

If any of the WhatsApp communications between colleagues involve ‘banter’, jokes, comments or sharing of inappropriate images that are discriminatory in nature, employees may raise grievances, allegations of bullying or harassment, or even seek to bring tribunal claims for discrimination or whistleblowing.

What are the risks to employers of employees using apps such as WhatsApp to communicate with colleagues?

In this article we look at the use of WhatsApp by employees and key questions for employers. This is an area of increasing importance for employers, particularly as the pandemic has resulted in employees seeking ways to re-invent the ‘water cooler’ chat or to keep up relationships while they are working remotely. Boris Johnson’s use of WhatsApp for government business has recently hit the headlines and brings to the fore the blurring of lines between the use of WhatsApp for personal communications, interactions between colleagues and for business purposes.
