To not join in the 24/7 365 days a year workplace whatsapp chat?

[Bebetterbetty]

We don't have work phones so the whatsapp work chat is on our home phones. I don't use my home phone for work as I don't need a phone for my work.

My colleagues chat on the whatsapp in evenings, on weekends, whilst they are on holiday - including when they are away on holiday in a different time zone on a different continent - and are chatting away over the Christmas break too. Including on Christmas day.

Messages from them are popping up right now as I write this and our workplace is still closed down so no-one is actually at work.

I do not want to do this. I like a clear line between work and home and I really don't want to be whatsapping with work people on Sunday morning when I am with my kids, or whilst opening presents on Christmas day! Or indeed ever when I am not at work.

AIBU?

( I don't think I am but is this 24/7 365 whatsapp work chat considered normal now?!)

Just mute it?

ps, our jobs are normal 9-5, Monday to Friday jobs.

Is it a work chat or social?
I would mute it if it’s the latter

I have separate work and personal phones for this reason

I have muted it. That's not really my question. I'm asking whether people think it is anti-social to not join in. Is it considered normal for work colleagues to chat 24/7 now?

I don't look at it ever. Not when I am at work. Its my home phone. I don't like the intrusion of work people to my non-work things.

Social chat

My work chat is very busy also but definitely not 24/7. I have it muted and I don't engage. One particular person will post non stop memes that aren't even remotely funny. If I'm on holidays I'll archive the chat so I don't see it popping up when I'm in WhatsApp.

Either mute it or mute this thread and use some of the time you'll save to wish everyone on your work chat a happy Christmas.

Just leave!

Just don't join in. I have two work groups - one I like, and one I don't. I ignore one of them, and have a laugh with the others sometimes.

It's fine to just not join in.

When I archive it reappears every time someone posts a new post. Is there a way to stop it doing this?

But if you mute a group the messages don't pop up? Or you could just leave?

So I am getting the impression that it is now normal?

Yanbu- I usually mute notifications for my work WhatsApp when I'm on leave, so does my manager - it's healthy to take a proper break.

Unusual to be chatting 24/7. We have one on our personal phones that people occasionally use, I wouldn’t like it frequently. It’s usually useful info eg work room changed or issue on roads that’s helpful to know before you get in building but sometimes a photo or something been talking about in office. My boss did wish everyone merry Christmas on Christmas Day. Only one person on team doesn’t want to join it and he doesn’t come to Christmas meal or leaving dos. His choice.

You don’t get notifications but annoyingly when you open WhatsApp you see the chat with all the notifications

I was asked to join a work WhatsApp social group. I said "no thanks". They still talk to me, invite me to things and interact as normal at work.

You can put it in locked chats and mute it, then it won't notify you or pop up at the top whenever there is a new message. Locked chats does stick at the top, but you won't know if there are messages unless you look. Also tell your DH you are doing this so he doesn't think you're having an affair 😁

I hate WhatsApp groups.

I am the grumpy one at work. I've refused to join and told them that if they believe it's essential then they can buy me a work phone. They don't like it but can't force me to use my phone for work.

Definitely not normal. I’ve never had it anywhere I’ve worked. Do your colleagues not have friends or families to be chatting with instead of just their workmates? Quite sad really. I could understand it maybe in a workplace full of very young people, but not in a workplace with older people or a range of ages.

See if were used like this it would be fine. I haven't left because I do occasionally use it so say I'm stuck in a traffic jam if we are all going to the same event.

But instead you get people posting photos of their Friday night takeaway or a cake they have baked sunday afternoon and stuff.

I wouldn't join a work WhatsApp chat.

They all have families. I presume they all have friends.

Thanks - this is helpful. : )

People at my workplace are friends. We have a similar What’s App and it’s been merrily updated all week whilst we’ve been on Christmas break. I enjoy seeing what everyone is up to.

Some people post more/less, but I don’t think there’s anyone who completely opts out. However, I’d really have to think about it and/or check. It’s not something I’d notice or care about. So, I think it’s fine if it’s just not your thing.