I didn't know any better because it was my first office job out of college, but the culture of the workplace I was hired into was incredibly careless of people. If you didn't hold a manager title, you were treated like a commodity, a cog in the machine that was one-to-one interchangeable. During those first few years I read many blogs discussing how to treat developers well and found my situation lacking in comparison. Despite the technical excellence reflected on my annual review, I certainly didn't feel respected. I thought often about what it would take for me to feel like I was being treated like a person.

The very first principle in XP is Humanity, and it makes sense given that the premise of the book is that software engineering is a social activity. Beck lists five things he believes are important for humans to feel in their workplace:

“What do people need to be good developers?

* Basic safety—freedom from hunger, physical harm, and threats to loved ones. Fear of job loss threatens this need.
* Accomplishment—the opportunity and ability to contribute to their society.
* Belonging—the ability to identify with a group from which they receive validation and accountability and contribute to its shared goals.
* Growth—the opportunity to expand their skills and perspective.
* Intimacy—the ability to understand and be understood deeply by others.”

— Kent Beck, Extreme Programming Explained

One of the reasons I'm so attracted to this philosophy is that it applies to far more than just software engineering. This principle has been championed by the greatest social activists in history, and ultimately is the way forward in times of risk or threat. No one should be below this dignity, no matter where they were born, what they believe, or what physical attributes they have.

As I write this, much of the United States and the world is on lockdown due to the coronavirus COVID-19. Businesses are temporarily closed and some workers are unable to earn a paycheck. There is a lot at risk and many people feel under threat. Now is an opportune moment to reflect on XP's principle of Humanity and apply it to everyone.

Most of us have a horror story of how we were treated terribly by a company, a particular boss, or an inhumane policy. I'm interested in your story of how you or someone you know has been shown Humanity in your workplace or daily life. I'll happily share mine as well.

The longest tenure I've had at as a software engineer was working for a family company called Daniels Associates, Inc. DAI gave me plenty of opportunity for Growth and Accomplishment, as well as meeting my other developer needs quoted above. I was able to try new technologies, mentor junior engineers, and see software I had built directly benefit the daily work of their users. My managers were genuinely interested in doing the right thing, treating me with respect, and seeing me succeed.

Let's hear your story!

photo credit: Darren Hester Grungy Metal Gears via photopin (license)