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Define: "Kindly" in Business
Fiscal Threat Level
LOW IMPACT
Minimal fiscal damage
CWO Pro-Tip
"Read it as a direct threat. Reply with the official policy document."
What HR thinks it means:
A polite adverb used to request an action or favor in professional correspondence.
What does "Kindly" actually mean?
"The most passive-aggressive word in the English language preceding a completely unreasonable demand to bypass change control."
How HR uses it:
"Kindly submit your timesheet by Friday."
How you actually use it:
"Kindly revert the core switch configuration immediately, despite the CAB freeze."
By The Chief Waste Officer
18 years in the corporate trenches quantifying waste so you don't have to.
Published: 2026-04-23
Related Terminology
Tired of hearing this?
Next time someone says "Kindly" in a meeting, track exactly how much company money they just wasted. Play Buzzword Bingo, generate a waste invoice, and stop the bleeding.
