Subordinates | Meaning and Definition

What is a Subordinate?

Some employers use the term “subordinate” to characterize staff in lower-level positions. Many current business leaders resist using this term and instead prefer to use more positive terms to boost employee relations. A subordinate is somebody at a lower position. A subordinate is a non-management employee who reports to a manager or a team of leaders in a business context. It’s also possible that there’s a business hierarchy in which management reports to a higher-ranking manager. While there are actually subordinates in the workplace, this term has a negative connotation, and so many businesses avoid using it.

A subordinate is somebody at a lower position. A subordinate is a non-management employee who reports to a manager or a team of leaders in a business context. It’s also possible that there’s a business hierarchy in which management reports to a higher-ranking manager. While there are actually subordinates in the workplace, this term has a negative connotation, and so many businesses avoid using it.

Subordinate alternatives in the office

While every workplace has subordinates, this phrase is both archaic and rarely utilized in today’s business environment. When management refers to their team members as subordinates, it might be taken negatively.

Instead of using the term subordinate, consider the following alternatives:

•       Teammates
•       Group members
•       Staff
•       Team
•       Employees
•       Assistants
•       Associates
•       Contributors

Another option is to just use the individual’s job title. Respecting colleagues by the way you address them fosters strong connections and promotes workplace growth and productivity.