Are you an emoji user? Today, people2people Recruitment share their latest poll revealing that the use of emojis has become increasingly prevalent, with almost 70% of employees using them.
According to Suhini Wijayasinghe, people2people Recruitment Director, “Emojis can be a valuable communication tool in the workplace, but understanding their varied interpretations across generations is crucial to avoid miscommunication.
The disparity of interpretations for one same emoji highlights its nuances. The more we understand about these mixed messages and the different meanings for the people sending and receiving them, the less confusion will occur in the workplace. Not all smiley faces are created equal!” advises Suhini.
The Smiling Face Emoji Dispute
- The survey results showed that when a colleague sends a Smiling Face emoji, over half (54%) of respondents believe it indicates that the sender is pleased.
- However, 50% of Millennials and Gen Zs surveyed perceive the Smiling Face as passive aggressive compared to 17% of Gen Xs, and 12% of Baby Boomers.
Popular Emojis for Positive Feedback
- ✔️ When congratulating a colleague on a job well done, 54% of respondents opt for a thumbs up or a tick emoji. This preference is slightly more common among Gen Xs.
- The clapping hands or party face emojis are used by 26% of respondents to congratulate colleagues. This usage varies by age, with 21% of Gen Zs and Millennials, 25% of Gen Xs, and 33% of Baby Boomers selecting these celebratory emojis.
- ❤️ Additionally, 20% of respondents send a heart emoji to show appreciation for a colleague’s good work. Gen Zs and Millennials are more inclined to use this emoji at 25%, while only 17% of Gen Xs and Baby Boomers prefer the heart emoji.
Emoji Usage Habits
- Despite the growing acceptance of emojis, around 30% of respondents reported that they never use emojis at work.
- Conversely, 22% of respondents use emojis in the workplace all the time, with the highest usage among Gen Zs and Millennials (29%), and 12% of respondents reserve emojis for internal messages only.
- 33% of respondents use emojis exclusively with people they know. This is particularly true for 37% of Gen Xs and 43% of Baby Boomers.
