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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to join work's Whatapp and Facebook groups

101 replies

MaryQContrary · 02/02/2020 11:59

I'm starting a new job on Monday (feel sick!)

Went for induction day last week and Manager said, "I'll friend you on Facebook and add you to team FB and Whatsapp group"

When I asked "why" she said they use them A LOT for giving feedback and sharing ideas.

Is this the norm in workplaces? We never did this at my old place.

I don't want FB and am fed up of people adding me to Whatsapp groups. I want to leave work at work and waste my free time on Mumsnet!

OP posts:

mintoreo · 02/02/2020 12:01

Yabu. I would hate this. Surely it just means you are expected to look at work stuff when you are at home....

mintoreo · 02/02/2020 12:01

YANBU that should say!!

Doyoumind · 02/02/2020 12:03

WhatsApp is ok. Facebook I would say no too because of keeping life and work separate.

Hoohaahoo · 02/02/2020 12:03

Yanbu over Facebook bug I would show willing with the WhatsApp. You don’t need to be on it all the time.

ludothedog · 02/02/2020 12:03

We have one. It's really useful for questions like "does anyone want anything from the bakers for lunch" , "have you seen that work related article in the news paper", and of course "where are you?!".

My point is that you might find it useful! And if you don't join you will be seen as being rude. Just join and put your alerts on silent and check if you feel like it.

FuzzyAtmosphere · 02/02/2020 12:03

YANBU. Now is probably the time to open up a new Facebook account purely for work. Explain you rarely use this and say that you don’t use WhatsApp - it’s probably worth deleting your WhatsApp for a few weeks so you are telling the truth when you say this and can’t be found if searched.

Oceanbliss · 02/02/2020 12:04

Yanbu

Trafalger · 02/02/2020 12:05

I have a work Facebook as I have to post on social media a lot for our students. Can you do that? Work WhatsApp I would decline. I have a very hard line between work time and my personal time.

VerbenaGirl · 02/02/2020 12:05

Maybe give the WhatsApp group only a go, as you can keep that separate from your personal life more easily?

TidyDancer · 02/02/2020 12:07

Facebook sounds weird, WhatsApp doesn't.

I have colleagues as friends on Facebook but that's because we socialise together etc, the work WhatsApp group is very handy for things like bad traffic in the mornings, sickness, cover etc.

BinkySodPlop · 02/02/2020 12:07

Could it be Facebook for Work? A place I was at a while ago were trialling it. Not sure how it went, or if it's still a product as I left, but it might not be "regular" FB. If it is, I'd say no to that, but join the WhatsApp. You can always mute the conversation out of hours.

wintertime6 · 02/02/2020 12:08

We have a work WhatsApp group and it's really useful. We don't physically work in the same place so it's generally used for sharing information, asking questions etc. It's very rarely used outside office hours. I don't really see the need for a Facebook group too, and I would see that as much more of an intrusion on my personal life.

Jess827 · 02/02/2020 12:09

So they want to use your personal mobile for work related communication... We, had that problem before,means you never switch off & there's no "off the clock", there's work stuff dragging your attention away from personal time if you use your phone in private time, and what about data security etc for work chat on personal accounts..?

If it's important Comms, they need to provide a phone. Suspect it's not, it's just a really immature / unprofessionally run workplace.

PuppyMonkey · 02/02/2020 12:09

I would do it just to show willing in the new role but then turn off all the notifications and carry on as you were.

You can always check it occasionally when you feel like it.

CakeandCustard28 · 02/02/2020 12:09

Join the WhatsApp one and just mute it for when you want to look at. Just say no to facebook though, it’s more for social than work.

SquashedOrange · 02/02/2020 12:10

I would just make a 'work Facebook' and mute the WhatsApp group and look as and when I wanted.

Findumdum1 · 02/02/2020 12:10

Whatsapp is standard these days. Facebook is weird and I would say no to that.

Sharkyfan · 02/02/2020 12:12

Just mute the WhatsApp group once you’re on there, and set your privacy so they can never see if you’re online or if you’ve read stuff.
You could make a new fb account and/or change your name on your usual one so she can’t find you!

Curlyshabtree · 02/02/2020 12:15

I refuse to have any work colleagues on FB.
We have a team WhatsApp group which can be quite useful but also completely does my head in with the infantile shite that’s posted after nights out etc. Mute the group.

FizzyPink · 02/02/2020 12:15

In my office we all use google hangouts so always a way of getting hold of people and still we have a team WhatsApp. I absolutely hate it and make no secret of having it on mute and not reading messages until work hours.
It’s mainly used for people trying to cover up them being late by making public announcements of the tube status. “FYI there’s delays at Finsbury Park this morning” I do not give a fuck!!

Original poster

MaryQContrary · 02/02/2020 12:16

Thanks for replies.

I'm not joining FB because I think they're morally dodgy.

I deleted WhatsApp because I kept being added to DC's school PTA for various events/volunteering I wasn't interested in. Also "mum friends" kept adding me to "girls night out" groups that I'm not interested in.

God I sound like a right misery

People can ring/text/email me if they really must!

OP posts:

SunshineAngel · 02/02/2020 12:17

I would hate this, too. I strongly believe that unless you're in an "on call" profession, you shouldn't have to think about it between shifts .. so "feedback" should be given either face to face or via a work email system.

My partner has a WhatsApp group, and it's always pinging. It starts with the manager sending out the shift sheets so everyone can see what they're working, then people chatting trying to swap, then just general chit chat not linked to work ..

My partner actually muted this chat, but then ended up missing an important change to the shift sheet (which meant he missed something) and got disciplined for it. They now regularly check to ensure that the messages have been read by everyone in the group, and if someone takes a few hours, they get a phone call while at home to ask why they've not read it.

I don't see why this change wasn't directly messaged or called through to him if this particular thing was so last minute and important. It seemed too important to be left to chance that he'd read the conversation in the short amount of notice he was given .. but I hate the fact that he HAS TO have it unmuted, in his own time, or he gets disciplined.

Antihop · 02/02/2020 12:19

Set up a separate facebook profile just for this purpose.

ClientQueen · 02/02/2020 12:19

We have a what's app one but only really used for nights out, pics of new baby/pet, the motorway is closed so set off to work early type thing

BuffaloCauliflower · 02/02/2020 12:19

I would find a work Facebook very odd, even odder is using one for feedback and idea sharing. Completely blurred lines. We have work WhatsApp but it’s used for things like ‘can you grab milk in your way in’ and ‘what’s the code for this gate again please’ type messages. I wouldn’t be comfortable for actual work related content on either platform

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