Flexible workspace provider Landmark is warning businesses about the use of jargon as 53% of office workers say they find the use of acronyms confusing, with 12% identifying them as a potential cause of workplace exclusion. One in five (19%) of the 2,000 office workers surveyed for Landmark’s first Business Style Barometer report didn’t recognise any of the acronyms they were asked to identify. These included well established and widely used TLAs (three letter acronyms) like SMB, standing for small and medium-sized business, recognised by just 4% of respondents, as well as text messaging abbreviations like WIIFM (what’s in it for me?), understood by 3% of those surveyed. This might explain why 24% believe that acronyms add time to communications in the workplace, rather than saving time as intended. Age is a factor in comprehension, with 41% of over 65s unable to recognise any of the acronyms presented, compared to 25% of Gen Z (18-24-year-olds) and 24% of 55-64-year-olds. Older Millennials (35-44-year-olds) were most au fait with modern office jargon, with just 15% unable to decipher any of the acronyms. Other findings from Landmark’s Business Style Barometer report include: n social interaction with colleagues is the most beneficial aspect of working in an office, cited by 45%, ahead of collaboration with colleagues on work (43%) and faceto-face meetings (36%); n having a personal workspace is the most important criterion for creating an attractive working environment, cited by 51%. A personal workspace is more important to those aged 55-64 (61%) The 10 most recognised acronyms Acronym % that knew Meaning what it means W/C 38% Week commencing B2B 37% Back to back KPI 32% Key performance indicator W/E 29% Weekend TOIL 26% Time off in Lieu DND 20% Do not disturb COB 20% Close of Business WIP 20% Work in progress BAU 19% Business as usual EOW 18% End of week Top 10 least recognised acronyms Acronym % that knew Meaning what it means G2G 10% Good to go SOW 8% Statement of work BID 7% Twice a day MTD 7% Month to date IAM 5% In a minute EOT 5% End of topic LET 4% Leaving early today SMB 4% Small and medium-sized business NRN 3% No reply needed WIIFM 3% What’s in it for me? Office jargon sows seeds of confusion than those aged 18-24 (37%). n Lifestyle amenities, such as a games room, theatre room and selection of drinks, are more important to 18-24 year olds (32%) than 55-64-year-olds (6%). This is true for bike storage as well, with 25% of 18-24-year-olds saying this is important compared to just 2% of 55–64-year-olds. n Tuesday (65%), Wednesday (65%) and Thursday (59%) are the most popular days to go into the office. www.landmarkspace.co.uk Do you know your MTD from your EOW? Most don’t WORKPLACE 01732 759725 35 magazine
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