Jack O'Dwyer's Newsletter, August 18, 1993

SECTION: PR OPINION/ITEMS;
Vol. 26, No. 32; Pg. 8
LENGTH: 694 words

BYLINE: Jack O'Dwyer

BODY: Ditch the term "human resources," Norman Birnbach, of Ketchum PR, New York, urged in a letter to the July 19 Ragan Report. "The problem I see in being referred to as a human resource is that typically businesses depreciate their resources over time . . . Computers, photocopiers, etc., become less valuable as they age, but I'd hate to think that I'm getting less valuable as I get older and gain experience."

We agree that "human resources" is an insensitive, inhuman term. But HR departments are taking over many internal PR and even external PR functions. HR heads have gotten very close to top management because HR manages the downsizings that are so popular with CEOs.

Copyright 1993 J. R. O'Dwyer Co., Inc.

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