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Define: "Buggins' Turn" in Business
Fiscal Threat Level
HIGH
Multi-headcount capital waste
CWO Pro-Tip
"Use this to your advantage. Keep your head down, do the bare minimum, and outlast the high achievers."
What HR thinks it means:
Promotion based on seniority and tenure rather than merit.
What does "Buggins' Turn" actually mean?
"Making the guy who hasn't learned a new skill since 2008 the head of the department because he simply refused to quit."
How HR uses it:
"We promote based on performance, avoiding a Buggins' turn culture."
How you actually use it:
"He got the Director spot? Pure Buggins' turn, he's basically furniture."
By The Chief Waste Officer
18 years in the corporate trenches quantifying waste so you don't have to.
Published: 2026-08-14
Related Terminology
Tired of hearing this?
Next time someone says "Buggins' Turn" in a meeting, track exactly how much company money they just wasted. Play Buzzword Bingo, generate a waste invoice, and stop the bleeding.
