Telling someone not to use an eye roll emoji

[WeatherLlama]

It comes across as either fed up or sarcastic or implying I am stupid. And I am their line manager!
For example, last week was the first time for them doing a task. So we wrote <info> down on the daily paperwork to ease them in. This info is accessible and they know where it is. The task is repeated each week and is not dependent on the Info being written down. We do not usually write it down on the daily paperwork. This week, we did not write it down as again, last week was just to ease them in and they know where it is. I got a text message on my day off saying "do you want me to do <task> as <xxx> is not written on the paperwork." Followed by an eye roll emoji.

There was an issue with another task. I asked clarifying questions, as I was not there as it is my day off and whilst my questions are answered, and the issue resolved, the answers are accompanied by an eye roll emoji.

I am autistic and aware I can read things incorrectly so i need to know how to approach this the right way! My own line manager says that my sense of frustration can come across, even though I think I am being polite 🙈

They arent new, just newly promoted.

And the emoji in question is used in messages to me directly. One to one.

Which is why I am struggling with it. I can ignore it, yes, but I also need to understand so I can take out the personal reaction to it.

Is she not using it as a thinking/pondering/ worrying emoji? 🙄 🤔

I have to say I could interpret it like that as well. Sort of a hmmmmm thinking emoji.
Good job I haven’t used it!

I don't think emojis are appropriate in any workplace, to be honest.

This person may have seen the other ones being used and mistakenly assumed that all were OK.

I'd reply 'I assume the 🙄was self-deprecating?' See if it stops from there.

Has all your emoji usage been 100% appropriate and not open to interpretation?

Is this on email??

Sorry I think that's my mistake - I thought email, but it text message from Op

I love this is a relevant and topical question relating to the workplace! How times change. I remember people agonising on whether to use yours sincerely or faithfully at the end of a letter. I’m not even that old!

Yes. A request followed by a smile. A well done followed by a celebration a heart. A laugh at a joke by someone. As some examples.
The eye roll emoji is not one I would ever use.

Youll need to ask why they are using the 'rolling eyes emoji'.

I suspect like others this is a lost-in-translation thing. I think they are "eye rolling" at themselves in a self deprecating way.

I've had a few miscommunication issues with emoji and phrases:

...1. We use emoji at work and I always read the thumbs up 👍 as really sarcastic.
I dont know why I interpret it that way. It just reminds me of that sarcastic, shouler-lift, thumb up, "whatever" action.

...2. The funniest was a conversation with a colleague. She asked if I had a good weekend I replied that I had a nice relaxing weekend.
She said "oh just a nice netflix and chill weekend"
After a very long, awkward pause, I asked if she knew what that meant.
She was mortified. She really thought it meant watching netflix and relaxing.
God love her.

Yes, OP has confirmed (you probably saw that). And I completely agree with you. I mean, unless a friend is clearly complaining about something to you and then uses that face. Otherwise, if someone is talking TO you and uses that face, it’s just like the explanation says: it feels like it shows annoyance, impatience, boredom, or disdain.

In that case I think there are a number of issues with inappropriate communication here. Why are members of staff texting you and you them? Do they have company phones? Are they expected to send and receive texts from work on personal phones? Why was communication about tasks so unclear on week two of her new role? Why is all communication about work not on email?

essentially, is there a culture of texting about work and is this on personal phones and if so, why?

There is a problem! I would ban emojis.

There is months of training, where the info was not written on the paperwork. We just did that for ease once, as previously senior management would have been on site for questions and this time we weren't.
Its whatsapp. On personal phones. Noone has work phones except area leaders and above (I assume) who are not based at our site. The entire company is basically run via the medium of whatsapp on the daily. Yes, we email as well inter branch or to head office. But management from all sites (hundreds of sites) are all added to multiple WhatsApp groups for daily communication as we are not at desks or carry iPads to check emails. It is also a quicker medium to convey time sensitive information to a wide group. Additionally, not all management have access to personal work emails, only the shared site email. So the daily updates for the site are whatsapped so all members of management know what they are walking into the next day. Only senior management have access to emails from home, and even then it's only the personal email, not the site email.

Sounds like the whole company has developed a lazy and inappropriate use of technology.

The way I would approach it is to ask them what the emoji means. See what they say. Then show them the screenshot from upthread and tell them that is what the emoji signifies to you.

Just be upfront and say, in light of my interpretation it makes me a bit uncomfortable when you use it in messages to me, so I think we'd better stop using that one, thanks.

Did you mean yo use the eye roll emoji? Only it could seem quite rude to some people.

I think 🙄 has 2 meanings

1. a typical teenage type eye roll which is inappropriate in communications in the workplace Or
2. a duh silly me what am I like face . I use it like that frequently. Again not totally acceptable for the workplace but less inappropriate

Yes, OP you could ask what is meant (using a screenshot). If eye-rolling at herself, the new staff member will have a chance to explain, and you can gently say, "oh be careful, it might look like you're rolling your eyes at someone else".

If on the other hand she WAS rolling her eyes at you, she'll have to explain which should hopefully make her realise it was not appropriate.

A heart could be misinterpreted too.

I think next time it happens I’d ask “was the eye roll for me or for you?” With a smiley emoji!