STOP Using These Phrases to Describe Your Work Environment
After having a few jobs over the last 5 years, I’ve definitely had my fair share of workplace manipulation and exploitation. So when I began my HR career I promised I would NEVER say certain phrases to prevent an employee from feeling as shitty as those jobs made me feel.
Whether intentional or not, these few phrases infuriate me when used in the workplace, during interviews or even in job descriptions. Why? Because they create an environment where employees feel guilty for being… human.
We’re Like a Family Here
We are NOT a “family”.. They have their own. We are coworkers.
On top of working 40+ hours a week (sometimes even spending more time at work than with our own families), this statement is extremely dismissive of the professional boundaries we’ve set or should set for ourselves.
Companies say this so an employee doesn’t feel bad working on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day… it’ll be okay becuase we’re “like a family”, right? Why would an employee need to take time off to see family if they already work with them?
Do this instead!
Understand that your employees have a life outside of their job. So yes, they may want to take their birthday, Christmas Eve, New Years, Valentine’s Day or any other holiday off. Hell, they also could just not want to come in that day and that’s okay! No one wants to feel bound to their desk. Of course if you’re in the medical industry you may not be able to give everyone Christmas Day off, but that’s where the use of rotating holidays come in. There are plenty of alternatives that can give employees time with their family and create an ideal work/life balance. After all, happy employees produce happy results!
We Need a Candidate that Can Multi-task
Computers can’t even multi-task, why do we expect our employees to?
Multitasking is literally impossible. Studies have shown that our brains are incapable of performing two or more tasks that require high-level brain function simultaneously. Instead, we can only shift our attention back and forth from one subject to another.
So, when I see a job description that lists their ideal candidate as someone who can multi-task, this really means you’re going to run your employees to the ground and expect them to figure it out along the way. Not only is multi-tasking impossible, it’s a poor choice of words. It shows a lack of accountability for the work load and lack of creativity overall… you really couldn’t come up with a more thought-out job description?
Okay… *eyeroll*
Say this instead!
A better approach is saying your ideal candidate is someone who has great time management and prioritization skills.
Multitasking can make someone feel that they’re never doing enough. It creates the notion that employees have to be professional jugglers and give 100% to multiple projects or tedious tasks all at once. Again, not possible.
We have to push for a more realistic perspective when writing job descriptions because quite frankly, this doesn’t appeal to anyone.
We Need a Candidate Who’s Flexible
Again, enough with the BS.
Flexibility is great but it shouldn’t be the core value of an employee. Being flexible or “wearing many hats” is a sign the company is expecting employees to over-extend themselves. Of course, this won’t be found out until the 2nd or 3rd month.
We’re a Fast Paced Environment
There’s a difference between fast paced and chaotic, which one are you really?
Hiring Managers often describe the company as a fast paced environment, but if we’ve learned anything about employee retention we know that stability is the way! People tend to use “fast paced” as a coverup when really the environment is chaotic, insufferable, unmanageable , vile, horrific…. uhhh, you get the point.
Although they might seem interested during the interview, if they do accept the job they will quickly find out the truth — the environment is unorganized. If an employee has to endure manic highs and lows, they will leave. Now you’re back at square one, recruiting for a position you can’t seem to keep filled.
Do this instead!
Instead, analyze the productivity and expectations of you and your team. Are these goals realistic? Do you have a clearly defined plan of action to reach these goals? Have you made room for possible mistakes? Usually a fast paced environment is a result of hundreds of projects going on at once. Your employees are not robots and neither are you. Everyone will fail if you’re aiming for impossible results within unrealistic time frames.
The world and workforce is much different than it was for past generations, therefore I have committed myself to removing these phrases from my vocabulary. Not only because they’re extremely outdated but because I remember exactly how toxic workplaces used these same phrases to manipulate myself and others.
There’s an entire new generation of thinkers and leaders with new goals and boundaries. If work culture fails to change with the times, we’ll find ourselves in a world where everyone wants to be a CEO but no one wants to be an employee.
Do any of these phrases trigger you as well? Is there a phrase that’s not on this article? Drop them down below so we can cringe together… as a team :)
