For finding work WhatsApp groups to be too intrusive

[nhsminion]

I'm a doctor in the NHS. At the last count I have about 8 different work WhatsApp groups.
The groups are formed to keep in touch with colleagues about patients and their plans (which is effective).
However, I find that it's hard to ever switch off as colleagues message at weekends, evenings and holidays. It would not be acceptable to leave the groups as they have become the mainstream way to communicate over the old bleep system.
It's constributing to me and many of my colleagues feeling extremely burnt-out.
Is there anyone on here that can think of a solution?

We have this and even though we have work phones, most people just use WhatsApp on their personal phone. I have it on my work phone so that I don’t get messages when off.

If work won’t provide you with a phone, can you get a cheapo one/use an old one with a pay as you go sim? Then use that for work and then switch it off when not working (that’s if you have WiFi you can use at work to save you paying for a plan. The guest WiFi at my NHS service is rubbish and can’t connect work WiFi to phone so guessing might be similar for you).

I've banned them at work. Not only does it put us at risk of a GDPR breach, there's no record of conversations. I run a business in a highly regulated industry where we need to evidence actions. All client information is extremely confidential as healthcare related so needs to be encrypted.

Fine for family and friend chats but Whatsapp isn't a tool to be used in a professional environment

On your work phone that you leave at work?

I think if it’s become the default position that everyone is contactable at any time via the group them you probably need to be upfront and say you’ll oniy be checking it within working hours and for anything urgent you can be called by phone? you’re not being unreasonable and it’s not going to get easier unless you make a change. good luck

We’re also banned from using it at work. Was a great decision

I left our Team work WhatsApp group. One woman in particular really annoyed me plus she clearly had a real crush on someone else in the team which was cringey to see. And, I agree, it’s an intrusion into your personal life. I don’t want someone asking me at 8pm if I’ve emailed Sue in accounts FFS 😂