Lack of communication, rude or unprofessional?

[Creativebee]

We have a WhatsApp group set up for staff (very small amount of staff, 5), main purpose is to be able to get messages to everyone at the same time and quickly as many don’t read their emails.
Two of the staff don’t respond at all, I have said several times that they don’t have to respond with a huge reply but a thumbs up would suffice so that I know they have got the message.
On Friday, after everyone had gone home, there was a major incident that could have had serious consequences, when brought to staff attention in the WhatsApp group chat not one replied (the incident was due to someone’s lack of care). I am so annoyed as the incident could have been catastrophic (think major safety issue). How do I deal with their lack of communication and am I wrong in asking to have some form of
communication? I asked everyone what would be best and they all agreed on WhatsApp and I said it would be used for letting everyone know if we need to close due to isolation, if anything in the calendar changes after they have left so they know, if an assessor will be visiting last minute or if there’s a major incident.
Do I just accept that they don’t read or respond to messages and there is nothing I can do about it? I find it quite unprofessional (and rude) and I’m worried that I am going to be thinking about their lack of responses when completing reviews.

I wouldn't want to be contacted during out of hours on a work WhatsApp group

They probably begrudgingly said yes to the idea but they don't want to be in it

Some ppl finish work and just want to go home and forget about it

Honestly, I wouldn't blame a new manager who has inherited a poor communications structure and a team who don't check emails for getting this a bit wrong. And OP implied she was conscious that she should now let this affect reviews, not that she planned to do so. You do need structure and support OP, and it sounds like a stressful workplace, but you don't come across as a bully.

Have a look at acas resources - they are quite clear on rights and responsibilities for managers and staff - and give them a call if trying to work out what's reasonable. I find them very clear and balanced.

should not let this affect reviews, that should have read.

Also, you raise a good question re overnight motive of inspections. If this happens often, ask the team if heads-up on whatsapp is useful. And consider whether contracted working hours mean you can be responsive - will they be in with time to prep in the morning. Should you ask them to log on to email first thing? Good luck!

notice of inspections ... sorry!

Will leave you in peace now - bad typing day.

Op, look these are teenagers, are some of them not even adults yet and still kids? There was nothing there these young people had to deal with on a Friday night. I’m glad you’ve recognised it’s not ok to be messaging staff like this.

In certain professions at a certain level, it is expected to be constantly available, but very few teenagers or worming children are in that position.

Working not worming 😃

@Fangdango

Repriminading a member of staff for an error outside work hours and on a group chat is workplace bullying.

Threatening to give bad reviews to staff because they dont reply to whatsapp messages outside of working hours is workplace bullying.

The OP may not be "a bully" but these actions are workplace bullying and unacceptable. Telling her otherwise isnt helpful.

*reprimanding

No idea how that happened there!

These staff are teenagers, some of them likely still children legally. I don’t know what kind of work a bunch of teens do, other than low paid, but I’m guessing it’s something fast food , waiting, or shop related. Likely on min wage and employed as cheap Labour.

Not the sort of employees anyone should be hassling out of work hours and trying to teach them lessons on safety becayse one of these kids made a mistake.

We have a work WhatsApp for our team of 5 but it’s just for fun, and the younger staff members definitely just have it muted as never reply to anything. If there is a work issue it should be dealt with in work hours - unless it’s genuinely an emergency and they need to take action - in which case I imagine you would call them on their work phone to discuss. Otherwise just weird that you expect a thumbs up emoji from everyone for every message? I think it’s your expectations that need adjusting - obviously the WhatsApp group isn’t serving the purpose you intended for it.

I'd be annoyed at someone contacting me outside of work hours unless something needed my immediate attention and I'd be claiming overtime / call out.

Home is my safe place away from work stress and that's that.

Quite rightly work expect my full attention during hours and I give it. I get 2 precious hours an evening with my little ones before bed and 2 precious weekend days.

You sound OTT unless the safely issue was so serious the office / workplace wouldn't be opening on Monday and you were letting them know. Otherwise why couldn't it have been discussed on Monday morning?

The thing is there was literally no reason for these employees to be contacted. Something happened, it could have been a major incident but was not. New training is required, reminders, when they return to work, better management oversight, and training for supervisors, but it could easily have been dealt with when they returned to work.

There is seldom a reason to contact employees out of hours when you’re dealing with teenagers or older children, likely on Min wage, doing an unskilled role.

If I was management I’d be looking at my procedures, looking at my supervisor oversight or lack of, and why they were not in control, and revisiting training when they turned up to their shift, not texting a bunch of kids on a Friday night, my focus would be on the supervisor, and their ability to ensure activities were performed safely.

@Bluntness100

The thing is there was literally no reason for these employees to be contacted. Something happened, it could have been a major incident but was not. New training is required, reminders, when they return to work, better management oversight, and training for supervisors, but it could easily have been dealt with when they returned to work.

There is seldom a reason to contact employees out of hours when you’re dealing with teenagers or older children, likely on Min wage, doing an unskilled role.

If I was management I’d be looking at my procedures, looking at my supervisor oversight or lack of, and why they were not in control, and revisiting training when they turned up to their shift, not texting a bunch of kids on a Friday night, my focus would be on the supervisor, and their ability to ensure activities were performed safely.

@Bluntness100

This