*DON'T CALL ME FAMILY. CALL ME BY MY NAME.*

Have you ever worked for a company that refers to its employees as a "family"? It's a nice idea, right? The company wants you to feel like you belong and that you're surrounded by a support system of people who care about you.

But let's take a closer look. A family is a group of people who share a natural connection and emotional bond. They're related to each other by blood, marriage, adoption or relationship dynamics preserved through the years. They love and support each other through thick and thin.

A company, on the other hand, is a business entity that exists to make money. Its relationship with its employees is primarily transactional. You provide your labour, and the company pays you for it. There's a hierarchy of authority, with managers and supervisors who hold power over their subordinates.

When a company calls itself a "family," it can create unrealistic expectations and blur the lines between work and personal life. You may feel like you're supposed to put the company's interests before your own, and you may hesitate to speak up or disagree with your superiors for fear of disrupting the supposed "family" dynamic.

But here's the thing: you don't need a company to be your family. You can form close bonds with others who share your values and interests, like close friends, partners, or mentors. These relationships arise naturally and organically, based on mutual connection and shared experiences.

So instead of trying to create a false sense of family, companies can create a positive and supportive work environment by promoting open communication, transparency, and mutual respect. When companies value their employees as individuals and show that they want them to succeed both personally and professionally, it creates a workplace culture that people genuinely want to be a part of.?

So, let's be mindful of the language we use to describe our workplace relationships. While we appreciate the sentiment behind the idea of a "work family," it's important to remember that we are here to generate profit. Instead, let's focus on creating a positive and healthy work environment that fosters respect, collaboration, and growth. We can build a workplace culture that empowers and motivates us to succeed both personally and professionally without calling it a family.