| If the message is... | Use this |
| Urgent, or only relevant to 1 person / your immediate team | Walk over or message directly |
| Relevant to a defined group, not needing an instant reply | The correct chat space |
| Formal, needs a permanent record, or is an organization announcement/benefits/pay |
In person / verbal
Do use your voice for: quick questions, working through a problem together, anything that needs back-and-forth — especially with people who sit near you. This is often faster than Chat and should be your default with teammates in the same aisle.
Don't interrupt for: deep-focus/"heads-down" time — check calendar or status first, or send a Chat message that can wait for a same-day reply.
Don't Chat-message someone 10 feet away for a conversation that would take 2 minutes in person.
Chat spaces — what belongs, what doesn't
| Space / Who | ✅ Post this | 🚫 Not this |
| QOC Team All employees & contractors |
Company-wide announcements, marketing updates, birthdays | Has anyone worked with ___? (QOC Odoo How To chat space) I'm out or WFH today. (Update your calendar; post in your team space or QOC HQ) |
| QOC Adventures All employees & contractors |
Fun stuff, personal updates | |
| QOC Odoo How-To All employees & contractors |
Odoo questions, finding the right internal expert |
General IT issue (submit a Helpdesk ticket) |
| QOC Policies & Standards All employees & contractors |
Official policy/standards updates | |
QOC Headquarters | Office logistics, attendance, facility updates, food |
Other Private chat spaces also exist:
- Team chat spaces: For collaboration within the team (e.g. Money Makers, 404 Not Founders); these are private spaces with membership governed by the team lead
- Role chat spaces: For collaboration across people in similar roles (e.g. Dev Team for developers, QOC Business Consultants, QOC Accounting SMEs)
You are responsible for keeping up with your emails. Email provides a structured space for detailed communication, allows for targeted archiving and advanced searching, and respects boundaries by not demanding the immediate response of a chat.
Use for: benefits enrollment, anniversary announcements, org change announcements, official company updates — things that need a searchable, permanent record and aren't time-critical.
Don't rely on email alone for anything urgent. Email has no guarantee it'll be seen today. If it's time-sensitive, also flag it in the right chat space or say it out loud — don't assume "I sent the email" counts as "they know."