You know I always wonder about these things too.
Employees is fucking derogatory too depending on where you are. What about minions? Wooks? Team Members? Techs? Teks? Hobbits? Gnomes, is our most recent dance theme. -shrug-
In my shop we appreciate Wookiee culture (I’m not sure about urban dictionary, I’m still looking at Wookiees from the worlds of George Lucas, which have some very similar stereotypes regarding love, slavery, violence, and what not…). People who know where the bodies are. Know where to get the best shrooms. And might also not come to work because they were still too high an hour ago. They do love festivals and things and would probably stand with you in a fight.
I had always been a Wook fan - and then I saw its usage here (which seemed to talk about me and the people on my team in different strokes).
I 100% have had people on my teams that met both definitions that you provided here. But those were never the reasons to hand them blasters, ask them if they were interested in violence, or call out to them in long howls.
On the professional note - if you are working in a corporate culture structure calling people anything can be considered a microaggression and lead to a toxic work environment. So if you are calling “employees” anything - be mindful of how its being taken.
Just like being called “the boss” is really people referring to leaders as those dicks who think they know stuff. Calling employees anything besides their TITLE or NAME could be used in a derogatory manner.
When was the last time you liked being called “a resource” or “an employee”?
Its all about the culture that you create for your team. Finding people that are aligned with that culture. And making sure if people don’t align, getting them off the team as quickly as possible.
Even if that culture is a Wookiee culture. Or if that is a “wook” culture.