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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Work WhatsApp group

41 replies

user7155271 · 12/04/2022 20:54

My colleagues/manager have a work WhatsApp group which I have chosen not to be part of. Everyone is on it except myself and another colleague.
At first it was a social group but over the past few months it had turned into discussing work issues and now I feel completely out of the picture at work. Everything is discussed on the group.
I know that the simple answer is to doing the group but I don't use WhatsApp and when I go home at night I just need to switch off.
AIBU to be fed up with my managers/colleagues only communicating via WhatsApp?

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 12/04/2022 20:58

Report it to HR.

HTH1 · 12/04/2022 21:00

So join it and just check it at work.

caulkheaded · 12/04/2022 21:02

Ask someone at work to fill you in.

underneaththeash · 12/04/2022 21:03

Join what’s app and only check messages on way to work.

SallyLovesCheese · 12/04/2022 21:04

YANBU. I'm in a similar situation where I've chosen not to join the group. It's not often they talk about work stuff but occasionally things are said in the office about work that I know nothing about and the response is usually "Oh yeah, you're not in the WhatsApp group, are you?"

If work matters are dealt with via WhatsApp then it needs to be agreed by the company, they should provide devices if they absolutely want people to use it, and if they don't and people choose not to use it then they're should be alternative ways of being kept in the loop.

TwinklyBranch · 12/04/2022 21:04

Report it to HR. 🙄 Meanwhile, back in the real world...

My work WhatsApp group is permanently muted, I only look at it when I choose to, and never outside working hours.

seensome · 12/04/2022 21:14

YABU it's the norm to be part of a work WhatsApp group, stop being the awkward one and join, you won't then miss out on what's going on and it might actually be helpful to you. Keep it on mute and check in working hours.

luckylavender · 12/04/2022 21:16

@HTH1

So join it and just check it at work.
Have you actually read the post?
FarmGirl78 · 12/04/2022 21:17

You can also "archive" a group so you don't see it, but you can set it to still collect messages. Its far less tempting to read it than groups that are just on mute. Not so much archived, more hidden.

Glamora · 12/04/2022 21:22

@luckylavender

Why cant s/he join the group and mute it?

BeautifulDragon · 12/04/2022 21:24

[quote Glamora]@luckylavender

Why cant s/he join the group and mute it?[/quote]
Interested in hearing this too...

GeneLovesJezebel · 12/04/2022 21:26

I got into trouble because of the WhatsApp group we had between work mates. Don’t do it !

Amicompletelyinsane · 12/04/2022 21:26

I've joined mine but silenced it and catch up on it when I start work that week. It was stressful having it going off constantly but this way I'm aware of things when I need to be. I've told the managers if they need to contact me to do so directly as I don't receive notifications on it

ineedsun · 12/04/2022 21:28

We have had this dynamic at work, except I was in the WhatsApp group. We ended up having our communication policed by people who chose not to engage with a really effective tool. If you choose not to engage with the conversation, I’m not sure that you can complain if you miss stuff.

HollaHolla · 12/04/2022 21:30

We have one as a business continuity measure. It was greatly useful in the early days of the pandemic - and has been used in the case of when we’ve had IT outages. However, a couple of folks use it for nonsense, and vacuous queries. We’ve had to have a word….

carefullycourageous · 12/04/2022 21:34

If it is not formally recognised by work it shouldn't be used for anything that matters. If it is formally recognised by work, you probably need to join. Agree with muting etc.

luckylavender · 12/04/2022 21:40

[quote Glamora]@luckylavender

Why cant s/he join the group and mute it?[/quote]
OP doesn't use WhatsApp & needs to switch off outside work. Perfectly reasonable. And if she muted it she wouldn't be any better off.

PortalooSunset · 12/04/2022 21:43

Work WhatsApp group is on my work mobile which is switched off outside of working hours.

TinksBilly · 12/04/2022 21:57

You can download WhatsApp onto desktop and only use / view it at work on a work computer. That way you can quickly read what’s happened when you’re in but will never be disturbed outside of work

Kite22 · 12/04/2022 21:58

So join it and just check it at work.

This ^

LuckyLavender , Yes, we have read the OP, but feel she could use WhatsApp for this purpose, not have notifications on, and then set aside some time at work to read what has been put.
No reason to be checking it in the evenings / at home, but still is kept in the loop with anything that is discussed.
Problem solved.

WonderfulYou · 12/04/2022 21:59

AIBU to be fed up with my managers/colleagues only communicating via WhatsApp?

I think it’s fine to discuss work matters over WhatsApp we do it all of the time and it’s much easier then sending loads of emails.

However if they’re only communicating on WhatsApp and you’re being left out of the loop then you need to say something.
Ask your manager to send you an email if something important has been discussed.

We usually chat over WhatsApp and then discuss it properly in our weekly meeting which is also typed up for anyone who can’t attend.
You shouldn’t be missing out.

NotVeryOuting · 12/04/2022 22:06

Dh is currently having a similar issue at work. It's an informal Facebook group chat, he wasn't keen on being added to the chat to start with, he doesn't really use social media and likes to not have to be checking his phone when he's trying to unwind.

For the first month or so it was mostly social type stuff and because he didn't really want to be in there because it's a stressful job at the best of times and he wanted to keep work/home separate so he just put it on mute and checked in every couple of days or so. Until a month ago, his manager gave him shit for being "late" for work when he wasn't, she'd put a general "people on shift b, start at 8 am tomorrow instead of 11" and he, and a couple of others didn't see it.

She says if people won't use the chat than it's their own fault they don't know their hours have been changed or changes to location. She says it makes her job easier this way, but that's the thing, it's her job and she gets paid for her time dh and his colleagues are not and it's low paid stressful job with daily abuse from clients, they need to unwind and she doesn't seem to understand that her "takes two seconds to check" is more than that for some staff because it stops them from relaxing at home. It's almost like being on call without the on call wage.

My brother started a new job at Xmas and declined being added to a "casual" work group chat and his boss basically told him it makes his chances of being kept on at the end of his probation period less because they like people who are flexible, go the extra mile and are a team player, he changed jobs and the unwritten expectation to not only be in group chat but to actually read the messages and engage daily was part of the reason because his wife, rightly, expected him to be present and engaging with his kids instead of being on his phone discussing agendas for x meeting and not being paid for that time.

User843976 · 12/04/2022 22:15

Is this on a work mobile or your personal one, I didn't use the WhatsApp group at my work because I don't use it or Facebook and it would be on my personal phone. If it is on a work phone just in work time then that is for work then so ok

tttigress · 12/04/2022 22:21

If you work for a professional company they should have a policy on communication tools, I have worked for companies that have said don't use WhatsApp/group chat apps for work, they give numerous reasons from security to interfering with an employees private life.

I would also suggest reporting to HR.

NotVeryOuting · 12/04/2022 22:22

I'll add dhs chat is not a formally recognised one, nor is my brothers, dhs was originally started to someone for sharing memes and jokes related to the job he does and people got added on and then this manager started working there and then started adding all the workers and putting shift changes on there. If it was a formal one and a requirement of his employment it would be different.

My brothers also isn't a recognised one and officially is voluntary and not a requirement but some of his team who don't have kids or a partner managing all the home responsibilities are keen to plan work meetings and delegate tasks and want the chat to be productive as well as fun.