I suppose a counter to that is to use different terms to an otherwise mundane job description. For instance, in a warehouse with apparel, instead of the 'mostly common' term of 'stockpicker", I've seen it glamourized into "Inventory Selection Specialist". Semantics, of course, but for some impressionable folks.......
What? So that two people can still speak the same language yet still fail to understand what each is saying? Didn’t Oscar Wilde have something pithy to say about that?
David, the thing is that Americans didn't change these words in question. The "lift" was invented by an American named Elisha Otis, who established the Otis Elevator Company. The original word, therefore, is "elevator". As far as I can tell, the only English-speakers that use the word "lorry" are the
British. The original word is actually "wagon", a variation of lastwagen - (Germany), in which case both the British and Americans changed the original word. Lastly, the word "soccer" is, in fact, a British word, albeit a shortened version of "association football". In any case, Americans didn't change that word, either. It's a British word that we adapted.
Hi David. I actually added that line as an inside joke for a good friend of mine who is British. About 90% of my audience is American - but I am grateful for all of my readers!
So Putin has run out of political enemies to toss out of windows and has moved on to famous ballet dancers in order to terrify his subjects, has he? Sounds about right. Dictators around the world are basically all the same; nasty, little power hungry tools of their own internal devils. Right now the world seems to be getting full of them.
Didn’t get the Jetsons reference. That well done cartoon series along with The Flintstones was for your generation. I belong to the Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Roadrunner and even Betty Boop generation. (Dating myself with pride here Bill.)
At least three (didn't check Betty Boop of your references started before the Jetsons and are still hanging strong...so...heck my toddler grandkids are HUGE Mickey fans. Very hard to date yourself with timeless cartoons... :)
"Did you know the "Jetsons" references?" ~ If we recognized the reference, does that mean we're officially "old"?
Today's essay makes a lot of sense. The only push-back I can see would be from an extreme libertarianesque view that this is making hiring for American companies into a cookie cutter process. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I could see that as being a con to some. Your example of the Common app for college applications is a great example. While being a member, I've never "used" LinkedIn, but wonder if their job seeking/job offering platform is a similar sort of beast?
Thanks for this interesting post, Bill. God's blessings on your day and the rest of your week!
"A Russian ballet dancer who was an outspoken critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine has mysteriously plunged to his death from the fifth floor of a building."
You know, I saw a headline for this yesterday, only it said something to the effect of "Russian ballet dancer falls to his death from fifth floor window." Nothing more. I didn't read the article, but I couldn't help myself from thinking, I bet this guy had some help from Putin. Sad.
Not to offend anyone on either side of the American political aisle, but the ONLY reason I would've voted for Harris is that I was more confident than not that she would have continued supporting Ukraine. I hate war. But I also hate bullies and dictators who invade smaller countries. Hoping that President-elect Trump will do the right thing and continue sending military support.
I immediately recognized they were the same job. I also immediately recognized the language is gender-biased and therefore, enabling compensation disparity.
Tell me I'm wrong.
It's a good sign that companies are finally standardizing the language to describe jobs. Let's hope they also standardize the compensation, among other things, for these jobs.
I don't see those job titles as gender biased at all...so if you don't want me to tell you you're wrong, tell me what I'm missing. We used leadership throughout the military and it never mattered if you were a man or woman, if you had the same job (rank, really, not necessarily job) you got the same pay.
You can’t compare the military to corporate America. Start by asking yourself why, in the first place, there are different descriptions for the same job. Then, maybe you’ll see how the second description downplays responsibilities, thus allowing for paying less for the same job.
I’m going out on a limb and guessing you’re a white guy, so it’s understandable that you don’t see, feel, and hear the subtle discriminations in those job descriptions. But we women have been dealing with that bullshit forfuckingever!
Regarding The Jetsons: One of my favorite shows as a kid. How many things did Hanna-Barbera predict in The Jetsons? Robots doing our work, the pill-cam, digital newspapers, Face Time, talking clocks, smartwatches, the Roomba, flat-screen TVs, the list goes on. Those people were truly snapped-in. BTW, thanks Bill -- the Jetsons theme is now an earworm that will live rent-free in my head for the rest of the day...maybe longer.
What on earth is people management? My last company changed their Human Resources division to People. It hurts my ears. I don't have a problem with changing job titles, like a secretary no longer exists, but the job could now be clerk administrative assistant, office manager, executive assistant or other and no one really knows the difference. But at least that makes sense. People management is a nonsense term.
Oh, and Susan is the one with merchandising. Don't see any reference to display management, nor does Fred mention anything about merchandising. . . . . .
Do you think calling someone the Chief People Officer changes anything? They are still bound to look at the best interests of the company and not employees, unless that benefits the company. For me, calling it a People Department is just woke-ness, but then I am old school.
In law they taught us to use the same word to mean the same thing throughout any briefing. That's one reason legal language can put you to sleep faster than 'most anything. But more importantly, will Walmart's use of the same language help them to pay their lowest-wage workers enough to live on? I mean, if the workers see openings for the same work at other places that actually pay enough to live without food stamps, will they jump ship?
I totally wanted to say No George just so I could vote for George instead of Mr. Spacely! I so love being among people who know what a Spacely Sprocket is!
I suppose a counter to that is to use different terms to an otherwise mundane job description. For instance, in a warehouse with apparel, instead of the 'mostly common' term of 'stockpicker", I've seen it glamourized into "Inventory Selection Specialist". Semantics, of course, but for some impressionable folks.......
How does or might common language affect wages? Any advantages or disadvantages there?
