Isn the term “subordinate” outdated and demeaning?
People who work for Big Box Stores, Inc., are not “associates” with the company but are employees in it. By calling them “associates”, the firm implies they are somehow grander than employees (and that there is something demeaning about being employees). If you are my manager, I may make reports to you but I may make them to any number of other people also. Calling me “your direct report” does not describe any important aspect of our relationship. What is important is that my role carries a lower order of authority than yours. My role is subordinate to yours. In fact, I contracted to be assigned to a role that is subordinate to your role when I agreed to be an employee. Connotations change with use and context. Employees are not fooled by terms like “associate” or “team member” when they know they are in fact employees. Canadians in particular seem sensitive to the word “subordinate.” People are not subordinate to each other but roles are. In this theory terms that are descriptive are
