People and Culture Shared Interest Group

As an early-stage professional, I've noticed that in many organizations people are sometimes referred to as 'resources' when discussing projects or staffing, I understand that the term is often used from an operational or planning perspective, but personally I'm not sure I find it very human.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts,  how does this term resonate with you in your professional environments?

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Yukta Sharma


Hyderabad
India
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Very interesting though Yukta. Personally, my thought is that might be the 'professional' project oriented speech that seems impersonal. However, I would hope that the actual team recognizes the people (individuals) that are working on the project. Often, when you work on teams, it offers the opportunity to work with and learn from different people with different perspectives. 

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Chevonne Alston CPA,CFE
Academic
Evergreen Park IL
United States
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Thanks  for sharing your perspective, Chevonne. Agreed that it could be project oriented speech & as a metric for the business from a point of view that money is spent & returns are received through people working on a project. Helpful response, thank you!

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Yukta Sharma


Hyderabad
India
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-09-2026 01:14 AM
From: Chevonne Alston
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

Very interesting though Yukta. Personally, my thought is that might be the 'professional' project oriented speech that seems impersonal. However, I would hope that the actual team recognizes the people (individuals) that are working on the project. Often, when you work on teams, it offers the opportunity to work with and learn from different people with different perspectives. 

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Chevonne Alston CPA,CFE
Academic
Evergreen Park IL
United States
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I completely agree with you. It can appear to be dehumanizing and rightfully so.

'Resource planning' sounds fine, but referring to people as resources is something that we should begin to change. What would you propose as alternatives?

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Izz Ghanaa Ansari
Strategy Manager
Toronto, Canada
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I think from a business perspective referring to people as "talent" sounds more human & respectful to the skills they provide. Would love to hear more thoughts on this... And more alternatives :)

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Yukta Sharma


Hyderabad
India
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2026 09:14 AM
From: Izz Ansari
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

I completely agree with you. It can appear to be dehumanizing and rightfully so.

'Resource planning' sounds fine, but referring to people as resources is something that we should begin to change. What would you propose as alternatives?

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Izz Ghanaa Ansari
Strategy Manager
Toronto, Canada
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I can understand where you are coming from Yukta. To me, operationally a broad reference to people as "resources" is acceptable when referring to capacity or staffing levels. Similarly, people are also referred to as "capital"- another reference that be construed as being inanimate, as they are considered as inputs. Culturally, referring to people as "resources" or "capital" is seen as being outdated and misaligned with contemporary leadership values. That may be why most current management leaders use the term "human" before these inanimate words to reinforce dignity and the creativity, judgment etc. that human beings bring to the table.

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Prakash Rajan CMA, CPA, CGMA, CA
Director/Manager
Humble TX
United States
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, as someone who's just starting out in her career, It broadens my perspective to understand how & why these terms were coined by leaders from previous generations.

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Yukta Sharma


Hyderabad
India
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-10-2026 01:53 PM
From: Prakash Rajan
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

I can understand where you are coming from Yukta. To me, operationally a broad reference to people as "resources" is acceptable when referring to capacity or staffing levels. Similarly, people are also referred to as "capital"- another reference that be construed as being inanimate, as they are considered as inputs. Culturally, referring to people as "resources" or "capital" is seen as being outdated and misaligned with contemporary leadership values. That may be why most current management leaders use the term "human" before these inanimate words to reinforce dignity and the creativity, judgment etc. that human beings bring to the table.

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Prakash Rajan CMA, CPA, CGMA, CA
Director/Manager
Humble TX
United States
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I wholeheartedly agree with these affectionate experienced professionals --> @Izz Ansari @Prakash Rajan @Chevonne Alston — Clap-Clap!!

I like warmth and personal relationships where appropriate, but some environments are very sterile, very siloed, impersonal, some agencies for example come to mind. As such I think it's a mix and a balance of being yourself and conforming to the status quo where this is possible — in some institutions for example you must address people the way you have to, some things are off limits, and if you want to be a part of that you have to abide by it. But at corporate environments you can be a bit warmer or a bit cooler depending on your position, character, what you choose. 

However, communication and transactions should always root out respect and giving people the benefit of the doubt. I try my best to practice this, but I sometimes fail.

Terrific personal, behavioral, human, and lovely post! @Yukta Sharma 

~Chalo! 🕊️

ilya ilienko

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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Thanks Ilya, I think you brought another perspective so appreciate it!

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Izz Ghanaa Ansari
Strategy Manager
Toronto, Canada
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2026 01:18 PM
From: Ilya Ilienko
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

I wholeheartedly agree with these affectionate experienced professionals --> @Izz Ansari @Prakash Rajan @Chevonne Alston - Clap-Clap!!

I like warmth and personal relationships where appropriate, but some environments are very sterile, very siloed, impersonal, some agencies for example come to mind. As such I think it's a mix and a balance of being yourself and conforming to the status quo where this is possible - in some institutions for example you must address people the way you have to, some things are off limits, and if you want to be a part of that you have to abide by it. But at corporate environments you can be a bit warmer or a bit cooler depending on your position, character, what you choose. 

However, communication and transactions should always root out respect and giving people the benefit of the doubt. I try my best to practice this, but I sometimes fail.

Terrific personal, behavioral, human, and lovely post! @Yukta Sharma 

~Chalo! 🕊️

ilya ilienko

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Ilya Ilienko, dual MBA, CPA, CMA
Board Member / Director
East Coast - United States
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Dear Yukta,

For me it very much depends on context but the term "people" is always better than human resources and luckily also a lot more common nowadays. I am not too offended if the term is used for a technical and/or cost discussion but I would be curious to see how my view could change over time. Thanks for bringing it up. Words are important and inclusion is key. 

Rgs

Gwen

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Gwen Van Berne CMA
Other
Rotterdam
Netherlands
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Few days ago, an organization released an employee scorecard dashboard which is officially called Agent Scorecard Dashboard. At first glance I thought it would be some digital agents' (Agentic AI) dashboard but was taken aback on knowing that agent meant employees there.

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Kushnabh Chhabra CMA, CSCA
Analyst
Bengaluru
India
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-20-2026 03:38 PM
From: Gwen Van Berne
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

Dear Yukta,

For me it very much depends on context but the term "people" is always better than human resources and luckily also a lot more common nowadays. I am not too offended if the term is used for a technical and/or cost discussion but I would be curious to see how my view could change over time. Thanks for bringing it up. Words are important and inclusion is key. 

Rgs

Gwen

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Gwen Van Berne CMA
Other
Rotterdam
Netherlands
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That's unfortunate that the lines between humans and agentic AI have blurred so much. 

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Izz Ghanaa Ansari
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-01-2026 08:04 PM
From: Kushnabh Chhabra
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

Few days ago, an organization released an employee scorecard dashboard which is officially called Agent Scorecard Dashboard. At first glance I thought it would be some digital agents' (Agentic AI) dashboard but was taken aback on knowing that agent meant employees there.

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Kushnabh Chhabra CMA, CSCA
Analyst
Bengaluru
India
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-20-2026 03:38 PM
From: Gwen Van Berne
Subject: How Do We Refer to People at Work?

Dear Yukta,

For me it very much depends on context but the term "people" is always better than human resources and luckily also a lot more common nowadays. I am not too offended if the term is used for a technical and/or cost discussion but I would be curious to see how my view could change over time. Thanks for bringing it up. Words are important and inclusion is key. 

Rgs

Gwen

------------------------------
Gwen Van Berne CMA
Other
Rotterdam
Netherlands