A recent social media post questioning whether it feels awkward for an assistant manager at Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited to be called "Political Commissar" has sparked widespread online debate.

According to reports, within Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited, the hotel manager is referred to as "Xian Zhang," which sounds identical to "County Head," while the assistant manager is called "Political Commissar." Employees say this is a long-standing internal title system introduced during onboarding training.

Corporate nicknames for employees are hardly new. As long as they don't break the law or impersonate legal identities, companies have the freedom to design internal titles. Some internet firms use martial arts character names, others go by English names, and some even adopt fruits or animals as employee codes. The purpose of such nicknames is typically to downplay hierarchy and reduce the formality of addressing someone as "Boss" or "Manager." That intent is generally harmless.

What makes "Xian Zhang" and "Political Commissar" controversial is that these titles do the opposite—they don't weaken status markers but instead wrap ordinary corporate positions in a cloak of political authority. "Xian Zhang" homophonically invokes a government official, while "Political Commissar" carries a specific and sensitive organizational context tied to the military or police. Using these as corporate nicknames is both irrelevant to the actual job roles and undermines the seriousness of those official titles.

In particular, "Political Commissar" is a legal position within the armed forces and public security systems. Its use in a corporate setting, especially externally, can easily create misunderstandings and violate social norms. This is precisely why netizens accept the broader "nickname culture" but question this specific choice.

What's more concerning is how some corporate cultures might drift into role-playing. If this company uses "County Head" and "Political Commissar" today, could another company self-appoint other official ranks tomorrow? Companies are not government bodies, nor military units. Modern management emphasizes clear responsibilities, professional collaboration, and flat communication—not fabricating imagined authority through titles. Solid management always outweighs flashy job labels.

A truly resilient corporate culture is never built on a few impressive titles. Whether employees feel respected, whether communication runs smoothly, whether management is efficient, and whether customers experience professionalism and warmth—these are where culture actually takes root. Nicknames can be distinctive and creative, but they must have boundaries. They can be witty and playful, but never offensive. Otherwise, even the most grandiose nickname is just window dressing.

Corporate culture isn't a closed-door self-indulgence; it shapes how the company presents itself to the outside world. Rather than spending energy "appointing officials," it would be far better to focus on delivering superior service to consumers.