In the last few days and weeks in particular, the topic of employees/colleagues/team members has been on my mind a lot, including at the hotel property working group in Dresden. Here we spoke with the head of the Dresden employment agency, Jan Pratzka, and the managing director of DEHOGA Saxony, Axel Klein, among others. It's great to see what is being organised there in Saxony, and indeed in every other federal state in Germany, and what efforts are being made to improve the poor image of our industry. But what use is it if wonderful campaigns are organised by individual associations and institutions, attempts are made to get young people excited about our industry again - and then they are treated badly in the companies? They are not appreciated and work so much that they quickly lose interest again.
As I also sat on the podium, I am taking the opportunity to once again clearly and explicitly rail against the word "personnel"! It really annoys me! Staff existed 200 years ago and were rarely treated well - there were enough people who carried out these tasks, especially in the absence of alternatives.
In fact, I sometimes got a headwind and the counter-question of what else to call "them" (?!) - wow, that really left me speechless. Insiders know that this happens very rarely. But we sorted it out afterwards over a cup of tea ;-))
I am firmly convinced that the term "personnel" is in no way related to the word "appreciation" - and that's what it is all about!
When the term " personnel" comes up in our company (fortunately rather rarely, just old habits) then I can freak out - seriously, that's how much it annoys me. It is my great wish that we can ALL work well together, meet as equals, appreciate each other and help each other when help is needed and that we celebrate, maybe just like that, for no real reason! Our jobs mean emotion and passion - our job is awesome and hardly anyone does it for the money!
But what can I say; even I often fail to meet my own expectations, I'm simply too emotional and sometimes completely off the mark - at least that's what I think and I'm sometimes mirrored by others ;-)) and yet so many great people have been with us for a long time, stand by us, the hotels and their fellow human beings - even when things crunch and crack and everything is a bit rubbish. You, Team Halbersbacher, are great, great and THANK YOU for being with us!
In English, it's so much easier to avoid all the gender madness; team member, team player etc. and nobody freaks out. I mainly use the word employee myself - but even here people tell me what a stupid word it is ...
And now? I don't know; I'll stick with employee for now. Let's see what else comes round the corner, or perhaps you have an idea? Let me know and enlighten me ;-)) Suggestions are welcome at info@halbersbacher.de!
