Learn English – Alternative, softer word for ‘Employee’

synonyms

Afternoon all,

A colleague and I have put together an internal feedback form in our workplace, and had to amend the previous form from the word 'Agent', referring to the individual receiving the feedback. Agent is not applicable to all levels of staff so cannot be used, so I suggested just 'employee', which my colleague feels may come across as a little cold.

After looking through a thesaurus I'm still struggling to find an alternative that may be warmer or softer; does anyone here have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Best Answer

"Colleague" is sometimes used here in the UK to mean "someone who works for the company", in a softer and more egalitarian sense than "employee".

It's mostly been put forward in this sense by entrepreneur and management guru Julian Richer. He's advised some of our major high street firms (Halifax, Asda, M&S) so these days it's pretty usual to hear a "colleague announcement" in the supermarket (it would formerly have been a "staff announcement").

  • Thanks to Richer Sounds we now have holiday homes for colleagues...

  • the stars of the show are the colleagues who work in-store.

John Timpson: why I rate Richer Sounds, The Telegraph, 12 Sep 2010

  • News, views and photos from Asda colleagues around the country

Asda Green Room

  • Dear colleague, At Marks & Spencer we are committed to doing the right thing, the right way, for our customers, colleagues, shareholders, suppliers, the environment and our local communities.

Message from the Chief Executive, Marks and Spencer, Code of Ethics and Behaviours September 2012

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