When colleagues do not respond to emails

[Anonymous]

Is this normal in other workplaces? Are they that swamped? Is it personal? Or is this the new normal in workplaces?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this normal in other workplaces? Are they that swamped? Is it personal? Or is this the new normal in workplaces?

I give 24-48 hours, they could be swamped. If it is urgent, I follow up with a call and reference the email.

[Anonymous]

It sometimes happens that people miss emails, but it should not be the norm that people don't respond in a timely fashion. If you are new/the situation is new, you could call and ask if they got your email--it's always possible that they're getting lost.

[Anonymous]

Less likely if you are nearer the top of the pyramid and the recipient is below you.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is normal. My boss, who works an "alternative schedule" that has him arrive late/stay late, doesn't normally check emails until after 4:30 everyday. Emails are no faster than actual mail when communicating with him.

[Anonymous]

Swamped. Just resend after 48 hrs and say you wanted to make sure they saw it.

[Anonymous]

Swamped. Just resend after 48 hrs and say you wanted to make sure they saw it.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean they don't respond? Like, ever? Or it takes them more than 24 hours?

What kind of timeframe are you expecting? If you need a response by a particular timeframe, do you indicate that in your email?

If your email is strictly informational, e.g., no questions to be answered or input required, are you still expecting a response (a la "thanks for letting me know")? Even though that takes two seconds, not everyone operates like that with strictly informational emails.

[Anonymous]

Swamped and/or hard question. I get a ton and I answer the easy ones right away. Others need thought time or research and stay in the inbox. Unfortunately, many of them stay low after a ton more come in. They tend to get answered either after a follow up question, or I know I have a meeting on that subject soon. Not trying to be rude, just have too many emails and not enough hours in the day.

[Anonymous]

Did your e-mail ask a question or did it provide information? If it just provided information, I may not always respond. If it was a question, I agree with waiting 24-48 hours and then re-forwarding it and saying "Don't know if you missed this..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your e-mail ask a question or did it provide information? If it just provided information, I may not always respond. If it was a question, I agree with waiting 24-48 hours and then re-forwarding it and saying "Don't know if you missed this..."

How hard is it to reply a simple "thank you" to acknowledge you got it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did your e-mail ask a question or did it provide information? If it just provided information, I may not always respond. If it was a question, I agree with waiting 24-48 hours and then re-forwarding it and saying "Don't know if you missed this..."

How hard is it to reply a simple "thank you" to acknowledge you got it?

np, why generate more email?

[Anonymous]

write back, "did you get my e-mail? thanks."

[Anonymous]

I definitely have this problem at my current job. I find I have to invoke higher up names to get people to pay attention/respond. Even then some people just seem to refuse to respond to emails from those 'lower' in the hierarchy. Or they don't like/respect my department and therefore refuse to engage.
Are you kind of new? I also find it takes some time for people to get to know you and recognize your name, and respect your position. Some won't ever get there, but some do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swamped and/or hard question. I get a ton and I answer the easy ones right away. Others need thought time or research and stay in the inbox. Unfortunately, many of them stay low after a ton more come in. They tend to get answered either after a follow up question, or I know I have a meeting on that subject soon. Not trying to be rude, just have too many emails and not enough hours in the day.

Exactly.