Is it Okay to use Emojis in the Workplace?
Answer: It depends.
Emojis have become a common part of communication, not only in text messages, but also in other workplace tools like Slack, Zoom, MS Teams, and even MS Outlook. While they seem harmless enough and even humorous, they can lead to misunderstandings and possibly harassment.
For example, a message to a coworker that includes a heart or "kissy face" emoji could be interpreted to mean more than friendship. If "more than friendship" is unwelcome to the other employee, the emojis could be used as evidence of sexual harassment. Additionally, not everyone views emojis the same way. What one person thinks is a simple "peach" emoji, others might find unprofessional or sexual.
Even if your culture is casual and emojis are commonly used, it is in your company's best interest to provide guidance and training about what emojis are (and are not) appropriate in your workplace to avoid miscommunication and liability.
For example, in your employee handbook, your policy on workplace communication could:
- Remind employees to be cautions when using emojis,
- Limit the types of emojis employees can use (such as thumbs up, smiley face, and happy birthday/celebratory emojis),
- Prohibit the use of emojis when responding to clients, customers, or vendors, and
- Encourage employees to write what they really mean so that their communication is objectively clear.
We would be happy to consult with you about how to address this issue in your workplace, including updating your employee handbook or training your employees.
