The use of digital communication, like email and instant messaging, has grown exponentially since the pandemic. Yet companies haven’t adequately addressed how the misuse of such tools can contribute to toxic work cultures.

A recent survey of more than 1,000 U.S. professionals from email marketing firm Emailtooltester uncovered poor workplace communication conduct that most frustrates workers. Some of the grievances cited by surveyed individuals could be innocent faux pas, such as accidentally emailing everyone at the company, using emojis, or misspelling names. But other behaviors that workers admitted to, like intentionally looping in supervisors to get colleagues in trouble, highlight an oversight on establishing best practices and guidelines for virtual workplace communication.    

One-fifth of surveyed employees admit to complaining about a manager or colleague to a work friend via email over the last 12 months. Around 16.8% of respondents say they forwarded an email chain deliberately to get a colleague in hot water, and 24.2% copied or blind copied someone’s manager on an email for the same purposes. 

Robert Brandl, the founder of Emailtooltester, says it may be helpful to remind employees to use common sense when sending work-based communications, like not saying anything over work email that they wouldn’t want to be repeated or shared.

Companies should also establish communication guidelines to dissuade employees from weaponizing these emails in the first place.

“When it comes to understanding the different channels that you have available in the workplace, it’s important to have a broader strategy for what channels [are] available to employees and how they use them,” says Chris Lee, vice president of employee experience and communication at management consulting firm Gallagher. According to Gallagher’s State of the Sector report for internal communication and employee experience, only 31% of employers reported having a framework for internal communication channels. Of enterprise organizations employing 10,000 or more workers, 49% had such a framework.

“Having a framework is an important opportunity, especially when you think about a digital environment,” Lee says. “All communication can be shared not just internally but also externally, which obviously can have a negative impact on your brand and your reputation.”

Companies should establish formal policies on the appropriate use of communication channels. While it can feel draconian to set such standards, Lee says it’s helpful for employers to point to formal guidance in heated situations and understand the consequences of abusive communication practices.

Managers should also model these best practices. For example, if someone loops in a leader or forwards an email to get a colleague in trouble, managers should remind the informant of more appropriate ways to address problems at work.

“Good leaders would be able to identify and manage problematic behaviors that can spread very quickly like cancer throughout an organization,” says Lee.

Paige McGlauflin
paige.mcglauflin@fortune.com
@paidion

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Last week, the U.K. government announced several changes to its immigration policies. In a move offering some greater leniency for remote workers, visitors to the U.K. can work remotely in the country, so long as work is not the primary purpose of their visit.

“This is one small step, but highlights how governments are seeing the WFH revolution as a permanent one and are updating legislation to support this,” writes Nick Bloom, a Stanford professor and expert in remote work.

But the government also unveiled upcoming changes to the minimum income requirement, allowing a family member or partner to live in the U.K. from abroad. Under the changes, the threshold would increase from £18,700 to £38,700, potentially forcing lower-earning families to depart the country.

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- The share of U.S. workers with disabilities is growing, but new data finds that they earn 42% less than the rest of the workforce. Fast Company

- Consulting firms are putting money into AI integration to boost employee productivity, but some don’t expect to see a return on that investment anytime soon. CNBC

- Some U.S.-based law firms are engaged in a salary and bonus competition to keep their current roster of lawyers and poach star talent from other firms. Wall Street Journal

Watercooler

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Fain v. Musk. United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain criticized executives like Tesla CEO Elon Musk at a Q&A last week for anti-union rhetoric and failing to provide workers with proper treatment and pay. —Chloe Berger

Cuts all. Spotify CFO Paul Vogel sold $9.4 million worth of stock after the music streaming platform laid off 1,500 workers last week before getting fired. —Christiaan Hetzner

Defenses up. Amazon is preparing to fight possible “labor agitation” and union activity as it plans to expand operations in Southern California, a leaked internal memo indicates. —Haleluya Hadero, AP