EmojiMany workplaces now use emoji in chat, but there is no universal rule. The safe approach is to follow what your team does, to start plain, and to add emoji slowly.
Usually safe
- 👍 as a quick yes, with colleagues you know.
- 🙂 😊 as a friendly end to a message.
- ✅ for "done".
- 🙏 as thanks, if the culture of your team uses it.
Better in words
- Apologies and complaints: write the words.
- Disagreements: emoji can look dismissive.
- Serious news or bad news.
- Anything legal, financial or about a person's performance.
With managers and clients
Wait and see what they do. If your manager sends emoji, you can reply in kind. If a client writes formally, reply formally. With a senior person you do not know, do not start with emoji.
A rule of thumb
If a message would still be clear and polite without the emoji, you can keep it. If it would be unclear or rude, fix the words first. See also emoji for business messages and slang at work.