Clear and professional communication is essential to the role – but what happens when a smiley face or thumbs-up emoji enters the conversation?
A recent survey from translation platform Lokalise reveals that nearly half of employees worldwide (47%) believe emojis don’t belong in formal workplace communication. For Gen X employees, that number climbs to 53%, while Millennials (44%) and Gen Z workers (47%) aren’t far behind.
The hesitation is rooted in a fear of misinterpretation. According to the report:
- 65% of employees have avoided using emojis at work because they worry they’ll be misunderstood.
- 30% have misinterpreted a colleague’s emoji.
- 27% admitted to being offended by an emoji in a workplace message.
The “safe” and “risky” emojis
When asked which emojis are most workplace-appropriate, employees overwhelmingly chose:
👍 Thumbs up (82%)
👏 Clapping hands (64%)
🤝 Handshake (62%)
But some emojis are nearly universally frowned upon:
🍆 Aubergine/eggplant (91%)
💩 Poo (82%)
🍑 Peach (81%)
💋 Kiss mark (78%)
💦 Sweat droplets (67%)
Surprisingly, the survey also found that 60% of employees still use emojis to wrap up conversations at work, and one in three have even used them to respond to bad news such as layoffs or disciplinary warnings — a risky choice in any professional setting.
Why this matters for executive assistants
As the gatekeepers of communication for executives, assistants often decide what tone a message should strike. While emojis can soften a message or signal empathy, they can just as easily appear dismissive or unprofessional. Etgar Bonar, Lokalise’s localisation expert, explained:
“For younger generations, emojis are shorthand to soften a difficult message or show empathy. But for others, the same emoji can come across as dismissive or unprofessional. That disconnect can create real tension.”
Takeaway: know your audience
Bonar highlights the need for emoji literacy in the workplace, particularly in cross-cultural communication. Just as tone and phrasing are carefully considered, emoji use should be intentional — and, in many cases, avoided in formal exchanges.
When in doubt about sending an emoji, the better option is not to send it! Let us know what you think about this topic, misinterpreted emojis and misunderstandings it has created for you.
