India, July 17 -- Emojis have become second nature to Gen Z, and now they're making their way into professional communication. For this generation, emojis aren't just playful; they help convey tone, soften messages, and make conversations more human. A global survey by Atlassian and YouGov found that nearly 90% of Gen Z employees believe emojis improve workplace communication, with many saying messages without them feel blunt or incomplete. With many of these professionals beginning their careers in the pandemic, physical office spaces and team lunches yielded to screens and Slack threads. Without facial expressions or vocal tone, emojis stepped in here as emotional cues. Aditi Sharma, a 24-year-old copywriter in Gurugram, shares, "Even a short message like 'Noted' can sound stiff or dismissive. A smiley face makes it warmer. It tells the other person you're approachable and not upset." She adds that emojis also build connections among colleagues. "When someone does a great job, I'll drop a clapping emoji or a heart. It's quick, feels personal and shows I'm paying attention." From skulls to fire and pleading faces, Gen Z has created its own visual language. These emojis help deliver clarity, and keep the tone upbeat in place of long-winded paragraphs. Rajan Luthra, co-founder of online platform Metvy, says, "Emojis bring context to conversations that might otherwise feel cold, especially in asynchronous work. I find them helpful in building team culture and energy, especially with creators. Knowing when to skip the 'haha emoji' is the real deal." Some prefer emoji-free work chats. Aarti Mehra, a Pune-based HR manager, once received a message packed with laughing faces and sparkles. "I had to ask if it was serious," she says, adding, "For formal updates, I still prefer plain language." Still, Gen Z professionals say emojis bring much-needed clarity. A survey found they're four times more likely than older colleagues to face confusing messages daily, with nearly half spending hours each week decoding tone. Emojis, they believe, help bridge the gap and reduce misunderstandings....