A corporation saying its workers are its "number one asset" is widely considered a platitude.
While it sounds positive and looks good on a company website, it is often viewed as a hollow statement because actions often contradict the sentiment.
The statement becomes a platitude when a company's treatment of its employees—through layoffs, lack of investment, or disregard for feedback—demonstrates that workers are expendable, not valuable assets.
Why the phrase can be seen as a platitude
Actions don't match words: Many leaders fail to back up their rhetoric with tangible support, such as career development, respectful communication, or trust.
The "asset" framing is dehumanizing: Some critics argue that the term "asset" is inherently dehumanizing because it compares people to financial or physical resources that are managed, controlled, and optimized for output.
Discrepancy with financial statements: In accounting, employees are treated as an expense, not an asset, on the company's financial statements. This can reinforce the idea that they are a cost to be minimized, rather than a valuable investment.
Failure to appreciate all employees: For many organizations, the true value lies with high-performing employees, yet the platitude extends the sentiment to everyone. This can lead to complacency and a failure to address underperformance.
Other assets are valued more: In many businesses, intellectual property, brand reputation, technology, or capital are arguably more central to the company's competitive advantage. Focusing solely on people can miss these other crucial drivers of success.
The statement can ring true when a company's actions align with its words and its "people-first" culture is authentic. This involves practices like:
Investing in employee training and development.
Prioritizing employee engagement and job satisfaction.
Retaining experienced and knowledgeable employees.
Allowing for open communication and feedback.
Treating employees with respect, appreciating their input, and making them feel empowered.
The statement becomes a platitude when a company's treatment of its employees—through layoffs, lack of investment, or disregard for feedback—demonstrates that workers are expendable, not valuable assets.
Why the phrase can be seen as a platitude
Actions don't match words: Many leaders fail to back up their rhetoric with tangible support, such as career development, respectful communication, or trust.
The "asset" framing is dehumanizing: Some critics argue that the term "asset" is inherently dehumanizing because it compares people to financial or physical resources that are managed, controlled, and optimized for output.
Discrepancy with financial statements: In accounting, employees are treated as an expense, not an asset, on the company's financial statements. This can reinforce the idea that they are a cost to be minimized, rather than a valuable investment.
Failure to appreciate all employees: For many organizations, the true value lies with high-performing employees, yet the platitude extends the sentiment to everyone. This can lead to complacency and a failure to address underperformance.
Other assets are valued more: In many businesses, intellectual property, brand reputation, technology, or capital are arguably more central to the company's competitive advantage. Focusing solely on people can miss these other crucial drivers of success.
The statement can ring true when a company's actions align with its words and its "people-first" culture is authentic. This involves practices like:
Investing in employee training and development.
Prioritizing employee engagement and job satisfaction.
Retaining experienced and knowledgeable employees.
Allowing for open communication and feedback.
Treating employees with respect, appreciating their input, and making them feel empowered.
