Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Dyrne · 03/02/2020 05:16

Overthinker1988 that’s nice that you get in well with your colleagues and have a good working relationship with your manager; however surely it’s not difficult to understand that some workplaces may have difficult colleagues, or demanding managers?

Even just reading some of the replies on this thread show people who are expected to check work communications via WhatsApp outside of working hours or risk disciplinary.

For me, I have a particular colleague at the moment who is massively hard work and a drain on my time. I have had to involve several layers of management and put in place some quite drastic measures in order to establish boundaries and stop them from being too much of a mental drain (and enable me to actually get some bloody work done). They have frequently called my work mobile outside of working hours and left long, rambling voicemails that I can pretend I haven’t seen because “my phone was off”. If they got hold of my personal number or social media then I would be bombarded at all hours day and night and the expectations put upon me would be completely untenable.

Don’t get me wrong, I think WhatsApp is a great tool for collaboration and quick check ins; especially with a team that may be based at different sites; however I am absolutely adamant that people should be allowed to establish healthy boundaries and not be forced to share personal data with anyone they don’t want to.

Gingernaut · 03/02/2020 05:35

I was added to an informal works WhatsApp group.

It's supposed to be for very early notification of sickness or lateness, which has to be confirmed by phone during normal office hours.

It's about as much use as shouting at a wall.

No one takes a blind bit of notice or have reception issues so they only get the messages hours after they're sent.

Facebook would be a nightmare.

If it was a compulsory thing, I'd use the privacy settings to exclude them from everything I posted.

reic0002 · 03/02/2020 05:48

I'm sorry but as a recently retired senior manager I would find this unacceptable. You will have a work phone, app and laptop, Anything apart from this when you leave work, unless agreed by you and is in your contract (and this is important) is purely your own decision. If you feel this is unacceptable, say so now. Too late 6 months down the line. Just say, firmly but nicely, your home life is precious and when you are at work you are there to work. Enjoy yourselves but please do not involve me. Yes I know easy to say, but you have to do it.

HettySunshine · 03/02/2020 05:50

Facebook have a sister app called workplace which could be an option but if you don't want to join fb or use wa then you're entirely within your rights not to.

Hopefully they'll respect that.

redcarbluecar · 03/02/2020 06:15

I'm on a big work WhatsApp group (mainly union related) but it's permanently on mute. I sometimes breeze through it, rarely contribute, often ignore it. I'd hate there to be an expectation that I'd read or respond - I'd consider this intrusive even though, in this case, it's not adminned by managers. I wouldn't want to use Facebook for work purposes, and it sounds as though you don't want to use it at all. Try to stand your ground.

OwlFox · 03/02/2020 06:38

YANBU. I really dislike Facebook and use non of their services (inc whatsapp). My employers have asked if I would join both and continue to ask monthly*, the answer from me is always the same. It's bad enough that I get text messages most days Hmm

*My job doesn't require 'on call' and is not a senior role.

DarrellMakepeace · 03/02/2020 06:38

You can use a different number for WhatsApp on your normal phone (I'm not sure how but Google will tell you) then you won't be sharing your personal number.

We use whatsapp in our work and it's essential. We work much more efficiently than when emails were used for the same messages. I work freelance on short, high intensity projects and WhatsApp certainly makes us more efficient.

Dyrne · 03/02/2020 06:46

DarrellMakepeace but why the hell should anyone be expected to use their personal mobile, data etc for work purposes? It’s different for you as you are freelance but as an employed person my employer has deemed it essential that I am contactable while away from my desk (I travel round sites frequently and collaborate with teams spread far and wide)... and has therefore provided me with a company mobile phone for the purpose of getting hold of me for work matters.

OhioOhioOhio · 03/02/2020 06:49

I agree but with WhatsApp it means you won't be entirely left out.

Els1e · 03/02/2020 06:55

We have a work What’s App group but use as a lone worker safety communication. We are out and about and message regularly throughout the day of our progress. Some colleagues are on Facebook with each other but that’s purely social thing. I’ve never bothered with fb

Rainbowb · 03/02/2020 07:04

I’m in a work whatsapp group and I can see its merits, important stuff like training dates can be given to everyone at the same time and ideas for planning can be shared (I work at a nursery). But I must admit I do find it irritating at times, I am only part time and it can feel as though I am being bombarded with work chat in my own time and I hate it! There’s a particular member of staff who hijacks it for sucking up to the manager or starting banter that goes on and on and on and I just can’t be bothered to read it all! I also find it stressful with some of them talking about what work they’ve been doing over the weekend, it makes me feel like I may be being judged for not doing anything extra in my spare time.

flouncyfanny · 03/02/2020 07:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ludways · 03/02/2020 07:09

We have a WhatsApp group but I have my notifications turned off, I can go weeks without looking at it, I miss loads of banter but don't care about that. No one has ever mentioned that I don't take part.

