Vodafone decodes the emojis causing😬in Australian workplaces
Thursday, 17 July 2025 – Australians may be fluent in emoji-speak at work, but not everyone’s reading from the same dictionary. From 💀 to 🔥, Vodafone’s Emoji Decoder reveals the top emojis and the different ways they’re interpreted in the workplace.
Emojis are serious 💼 with nearly half of full-time and part-time Australian workers (45 per cent) frequently using emojis to communicate. However, 65 per cent agree they often worry the emojis they send are not interpreted in the way they intended.
Vodafone’s Emoji Decoder is a guide to help Australians better communicate and avoid misinterpretations at work😅. According to the telco, emojis used in the workplace have different meanings for people of different ages, genders, marital status and even location.
Dr. Lauren Gawne, a leading linguist and Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University, has been appointed as Vodafone’s Emoji-ologist. Her extensive research reveals how emojis have developed into a dynamic, modern form of language.
“Australians who use emojis are showing their communicative flair, using emojis to express themselves across diverse digital platforms. Emojis can easily be misinterpreted, with each emoji having multiple possible meanings, and each generation bringing new layers of meaning to how they use them.
“The Vodafone Emoji Decoder offers valuable insight into how Australians from different generations and backgrounds use emojis to communicate at work, helping bridge the gap in emoji understanding.”
👍Thumbs up or subtle shade?
Nearly four in ten workers (38%) reach most often for the thumbs up to signal agreement, but a growing number of Aussies, particularly younger colleagues, say it can feel dismissive or sarcastic.
One respondent admitted they initially took the thumbs up as passiveaggressive before realising their colleague genuinely meant “OK”. A good reminder that even the most basic emoji can land differently depending on who’s on the receiving end.
💀Dead serious or dead from laughing?
The skull is a true generational divide. 30 per cent of Gen Z interpret it as dark humour or sarcasm, 32 per cent of millennials use it to signal exhaustion, and older generations are left puzzled and concerned – noting that it could be a warning (34%).
One respondent thought they’d offended a younger colleague who replied with a skull after a serious message, only to learn it meant “I’m dead” from laughing. Another said, “I thought I’d killed the vibe. Turns out they were just laughing.”
🙏High-five or holy moment?
Over half of workers (56%) use this to express gratitude, but almost a quarter (24%) of Gen X see it as a prayer emoji. Talk about divine miscommunication.
One respondent recalled a 25-year-old colleague sending what they thought was a high-five. “I didn’t understand, did they want me to pray for them?”, they wondered.
😂Laughing with you or at you?
Most of us (77%) use the crying laughing emoji when something is genuinely funny – either finding something extremely funny (42%) or laughing uncontrollably (35%). But for others, this emoji masks something more awkward: sarcasm, nervous laughter, or a quick cover-up when a message doesn’t land. Less “ha ha” and more “ha… help”.
Melting from stress or from drama?
The melting face emoji is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in work chats, especially for those working from home. Hybrid workers often use it to signal burnout (24%), while remote workers deploy it theatrically (32%) to exaggerate their reactions.
🔥Compliment or catastrophe?
This is certainly a hot topic, with 40% of workers interpreting the emoji as a sign of something exciting or impressive. Whether it’s a fun idea or a job well done, it’s a go-to for “that’s impressive”.
But not everyone agrees. Older generations (Gen X: 16%) see it as a warning that something is literally on fire (yikes!), while 15% of the generation view it as a cheeky compliment or ‘burn’. Aim your flame with care.
👀Keep a watchful eye on this emoji
In the world of workplace emojis, nothing is more open to interpretation than this sneaky pair of eyes. You’d be forgiven for thinking this conveys curiosity, and for full-timers it often is the case with 33% using it to say “Ooh, tell me more”. But part-timers are raising their eyebrows, with 30% using it to signal suspicion.
A patient few workers (6%) drop it when they’re waiting in anticipation after an ominous “Hey, how are you” message from someone they haven’t spoken to since last financial year.
🍆Innocent veg or awkward mistake?
Of all the emojis, few have a reputation quite like the eggplant. And while it may be innocent in the veggie patch, it’s a whole different story in the workplace.
One respondent recalled an elderly colleague proudly using the eggplant emoji to say she “loved them for dinner” as she grew them in her garden. Another was shocked when their boss sent not one, but two eggplants to celebrate winning a contract with an actual eggplant company. Even produce can be provocative.
“These findings show that while emojis are widely used in Australian workplaces, their meanings aren’t universal. The same emoji can signal enthusiasm, sarcasm or stress, depending on who’s sending it or who’s receiving it,” added Gawne.
“Tools like Vodafone’s Emoji Decoder provide us with very useful insights to navigate the evolving meaning of emoji, fostering clearer communication in the workplace and helping people use emojis with more confidence.”
To download Vodafone’s Emoji Decoder, please visit www.vodafone.com.au/emoji-decoder.
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Notes to editor:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1022 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th - 30th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian workers (aged 18-60).
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