To think 'text speak' is too casual for workplace emails?

[AFriendlyVouce]

I don't know if it's a generational thing, but we've had quite a few younger colleagues - early 20ish - join our company recently and quite a few (not all!) of them are remarkedly casual in their communication style.

Signing off emails with "thx" or using "yh" for yes. Very short one line responses with no To or sign off at all. And loooong response times unless you chase them via Teams. We're mostly hybrid / remote.

Is this a new communication style thing, or just our particular batch of new employees?

I think it depends. If we’re writing emails to customers then no way would casual writing be acceptable. To each other it’s not really a big deal, as long as we can actually understand the email.

I'm struggling with the reaction emojis that Outlook introduced in the last year.

I know I'm unreasonable but I hate seeing my email responded to with a 👍 or similar.

A notice about a collegaue's bereavement went around last week, assorted ❤️ and 😥 emojis as reactions.

That ^^

I message my manager TY, pls, alt date etc
Would never use that with customers

I really hate the overly formal work speak, I'd prefer the text speak tbh but a middle ground would be better because some people might have no idea what is meant by tx and yh

I don't mind thx as an acknowledgement in a "message received and acknowledged" sense.

It depends on the communication- out to customers or report to managers - no. Within the team, asking for a rota swap - probably okay.

But I would expect colleagues to recognise when it's acceptable to use less formal registers and if unsure, to go more formal. If they struggle with that, then yes, they need training.

Just seems lazy and outdated.

Yes, have heard as much, but in our company it's a standard response to "I'll get that done first thing tomorrow" or "shall we have a meeting on Friday afternoon?" type messages.

Thank god I'm not the only one. I was too scared to ask. I don't think anyone's answered.

I wouldn't know what to make of yh. What does it mean?

Thank god I'm not the only one. I was too scared to ask. I don't think anyone's answered.

@ginasevern @Floatlikeafeather2

Yh = Yeah (shortened version).

I know, doesn't make a lot of sense!

Thank you! I'm down with the kids now.

Thank you. I thought that was too obvious and it must be a whole phrase. It's only one letter shorter than yesterday!

That was meant in response to the OP saying people don't reply for a long time unless reminded. What constitutes prompt depends on the situation really.

Most people I work with are in the States and are far less concerned about politeness or formality. Even in external emails. It's probably rubbed off on me 😬