I get a huge kick out of politically correct descriptors (i.e. "weight challenged," "little people," "golden years," etc). What really gets me going, though, are the job titles dreamed up by some PC-focused consultant with way too much time on his or her hands.
Case in point: I just landed this morning at Newark Airport and noticed two or three uniform-clad men standing in front of wheelchairs. I thought nothing of it until I happened to glance at the patch on one man’s shirt. It read "mobility assistance representative." How about that? I’d always wondered what those people were called. Outside of nearly being run over by these "airport Andrettis" as they zoom by on their go-carts, I’d really never thought about what to call them. "Mobility assistance representative." How perfect. How politically correct. How sensitive.
I think the PC job title police need to come up with some other warm and fuzzy monikers. Here are some suggestions:
1. Old title: limo driver. New title: strategic logistics coach
2. Old title: hot dog guy. New title: hunger alleviation specialist
3. Old title: toll booth collector. New title: coin facilitation officer (or CFO, if you like)
4. Old title: cable guy. New title: information & entertainment troubleshooter
I could go on and on. But, isn’t it fascinating that someone feels the need to change the job titles that our parents and grandparents were used to using? And, who appoints these PC name/title police to their posts? I’d love to see some statistical support that validates how and why a title change also changes a jobholder’s internal or external image and reputation. After all, a rose by any other name…(and, a garbage man by any other name)…
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I have one that I recently saw on the telly-
old title: personal shopper
new title: fashion image consultant
I think the title “consultant” definately helps!
Rep-
Found this one very interesting for a number of reasons. I have been noticing a lot of this lately when I walk into stores and see “consumer experience specialists” or “valued team member” and while at first I thought it was getting a bit overdone, I certainly understand the logic. I remember a study from a few years back (I think pcom commissioned it for a client, but not sure) that showed that American workers were more dissatisfied about their job titles and earning respect of their employers than they were with salary and pay raises.
That said, the recent title changes are addressing a problem that was discovered, and while not costing the employer much, certainly make the employee happy. After all, would you rather say you were a gasoline attendent at Exxon or a “petroleum transfer engineer” for Exxon Corporation.