We tackled a phrase that sounds cozy on the surface but is quietly toxic at its core: “We’re like a family.”
Sounds nice, right? But behind that warm façade is a mindset that fosters blurred boundaries, guilt-driven loyalty, and emotional manipulation.
Here’s why it’s time to retire the “family” metaphor in workplace culture:
1. Families don’t lay people off. Using “family” language while making cold business decisions like layoffs or pay freezes creates a false sense of security and breaks trust.
2. It silences healthy conflict. In real families, disagreement is allowed. But at work, the “family” label often discourages dissent and honest feedback, promoting silence over growth.
3. It drives burnout. When loyalty is expected over boundaries, people overextend themselves, and pay for it with their mental health and work-life balance.
So, what should we say instead?
✅ “We are a team working toward a shared mission.”
✅ “We strive to build a respectful and inclusive culture.”
✅ “We value people and treat them with dignity, not dependency.”
Let’s replace the sugarcoating with substance. Culture shouldn’t manipulate, it should empower.
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About Netta Jenkins
Netta Jenkins is a distinguished tech CEO and the visionary behind the acclaimed 8-week leadership accelerator, Super Charged Management. As a two-time published author with Wiley, her forthcoming book, “Supercharged Teams: How Every Manager Can Create a Culture of Excellence,” follows her debut work, “The Inclusive Organization,” recognized as a top read in Forbes and amplified by Arianna Huffington to her 10 Million Linkedin Followers.
Netta hosts the Beyond Management™️ LinkedIn leadership web series, powered by Holistic Inclusion Consulting, which has garnered over 10 million impressions. Through engaging, street interview-style content, she fosters meaningful discussions that enhance organizational learning and development, boost brand visibility, and position organizations as thought leaders, driving new customer acquisition and talent recruitment.
A seasoned TEDx and keynote speaker, Netta has captivated audiences worldwide, delivering science-backed insights and strategies with compelling impact. With over 15 years of expertise in global workplace advisory and a LinkedIn following exceeding 200,000, she has been featured in leading outlets such as The Washington Post, McKinsey, Forbes, and Fortune. Her influence earned her recognition as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow by CIO Views in 2021.
Previously serving as VP of Global Inclusive Strategy at IAC, Netta partnered with brands like Match.com, Vimeo, and Daily Beast. She advises Betterment, consults executives via the Intro app, and is pursuing a doctorate in quality systems. Currently, she collaborates with Marc Lore (former CEO of Walmart) and Preet Bharara (former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York) to build Telosa, a visionary new city in America.
Residing on the East Coast with her family, Netta continues to make a transformative impact in both the corporate and startup landscapes.
