Member-only story
Stop calling employees “family”
Because we are not
Recently, when a new employee in our company was introduced to one of our senior leaders, they replied, “Welcome to the <company name> family!” For some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way. At first, I couldn’t pinpoint why.
This particular leader is one I respect, so it wasn’t that. It prompted me to mull over why that bothered me the way it did.
Early in my career, I found the concept of a work group being like a family enticing.
What’s not to like about it? Being part of a like-minded team that strives toward a common goal. Laughing together during brainstorming sessions, group lunches, and happy hours. Supporting each other through grueling deadlines and demanding leaders. That feels like a family, doesn’t it?
It took me a few years to realize that to equate our workplace colleagues to our family is crap.
I say this with no bitterness or resentment. Honestly, I like my current job and team. Over my career, I worked with some wonderful people, some of whom became my good friends. I also worked with others who I never want to see or hear from again.
However, no matter how much I like and respect my work colleagues — past or present — they are not my family.
