In the employee market, there are three types of people: consumers, producers and investors. While this probably sounds more like a statement describing the efficiencies of markets or a subset of the players in the economic system as a whole, lets break it down for a single employee.

Viewing the employee as a consumer does not mean that they are a drain on your company. The thoght here is that the consumer is engaged directly in a trade relationship. They show up, do work and get paid. But for the most part, this is a one-to-one relationship.

Producers on the other hand create inventory. As an employee, this can be an inventory of knowledge, intelectual property, motivation or public perception. As an employee, they bring more than an hourly trade-for-dollars, they bring a sort of capital that can be spent when times get rough.

Following the theme, the investor sacrifices time, good will, opportunity in hopes that the return will be greater than the investment. The direct implecation is that the employee investor gives up on something today on the speculation that the reward will one day be greater than the sacrifice.