How emojis are shaping the future of work communications

The Star

4 days ago

For some, emojis are at odds with the serious world of business. — AFP Relaxnews
Gone are the days of cold emails and dry, emotionless exchanges. Emojis are now becoming a common feature of professional messaging. Far from being a mere gimmick, these colorful little symbols are redefining the codes of business communications. This shift divides as much as it fascinates, but it could well make our working relationships feel more human.
A recent Atlassian-YouGov* survey confirms that nine in ten Gen Z workers are in favour of using emojis at work. Indeed, this generation, which will account for 30% of the workforce by 2030, is shaking up the rules of the game. While their elders cling to their formal work emails, younger workers are all about expressiveness and responsiveness.
But this difference of opinion is not without consequences. At a time when the written word is replacing physical meetings in many companies, a misinterpreted message can be costly. Some 40 hours a year are lost by a third of the workforce due to unclear written communications. In this new context, every word counts.
Hence the growing interest in these little symbols. A simple "ok' sounds dry, even hostile. Add a thumbs-up or a wink, and the tone changes completely. Emojis become our virtual gestures: they convey emotion, nuance the message, and humanize the exchange. It's hardly surprising that 65% of employees use emojis to convey their emotions, and that 78% prefer to read a message containing emojis.
But not everyone is following suit. Fewer than one in two Boomer and Generation X employees approve of this shift in professional communications. For them, these colorful symbols are at odds with the serious world of business. This discrepancy can create tension when a manager perceives an emoji as inappropriate, whereas a younger employee simply wants to add a human touch to their exchange. Misunderstanding sets in, and there's a growing risk of widening the generation gap within teams.
The art of emoji use
Yet the benefits of this emoji-based communication are measurable, with greater clarity, stronger social bonds and reduced stress. Some companies are even integrating emojis into their team culture. As a result, employees feel more connected, better understood, and less burdened by the unspoken words that plague productivity.
But this new form of expression requires finesse. Not all emojis are created equal, and some can be confusing, depending on the context and the user. A study published in 2024 in the journal PLOS One also revealed significant cultural differences in the interpretation of these pictograms, depending on people's nationality. Experts recommend using simple, universal emojis and adapting their use to each situation. As with any language, it's accuracy that makes the difference between a successful message and a misunderstanding.
More than just a passing fad, emojis are a performance lever for tomorrow's workplaces – emotional intelligence condensed into a few pixels. Provided, of course, that you use them wisely. – AFP Relationship
*The survey, conducted by Atlassian in collaboration with YouGov from August 8 to 24, 2024, questioned 10,000 employees across five international markets (USA, Australia, France, Germany and India) about their communications and productivity at work.