British workplaces are being negatively impacted by bullying on messaging apps between colleagues, according to research published today by leading jobs board, totaljobs
According to a survey of 3,047 workers across the country commissioned by totaljobs, a fifth (20%) of employees have been victims of bullying via messaging apps. Worryingly, the figures suggest the likes of WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Slack are the source of workplace bullying and intimidation.
A particularly concerning finding is that bullying is as likely to relate to personal circumstances (45% of those bullied) as it is to professional performance (44%), with more than a tenth experiencing bad behaviour that targets their sexual preference (15%) or gender (12%).
Not only does this communication happen out-of-sight of HR departments, the figures also show a third (34%) of those who have experienced bullying via messaging apps claim that they ignore it, and don’t confront the bully or attempt to resolve the issue with their manager. 1 in 12 (8%) have even gone as far as leaving their company as a result of bullying via messaging apps.
This is an alarming finding, considering how prevalent messaging apps are in the workplace. 9 out of 10 (90%) employees use them to communicate with colleagues, and we now have an average of 5 group chats with colleagues, compared to 7 with family and friends.
App-solutely unprofessional
It is clear employees are struggling to be professional when using messaging apps. 2 out of 5 (42%) admit they’re less careful about what they say than via email or face-to-face and nearly 3 out of 10 (29%) simply write messages as they think them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the research has discovered this is a recipe for potential disaster.
Indeed, a fifth (19%) admit they use messaging apps to moan about their colleagues and 1 in 6 (16%) use the channel to gossip about them behind their backs. This has resulted in a fifth (18%) admitting they regret something they have said, with varying consequences.
A quarter (27%) of those that said something regrettable in a group chat have had arguments with their colleagues, while 1 in 4 (25%) lost standing in the eyes of their colleagues. 1 in 6 (16%) have also received a formal warning or disciplinary as a consequence of what they’ve said in a group chat and 7% were forced to quit their job.
On the face of it
At first glance, the use of messaging apps would appear to have made improvements to people’s day-to-day work. 4 out of 5 (81%) think messaging apps have had a positive impact on team building and two-thirds (69%) believe they help improve company culture. Half (51%) have also used them to arrange social events with colleagues and 44% use them to strengthen the bonds with those they work with.
Similarly, more than three-quarters (79%) think messaging apps have positively affected collaboration, with 2 out of 5 using apps such as WhatsApp to solve problems faster (43%) and collaborate outside of hours (39%).
However, this way of working has had a distinct impact on workers’ personal lives. Indeed, the majority (53%) communicate with colleagues while on holiday, almost half (43%) do so while they’re on sick leave and a quarter (25%) message colleagues after a few drinks.
A third (31%) think messaging apps have helped to break down work hierarchies. The research indicates they are even a popular method for bosses to formally address issues with their staff, with 37% reporting having had a serious conversation with their boss via a messaging app.
However, there are indications that employees would perhaps prefer traditional face-to-face communication at times, because a quarter (27%) find messaging apps unprofessional and a fifth (20%) think it’s awkward talking to their boss in this way.
Taking app control
While communication at work is typically policed by employers, conversations on messaging apps are often hidden from the eyes of our bosses. However, the research has shown that there is a degree of self-governance by the admin of a group chat, at the expense of the troublemakers.
The first act of self-policing is excluding unprofessional colleagues. 2 out of 5 (42%) of those that ever started a group chat have excluded a colleague from a group chat because they made inappropriate contributions. A quarter (26%) have left people out because they knew they wouldn’t get along with others and a fifth (20%) because they knew they’d be disruptive.
The second act of self-governing is employees confronting unprofessional colleagues. 2 out of 5 (39%) have seen some form of inappropriate behaviour or content targeting someone on social media. A third of those (31%) have spoken about it face-to-face with the perpetrator, while a quarter have called it out on the group chat (27%) or reported it to a manager (23%).
Martin Talbot, Group Marketing Director, at totaljobs, said: “A huge 90% of workers are using messaging apps to communicate with colleagues. Although our research shows the platforms are often an efficient and collaborative means of communication, the immediacy of them can also cause people to speak without thinking and act unprofessionally.
Employees would benefit from a code of behaviour that explains acceptable and appropriate use of messaging apps, and the actions that will be taken in the instance of any breach, which is especially important for work-enabled platforms such as Slack.
We would encourage employees to check with their workplaces if they’re unaware of messaging guidelines as a first step. If unsure, don’t say anything on a messaging app that you wouldn’t say in person. If you see or experience bad behaviour, speak up, and don’t let colleagues on the receiving end suffer in silence.”
