Workplace Acronyms – What is a KPI, MFA, OOO, or RTW?
Workplace acronyms are commonplace where I work in Florida, and from what I hear, they are everywhere. But do you know what they all mean? Each one of those letters stands for something, and from what I’ve learned, the people saying the abbreviations don’t always know what it is they are saying. WTF is a KPI anyway?
So this actually happened. I was on a Zoom call with a third party and they were explaining to those of us on the call how their software worked. As tech people tend to do, they kept using these workplace acronyms. So I had to make a decision, and it wasn’t an easy one. I could stop the demonstration to try to find out what they were talking about, or just nod my head and try to figure it out later, after the call. I couldn’t take it anymore, I interrupted the speech to ask what “xxx” was (I don’t remember what the term was).
The person on the call admitted he didn’t know what the term stood for, he just knew what it meant.
What? The workplace acronyms were so ingrained in their culture that the people using them didn’t even know what the letters stood for. The abbreviation had become it’s own word. Corporate culture can be so frustrating – and annoying, really.
Workplace Acronyms And Their Meanings
So let’s create a cheat sheet of workplace acronyms and what they stand for, and then maybe explain a little further some of the trickier ones. Thanks to Adobe for helping on this list.
- RTW – Return to work
- KPI – Key Performance Indicator
- EEO – Equal Employment Opportunity
- DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- TIA – Thanks In Advance
- OOO – Out Of Office
- 2FA – 2 Factor Authentication
- EOW – End Of Week
- EOD – End Of Day
- VON – Voice On The Net
- NPU – Neural Processing Unit
- DP – Data Processing
- MFA – Multi Factor Authentication
- OCR – Optical Character Recognition
- SSO – Single Sign On
- FHD – Full High Definition
- DVI – Digital Visual Interface
- OT – Overtime
- WFH – Work From Home
- PTO – Paid Time Off
- ROI – Return On Investment
- AI – Artificial Intelligence
- PDF – Portable Document Format
So What Does That Mean?
Here’s a few of the workplace acronyms that aren’t as obvious as we’d hope. A KPI is how you measure success, what it is you’re judged on. 2FA is when you have to get a code in your email or click on something on your phone to log in. MFA is similar. NPU gets into AI stuff, think CPU but waaaay faster. SSO is when you log into your computer and certain apps or sites with one log in.
Other Workplace Acronyms – What The Kids Are Saying
Ok, so you find yourself surrounded by people younger than you and you have no idea what is going on. This is what happens when texter slang is incorporated into workplace acronyms. Since we’re here, let’s do those, too.
- TLDR – Too Long, Didn’t Read
- SSDD – Same Stuff, Different Day
- W – Win
- L – Loss
- TFW – That Feeling When
- BAE – Before Anyone Else
- IYKYK – If You Know You Know
- FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out
- GOAT – Greatest Of All Time
And in case there’s gamers at work and you want to know what’s going on in the breakroom conversation.
- KDR – Kill Death Ratio
- DLC – Downloadable Content
- AFK – Away From Keyboard
- FPS – First Person Shooter
- RPG – Role Playing Game
KDR is basically how many people you kill off in the game per each time you die. DLC is extra content made for the game that is not available at the initial release. If you work around a lot of tech people, there’s probably a lot of gamers. And not just the guys, either.
Hopefully This Helps
That last thing you want to do in a meeting is look stupid, but having no idea what’s going on doesn’t really benefit you either. The best thing you can do is have all your meetings on a Zoom call so you can open a browser and look up the workplace acronyms you don’t know while the meeting is in progress. Option B, when meetings are in person, hit ’em up with a BRB and bring your phone to the bathroom to google the abbreviation that was just dropped on you before you’re asked to contribute.
Most importantly, don’t hesitate to look up the acronyms you don’t know. As I learned, sometimes the people using them don’t know either. Isn’t corporate culture fun?
Most In-Demand, High-Paying Remote Jobs Right Now
Document Reviewer
Did you know that reviewing documents can make big bucks? According to CNBC.com, being a document reviewer can pay an average salary of $123,427. They also say it’s one of the most in-demand remote jobs of the moment.
A document reviewer is a remote job possibility.
Software Engineer
A different Forbes.com article says software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option. “Software engineers are the backbone of fintechs,” they explain, “and plays a crucial role in developing software for financial solutions, being the brains behind innovative financial products including emerging spaces such as blockchain and AI, and developing and integrating APIs while ensuring the products are compliant with financial regulations and are optimized for security.”
Software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option.
Web Developer
The experts at Money.USNews.com have web developer as an in-demand remote job, making a median salary of $78,580. They note that the education required is a bachelor’s degree. “Web developers maintain, troubleshoot and create websites to ensure they’re effective for business, health care, technology, education or whatever service they provide,” they state.
A web developer as an in-demand remote job.
Financial Manager
The same Money.USNews.com article says their pick for the best remote job is financial manager. They make a median salary of $139,790. “They keep an eye on the finances of an organization and make reports on financial activity,” they note. There are other jobs in the financial sector that are also great for remote workers, such as being an accountant or financial planner.
A great remote job is financial manager.
Content Writer
One hot job for remote talent, according to Forbes.com, is a content writer. So, what does a content writer do? “Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness,” they explain.
A content writer is a great remote gig.
General Physician
Believe it or not, being a general physician can be a great remote job. According to Insider Money (via MSN.com), general physicians make around $110 per hour. “A remote general physician provides medical care to patients via telecommunications technologies, offering consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations remotely,” they explain.
A general physician is a remote job possibility.
Editor
Forbes.com notes that being an editor is a good remote gig. “Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to,” they explain. They add that editors also make sure that “content meets publication guidelines.”
An editor is an in-demand job that can be remote.
Social Media Strategist
If you’re good with social media and have the professional history to prove it, being a social media manager could be a great remote role for you. According to CNBC.com, the average social media manager makes $81,329 annually. For this job, you have to keep up with all of the latest social media trends.
A social media manager is a good remote job possibility.
Anything Tech
Many tech companies hire remote workers. For one, many of them are startups, so they don’t want to spend money on the infrastructure of having people in an office. But, in general, tech jobs line up very well with remote work. According to Tech.co, Apple is a big one hiring right now.
Tech jobs are a good job possibility for remote workers.
