WhatsApp work group.

[Solongtoshort]

I just can’t take it any more.

l am in 3 works whatsapp groups, 1 is muted as it’s really nothing to do with me. The other two l get information from but people post on it between 6am and 10pm, l mute it but then people privately WhatsApp me or the mute runs out. I always point out it’s my day off

Leave?

Some people don’t have WhatsApp and I’m sure they manage to get the important messages just fine.

I'm not keen on mine either. It's on permanent mute, but I need to keep an eye on it for important updates, which is annoying.
Worst is when people fill it up with nonsense or start bickering on there, so I clear the chat and then find I've missed some piece of info that's relevant to me.
I feel your pain!

Sorry posted too soon.

day off if it is, politely l must add.l hate it. It’s like l am always on call and it’s really affecting me mentally,if you click on it by accident it then looks like you have read them.

l am off this week but my Manager said to me on Friday don’t forget to keep up with WhatsApp, l said but l am on holiday l will catch up when l am back and he replied there might be important issues on it, it’s in your job description to keep up with work related stuff (l can’t remember the right word he used).

Last week a question was asked and l answered it, next day my managers senior manager came in asking about a project and he said we were behind, l stepped in and said no we are up to date l put it in the group yesterday, my manager said you didn’t put it in my group and l said you are right l didn’t so l must of looked like l was the one with the communication problem,but he has access to both groups and l pointed out later on, not in front of his senior manager that if l have to keep up with the WhatsApp on my day off isn’t it only fair that he did.

l can’t do my job, live my life and be constantly available to these groups one of them is constant with loads of negativity on it.

Honestly there must be a law about it. I have looked on Acas and can’t see anything. I also can’t pretend l have lost my phone and not replacing it because of the world we live in.

sorry it’s so long. Just l just ring HR.

Say what now?? Are the groups for sharing work info or are they social groups for coworkers?

If they are for sharing work info I'd be asking for a work mobile to subscribe with that I could ignore or turn off outside my work hours. I wouldn't use my personal phone for that shit.

@NotYourOscarSpeech

Leave…..l know you might mean the WhatsApp group but l think l might just Leave the buisness.

@SatinHeart yes l was thinking about this the other week, l brought this up in a meeting and l know other people agree with me but you could see there faces change as in don’t ask me to back you up.

Believe me it’s work based l wouldn’t be social with some off them.

My concern would be the lack of traceability. I like having an email chain for work things, particularly in a toxic work environment.

All WhatsApp groups relating to work are muted and I read them at work, my time is just that and I don’t read them over the weekend.

What sector are you in? We aren't allowed to use WhatsApp for any work related chat due to issues in the sector before. Could there be any angle to argue it's not appropriate to share information outside of your work environment (thinking computer network etc) ?

@PoloMintPatty retail but not shop floor based, no figures are shared luckily l don’t have anything to do with that, but l believe the store managers have similar groups and it’s worse but plenty of best practice and info regarding our business

l have been off since Friday and l already feel anxious about tomorrow morning because l know what Monday mornings are like

Sympathies OP, this sounds like a crap situation. I'm public sector and the salaries are so crap that management just plain wouldn't get away with trying to suggest people kept up with WhatsApp etc outside working hours. Plus we're quite heavily unionised. Only advice is to push back with management unless the salary is amazing.

it’s in your job description to keep up with work related stuff (l can’t remember the right word he used).

Not if you’re on leave it isn’t.

I don’t know how your workplace works but if you know wouldn’t read work emails on leave, you don’t need to be reading work WhatsApps…

How can the mute run out?

Leave the chat that is nothing to do with you. That's one done

Set the other 2 to 'mute always' and check when you need to

Just archive them. They will just appear in the archived box, you'll get a notification internally on WhatsApp that there is a message in archived now live bit you don't get the constant live notifications.

On your days off then they will just sit there filling up, you can't accidentally open them so you won't get blue ticked.

@lisavanderpumpscloset l did leave that one and it made me feel brave so l left the other two. They timed out as l didn’t have them on always, it would be 8 hours or a week.

@SatinHeart l have drafted a email to my union.

Just an quick update l read our health and well being policy, l have drafted HR a email regarding this as it’s not clear and highlighted my concerns re policies and information we share , l also included about Data use on my personal phone and l mentioned about being on holiday and having to read the messages and would this not break a law regarding my time away from work. To be clear l will copy my manager in on the email, it was either this or l will stress all week. I like my job and most of team l just hate having to be available all the time.

l just have to be brave enough to send it.

Sounds good, OP. I'd see what your union say first as that will be confidential advice and relevant to your organisation. Good luck!