It’s something we are probably all guilty of – the use of emojis in emails. But are they appropriate in the workplace?

A smiley face here. A laughing crying face there. Perhaps even a thumbs up. I’m sure we’ve all used one to express our emotion or thoughts in an email at some point in time.

Emojis are so commonplace now that in some professional spaces, the informal use of an emoji in business communication is no longer taboo.

Used in a jovial manner, emojis should present no problem. Adding one can help clarify the emotional cues behind your message.

A word of warning

But a word of warning should be issued. The sender should always be wary of how their emojis are interpreted by the recipient.

In a well-documented legal case in Canada, a famer received a hefty fine of £48,310 for using a thumbs up emoji after he was sent a contract by text message.

Chris Achter argued that it was to acknowledge receipt, but the judge ruled it amounted to a contractual agreement.

In a landmark Court of King’s Bench ruling, Justice Timothy Keene leaned on a Dictionary.com definition of the emoji, which states that ‘it is used to express assent, approval or encouragement in digital communications’.

Justice Keene wrote: “I am not sure how authoritative that is but this seems to comport with my understanding from my everyday use – even as a latecomer to the world of technology.”

He added that while a signature is the ‘classic representation’ of confirming someone’s identity, that does not prevent an individual from using modern-day methods – like emojis – to confirm a contract, and that an emoji can be used as a digital signature.

“This court readily acknowledges that a thumbs-up emoji is a non-traditional means to ‘sign’ a document,” Justice Keene continued. “But nevertheless, under these circumstances this was a valid way to convey the two purposes of a ‘signature’” – to identify the signatory, which is done using Mr Achter’s cell phone number, and to convey acceptance of the contract.

“I agree that this case is novel, but nevertheless this Court cannot (nor should it) attempt to stem the tide of technology and common usage,” the judge concluded.

As this case highlights, some level of caution should be exercised when using emojis in the workplace.

When not to use emojis

Although the use of emojis is growing increasingly popular at work, there may be some instances where it is not appropriate. For example, companies with a more formal or traditional workplace, external communication with potential clients or cold emails.

If the recipient expects conventional professionalism, or if the subject of your email is official or particularly important, then it’s probably best to steer clear of using them.

You should also perhaps consider which emoji you are using and whether this is being used in the right context. The meaning of an emoji may differ culturally from one country to another.

Benefits of using emojis at work

Under the right circumstances, emojis can help your message better connect with the recipient.

They can add a personal touch and even create a sense of honesty. And if you’re in a hurry they can even save you some time.

Ultimately, it doesn’t look like emojis are going anywhere and their use will only increase in the business environment.

If you choose to use them in your email communication, just maybe think twice before you do. You don’t want to end up like Mr Achter!