A workplace has banned DMs between employees. It won’t stop the b**ching.

Oh no. A company just introduced a new rule about the way their staff communicate and thinking about it honestly gives me goosebumps. 

Photoroom has implemented a 'no DMs' rule in a bid to boost culture. 

Yep, no private messaging between employees. 

The company uses Slack — an instant messaging tool similar to Microsoft Teams which is meant to quicken direct communication that's faster than email. But now all staff are being encouraged to communicate in public channels rather than DMs.  

Watch: Horoscopes when there's a problem at work.

Co-founder and CEO Matthieu Rouif told Fast Company the reasoning behind the policy.

"Ever joined a meeting only to discover the project scope had completely changed, and no one bothered to Slack you? Moments like these are frustratingly common, and they’re usually a result of one simple, but critical issue: poor communication," he wrote for the publication. 

"We’ve been so intentional about creating a company culture that fosters transparency and inclusion. It’s how we’ve been able to build trust with an international team and empower them to make informed decisions, together." 

He said the push to use public Slack channels for everything is to invoke company-wide transparency, but clarified that it isn't a hard rule and staff can still privately message their managers for personal reasons. 

But even so, the idea of having to announce all my DMs in public channels makes me practically break out in a cold sweat. 

So I spoke with founder of Becoming HR, Jess Gleeson, to find out whether this move is a good thing or a bad thing.

"The decision to ban DMs is a complex one that requires careful consideration of the specific needs and values of an organisation," she told Mamamia. 

"The trend has been gaining momentum and is driven by a combination of factors." 

Among them, Gleeson said banning DMs can help organisations maintain a more centralised and controlled communication environment as DM's can be a "breeding ground for inappropriate or harmful conversations".

The aim of banning them is to foster a more inclusive workplace culture, but Gleeson admits there could also be some drawbacks, including reduced flexibility. 

"Limiting direct communication can hinder collaboration and innovation, especially in fast-paced or remote work environments," she said. 

"Some employees may feel that DM bans stifle their ability to connect with colleagues and build relationships. It's also a quick, informal way to communicate if done correctly."

For what it's worth, I'm so thankful my workplace doesn't have this policy. 

As someone who can sometimes feel a bit self-conscious about their work, I am regularly DMing people on Slack. I'm asking questions and I'm sorting computer issues — most of which are completely unnecessary for everyone else to read. 

When I first started working, I was so deeply afraid to ask questions, I would've rather do something that I didn't know how to do and make a mistake than ask a question in a public channel — which isn't good for anyone. 

I'm also a big believer that not everything has to be passed on. The reason so many businesses are successful is that so much gets done offline and management structures are put in place so the relevant information reaches the relevant people. 

I can honestly say that I do not need or want to know about work conversations that have nothing to do with me. 

I know what everyone's thinking: If the workplace removes the ability to DM each other... how do we gossip? 

Yes, this is a big issue, but not in the way you think.

Taking away the ability for coworkers to DM each other doesn't actually stop them doing it. It just means it'll bleed onto other personal platforms because private messaging is needed to build connections with your co-workers. 

If you want more culture opinions by Emily Vernem, you can follow her on Instagram @emilyvernem.

Feature image: Canva.

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