What’s in a Name?

I’m curious, what do you call the framework of norms and practices that relate to how people are treated at work around the world?

I bet if you asked a random person on the street, or in the airport, or online, they’d each have a slightly different way of saying it. And that’s okay. It can even be confusing to those of us whose professional lives touch on the framework. We might not be joining relevant conversations because we don’t see our own reflections in the language being used.

For example, an executive who sets people policy at a company might pass on a seminar on “International Labor Standards” because they’re looking for something on “Human Resources Policy in Supply Chains.” Or an environmental expert in charge of sustainability for a company might not see that “Global Worker Rights” is very much an ESG topic. In both examples, the topics sound very different but are actually one and the same.

Even tiny differences like “labor” vs “labour” or “worker rights” vs “workers’ rights” can further silo the conversations unnecessarily - or serve as a distraction. It is true, technically sometimes different words do impart meaning. But that isn’t the case most of the time.

At Enterprise for Humankind, we use “Global Labor Standards” as a catch-all for: International Labor Rights, International Labor Standards, International Labor Norms, International Worker Rights, International Workers Rights, Global Human Resources Policy, Fundamental Labor Rights, Core Labor Standards, Supply Chain Working Conditions, and so on. Responsible Business Conduct and Business and Human Rights are a bit broader, but inclusive of Global Labor Standards.

These, in turn, are all a quick way to reference the way people are treated at work: hours, wages, overtime, occupational safety and health (sometimes called workplace health and safety!), child labor prohibitions (the minimum age for the employment of children and the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor), forced labor (also known as slavery, modern slavery, and sometimes can include human trafficking) prohibitions, freedom of association (also known as the right to form and join independent trade [or labor] unions), the right to organize and bargain collectively and the right to strike, freedom from discrimination, and much more.

For someone who isn’t fluent in this jargon, it can be daunting to navigate this field. We don’t get bogged down in the language, we focus on the underlying meaning and impact. Enterprise for Humankind can be your guide.