Inflation, layoffs or hybrid? | Glassdoor reveals the workplace phrases we used the most in 2022

With news of recent layoffs, wages falling in real terms, the cost-of-living crisis and a looming recession, the world of work is uncertain at the moment. But is there a single word that sums up what employees have been talking about in 2022?

By analysing the reviews of hundreds of thousands of employees across the UK, Glassdoor’s Economic Research team has named Inflation as its word of 2022 after the share of employee reviews mentioning it soared 232 percent - a threefold increase from 2021. This word reflects the growing concern and uncertainty employees face after the inflation rate hit a 41-year high in October this year.

Read more from us

Wooing the workforce | 'Job cuffing' is a new opportunity to boost employee loyalty this Winter, expert says

Workers worry about the cost of living

As inflation soars, salaries are struggling to keep up in real terms - despite wages rising at their fastest rate in more than 20 years. Consequently, the share of employee reviews mentioning 'salary' and 'pay' negatively increased by 14 percent this year, as employees wonder how they will afford the rising cost of living.

Fears of layoffs and redundancies spike

Workers are growing continuously more concerned for their jobs, especially after layoffs were announced at tech giants Twitter, Meta and Amazon. Discussion of 'layoffs' and being made 'redundant' surged by 101 percent this year in Glassdoor reviews, indicating how anxious employees are.