Business jargon has always been part of office culture. It’s evolved and grown over the years, with new terms popping up all the time.
And thanks to social media and online spaces, there are even more business buzzwords that make their way into our everyday vernacular.
As we start a new year, we wanted to take a look back at 2023 and explore some of the office jargon that emerged. Here are 16 of the best, worst, and cringiest professional buzzwords we heard in 2023 and our take on whether they should stay or go in 2024.
1. Synergy
Synergy refers to the interaction or cooperation between people, ideas, or organizations. It’s been a buzzword for a while, often used in a context like, “I love the synergy in this meeting. All the ideas are on the right track!”
Our take: Useful to describe things that are actually synergistic, but can be overused—watch out!
2. Boomerang employees
A boomerang employee is someone who’s come back around to their old employers after quitting or being laid off. They typically work at a competitor company for a short stint before making their return.
Our take: A useful term to describe a real situation. The bigger question is—how do we retain good employees in the first place?
3. Career cushioning
In light of mass layoffs and an unstable job market, many employees are career cushioning by looking for other jobs while still in their current roles. It’s also referred to as recession-proofing because it ensures you won’t be out of a job.
Our take: Realistic for many—some employees are in a tough spot and it’s never a bad idea to proactively look for other options. Keep up your networks and see what else is out there if you are worried about your job.
4. Quiet quitting
Quiet quitting refers to employees putting in the bare minimum at work to keep their jobs, but refusing to go the extra mile. The phenomenon swept social media, sparking debates about whether it’s justified or not.
Our take: Interesting concept, but managers and leaders need to go deeper and uncover why employees are quiet quitting to address the root causes.
5. AI
AI is short for artificial intelligence. Although AI has been an exciting development for a few years, it really broke into the public conversation in 2023 after the launch of ChatGPT at the tail-end of 2022. Today, there are tons of AI-powered websites, platforms, and apps to help with tons of business or personal applications.
Our take: AI is here to stay—all professionals can and should learn how to leverage ChatGPT and other AI platforms to benefit their work or personal lives.
6. Optimize
Optimize is a long-time business buzzword. It simply means to make something the best it can be—to make it better.
Our take: We love to optimize things! But the word gets overused, so say it when you mean it.
7. Bare minimum Monday
Coined by TikToker @itsmarisajo, Bare Minimum Monday refers to the practice of adopting a minimalist approach on the first day of your work week. Instead of going above and beyond and pressuring yourself to give 110%, sometimes easing into the week is a better approach.
Our take: Find what works for you! Some people like to hit the ground running at the beginning of the week, whereas others want a slower start. Find the pace that supports your work-life balance, productivity, and mental health.
8. Hybrid work
Though it came to the fore during the pandemic, 2023 was really the year for hybrid work, or the practice of working part-time from home and part-time from the office.
Our take: It’s a useful word to describe our current work landscape. Hybrid work appeals to both employers and employees and we think it’s here to stay.
9. Resenteeism
Emerging in the wake of mass layoffs in tech companies during 2023, resenteeism describes the act of staying in an unsatisfying job because of a perceived lack of options—even if you don’t want to be there.
Our take: Facing potential lay-offs can be scary for employees, especially when there aren’t many obvious options. We recommend learning new skills, polishing your LinkedIn, and expanding your networks instead of wallowing in resenteeism, though, as that will ultimately help you find something you love.
10. Workcation
Workcation, or working while on vacation, has emerged in our post-pandemic work world, where more people than ever have remote jobs. Since you can take your laptop and work from anywhere, why not fly somewhere fun? Lots of people are using workcations as a way to explore new places without getting behind on work.
Our take: We like saying “working vacation” more, but it’s an interesting phenomenon in any case. If you choose to do this, just don’t forget about taking a real, disconnected vacation too!
11. Copycat layoffs
Copycat layoffs is the idea that companies are “copying” other companies as they cut their jobs. This term emerged after major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, and Zoom laid off huge sections of the workforce in rapid succession. Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, called this “copycat behavior” in an interview with Stanford.
Our take: Hopefully this term goes out of fashion quickly! Each company should decide for itself what’s best for their employees and business.
12. Circle back
A favorite amongst professionals of all types, to circle back is to return to an idea or suggestion at another time. Often used with “put a pin it” or putting something in the “parking lot.”
Our take: Overused and kind of cringy though it is, circling back to an idea is both useful and necessary in many settings.
13. Personality hire
Another TikTok trend is the idea of a personality hire, or someone who is hired for their personality and positive energy over specific skills or knowledge. It’s all about hiring someone with the right “vibes” for the team.
Our take: The term hits at the heart of something important—finding the right fit for your team and situation. But, you still need to find someone with skills and qualifications!
14. Lazy girl jobs
TikTok made a big impact on our business jargon in 2023, and lazy girl jobs is no exception. Popularized by content creator Gabrielle Judge, the term refers to low-stress jobs that still pay well. The goal of getting a lazy girl job is to prioritize work-life balance and keep stress in check.
Our take: Catchy and fun, but not necessarily accurate. It’s not “lazy” to prioritize mental health. If your job is too stressful, swapping to something else can be your best choice.
15. Quiet hiring
Just as “quiet quitting” entered our dictionaries, so did quiet hiring—the practice of keeping a hiring process under wraps. Instead of posting a job online, companies recruit candidates through word of mouth or personal networks.
Our take: The term is new, but the practice isn’t. Many jobs are not posted and people frequently get jobs through referrals, networking, or being headhunted. It’s why you shouldn’t just rely on job boards but build up a strong professional network.
16. Pivot
To pivot is to change directions when a current plan or strategy is not working how you want it to. It’s often used to discuss strategy or new opportunities.
Our take: Like “synergy” and “optimize” this term is useful, but often overused. Get specific about what you mean when you say “pivot” and it’ll become more impactful.
What did we miss from this list? Let us know if you have any other business jargon (whether good, bad, or cringey!) you hear this year and we’ll add it to the list.
And if you’re ready to optimize your workday, kick resenteeism to the curb, and avoid quiet quitting, you should circle back to us and book a tour of The Post today!