alt.hn

5/22/2026 at 2:30:21 PM

Bank boss sorry after describing workers as 'lower value human capital'

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98rqld1j3yo

by tartoran

5/22/2026 at 2:56:42 PM

I think you can report someone apologized, but cannot attest to their internal mental state enough to impartially report that they're sorry.

by hawkice

5/22/2026 at 3:32:08 PM

Just like a criminal who blew their cover, they’re sorry not for the infraction, but for getting caught.

by onemoresoop

5/22/2026 at 4:04:50 PM

I'm pretty sure the headline is sarcasm.

by InsideOutSanta

5/22/2026 at 4:54:35 PM

I’m getting more of that vibe from the bbc nowadays as there forced more to support both sides where one side has lost all grip on reality.

by secretsatan

5/22/2026 at 2:58:13 PM

These articles always make me think of the South Park BP Oil episode. "We're sorry. So sorry..."

by jeffwask

5/22/2026 at 3:42:33 PM

we must be the same age or have the same sense of humor. This is what my mind went to immediately.

by sidewndr46

5/22/2026 at 4:16:53 PM

My first tech job coincided with the first season of South Park.

by jeffwask

5/22/2026 at 3:06:21 PM

I am truly, deeply sorry for revealing my true feelings on how much I value some of the employees that helped me become utterly, filthy rich. It will not happen again.

by jchw

5/22/2026 at 5:21:48 PM

By the way, these are the people who techno-optimists believe are going to take care of you in the post labor future.

by justonepost2

5/22/2026 at 3:40:23 PM

Stories like these really help highlight how bad the bubble some people surround themselves with. Imagine being so out of touch you describe another human being as "lower value human capital".

by lousclues

5/22/2026 at 4:12:23 PM

Goldman Sachs renamed HR human capital management when they were still known for being the smartest people on the street. So the convention of calling employees human capital stuck. From there I can totally see how the other, much longer-lived, convention of rating employees as high and low value bled over.

by JumpCrisscross

5/22/2026 at 3:54:03 PM

Imagine how broken society has to be for this situation to occur in the first place, and then only need to issue a public apology to not get cancelled by the potential mob backlash.

It's very clear that reality happens in private and a 'im sowwy' should not be the only downside of devaluing life..

Or build yourself a bubble and then ignore everything outside of it? *shrug

by x______________

5/22/2026 at 4:19:00 PM

They have run out of euphemisms.

by tanseydavid

5/23/2026 at 2:23:26 AM

AI will produce an infinite supply of high-quality euphemisms, making our existing drone...er...associates more productive and allowing us to eliminate the now redundant Department of Pleasantries and returning 4 headcount to our shareholders.

by kjs3

5/22/2026 at 2:53:45 PM

Bank boss is sorry that you're mad, not sorry he said it.

by fred_is_fred

5/23/2026 at 4:32:19 AM

precisely! he’s only sorry you know how he thinks. the reality is he means it and would take every opportunity he can to squeeze and optimise away human labour for his own benefit

by cybercatgurrl

5/22/2026 at 8:02:51 PM

This boss must have inspired this internet stranger to coin:

> HR sounds like they held him back from liquidity in human capital.

Context, about a different company: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48213991

by aitchnyu

5/22/2026 at 6:39:45 PM

"lower value human capital"

There you have his admission of what he really thinks of his employees even after layoffs.

Some may accept his apology, but I don't think the internet will.

Make that of what you will.

by rvz

5/23/2026 at 4:34:55 AM

this guy doesn’t do optics. you don’t say shit like that even if it’s what you believe. most people can’t handle that level of detachment from human labour. it’s too impersonal. viewed as cruel even. even if he’s that detached he has to maintain a level of innocence to keep his workers compliant

by cybercatgurrl

5/22/2026 at 11:48:21 PM

I don't live on that side of the pond, but let's hope tar and feather futures see an uptick.

by ChoGGi