Why do we call it “human resources” when companies treat people like disposable assets?

Sadly, in many cases, it does feel that way. The term “Human Resources” was originally meant to highlight the importance of people as valuable contributors to a company, just like financial or material resources. But over time, a lot of companies have treated employees more like numbers on a spreadsheet easily replaced, overworked, and undervalued.

Some businesses genuinely invest in their people, but others focus more on “maximizing efficiency,” which often translates to squeezing as much work out of employees as possible while cutting costs. So, while the name suggests people are valuable, the way many corporations operate makes it seem like they’re just another expendable asset.