I'm British and when I say 'lift', 'lorry', and 'football', I mean 'lift', 'lorry', and 'football'.
If Americans want to change words, I'm fine with that but there's a reason it's called English.
What? So that two people can still speak the same language yet still fail to understand what each is saying? Didn’t Oscar Wilde have something pithy to say about that?
David, the thing is that Americans didn't change these words in question. The "lift" was invented by an American named Elisha Otis, who established the Otis Elevator Company. The original word, therefore, is "elevator". As far as I can tell, the only English-speakers that use the word "lorry" are the
British. The original word is actually "wagon", a variation of lastwagen - (Germany), in which case both the British and Americans changed the original word. Lastly, the word "soccer" is, in fact, a British word, albeit a shortened version of "association football". In any case, Americans didn't change that word, either. It's a British word that we adapted.
Thanks for taking the time to explain that Linda
Lighten up. It was a joke.
Very emotionally intelligent. I sincerely hope you're not in a management position or even have to deal with people at all
Hi David. I actually added that line as an inside joke for a good friend of mine who is British. About 90% of my audience is American - but I am grateful for all of my readers!
So Putin has run out of political enemies to toss out of windows and has moved on to famous ballet dancers in order to terrify his subjects, has he? Sounds about right. Dictators around the world are basically all the same; nasty, little power hungry tools of their own internal devils. Right now the world seems to be getting full of them.
Didn’t get the Jetsons reference. That well done cartoon series along with The Flintstones was for your generation. I belong to the Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Roadrunner and even Betty Boop generation. (Dating myself with pride here Bill.)
At least three (didn't check Betty Boop of your references started before the Jetsons and are still hanging strong...so...heck my toddler grandkids are HUGE Mickey fans. Very hard to date yourself with timeless cartoons... :)
"Did you know the "Jetsons" references?" ~ If we recognized the reference, does that mean we're officially "old"?
Today's essay makes a lot of sense. The only push-back I can see would be from an extreme libertarianesque view that this is making hiring for American companies into a cookie cutter process. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I could see that as being a con to some. Your example of the Common app for college applications is a great example. While being a member, I've never "used" LinkedIn, but wonder if their job seeking/job offering platform is a similar sort of beast?
Thanks for this interesting post, Bill. God's blessings on your day and the rest of your week!
"A Russian ballet dancer who was an outspoken critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine has mysteriously plunged to his death from the fifth floor of a building."
You know, I saw a headline for this yesterday, only it said something to the effect of "Russian ballet dancer falls to his death from fifth floor window." Nothing more. I didn't read the article, but I couldn't help myself from thinking, I bet this guy had some help from Putin. Sad.
Not to offend anyone on either side of the American political aisle, but the ONLY reason I would've voted for Harris is that I was more confident than not that she would have continued supporting Ukraine. I hate war. But I also hate bullies and dictators who invade smaller countries. Hoping that President-elect Trump will do the right thing and continue sending military support.
I immediately recognized they were the same job. I also immediately recognized the language is gender-biased and therefore, enabling compensation disparity.
Tell me I'm wrong.
It's a good sign that companies are finally standardizing the language to describe jobs. Let's hope they also standardize the compensation, among other things, for these jobs.
I don't see those job titles as gender biased at all...so if you don't want me to tell you you're wrong, tell me what I'm missing. We used leadership throughout the military and it never mattered if you were a man or woman, if you had the same job (rank, really, not necessarily job) you got the same pay.
You can’t compare the military to corporate America. Start by asking yourself why, in the first place, there are different descriptions for the same job. Then, maybe you’ll see how the second description downplays responsibilities, thus allowing for paying less for the same job.
I’m going out on a limb and guessing you’re a white guy, so it’s understandable that you don’t see, feel, and hear the subtle discriminations in those job descriptions. But we women have been dealing with that bullshit forfuckingever!
Recognized the picture.
Regarding The Jetsons: One of my favorite shows as a kid. How many things did Hanna-Barbera predict in The Jetsons? Robots doing our work, the pill-cam, digital newspapers, Face Time, talking clocks, smartwatches, the Roomba, flat-screen TVs, the list goes on. Those people were truly snapped-in. BTW, thanks Bill -- the Jetsons theme is now an earworm that will live rent-free in my head for the rest of the day...maybe longer.
Ha, I remember a campus band in college called "Daughter Judy." Stuck with me 30 years later!
Love the Jetson's reference. Loved that cartoon.
What on earth is people management? My last company changed their Human Resources division to People. It hurts my ears. I don't have a problem with changing job titles, like a secretary no longer exists, but the job could now be clerk administrative assistant, office manager, executive assistant or other and no one really knows the difference. But at least that makes sense. People management is a nonsense term.
Oh, and Susan is the one with merchandising. Don't see any reference to display management, nor does Fred mention anything about merchandising. . . . . .
HR is not about people. It’s purpose is to protect the company.
Do you think calling someone the Chief People Officer changes anything? They are still bound to look at the best interests of the company and not employees, unless that benefits the company. For me, calling it a People Department is just woke-ness, but then I am old school.
Should be “chief company protector from employees.”
that's a mouthful!
In law they taught us to use the same word to mean the same thing throughout any briefing. That's one reason legal language can put you to sleep faster than 'most anything. But more importantly, will Walmart's use of the same language help them to pay their lowest-wage workers enough to live on? I mean, if the workers see openings for the same work at other places that actually pay enough to live without food stamps, will they jump ship?
What, what, what, what?
Did you recognize that reference?
I totally wanted to say No George just so I could vote for George instead of Mr. Spacely! I so love being among people who know what a Spacely Sprocket is!