Elena Francis
Published on 1 May 2025
Top 10 emojis to avoid at work
Whether they're insulting, misunderstood, or downright offensive, approach these emojis with serious caution at work. Read on to see the top ten culprits.
Interestingly, a huge 79% of workers use emojis in work emails, but 26% said that they have experienced workplace emoji misunderstandings, according to our Workplace communication atlas. The colourful and varied nature of these visual expressions has seen them make their way from our personal lives deep into our professional ones. They can make a message appear more lively and even provide context and nuance. However, as useful and fun as they can be, there are some popular ones that you may want to avoid at work. As you check out the list, remember, context is key. What might be appropriate in a casual chat with a close colleague could be misinterpreted in a more formal setting or with someone you don't know well. When in doubt, it's often best to express yourself in words rather than relying on emojis to convey your message.
Here's our list of the top ten emojis you should think twice about using in work-related chats and emails:
10: The poo 💩
Starting off with an obvious choice, the poo emoji should stay firmly in the casual chat arena. While rumoured to have originally been intended to show a happy chocolate ice cream swirl, we all know that's not how anybody sees it now. Humour may be appropriate in certain situations, but this emoji is likely to be seen as childish and unprofessional when used in a work context.
9: The pleading face 🥺
This one may be widespread in personal communication and on social media, but it's unlikely to pair well with a professional request. In a workplace setting, it could feel childish or insincere. If it's an important request, you may be better off just stating what you need clearly and confidently.
8: The angry swearing face 🤬
There's not much room for nuance here; this is, at best, extreme frustration, and at worst, aggressive and confrontational. It's probably best to avoid this one in professional interactions and find more constructive ways to voice your frustrations.
7: The middle finger 🖕
In the UK, USA, and many other places around the world, this is a very rude gesture. And remember, there are several other 'pointing finger' emojis that look very similar, so be careful not to mix them up! Cultural context is an important consideration in a diverse work environment, because different symbols—particularly hand gestures—can have varying meanings globally.
6: The smirking face 😏
The smirking face emoji can be interpreted as smug, sarcastic, or even suggestive, none of which are good impressions to make in a professional environment. When in doubt, opt for clarity and use a quick message to say exactly what you mean instead.
5: The winking face 😉
A wink can be just as easily misinterpreted in written communication as in person. You might think you're hinting at an inside joke, while the other person thinks you're being flirtatious or downright creepy. It's generally safer to avoid it altogether.
4: The tongue 👅
We're really not sure why this one was originally brought into use (were several variations of tongue-sticking-out-face (😛) not enough?), but it's undoubtedly now recognised as having a cheeky, borderline suggestive connotation. To maintain a respectful and professional tone in your communication, we'd steer clear.
3: The aubergine 🍆
Let's face it—this innocent vegetable has taken on a rather risqué meaning. There's really no context in a work environment where this would be appropriate, or even relevant if used as originally intended. Best to stick to actual aubergines on your lunch break.
2: The peach 🍑
Much like the aubergine, this one's rarely interpreted as a piece of fruit nowadays. It is highly inappropriate for any kind of professional communication: avoid it!
1: The clown face 🤡
It may surprise you that this has topped our list, but unless you work in a circus, it's definitely best to avoid the clown face emoji. While some may think it's playful or saying, 'I'm just joking,' it's now far more commonly interpreted as mocking or belittling and might land you a quiet word from HR.
So there you have it: a list of emojis to approach with caution.By being mindful of your emoji usage, you can maintain a professional image while still injecting some personality and humanity into your workplace communications. After all, effective communication is at the heart of successful collaboration. Check out the Workplace communications atlas for other insights from The Adaptavist Group into possible sources of discord or confusion.