Is your next workplace conversation going on the record?

Others said they began after seeing someone else blamed unfairly (12%), after losing trust in a manager (12%), on a co-worker’s advice (7%), or after a negative experience with HR (5%). Meanwhile, 18% said they always document as a precaution.

Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder.com, said the practice is not new, but technology has made it easier.

“Documenting workplace interactions is nothing new. In the past, employees might have written emails to themselves to keep a record, but today’s technology makes it easier to save conversations, capture decisions, and keep track of important details”, Haller said.

A signal for employers

The report said that while keeping records can help employees stay organised and protect themselves, a reliance on documenting everyday interactions may point to deeper issues such as repeated conflict, unclear expectations or a lack of trust.

It added that organisations “should ask what’s happening at work that makes those receipts feel necessary.”