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c/ethics-in-the-wild•ellioth37ellioth37•2h ago

I keep hearing people say 'it's just business' to excuse treating someone badly at work... but that phrase is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

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4 Comments
max_torres44
That bandage analogy actually makes a lot of sense.
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miles_hall
Ugh, it's just a way to avoid feeling bad.
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torres.thea
Look at it another way though. Sometimes you need a trick to get through a tough moment so you can deal with the real problem later. Calling it just avoiding feeling bad makes it sound weak, but it can be a smart move. It's like putting a bandage on so you don't bleed out while you find the hospital. That little bit of space can stop you from saying or doing something you'll really regret.
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paul_taylor21
My old boss used to say "it's just business" before every round of layoffs. It never made it easier for the people getting the call. The phrase just shuts down any real talk about how those choices affect people. It turns a human problem into a math problem you don't have to feel bad about solving.
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