Take a more balanced view

People management is about treating people with respect and having a productive workforce.

I was astonished to see the statement, "It's about getting the right balance between treating people with respect and having a productive workforce," in "Food for thought" (27 October). How can a magazine that promotes good people management practice let this statement stand unchallenged? 

People management is about treating people with respect and having a productive workforce. Treating people as valuable human beings in their own right does not detract from management's ability to discuss behaviour at work. The employer has every right to insist on appropriate behaviour during the time they rent from employees.