We have, as a large community, the opportunity of having a much larger echo than PR people. They may have more reach because the media eats up new trendy words, but letting them control the narrative is the worst thing we can do. As a recent exemple, see the term “quiet quitting”, which is starting to enter certain dictionaries.
We can use terms that we create. We can share them, we can get others to learn them, we can use them in the media ourselves if we happen to speak to someone on camera. Unions? Now is your time to shine; use it in common discourse, in your press releases, in collective agreements if it makes sense.
It might seem hopeless, but as a large community spanning multiple countries, we have way more social power than you would expect.
An example I would like to see used more often as micromanagement is getting out of control: microscope management.
The sky is the limit. Don't let them come up with a new word to shame you into burning yourself or missing more family time in 2023.
We can do this.