Emojis in the workplace - thumbs up or thumbs down?

Emojis in the workplace - thumbs up or thumbs down?

Ben: Right, well, I'm thrilled to be joined by Suhini today. Thank you for coming.

Suhini: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Ben: So, emojis in the workplace. They're getting quite a bit of media traction at the moment, and we know their usage is certainly increasing. In fact, over 75% of people use them at work. From what I found earlier, there are over 1800 emojis. I am definitely the least qualified person to talk about emojis, but I think you are becoming somewhat of an expert in this field. So, firstly, why do you think emojis are becoming more prevalent and hitting the headlines now?

Suhini: Well, it's interesting that you said I'm an expert. I'm an expert, not necessarily because of my role at work, but probably because of my generation as a millennial. We are avid users of emojis. We excessively use the crying laughter face; it's just part of our genetic makeup at this point. As we've entered the workforce and particularly with Gen Z coming in strong after us, we are so predisposed to using emojis that it's become another method of communication.

Ben: Yeah, I've definitely seen how it's sort of almost crept up. Even with the uses we do with Teams, you see the number of emojis and reactions. The reactions that come up, and then I click the other button, I see all these other ones. It can be quite confusing. We have a standard of using the thumbs up and the heart, but do you think using the heart emoji can sometimes be inappropriate? Is there a right and wrong time to use it, and is that what's causing some issues around communication?

Suhini: Look, I think there can be some confusion, but it essentially boils down to knowing your audience. I think there are three main rules to follow when using emojis in the workplace.

The first one is less is more. Don't overload your communications with emojis. A light touch is always appreciated, and you have less chance of it being misconstrued.

The second rule is formal emails and documentation should be a no-go zone for emojis. This approach ensures you don’t accidentally trivialize something important or significant in your career or workplace.

Lastly, knowing your audience is crucial. We've seen an evolution of communication, from email to instant messaging or phone calls to text. We've adjusted over time to using casual words within emails, like "oops," for example. And I think we'll continue to adjust. For instance, baby boomers may not be as accepting of a love heart emoji in communication as a Gen Z might be. The smiley face can be deemed very friendly or passive-aggressive, depending on the generation. So, tread lightly when starting off in a workplace, but as you get to know people, you'll get more comfortable.

Ben: Right, highly, highly contextual. I do have a few emojis that I was hoping you could translate for me. We'll bring some up on the screen, and you can tell us what they mean and when they might be used. Let's start with the first one.

Suhini: Shock. Horror. This one is for when something big or surprising has happened.

Ben: Right. Glad you clarified that. Next one?

Suhini: We're definitely going with "thinking," although Gen Z can use this ironically to imply someone who’s definitely not capable of thinking. So, it can go either way.

Ben: Yeah, I thought it might be confused too. Shows how one emoji can have different interpretations. Keen to see what you think of the last one.

Suhini: Well, this one—I don't know if I would ever use it in the workplace. I don’t think I've ever come across it in my conversations. That being said, it is a highly popular emoji. And despite most people believing it is a poop emoji, it is in fact supposed to be ice cream.

Ben: Is that right? I didn’t think of ice cream.

Suhini: Yes, it started off as a very innocent emoji and then, of course, became something a little less so.

Ben: Yeah, I can see how that could easily be misinterpreted. Thanks very much for your insights, Suhini.

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Season Three

Are you guilty of sending emojis in the workplace?
Join Queensland Managing Director Ben Wheeler for the latest insights into the employment and job seeker markets. Explore our hot jobs across Australia and some exciting opportunities abroad in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

This week, Ben is joined by Head of HR Solutions Suhini Wijayasinghe to discuss if it is acceptable to send emojis in the workplace, and why a generational gap can lead to misinterpretation and office disputes.

From a background in retail, Suhini joined the recruitment industry in 2011, working in a recruitment process outsourcing operation with a leading global mining company. Suhini joined people2people’s Chatswood office in 2012 and was supporting the contracting and permanent business support teams, being responsible for their talent management function. In 2013 she was promoted to a specialist recruiter role in temporary and contract recruitment for business support, customer service and sales & marketing. In 2015 Suhini took a hiatus from recruiting to undertake her Masters in Human Resource Management at Murdoch University. Now in her final year, Suhini has returned to people2people as a consultant assisting with HR solutions for the Major Accounts team.​