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Passive-Aggressive emojis in the workplace

5 emojis carry the β€œPassive-Aggressive” tag. Here is what each one means to Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z β€” and how risky it is to send at work.

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Risk 5/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Smiling Face

Boomer / Gen X
Soft, polite kindness; often used in professional emails.
Millennial
Warmth, affection, or a gentle acknowledgment.
Gen Z
Highly passive-aggressive; denotes simmering rage masked by politeness.
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Risk 4/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes

Boomer / Gen X
Genuine pleasure, content, and positive reinforcement.
Millennial
Innocent happiness, sometimes used to soften a text.
Gen Z
Patronizing or condescending, especially when ending an argument.
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Risk 4/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Slightly Frowning Face

Boomer / Gen X
Minor sadness or disappointment.
Millennial
A soft expression of sympathy or minor letdown.
Gen Z
Passive-aggressive disappointment; stronger than a regular frown.
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Risk 5/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Hugging Face

Boomer / Gen X
Sending a warm, friendly hug; affection.
Millennial
Friendly support, or used passive-aggressively to dismiss an argument.
Gen Z
Extremely condescending; 'bless your heart' energy.
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Risk 4/10iScores 1–10 evaluate the likelihood of HR friction or legal liability based on employment litigation trends and sociolinguistic drift. Click here to read the full methodology.

Clapping Hands

Boomer / Gen X
Applause, good job, or praise.
Millennial
'Bravo,' or clapping between words for aggressive emphasis.
Gen Z
Sarcastic slow clap, or emphasizing a strict boundary.