The story behind employee’s ID

Every morning, millions of people wake before sunrise, pack their lunches in silence, hug their families and step into workplaces hoping their efforts will be valued. Too often, that hope is misplaced. Instead of being treated as human beings, some employees are handled like replaceable objects — machines that can be switched off or furniture discarded when worn out.
In the corners of such workplaces sits a broken chair. No one asks how long it served or how many people depended on it. It is simply replaced. Now imagine human beings treated the same way. Sadly, this is already happening! Employees are managed like machines, tables, or pieces of furniture, as if they were objects rather than people. This mindset ignores one simple truth that people are not things.
Machines are powered by electricity. Furniture remains silent no matter how heavy the load. Employees, however, run on energy, motivation, health and hope. When employers expect endless output without rest, appreciation, or understanding, workers begin to break — not mechanically, but emotionally and mentally.
In many workplaces, employees are described as “assets” of an organisation. While the term may be intended to signal importance, problems arise when people are treated the same way as objects that can be used, replaced, or discarded. Machines and equipment are designed to perform specific functions. They do not feel stress, fatigue, or injustice.
However, employees do. They are human beings with emotions, families, ambitions and limits. When workers are treated merely as tools for production, employers fail to recognise that respect, motivation, rest and fairness are essential for sustained performance.
The damage does not stop at the workplace door. It follows employees’ home, sits with them at dinner tables and echoes in conversations cut short by worry. Children sense it. Partners feel it. Families live with the fear of sudden unemployment and the weight of unpaid bills.
A workplace that treats employees like furniture may see short-term productivity, but this is rarely sustainable. Over time, morale declines, absenteeism increases and staff turnover rises. Constantly replacing employees is costly and disruptive, weakening teamwork, efficiency and institutional knowledge.
Moreover, a lack of empathy creates toxic work environments. Trust between management and employees erodes, conflicts become common, and organisations damage not only morale but also their reputation and long-term success.
When large numbers of workers are treated as objects rather than human beings, society feels the impact. Stress-related health problems increase. Families struggle under the pressure of overwork and insecurity. Communities lose stability. A society that tolerates the dehumanisation of workers risks normalising unfair labour practices and eroding respect for human dignity.
Yet there is another way — and we know it. Imagine workplaces where people are listened to, not monitored every second. Where struggling employees are supported, not replaced. Where success is measured not only by profit, but by well-being. This is not an unrealistic dream. Organisations that respect workers see stronger commitment and better results.
People work harder when they feel valued. They stay longer when they are treated with dignity. Employees should be recognised not merely as assets, but as partners in an organisation’s success. Fair wages, reasonable working hours, opportunities for growth and respect for work-life balance are not luxuries; they are necessities. When workers are treated with dignity, they are more engaged, productive and committed.
Human-centred workplaces benefit everyone. Employees feel valued. Businesses thrive. Society becomes more just and stable. Humanity is not a cost; it is an investment. Somewhere along the way, we forgot that behind every employee ID card is a life.
A chair can be replaced. A machine can be repaired. But when a human being is broken by unfair treatment, the damage runs deep. Employees are not furniture filling office space; they are the heart of every organisation. Let us build workplaces where people return home tired but respected, busy but valued — employed but never dehumanised.

Abdulaziz Al Jahdhami The writer is author, translator and a communications professional