Really? I have always considered “associate” to sound like you aren’t a member of the organization. You’re just loosely associated with the organization.
I always figured it's to de-emphasize the fact that you have bosses and owners. Employee implies that clearly, while associate makes it seem more like you're working with colleagues of your own volition. All in the service of making you infinitesimally more pliable.
It's a dimn effort to make employees feel part of the gang in a vain effort to keep them from quitting.
They could actually pay them properly and treat them like humans, but it costs money to do so.
Really? I have always considered “associate” to sound like you aren’t a member of the organization. You’re just loosely associated with the organization.
I always figured it's to de-emphasize the fact that you have bosses and owners. Employee implies that clearly, while associate makes it seem more like you're working with colleagues of your own volition. All in the service of making you infinitesimally more pliable.