Work WhatsApp Groups

[AbbeyDown]

I don't know what to do. I have a really uneasy feeling recently at work.

Small team, large organisation. I have been there a long time.

One particular colleague keeps starting WhatsApp groups, excluding one person and then leaving the group, I assume to create another. A conversation happened in the department and a colleague started oh I put it in the group but stopped herself from carrying on as I was present.

I then got added to a work WhatsApp group. (I have a sneaky suspicion I wasn't added to the group previously) Everyone was included. Said person who started the WhatsApp group then left without stating why.

Said person then started another WhatsApp group.
Not every single member of the team was included in this WhatsApp group, just a few of us. This excluded one member in particular because she couldn't trust the 'snake' in the other group.

Said person who started this group has now left this group that she started.......again! No explanation. On Christmas Day!!! (I only went into the group today so noticed)

I don't understand she keeps creating groups and leaving them, starting others but excluding people.

I'm sure I will have now been left out of another she has created!

I have been off work recently due to a personal reason and she was messaging me asking how I was but then I feel, fishing when I was coming back to work. She isn't my
Manager although likes to boss people so I didn't tell her.

She tends to try and micromanage everyone at work also and everyone is fed up of it.
Sucks up to the manager, she does the most work etc etc which isn't true.

I'm just feeling uneasy about it all.

I wasn't aware until another poster told me about this but I've removed myself now so a link has to be sent.

Sorry I read back a bit and saw the other post. Hopefully this helps. A link being sent to you will be much easier to delete and ignore.

Ask not to be added to work What’s App groups - only official work channels (Teams etc) and stop responding to her messages / archive her number. Seems you are giving her way more prominence than she deserves.

If the groups are created to discuss work, then they’re work app groups. And you should bring this behaviour to the attention of your team’s manager.
If the group is created to discuss last night’s telly /share recipes, then just don’t join.

your comment about a colleague being called a snake in a group makes it sound like a work app group.

I'm a bit of a prick, so would post in every chat I am added to - "what is the purpose of this group and why have you added me?" and then leave the chat.

She sounds like such a weirdo. I would stay well clear of these groups, as she is clearly trying to cause trouble for your work group. And the fact that she is calling someone a snake, in your team is an indicator of her immaturity, but also her unpleasant side, like work is some kind of game.

Look up and practise "let them" theory.... let them do it. Just find it funny, don't engage and just let them carry on

However, I wouldn't write in these groups. Emails are much more professional and ifvyou don't engage in WhatsApp dant get in trouble.

I hate WhatsApp groups full stop.

I’m a teacher and was the target of bullying by the parents via a WhatsApp group. Awful experience.

One of the parents later admitted to a staff member that she was drunk one night and starting talking nonsense and whipped the other parents into a frenzy and wrote a letter about me to the school. It was very unpleasant but because a ‘letter’ existed I had to be investigated. 🤯

Said main trouble stirring parent has now left the school as funny enough she didn’t like the next teacher either, much to everyone’s relief but I guess what I’m saying is if you don’t want to be on a group, leave immediately.

Just reading Mel’s Rollins book at the minute, it’s very good!

If she is discussing work in a whats ap group but excluding people from it and then bringing up the chats in meetings, especially if in works time, then I would be reporting to HR. It’s bullying and unprofessional and breach of presumably work place confidentiality /data protection to keep using peoples phone numbers without consent. Also massively unprofessional.

Just to be clear, it isn't a works WhatsApp group for discussions about work like we do on Teams/emails it's just a group she created for work colleagues but obviously excluded one member.

It is still bullying due to what she has said. Have you reported this yet?

Just leave any group you are currently in, and if she adds you to any new ones, just leave straight away.
Any questions just say you like to leave work at work. Simple.

You may find that there is HR policy which states these kinds of things aren’t allowed, for many reasons.

You are best off removing yourself from all of them as you could find yourself on dodgy ground especially if they are discussing other individuals at work etc.

Sounds like this person is out to cause trouble, and you are best off out of it!

I would literally just leave any group she added me too, possibly after leaving a message saying don't add me to WhatsApp groups.

Wow, aren't we supposed to leave these people behind in school? Sounds pathetic! No time for people who cause drama for absolutely no reason. Don't join the groups, don't be part of it. Sounds like she's a shit stirer but a sneaky one!

@AbbeyDown I would wait until I’m in the office and with as many colleagues in earshot and would say, ‘oh xxx, would you mind not adding me to anymore of those WhatsApp groups please as I’m not comfortable with the fact you don’t include the whole team. I also don’t see the point of the groups since you set them up and then leave them.’ Block her from adding you anyway but I’d speak up in the office so everyone is aware of what she’s doing and can explain herself to the whole team.

She sounds like a complete fruitcake

Your colleague sounds very childlike. Creating groups then leaving them to start another one sounds like the behaviour of some of the children when my child was in year 7 (age 11 and 12).

Personal friendships aside, unless your job/profession requires you to be in contact with the entire team eg. personal safety when off-site, I don't see why you need a work WhatsApp group - team communication can be dealt with by email or instant messaging. And when you're not at work, you're not at work, and only a manager should contact you about sick leave.

You know you can set your phone so you can’t be added to a WhatsApp group without your permission? My DH had to do this as a particularly needy and irritating old friend kept re-adding him to a group he kept leaving. Just stop her being able to add you and decline/ignore any add requests and stay out of it. It’s clearly not work related so what are you worried about missing? Say your NY resolution is less phone time and a cleanse on WhatsApp groups.

I'm not sure a company can stop staff having a W App group, though.

That's exactly my thoughts I can see through the crap. It's causing drama but it's sneaky.

Yes that's absolutely true and what I have done now like a previous poster suggested is set it so I can no longer be added. I didn't realise this was an option in the settings.

I didn't know. A previous poster told me about that setting which I have now done.