Findings from the Business Style Barometer are built from a survey of 2,000 respondents, all of whom work in an office, either part- or full-time. The survey, conducted by Landmark, has revealed the nuanced role office lingo plays in the office, from fostering camaraderie to potentially leaving colleagues out in the cold.
Over half of respondents felt the use of office lingo/acronyms in the office setting can sometimes cause confusion (53%), meaning their use may not be the most inclusive form of expression. Further, more than one in 10 (12%) feel the use of shorthand phrases can cause workplace exclusion.
Despite this, 10% of people nationally still feel that the use of shorthand creates a sense of team spirit. This increases to nearly a fifth (18%) when looking at London-based respondents.
Landmark also analysed the most and least commonly identified acronyms. ‘W/c’ comes top of the leaderboard with 38% of respondents recognising this shorthand. This is closely followed by ‘B2B’, which is recognised by 37% of respondents. On the other hand, the least commonly recognised acronyms are ‘WIFIM’ and ‘NRN’, with just 3% saying they know what these abbreviations mean. Surprisingly, nearly a fifth of respondents did not recognise any of the acronyms.
Age-centric analysis also illuminates the communication preferences of different generations. A quarter of 18-24-year-olds (25%) reported not knowing any of the acronyms asked about, very similar to older colleagues, with 24% of 55-64-year-olds reporting the same. Only 15% of 35-44-year-olds had the same response, the group least likely to report being out in the cold on all the acronyms, suggesting older millennials are savviest here. Officer workers aged 65-and-over were most likely to be in the dark on this office jargon with 41% stating they didn’t know any of the short-hand.
|
Top 10 most recognised acronyms |
|
|
Acronym |
% of respondents to recognise the acronym |
|
W/C |
38% |
|
B2B |
37% |
|
KPI |
32% |
|
W/E |
29% |
|
TOIL |
26% |
|
DND |
20% |
|
COB |
20% |
|
WIP |
20% |
|
BAU |
19% |
|
EOW |
18% |
|
Top 10 least recognised acronyms |
|
|
Acronym |
% of respondents to recognise the acronym |
|
G2G |
10% |
|
SOW |
8% |
|
BID |
7% |
|
MTD |
7% |
|
IAM |
5% |
|
EOT |
5% |
|
LET |
4% |
|
SMB |
4% |
|
NRN |
3% |
|
WIIFM |
3% |
Sam Mardon, Chief Customer Officer, commented:
For the word nerds among us, acronyms in the office can streamline and speed up conversations and communication with colleagues. Yet, for others, employees can find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar jargon, which can inadvertently cause confusion or miscommunication within the workspace.
Sam Mardon, Chief Customer Officer
The shifting contours of office life
When looking at what drives employees into the office, the social value that the workplace offers comes out on top. 45% of respondents revealed that social interactions with colleagues is the most beneficial aspect of the office. This is closely followed by collaboration with colleagues on work projects (43%) and face-to-face meetings (36%).
The survey further revealed that the non-linear working day and week is still disrupting the status quo.
When office-goers aren’t working traditional hours, defined as 9am – 5:30pm, an early morning stint is the most popular alternative, with 27% of respondents stating that they generally start work before 9am, compared to only 7% who say they work beyond 5.30pm. According to age, 18-24-year-olds are the night owls, being the most likely to stay late and work after 5.30pm (16%).
Working a five-day week in the office is also starting to feel like a distant memory for most, with Tuesday (65%), Wednesday (65%) and Thursday (59%) being the most popular days for office-goers, often referred to as TWATs, (those who go in on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).
Ed Cowell, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
While technology has undeniably changed our working patterns, the office continues to have significant momentum behind it with a physical presence in the office remaining crucial for many. For employers, flexibility remains of paramount importance if you are looking to provide spaces for colleagues that inspire engagement and encourage community.
Ed Cowell, Chief Executive Officer
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
