Workplace abbreviations you should know to avoid confusion at work

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The workplace is full of abbreviations that can leave you feeling lost if you’re not familiar with them. Whether you’re reading an email, attending a meeting, or chatting with colleagues, understanding these common abbreviations can make communication smoother and faster. Here’s a list of some frequently used workplace abbreviations and the context in which they are used:

• FYI (For Your Information) – Used to share information without expecting a response. Example: “FYI, the team meeting has been moved to 3 PM.”
• EOD (End of Day) – Refers to the end of the working day. Example: “Please send the report by EOD.”
• TBD (To Be Determined) – Used when something hasn’t been decided yet. Example: “The date for the workshop is TBD.”
• KPI (Key Performance Indicator) – Measures performance in a specific area. Example: “Our main KPI this quarter is customer retention.”
• ROI (Return on Investment) – Evaluates the profitability of an investment. Example: “We need to analyze the ROI before launching the campaign.”
• ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) – Used to indicate when something is expected to be completed or delivered. Example: “What’s the ETA for the website update?”
• COB (Close of Business) – Similar to EOD, it means the end of the workday. Example: “I’ll send you the report by COB.”
• BA (Business Analyst) – A professional who analyzes business needs. Example: “The BA will review the client’s requirements.”
• OKR (Objectives and Key Results) – A framework for setting goals. Example: “We need to finalize our OKRs for next quarter.”
• NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) – A legal agreement to keep information confidential. Example: “Before we discuss the project, please sign the NDA.”
• RFP (Request for Proposal) – A document inviting bids for a project. Example: “We sent an RFP to several vendors.”
• MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) – A formal agreement between parties. Example: “The two companies signed an MOU to collaborate.”
• POC (Point of Contact or Proof of Concept) – A person responsible for communication or a small project test. Example: “John is the POC for this project.”
• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) – A list of common questions and answers. Example: “Check the FAQ section for details.”
• SLA (Service Level Agreement) – Defines the level of service expected. Example: “The SLA guarantees a 24-hour response time.”
• B2B (Business to Business) – Companies selling to other businesses. Example: “We offer B2B software solutions.”
• B2C (Business to Consumer) – Companies selling directly to consumers. Example: “Our B2C marketing strategy focuses on social media.”
• CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) – A company’s commitment to social causes. Example: “Our CSR initiatives include environmental conservation.”
• BAU (Business As Usual) – Daily operations continue as normal. Example: “Despite the holiday rush, it’s BAU for our team.”
• IRL (In Real Life) – Differentiates real-world interactions from virtual ones. Example: “Let’s meet IRL next week.”
• WFH (Work From Home) – Refers to remote work. Example: “I’ll be WFH on Friday.”
• MTD (Month to Date) – Performance measurement from the start of the month. Example: “Our MTD sales are higher than last month.”

• QTD (Quarter to Date) – Performance measurement from the start of the quarter. Example: “Let’s review our QTD results.”
• FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) – Measures employees’ work time as full-time. Example: “The project requires three FTEs.”
• TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) – A short summary of a long message. Example: “TL;DR: The meeting is at 2 PM.”
• LOI (Letter of Intent) – A document expressing interest in a deal. Example: “We sent an LOI to the investors.”
• FY (Fiscal Year) – A company’s financial reporting period. Example: “The FY ends in March.”
• RTO (Return to Office) – Refers to employees going back to physical offices. Example: “Our RTO policy starts next month.”
• EOM (End of Message) – Used in emails to indicate no further text. Example: “Meeting rescheduled to 4 PM. EOM.”
• IMO (In My Opinion) – Used to share a personal viewpoint. Example: “IMO, we should delay the launch.”

Knowing these abbreviations can help you navigate workplace communication with ease. Next time you see one in an email or a meeting, you’ll know exactly what it means!