Lydia Smith
·Writer, Yahoo Finance UK
Mon, 26 June 2023
Why is workplace jargon so unpopular — and why can it alienate some workers?
Photo: Getty
If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘blue sky thinking’ or been asked to ‘circle back’ on something, you may have rolled your eyes. Work jargon — or corporate speak — can easily get on your nerves, but research shows it can also have a detrimental effect on how included people feel at work, especially hybrid and younger workers.
According to recent research by LinkedIn, a quarter of hybrid workers believe ‘workplace jargon’ is stopping them from feeling like they belong at work. Of those surveyed, 60% of millennials said they are keen to get rid of it entirely.
To feel included in the workplace, hybrid employees are changing the way they speak to fit in. Of those surveyed, 41% said the use of ‘workplace jargon’ makes them feel less involved in the workplace, with half (51%) having altered the way they’re speaking to fit in.
So why is workplace jargon so unpopular — and why can it alienate some workers?
Business speak is vague
Phrases like ‘touch base’ and ‘in the loop’ are nothing new and still commonly used in the workplace. However, with the rise of remote and hybrid working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we communicate at work has changed.
When communicating virtually via Teams or video calls instead of face-to-face conversations, effective communication is even more important so we know what work is being done by others. However, workplace jargon can be vague and often relies on interpretation, which can cause confusion and create a disconnect between colleagues.
Read more: Why AI is making anxiety worse in the workplace
When using jargon, it’s easy for information to be misunderstood. According to LinkedIn, 40% of workers say they’ve had a misunderstanding or made a mistake at work because they didn’t know the meaning of workplace jargon or misused it.
A review of literature about business jargon in the American Journal of Industrial and Business Management found that it impedes a company’s daily communication and success. Not only did it affect individual and general productivity, it also lowered profit margins — and made employees feel like they were looked down on by others.
“The use of workplace jargon creates feelings of isolation for hybrid workers, particularly amongst younger generations,” says Becky Schnauffer, head of global clients at LinkedIn Talent Solutions.
“With our data showing that hybrid roles are on the rise, it is more important than ever for HR teams to consider how they can create and foster an inclusive workplace.”
Generational gap
Much of the workplace jargon we hear now emerged during the 1980s, such as ‘low-hanging fruit’ (low effort tasks with a high positive result). While older workers may be au fait with ‘shooting from the hip’ to gain a competitive edge, younger workers, including millennials and Gen Z, may not.
Ultimately, this kind of speech can create a disconnect between different generations, especially if younger workers feel embarrassed about not understanding certain phrases.
Read more: Why pushing employee resilience may do more harm than good
However, research shows it isn’t just younger workers who don’t understand business speak — and that using plain language is socially and economically beneficial.
The LinkedIn study found professionals with English as a second language said the process of learning workplace jargon was stressful, slowed down productivity and made them feel left out of conversations.
Jargon negatively impacts trust
Business jargon is often used to veil what speakers really mean. For example, when someone is ‘let go’, it’s a softer way of saying they’ve been made redundant or fired. Because of this, jargon can undermine trust in workplaces.
In a study of internal communication among Italian businesses, jargon was linked to hierarchical communication, or communication that changed depending on corporate levels and structures. In other words, it is often used by people who want to sound more authoritative or powerful.
However, business jargon or abstract language tends to do the opposite. Not only is it less believable, it is usually perceived as pretentious rather than impressive. Meanwhile, clear information that doesn’t contain jargon has been linked to positive attitudes and trust among employees and employers.
Read more: Have Zoom calls affected our ability to communicate in-person?
Crucially, jargon can be a barrier to job seekers considering a new role. According to LinkedIn, half (51%) of hybrid employees in the UK have said overuse of ‘workplace jargon’ in a job advert has put them off applying.
So if employers want to hire and retain employees — and ensure all workers are connected and happy — it may be better to crack down on the business speak for good.
If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘blue sky thinking’ or been asked to ‘circle back’ on something, you may have rolled your eyes. Work jargon — or corporate speak — can easily get on your nerves, but research shows it can also have a detrimental effect on how included people feel at work, especially hybrid and younger workers.
According to recent research by LinkedIn, a quarter of hybrid workers believe ‘workplace jargon’ is stopping them from feeling like they belong at work. Of those surveyed, 60% of millennials said they are keen to get rid of it entirely.
To feel included in the workplace, hybrid employees are changing the way they speak to fit in. Of those surveyed, 41% said the use of ‘workplace jargon’ makes them feel less involved in the workplace, with half (51%) having altered the way they’re speaking to fit in.
So why is workplace jargon so unpopular — and why can it alienate some workers?
Business speak is vague
Phrases like ‘touch base’ and ‘in the loop’ are nothing new and still commonly used in the workplace. However, with the rise of remote and hybrid working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we communicate at work has changed.
When communicating virtually via Teams or video calls instead of face-to-face conversations, effective communication is even more important so we know what work is being done by others. However, workplace jargon can be vague and often relies on interpretation, which can cause confusion and create a disconnect between colleagues.
Read more: Why AI is making anxiety worse in the workplace
When using jargon, it’s easy for information to be misunderstood. According to LinkedIn, 40% of workers say they’ve had a misunderstanding or made a mistake at work because they didn’t know the meaning of workplace jargon or misused it.
A review of literature about business jargon in the American Journal of Industrial and Business Management found that it impedes a company’s daily communication and success. Not only did it affect individual and general productivity, it also lowered profit margins — and made employees feel like they were looked down on by others.
“The use of workplace jargon creates feelings of isolation for hybrid workers, particularly amongst younger generations,” says Becky Schnauffer, head of global clients at LinkedIn Talent Solutions.
“With our data showing that hybrid roles are on the rise, it is more important than ever for HR teams to consider how they can create and foster an inclusive workplace.”
Generational gap
Much of the workplace jargon we hear now emerged during the 1980s, such as ‘low-hanging fruit’ (low effort tasks with a high positive result). While older workers may be au fait with ‘shooting from the hip’ to gain a competitive edge, younger workers, including millennials and Gen Z, may not.
Ultimately, this kind of speech can create a disconnect between different generations, especially if younger workers feel embarrassed about not understanding certain phrases.
Read more: Why pushing employee resilience may do more harm than good
However, research shows it isn’t just younger workers who don’t understand business speak — and that using plain language is socially and economically beneficial.
The LinkedIn study found professionals with English as a second language said the process of learning workplace jargon was stressful, slowed down productivity and made them feel left out of conversations.
Jargon negatively impacts trust
Business jargon is often used to veil what speakers really mean. For example, when someone is ‘let go’, it’s a softer way of saying they’ve been made redundant or fired. Because of this, jargon can undermine trust in workplaces.
In a study of internal communication among Italian businesses, jargon was linked to hierarchical communication, or communication that changed depending on corporate levels and structures. In other words, it is often used by people who want to sound more authoritative or powerful.
However, business jargon or abstract language tends to do the opposite. Not only is it less believable, it is usually perceived as pretentious rather than impressive. Meanwhile, clear information that doesn’t contain jargon has been linked to positive attitudes and trust among employees and employers.
Read more: Have Zoom calls affected our ability to communicate in-person?
Crucially, jargon can be a barrier to job seekers considering a new role. According to LinkedIn, half (51%) of hybrid employees in the UK have said overuse of ‘workplace jargon’ in a job advert has put them off applying.
So if employers want to hire and retain employees — and ensure all workers are connected and happy — it may be better to crack down on the business speak for good.
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