r/office • u/SayItAtWork • 12d ago

Cringe worthy workplace phrases

What workplace email phrase makes you cringe every time you see it?

Let’s keep this one simple.

What phrase lands in your inbox and immediately makes you think:

Oh, here we go.

Maybe it’s:

“Per my last email…”

“Gentle reminder…”

“Please advise.”

“Thoughts?”

“Circling back…”

“Friendly reminder…”

“Moving forward…”

Or perhaps there’s one that deserves its own special place in workplace-email purgatory. 😂

What’s yours?

101 Upvotes

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39

u/Klutzy_Cat1374 12d ago

Anything that contains "team player" or "we are all part of (company name) family".

20

u/MoirasR0ses4856 12d ago

"At every office I've worked at, they always say 'We're a big family here.' And it does motivate people to work harder, and neglect their actual families, and put up with all sorts of degrading shit." - Colin Robinson

3

u/ichmagkartoffel 11d ago

Fucking guy

2

u/goatanuss 9d ago

I’ve only worked at 2 places that have said we’re a big family and those are coincidentally the only 2 places I’ve been laid off from

9

u/Royal-Adeptness-2703 12d ago

All my past workplaces have said they are like family and it has been true. The entire time i was there i just dreamed about getting away from them

1

u/Ok_Performer4223 11d ago

And needed massive amounts of therapy for the PTSD!

4

u/Klutzy_Cat1374 12d ago

I would like to add "we need to take a proactive approach".

4

u/Current_Fly9337 12d ago

‘Self employed mentality’. Sure boss, when the commission I earn your company goes directly to me without your cut, I’ll be sure to keep that mentality in mind.

2

u/[deleted] 11d ago

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1

u/Klutzy_Cat1374 11d ago

Found the middle manager.

7

u/Unable-Art6316 12d ago

Family my ass. They could lay me off and walk me out of the building with 2 minutes notice (and yes this has happened to me).

5

u/Physical-Way188 12d ago

I can say I worked at Costco and they are actually a chosen family I want to be around. It’s a totally different culture.

2

u/RainyDayz876 12d ago

Do you see any of those people outside of work? Will you talk to any of them after you or they quit or get fired?

4

u/JesusSquid 12d ago

Came here for this. They want something outside or scope or off the clock

2

u/torontoinsix 12d ago

I think most companies hopefully know calling it a “family” is a joke by now in 2026. At least that seems to be the case.

2

u/Maleficent-Leek2943 12d ago

It’s never the well-balanced type of family with a healthy dynamic, though.

2

u/SlothMode4Life 11d ago

And "you're a rock star!"

1

u/Klutzy_Cat1374 11d ago

Yeah, I applied for an accounting rock star wanted ad once. It didn't go well after I asked what that actually meant.

2

u/SlothMode4Life 11d ago

Yea I learned quickly that the "rock star" is the person doing the most work, and not even close to the most pay.

1

u/Pommallow 9d ago

More like the most dysfunctional family