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 leave the chat. It’s not mandatory. If you want a separate chat with any specific work friends I’d do that.

We are all remote workers (who do meet in person sometimes so we know each other) and have a group chat. Some of us have it on our work phones and some on personal phones.

It’s used mostly for social stuff, updating on our whereabouts during the working day and complaining about the shocking IT.

Some of us post the odd holiday photo. Some of us posted on Christmas Day. Some people don’t engage outside the working day at all. It’s all fine.

Yanbu. I like most of my colleagues but I spend 30 odd hours per week with them in an open plan office, so I would not feel any urge in exchanging fairly regular messaging outside of my contacted hours. Thankfully no one has broached a work WhatsApp group.

Has anyone on the chat/at work complained that you aren't contributing?

Because it doesn't really matter what anyone else's workplace is like - yours had this WhatsApp chat that you want to ignore which is fine so long as nobody gives you a hard time over it. It doesn't matter if other people are expected to be available 24/7/365 - that still doesn't mean you have to be!

I archive the chat, then open the ‘archived’ section now & then to see what’s been happening. This is a group that I’m only peripherally involved in now, and would leave secretly (without the ‘walk has left the group’ broadcast) if I could!

Just mute it and glance at it once in a while during working hours.

Removing yourself and not knowing some of the gossip could jut lead to you being ostracised.

I hate our work group and have some colleagues posting inappropriate personal stuff. But overall it's ok and I just use the info as a conversation opener like oh your holiday pics look fantastic or how is X doing... faking intrest all the way!
I don't really post as like you, once I leave work I don't think about it and definitely don't want to engage in general gossip.

Either leave and say your not into whats app chats or just mute the messages. Check once a week theres nothing work related or important to you. Ive never been in school whats app groups for that reason - I dont need all the ‘extra chat’ as i’d rather have that with my actual friends. For most people, its enough just keeping up with friends/family groups however maybe some of your colleagues are proper friends so its tipped over into that. No one will be offended if you say you’ve already got enough to keep up with.

Personally, I would leave the group........ also check the work policies on phone usage. You also need to be careful using your personal phone for anything work related. If anything happens at work regarding inappropriate messages etc you could risk your phone/data being seized in order to gather evidence.....

I have this problem - I am long term seconded from a team. By the time my secondment ends I will have been longer than I was in that role. I have no intention of returning to that role and I don’t think anyone thinks I will be either but I can’t just leave it because it is still technically my substantive post.

We have a WhatsApp group but it's not 24/7, usually it's about who's going in to the office which day, rearrangement of meetings or move to hybrid etc. a few merry Christmas posts. No big deal. Lots of us are part time so sometimes we may miss things about office days or things like that so it's helpful

Its not work chat, its friends who happen to be colleagues talking about life and non work things. Leave if you're this miserable.

They are not really friends though. They are furious at the idea of ever having to see each other in person at work, and never see each other out of work. Do you have any friends that you are angry at the idea of having to meet in person?

Is it considered normal for work colleagues to chat 24/7 now?

How awful. The people I work with are not my friends, they are work colleagues. I’m fond of a few but confident we wouldn’t stay in touch if I left.

Your definition of friends doesn't matter. They enjoy talking to each other, even if just online. You dont have to join in, but to be annoyed about it is ridiculous. The mute and leave group buttons are easy to use.

Where have I said I am annoyed at it? Read my posts again. I've said I don't want to join in, asked if this is the new norm for work colleagues to chat 24/7 365 in whatsapps and asked if it would be considered anti-social not to join in.

Stop projecting onto me.

It's not compulsory to have a work whatsapp on your 'personal' phone. Was once part of one, deleted last year. Best decision ever. All my colleagues know, and find it amusing. Personally, I couldn't care one way or another if anyone was to find it anti social. I see enough of these people during my working hours. That's enough for me 😂.