Manager only communicate via WhatsApp

[user97788678]

I started in a new job recently in retail. All the staff seem friendly, invited me to join a WhatsApp group that they have which I declined as I don't tend to add colleagues to social media and don't want everyone at work knowing my phone number.
So it appears that everything work related is communicated in this group, the manager praising staff for good customer feedback and anything else that has gone well on that day. I find it odd that the manager can't communicate this during work hours.
AIBU to not join the WhatsApp group?

WhatsApp is the most secure messaging platform out there which is why it’s used in many workplaces. We use it within my workplace for comms like this too.

I think it's become normal normal unfortunately. I bought a second SIM only phone and used that number for work stuff eventually. I just turned it off whenever I wasn't at work and turned it on when I arrived each day.

The problem is not the use of WhatsApp for these sorts of purposes - it is a convenient, low cost, secure way of communicating in groups. The problem is how people use it. eg bosses who think that if it's on WhatsApp it means instant responses are necessary. Or people who clog the group chat with silly memes and bad jokes.

Personally, I'd go ahead and join but feel free to mute notifications etc and just look at the group at your convenience - probably as you start a shift and at the end.

For me it would depend on the requirements to use it. If it’s for work then I wouldn’t be reading or replying to messages out of work time.

It's weird, because on the face of it is it just a group. But you're right too, it's not a work phone so you shouldn't have to share your number with everyone.

How about if you delete your name from your profile and set it so they can't see your profile and pic?

That way people will just see this random number, they won't know it's yours.

YABU. WhatsApp is extremely secure with end to end encryption.

If you refuse to join it then you can’t complain you’re missing out on information.

What do you imagine people at work would do with your number that you are unhappy with?

In the vanishingly unlikely situation that someone messages you inappropriately or whatever you can block their numbers easily enough and still be part of the main WhatsApp group.

It's pretty standard these days. I reluctantly joined my work WhatsApp group but I have it on mute and never post. Nothing important is communicated on mine though, so I only open it every so often to clear the chat.

@JellyTumble

YABU. WhatsApp is extremely secure with end to end encryption.

If you refuse to join it then you can’t complain you’re missing out on information.

If an employer is insisting on using a platform such as WhatsApp for communication, then they should be providing work phones that the App can be installed on. Under Data protection, personal information should only be shared on a need to know basis, so no private email addresses, private landline or mobile numbers, no postal addresses can be shared. Info that needs to be shared should be done in a manner that does not disclose private information.

It’s pretty standard. Most people I know are in a work WhatsApp group.

Just block everyone in the group bar your manager if you’re that bothered about them knowing your number.

If an employer is insisting

@Soontobe60 They’re not insisting.

I would expect a manager to give formal recognition during working hours but if it’s just a quick acknowledgement of something someone has done well, then WhatsApp is an appropriate means to do so.

I’m in one for work. There is no obligation to join in or respond but it’s useful for when there are issues and it’s also a good way to feel in contact with colleagues that you might not see that often. Nobody (to my knowledge) has ever used my phone number for any nefarious means.

YABU—I don’t really consider WhatsApp social media. It’s closer to being in a text or email group than to being on FB or Instagram.

I’ve never heard it refered to as social media? It’s very very standard for communicating this info. You can use it on laptop if you want to silence and archive on phone?

@JellyTumble

If an employer is insisting

@Soontobe60 They’re not insisting.

But if they're communicating work information via Whatsapp then they're effectively leaving OP out, which is unfair.

@Flowers500

YABU—I don’t really consider WhatsApp social media. It’s closer to being in a text or email group than to being on FB or Instagram.

I’ve never heard it refered to as social media? It’s very very standard for communicating this info. You can use it on laptop if you want to silence and archive on phone?

OP isn't saying it's social media, she's saying she keeps a separation between her work and personal life by not adding people to social media or sharing her personal mobile phone number.

I never used to be in the work WhatsApp group as I don't use it, i was using my personal phone and stopped using WhatsApp when it was bought by Facebook, who want you to use their T&C. You also have to share your user data with Facebook.

I would only want to be in a work WhatsApp group if it's using my work phone

We have it at work. My phone doesn't have apps and i'm happy with it that way.
Everybody knows I don't have it and if anything urgent comes up at least two colleagues/friends will ring me.

My manager does this too.
I didn't want to be in the group, so I'm not. If they have anything extremely pressing to communicate, manager messages me separately or emails.

What pissed me off was the auto adding without even asking.

I disagree with a lot of the posts on this thread I'm afraid. My other half is forced to be in a WhatsApp group because it moved beyond the original design (work chat) to become an actual communications channel for issues.

Which is fine if you're full-time and working on events, hospitality etc. But what about people who work part-time?

I have real life examples of people who "miss" serious strategic information or decisions that have been posted in chats in a WhatsApp group during their days off. 170+ posts, and somewhere buried in that is an "update" that someone is expected to pull out, decontextualise, prioritise and then incorporate for future work.

When a quick two line email, sent in a medium that can be easily caught up on in the right way upon return, would be more professional and the right method.

What's App is the perennial comms channel for the "chatty" manager who just loves to dump a stream of consciousness onto unwitting staff that know if they "miss" an update, they can passively-aggressively berate them for not seeing an "update".

I'm not saying all WhatsApp work comms is bad.

I'm saying it should have its proper uses. It discriminates against part time workers. It's not a proper channel for strategy or fundamental updates.

Ginuwine I agree.
A workplace can not force you to have a phone or install these apps, and therefore they should not send work information on them.
Going through proper channels means that people can't deny they have seen them, for a start.

@Ginuwine

I disagree with a lot of the posts on this thread I'm afraid. My other half is forced to be in a WhatsApp group because it moved beyond the original design (work chat) to become an actual communications channel for issues.

Which is fine if you're full-time and working on events, hospitality etc. But what about people who work part-time?

I have real life examples of people who "miss" serious strategic information or decisions that have been posted in chats in a WhatsApp group during their days off. 170+ posts, and somewhere buried in that is an "update" that someone is expected to pull out, decontextualise, prioritise and then incorporate for future work.

When a quick two line email, sent in a medium that can be easily caught up on in the right way upon return, would be more professional and the right method.

What's App is the perennial comms channel for the "chatty" manager who just loves to dump a stream of consciousness onto unwitting staff that know if they "miss" an update, they can passively-aggressively berate them for not seeing an "update".

I'm not saying all WhatsApp work comms is bad.

I'm saying it should have its proper uses. It discriminates against part time workers. It's not a proper channel for strategy or fundamental updates.

It doesn’t discriminate against part timers. If someone is missing that many messages and has multiple days off work without checking (which is quite acceptable) then they just need to change the procedure so all important updates start with a couple of particular words (eg June 2021 update) so the search function can be used or else the person posting needs to ensure they tag everyone so it comes up.

How does it discriminate against part-timers any more than email does?

I think it's bad practice. Work correspondence should be communicated on work systems- we use Microsoft Teams.
I like no actually need to keep work and home separate, I'd uninstall Whatsapp if it happened to me.

All of my work communication is via wattsapp. There are about 5 different groups in total! I hate it. I've muted the lot as I got sick of my phone going off all day.