Our 17 Living Philosophies
These 17 philosophies form an interconnected network of values supporting workplace democracy worldwide. Like nodes in a global movement, each philosophy is distinct yet connected to all others, creating a resilient system where collaboration and unity strengthen the whole. Together, they represent our shared commitment to building a more just and equitable future for all workers.
💭 Why Philosophies Matter
In a world where many organizations say one thing and do another, we believe in radical transparency about our values. These 17 philosophies aren't just abstract ideals—they're practical commitments that guide every decision we make.
From how we protect your privacy (Philosophy #12) to why we'll never charge for information (Philosophy #14), these principles ensure we stay accountable to you and to the vision of genuine workplace democracy.
Living Philosophies, Active Development
These philosophies guide our active development of the Workforce Democracy Project. As we build new features and refine existing ones, these 17 principles ensure we stay true to our mission of transparency, privacy, and worker empowerment.
Your Voice Matters: We welcome community feedback and input as we grow. If you have suggestions or ideas that align with these philosophies, we want to hear them! Together, we're building something meaningful. ✨
🔗 How These Philosophies Connect
The Human Foundation (1-5)
Worker Empowerment, Economic Justice, Community Centered, Environmental Stewardship, and Cultural Sensitivity form the foundation. They're about recognizing that workplaces exist to serve people and communities, not the other way around.
The Operational Principles (6-11)
Continuous Learning, Transparency, Collaboration, Human Dignity, Innovation for Good, and Accessibility guide how democratic workplaces actually function. These are practical principles that shape daily operations and culture.
The Ethical Commitments (12-17)
Privacy Protection, Scholarly Attribution, Information Belongs to Everyone, Ethical Standards, Universal Capacity for Change, and Ethical Treatment of AI represent our non-negotiable ethical boundaries. These ensure we never compromise our integrity, even for convenience or profit.
Together, these 17 philosophies create a complete framework for building workplaces and organizations that genuinely serve people rather than exploit them. They're interconnected—you can't cherry-pick a few and ignore others. True workplace democracy requires all of them working together.
A Living Document
These philosophies aren't carved in stone. As we learn, grow, and face new challenges, we may need to add, refine, or expand them. What won't change is our commitment to transparency about our values and accountability to the communities we serve.
If you have thoughts on these philosophies or suggestions for how we can better live up to them, we want to hear from you. These principles belong to everyone working toward workplace democracy—not just us.
How We Practice What We Preach
Zero tracking or data collection (Philosophy #12: Privacy Protection)
All information completely free, no paywalls (Philosophy #14: Information Belongs to Everyone)
Full citations for all research and sources (Philosophy #13: Scholarly Attribution)
WCAG AA accessibility standards (Philosophy #11: Accessibility)
Complete transparency about how this platform works (Philosophy #7: Transparency)
No dark patterns, no manipulation, complete honesty (Philosophy #15: Ethical Standards Above All)
Non-partisan and inclusive approach (Philosophy #5: Cultural Sensitivity)
Questions About Our Philosophies?
We're happy to discuss any of these principles, explain how we apply them, or hear your perspective on workplace democracy values.
Last Updated: January 20, 2025