group Ladies & Gents usually does the job also..You consider the use of Guy gender specific however if it is just males you are addressing I doubt there is an issue, I believe the crux is HOW we are address, the manner used.

The use of comrades relates to solidarity, we are a unit of people standing togerther

[bandit1157]

Management are criticised for using terms such as 'our people' 'guys' 'team' yet it seems active front liners on this site regularly use the word comrade. To me it seems a bit like double standards.

'our people' 'guys' 'team' there is the problem OUR as if we belong to or are owned by them. Comrade means "friend", "colleague", or "ally". ie a term used amongst equals.

[Fred B]

I don't see what is wrong with calling someone whose political views are similar to your own as 'comrade'. I wouldn't refer to a screw or a scab as comrade, but it's fairly common in socialist circles of all types to refer to people as 'comrade'. I don't like 'guys' either. It sounds stupid unless you are from America. As for 'our people', I certainly object when someone like Higson, Crozier, Leighton and that shower use it. They have no loyalty to Royal Mail or its customers, unlike me. They don't own me and they will be gone to somewhere else in a short space of time, their bank balance greatly enlarged due to our labours. In what way are any of us 'their people'?

"What do you want managers to call you?" I'm not bothered personally. I try not to speak to any of them unless it's really necessary and I expect they feel the same about me. At least I hope they do. It's not as if they can hold a conversation about anything apart from football or work.

Anyway, chin up old boy!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

For me the term "Our People" is inappropriate because its not used in the spirit that is meant by the phrase . For example an Officer in the Forces could use it or a leader of a Union because they actually mean it. RM use it in press releases not to praise posties or the Union, but as a means of cajoling or making a point. Its corporate speak that does not recognise the meaning of the words they use.

I would much prefer they use words like colleagues or employees - they are more honest.

For example when this story broke in the MIRROR - Royal Mail accused of trying to crush workers' union after leaked plans suggest changes that will cost thousands of jobs - exclusive -

an extract from the document says

"A new relationship with our people is non-negotiable and will happen anyway, with or without union agreement."

If we really are "Our People" as they say then the exact opposite of what they say is true.

On a day to day basis Bluebird has it spot on IMHO.

[axeman]

Wrong again the 'use of terms such as 'our people' 'team' are derogatry ,condesending, patronising to say the least we are not there people yes we work for royal fail but we as individuals have lives outside of work . The term 'team' implies we like to gather in groups and play work . These derisory terms used by people like crazier and those who are inept who adapt and use his words imply by the use of them that they are better than us . Sorry to say but we all work for royal fail some earn more than others (obscene amounts) but never the less they are still employed .

If these so called captains of industry were so good why have they not got companys of there own there is one reason no need to guess what that is is there

[Post Off]

Well, when I hear the likes of Crozier openly calling its workforce (in public) 'our people' what he and Royal Mail are doing is dumbing down the general public's perception of the employer, employee relationship. Our people sounds too soft, but of course it's designed to create a sense of belonging, when in fact, something more sinister is really taking place to us behind Royal Mail closed doors.

I'd prefer if they'd call us 'it's workforce', simply workers.

I've never really been keen on the word 'Gents', as it reminds me too much of the toilets, and besides, we're not being treated in the manner that ladies and gentlemen would expect to be treated. Perhaps calling us colleagues would elevate our status just a tad too near theirs'?

[keo]

Wrong again the 'use of terms such as 'our people' 'team' are derogatry ,condesending, patronising to say the least we are not there people yes we work for royal fail but we as individuals have lives outside of work .

I agree to the above, it reminds me of the old colonial/victorian times when the gentry/officer classes within higher echelons of society would use the derogatory phrase such as "I'll get my man to do that!"

[headscrewedon]

Maybe because I'm female, but I don't care for the use of 'comrade'.

Just puts me in mind of male-dominated Soviet-era communists, sticking to an ideaology the rest of the world has moved on from. Not a good image to saddle ourselves with if we supposedly are 'up for change'.

But RM using 'our people' is infinitely worse

[johnnyp]

Ladies and Gents does me fine when we are all being spoken to at once
Sir when its the Dom and i

[chunk]

I have a problem with RM corporate speak.
"lapsing" and "absorption".
These are very neutral words with non controversial associations such as "absorb a few a rays" or a "lapse in the conversation" .
They are the verbal equivalent of painting in safe pastel colours!
The reality is getting postman to deliver their own round plus large chunks of another
thus increasing the weight of deliveries the distance walked and extending the finish time.
Id prefer the terms
"shafting" and "abortion"

[headscrewedon]

Id prefer the terms
"shafting" and "abortion"

[Thorby Bislam]

Fozziebear wrote:

And do you think it is fair to poor scorn on such a term when you refer to managers as 'screws

It's 'pour'.
And you an ex manager too.
Btw, I never use the term 'screws' but I do use the term 'guys'. And I'm not American.

[BELIAL]

"our people" says it all - possession ;ownership ; control
Well, I'm not; they don't; and they never will

"modernisation" - grind our people down to abject poverty while working them to death