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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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:

oioimatey · 12/04/2022 22:35

Ask them to use Slack instead.

QueenofDestruction · 12/04/2022 22:52

A tech and privacy compliant company would and should not allow the use of non workc sanctioned tools for work, whatsapp and facebook are especially concerning.

Kite22 · 12/04/2022 23:06

There seem to be a lot of people on this thread that don't understand many millions of people work in places that don't have HR departments and don't have formal policies on everything. that just isn't how life works for many, many workers.

NerrSnerr · 13/04/2022 07:34

I think realistically you have two choices- continue to not be part of the chat or download WhatsApp and mute the chat and only check it at work, or once a day or something.

User843976 · 13/04/2022 07:48

The best plan would be to use it on your work pc only, then you know that it is solely a work thing which doesn't involve your personal contacts being used on it if you haven't a work phone

Patchbatch · 13/04/2022 07:52

I hate these, I wouldn't join and if you miss out on something just say as you're aware I'm not in the group for various reasons, please make sure I'm updated on important issues. It's such an impingement on work free time, and if you only check in worktime why can't they just tell others stuff then.

ExplodingElephants · 13/04/2022 08:09

It’s against GDPR regs to discuss work things on WhatsApp if they are talking about confidential things. We had a huge talking to about this from HR who investigated it. There’s an app on O365 (Sorry forgot the name) which you are allowed to use as it’s secure. WhatsApp is only allowed for general chit chat.

Letsbekindplease · 13/04/2022 08:14

If you have a work phone ask to be added on the work phone and only read it when you’re working.
We have one, more for shift cover, but I only check it and use it when I’m at work. That way it means I can switch off on my days off

Anomananom · 13/04/2022 08:15

Just get added but mute the conversation so you only check it when your in work.

If you really don’t want to have a chat with your manager about how you can be kept in the loop more but don’t report to HR unless you want to wind up your entire team.

longwayoff · 13/04/2022 08:22

All manner of wrong. Work is work and your life is your own. I'm astonished that company affairs are being dealt with on WhatsApp, at some point someone will need appropriate documentation for x or y and it won't be there. Legal nightmares ahead.

nursingcomplete · 13/04/2022 08:24

If they have asked you join and you declined then I do t know what you want?
How do you want them to communicate? Do you want them not to communicate? I don't know what you want!

changeyourname11111 · 13/04/2022 08:33

I left my work WhatsApp group due to the amount of irritating and inane messages / memes one person in particular was posting. Feels weird but ok to be out of that loop. It was never used for anything important (and shouldn’t be IMO) and we have a very uncaring line manager who wants to disregard us in favour of more senior colleagues he sees as more desirable but still wants us as his “team” to be in this WhatsApp group. Fuck that.

Sally872 · 13/04/2022 08:40

I would join the group and mute the chat. Only check it during work hours.

While it wouldn't be my first choice but if others find it useful I wouldn't get in the way of it by reporting to HR or refusing to join but feeling left out either.

FelicityFlops · 13/04/2022 08:41

My organisation explicitly excludes social media for business purposes. Does your company also have this policy?

lap90 · 13/04/2022 08:44

It does seem pretty common in most workplaces that people communicate on platforms such as whatsapp, slack etc... at least among my family members and peers it is.

Do you have a smart phone? My work chat, like all groups i am a member of, is permanently muted with automatic downloads turned off.

Kite22 · 13/04/2022 21:00

@longwayoff

But people work in all sorts of different work places, doing all sorts of different jobs. I think you are projecting your work on to the OP's thread. It could be a simple situation such as staff agreeing to cover a shift for someone. Hardly a legal nightmare.

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