Office language is becoming more casual

Covid has fast-tracked a new type of language in our offices, and it looks as if it is here to stay.

There’s no doubt office environments are changing — something that was only accelerated by recurring lockdowns and a global pandemic that saw us relying on virtual communication more than ever in the workplace.

With all these accelerated changes, came a whole new language which is acceptable to use with your co-workers, and it’s colloquial as hell.

Of course, this really does depend on what type of office you’re in and whether you’re communicating with co-workers or clients, but in general the culture is changing for the more friendly.

Emojis are in, but there are rules. Picture: iStock.

Emojis are in

Anyone who’s ever had a casual emoji misinterpreted knows they can be dicey territory. In general though, as long as you stay away from eggplants and the like they’re a go for work.

It’s not just me — a Millennial who overuses emojis in every day life — saying that either. Writer, leadership expert and company director Dr Kirsten Ferguson confirmed that emojis are OK at work, as long as you know when to show some restraint — like when the issue you’re responding to is a serious one.

So did my favourite business professional and blogger, Alison Green of AskAManager. She agrees that in most offices, they’re totally fine.

In fact, ongoing research by Harvard Business Review has found emojis can even help fill the void of body language and facial expressions in now remote workplaces where co-workers can’t rely on seeing each other every day to connect with each other.

Fair warning though, like with everything else there can be a generational gap with emoji use, like Gen Z reportedly taking a casual smiley face as patronising. So, if you’re going to use a smile emoji, go for the big grin, I guess.

Gen Z are leading the way for casual work emails, and I'm here for it. Picture: iStock.

Formal emails are out

OK, calm down, they’re not all the way out. Obviously keep it on the level in client situations, communicating with new management, or dealing with serious issues.

In general though, between co-workers (and even with your managers if you know they have some chill), it’s OK to be casual. Even a bit funny, like these Gen Z employees.

@foxandrobin It’s a Gen Z world, I’m just their millennial boss #genz#millenialboss#millenialsoftiktok#startup♬ Borderline - Tame Impala

Or this PhD student who explains slang to her Boomer co-workers, in exchange for them translating her work frustrations into more professional emails. It’s all about information sharing, after all.