Help — I don’t know the workplace rules for texting

By | September 16, 2019

Are there different rules for sending messages to colleagues and staff via text versus email? People seem to be texting at work more, and the level of informality makes me uncomfortable.

OMG, ROTFL, BTW — FWIW LMK WDYT OK? EOM. Pretty soon we won’t even need an alphabet — we’ll just use emojis. You should assume anything in writing is recorded, so if you don’t want it in writing, don’t text it. Just ask everyone who has been embarrassed, lost their job or relationship because of what they put in a text. It is definitely more informal than email, and people tend to text the people at work with whom they have a more personal relationship with. Sometimes it is just easier and quicker. But my advice is to always conduct yourself professionally at all times, particularly with what you put in writing on any platform. And if you and your colleagues are going to let your guard down — like when you want to throw shade at your co-worker who is being annoying in the meeting you’re in right now (come on, you know you’ve done something like that) don’t do it on the company systems.

My employer has taken the “human” out of the hiring process. Candidates must first perform online tests and interviews with artificial intelligence software. I don’t want some robot telling me who to interview and hire. Can I source my own candidates?

Hello. Thank you for sending your inquiry into GO TO GREG. I’m Scout, your virtual assistant, who will guide you through the submission process. Only a select few reader questions will make it through to Greg for final consideration. Yes, it’s impersonal, but these applicant evaluations have existed in different forms for many years. And with the advancements in technology, and how poorly some companies hire talent, it was inevitable that AI would be introduced. What’s important is that the final decision is based on human interaction and decision-making. And while some companies are experimenting with going AI all the way, I don’t think that will be a mainstream practice. Then again, I didn’t believe in the deep state and look at how naive I was about that.

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Gregory Giangrande is a chief human resources and communications officer in the media industry. Email your career questions to gotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande. His “Go to Greg” podcast series is available on iTunes.

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