What's in a name?

JustTired

free at last.......
I've been sitting here thinking about job titles. Seems to me it's a move to assign blame more than to accurately describe your function in a company.

I would've prefered to be called a "delivery driver". It seems that I provided more service as a "delivery driver" than as a "service provider". As a "service provider", the blame for the lack of service has been laid squarely onto our shoulders as opposed to those that actually make the decisions affecting service.

Customer concerns were more effectively handled by "sales reps" than they are now by "account executives". As if it is beneath their title to deal with such things. Whether this is a view taken by the company or the "sales reps" themselves, I'm not sure.

There are no longer "receptionists" or "secretaries", but "administrative assistants". Easier to blame an assistant than a secretary, I guess.
I don't know when this phenomenon started.......but it has become pervasive in every company. And I'm sure there are more positions that have succombed to the "name game".

I don't know about you.....but the next time I need a new car, I prefer to talk to a "car salesman" as opposed to a "transportation facilitator"!
OK....enough thinking for the day.
 

scratch

Least Best Moderator
Staff member
Sometimes, these new titles are just a cheap way to make the employee feel better. Lets change the name of the job, but its still the same. I never call myself a "service provider", that sounds lame and doesn't describe my job. I drive a truck and deliver packages, I am a delivery driver.

"Walmart Associate", "Assistant Manager" at a business with two employees, "Administrative Assistant" instead of secretary, "Para Pro" instead of teacher's aid; the list goes on and on.
 

Catatonic

Nine Lives
Agree with Scratch on this one.
It's a Political Correctness approach implemented across many industries with the purpose of making the employee feel better about themselves and self-empowered.
It's also smart to the change the job title to a more fuzzy name so that job responsibilities can be moved from one historically pigeon-holed position to another.
 

Channahon

Well-Known Member
The titles also indicate the pay grade structure for management and non management employees.

As far as using service provider as opposed to delivery driver, well that change came about a few years ago, when someone in Corporate realized our drivers are not just making deliveries, they are providing all types of services to our customers. Also takes into consideration our hub and feeder employees as well.
 

rod

Retired 22 years
I was always just a dumb :censored2: truck driver that made an excellant living and had great benefits. Actually all I ever told anyone who asked was that I was a UPS driver--enough said. If you say you are a service provider that is really lame. People would assume you made your money on your knees or back:wink2:
 
They have new titles for us here but I don`t see how they think they are empowering or complimentary. "Over Paid Yard Monkey" Hell I could have come up with something better than that.
 

looper804

Is it time to go home yet
What bugs me is all the new names my kids tell me about at school.Teachers are now known as Educators,English is language arts,wood shop is technology,social studies is human relations the list goes on but I am getting dizzy.
 

But Benefits Are Great!

Just Words On A Screen
But, but...

I was just promoted to being a "corrugated celluloid-encased material goods relocation specialist" Didn't even get a raise, but the title looks good on my wood fibre employment announcement placard.
 

Bubblehead

My Senior Picture
I find that the title "manager" not be an accurate description for the people I deal with directly on a daily basis. I feel the title ""facilitator" to be more in line with their daily duties. None of them are given the latitude to make any real decisions and are only facilitating the directives passed down to them from corporate.
 

Catatonic

Nine Lives
I find that the title "manager" not be an accurate description for the people I deal with directly on a daily basis. I feel the title ""facilitator" to be more in line with their daily duties. None of them are given the latitude to make any real decisions and are only facilitating the directives passed down to them from corporate.

Yep, that's the way UPS works.
Make decisions within a defined framework.
 

softshoe

Well-Known Member
I've been sitting here thinking about job titles. Seems to me it's a move to assign blame more than to accurately describe your function in a company.

I would've prefered to be called a "delivery driver". It seems that I provided more service as a "delivery driver" than as a "service provider". As a "service provider", the blame for the lack of service has been laid squarely onto our shoulders as opposed to those that actually make the decisions affecting service.

Customer concerns were more effectively handled by "sales reps" than they are now by "account executives". As if it is beneath their title to deal with such things. Whether this is a view taken by the company or the "sales reps" themselves, I'm not sure.

There are no longer "receptionists" or "secretaries", but "administrative assistants". Easier to blame an assistant than a secretary, I guess.
I don't know when this phenomenon started.......but it has become pervasive in every company. And I'm sure there are more positions that have succombed to the "name game".

I don't know about you.....but the next time I need a new car, I prefer to talk to a "car salesman" as opposed to a "transportation facilitator"!
OK....enough thinking for the day.

I tell everyone I'm a international parcel expediter.
 
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