Almost a third of office workers see their manager as less genuine when they use corporate jargon.
Latest research from BRITA has found that almost a third of office workers find corporate jargon – like the infamous “touch base” – makes them feel less confident in speaking to senior colleagues.
So, instead of “circling back” to this issue, employers can be more inclusive and authentic with their language to ensure communication is effective and supportive for their team.
Our research found that corporate jargon is restricting authentic conversations in the workplace, and having a damaging impact on workplace communication and employee experience:
Eloise Leeson-Smith, leading Linguist & Language Expert, explains:
“Corporate jargon is all too common in the workplace but can be exclusionary and leave employees feeling left out – creating barriers between them and their colleagues. This will often result in ineffective communication in the workplace, which can be incredibly costly for employers.
“In fact, a recent report from Axios HQ estimated it can cost over £11,000 per employee in lost productivity. So, with communication between colleagues now taking up 72% of the work week, it's no surprise that employees and executives cite that lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main cause of workplace failures and frustrations.
“For any company wanting to foster a workplace culture of inclusion and prioritise staff mental wellbeing, creating opportunities for employees to communicate and connect authentically is essential.”
Our Refreshing Conversations campaign highlights the corporate jargon that employees feel is the most overused, and the issues it can cause for workers and business leaders alike.
How indispensable are water coolers in facilitating genuine conversations in the workplace?
Our research found that employees want to have authentic, in person conversations with their managers and colleagues. More than two thirds (68%) said that being told well done in person by their manager feels more genuine than an email to the whole company (25%) or a voucher (10%).
Almost half (48%) said they have their most authentic connections with colleagues in the office when making a tea or coffee, and more than a third (34%) said they’re most likely to start a conversation with a senior colleague when they’re getting a drink at the water cooler.
Installing a water dispenser to facilitate such connections could be the answer to ensuring workplace communications are genuine, inclusive, and effective.
Take a look at our range of premium office water dispensers to see which would be the best fit for your office, and your team.
We’re here to help!
You can keep up to date with the campaign by following our social channels that will be sharing exclusive content from experts in the field of workplace wellbeing and mental health. Alternatively, get in touch so we can discuss how we can support your business to facilitate effective communication in the workplace.
