Don't Be 'That Guy' on Slack: Etiquette for Remote Teams

Slack (or Teams/Discord) is your virtual office. Just as you wouldn't run around the physical office screaming everyone's name, there are rules for the digital workspace.

1. The @channel Button is a Nuke

Using @channel or @here creates a notification for everyone, regardless of their timezone or focus status.

• Do use it for: "The website is down" or "Free pizza in the kitchen."
• Don't use it for: "Does anyone know where the logo file is?"

2. Stop Sentence Splitting

Bad:

• Hi
• Are you there?
• I have a question.
• About the file.

Why it's bad: The recipient just got 4 notifications (dings) for zero information. It breaks focus. Good: "Hi, when you have a moment, could you check the file I sent? I'm unsure about the last paragraph." (All in one message key Shift + Enter is your friend).

3. Thread, Don't Spread

If you reply to a message in the main channel stream, you clutter the view for everyone else. Always click "Reply in Thread." This keeps discussions organized and opt-in.

4. Status Updates matter

If you are at lunch, picking up kids, or in deep focus mode—update your status. In an office, people can see empty chairs. online, your status icon is the only visual cue.

Good Slack hygiene = Happy colleagues.