I'd hate the fb thing and would refuse to join. That said, I do have people from work as friends in there. I rarely post myself but I do read through fairly regularly.

URPS · 03/02/2020 07:16

We have a works what's app group. A couple of people declined the request and that's fine. We don't regularly send messages - maybe once a week and it's usually asking if someone wants a shift. Its helpful rather than having to ring round.

PonteLaCorona · 03/02/2020 07:18

Ugh I get this too. Personally I think that using SM for work is entirely innappropriate and blurs the lines between professional and friendly far too easily. Also why the hell would I want to know what so-and-so from work is thinking when I am not there?

The thing is that if this is how your management has chosen to conduct workplace communications you don't really have a choice, regardless of what you feel about it. Any time you need to ask for shift swap or training days eg, you'll be directed to the FB group (as I have found).

So, put your boss on restricted and the group on mute, so you can check it and use it on your terms.

mummypie17 · 03/02/2020 07:32

We also have a work WhatsApp group (which I have put on mute). I work part time due to childcare and prefer not to think about work when I'm off. I do have people who I'm friendly with contact me sometimes outside work for a chat but generally I prefer to keep work separate. YANBU I wouldn't like being told that I had to part of it. Some of our team are part of the WhatsApp group through choice and that's fine.

Iamanaubergine · 03/02/2020 07:34

Are there no gdpr issues with a WhatsApp group at work? I don’t know enough about it but surely someone would have to be the data controller and if your personal information (ie your phone number) was shared beyond that group or used inappropriately the company could be liable to the ICO. You could maybe ask about that?

Jess827 · 03/02/2020 10:18

To folk saying their workplace uses what's app instead of email... Practical question.. how do you ensure partner/kids/etc aren't viewing work information or ensure other colleagues info is handled securely?

Or search for information easily / archive off in case of something important queried later ? (E.g. client dispute billing, prove you were on site that day.. would you have to trawl through what's app noise?!).

I just don't see how it's useful in practice from a security/accountability/data handling POV?!

covetingthepreciousthings · 03/02/2020 11:32

I just don't see how it's useful in practice from a security/accountability/data handling POV?!

No I'm not sure it is. In my case, if I need to reference anything I search in WhatsApp, but don't work in a role that would really involve archiving stuff, but I have in the past in similar role when using email found it useful to be able to forward on emails in reference.

I'd probably prefer to have handovers in an email format, rather than WhatsApp so it's easily referenced and easier to digest the information I find.

SuperMeerkat · 03/02/2020 12:55

MS Kaizala is better for work. It’s the enterprise version of WhatsApp and you can download the app. Once you’ve been there a while maybe suggest that.

Overthinker1988 · 03/02/2020 21:46

@BackforGood we chat about all sort of things...running jokes, bits of gossip, arranging nights out and yeah work stuff too...not really important things, just bits and pieces. If it's really important/urgent and I haven't seen the message then I'd get a phone call or text to tell me directly. I usually scroll through at least once a day so I have a general idea of what's going on, it's just habit now, but I don't feel it impinges on my free time.

I get it might not be as relevant in all professions but I work in a field where social media is part of the job so if you don't have a strong online "presence" you'd be out of the loop and pretty obsolete. I guess being part of the "chats" is an extension of that and as it's been common practice for the majority of my working life I've never even questioned it. I wouldn't say I'm friends with my colleagues either, it's just nice to be in the loop and have a bit of team bonding I guess.

1HappyTraveller · 05/02/2020 15:27

YANBU re: the Facebook

I would add WhatsApp as it can be useful. I’d definitely mute it though and I wouldn’t bother entertaining it outside of work hours. Mainly because even if you turn off your ‘read’ notifications they aren’t turned off in WhatsApp groups. So if you were to look at something people would still be able to see that you have seen it. Hope that makes sense. Good luck in your new job.

MarshaBradyo · 05/02/2020 15:29

No to FB
WA is irritating but if you must then only look at it in work hours. I would hate not to switch off.

averythinline · 05/02/2020 15:38

Not normal as far as I'm concerned.. was it in your contract
I wouldn't share my personal number they can give u a phone to look at in work hours...

KayakingOnDown · 05/02/2020 15:54

Don't do it OP.

I know someone who has just left a work WhatsApp group because the 'team leader' (not even her actual boss) was posting about work stuff and trying to arrange meetings on a Sunday. That would really have pissed me off too.

Swipe left for the next trending thread