Workplace Slang: Team Bonding or Career Bombing?

It's official, Australians love their slang, but not everyone agrees on how much is too much at work. New research from people2people Recruitment has found that while 86% of Australian workers currently use slang in the workplace, more than a third believe younger employees should tone it down, particularly when dealing with customers.

 The findings show:

• 1 in 3 Australian workers believe younger employees should limit their use of slang at work.
• 66% say slang should at least be limited when speaking with customers/clients.
• Baby Boomers felt most strongly (50%) about limiting slang, followed by Gen X (40%) and Millennials/Gen Z (18%).
• Interestingly, 4 in 10 Gen Zs don't believe they should limit their use of slang at all.

Despite these generational differences, most employees agree that slang has a place at work. 84% of respondents believe slang is acceptable in some capacity - with 42% saying it's always fine, and the rest preferring it stay within their own team conversations.

When asked whether companies should embrace slang to connect with younger staff, 4 in 10 workers agreed, rising to 51% of Millennials and Gen Z, compared with 36% of Gen X and just 28% of Baby Boomers.

Suhini Wijayasinghe, Head of HR Solutions at people2people Recruitment, says the research highlights an important cultural challenge for modern employers, "Rejecting slang outright can risk alienating younger talent. What's most important is ensuring communication fits your brand and values. An inclusive workplace culture, one that respects professional standards but also welcomes generational expression, creates stronger engagement and connection across teams."

Interestingly, it's not just younger generations keeping slang alive. The research found that Baby Boomers are actually the highest users of workplace slang (86%), followed closely by Gen X (85%) and Millennials/Gen Z (82%).

"It's less about whether slang is used, and more about what kind of slang," adds Suhini. "The terms that tend to be rejected are simply the ones people don't understand. 'Slay', 'rizz', 'mid' might sound totally understandable for younger generations, but don't necessarily make sense for Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers. Language evolves, and so should our workplaces. Perhaps it's time to bring back some of the classics like 'my bad', 'epic fail', and 'LOL' that everyone gets, while staying mindful of slang that may be confusing or exclusive."

Top Tips from Suhini on Using Slang at Work in 2026:

1. Read the room - What works in a team chat might not suit a client call.
2. Keep it inclusive - Avoid slang or abbreviations that could alienate others or cross cultural lines.
3. Align with brand tone - Your company voice should guide how informal you can be.
4. Foster understanding - If a term is confusing or unfamiliar, take it as a learning opportunity, not a faux pas.
5. Balance personality and professionalism - Authentic communication doesn't have to mean unfiltered.

www.people2people.com.au

 About people2people: people2people is an Australasian recruitment company built on an established reputation for providing professional and personalised recruitment services since early 2005. At people2people recruitment, their focus is on identifying potential today to build careers and businesses of tomorrow. Recruitment expertise includes accounting & finance, business support, executive, government, human resources, legal, marketing & digital, property, sales, supply chain management and technology. 

For further information or interview requests, please contact: 

Lisa Solomons @ 360 PR | e: lisa@360pr.com.au | p: 0416 175 518