Originally posted on LinkedIn
I hate using WhatsApp for work. I think it’s one of the most toxic things that can exist ☢️
It always ends in 10PM messages (why the f*ck doesn’t it let you schedule messages?), crossed conversations, “notification paranoia,” and checking your phone every 2 seconds.
It also creates some of the worst culture sins:
- Blurs personal and professional life.
- Sets the expectation that you’ll reply instantly.
But it’s the default — almost everyone falls into this trap. I come from the tech world where Slack is practically law, so I’m used to something better.
Culture is built intentionally. After a couple of 10PM WhatsApp conversations this week — I told my team no more ❌
Slack is too expensive — we’re going to self-host Mattermost (Slack, but Open Source). Google it.
But regardless of the tool, I believe it’s NECESSARY to separate work from personal life and set clear expectations (text is async, if you urgently need me call me, if you message me at 10PM don’t expect a reply until tomorrow).
How have you handled this? Anyone still doing everything on WhatsApp? What other tools do you use?