It really saddens to me see how many managers out there treat their subordinates terribly, and then act surprised when their subordinates do the same - as though employees are meant to greatful for their terrible treatment
Sometimes people use "respect" to mean "treating someone like a person" and
sometimes they use "respect" to mean "treating someone like an authority"
and sometimes people who are used to being treated like an authority say "if you won't respect me I won't respect you" and they mean "if you won't treat me like an authority I won't treat you like a person"
and they think they're being fair but they aren't, and it's not okay.
I recently was recently reprimanded for using the term "subordinates". I was informed that term has fallen out of favor. Direct Reports is the proper way to say it these days.
Honestly calling someone a "direct report" sounds even more dehumanising. At least calling someone a "subordinate" acknowledges that you're belittling their existence. A "direct report" sounds like a piece of paper.
Oh yeah it's totally the sugar coated version. It's funny because I was only using the term "subordinates" because that is what the software platform I was training on calls "direct reports".