Private sector people - do people at your co send emails during off hours? A number of the business clients I serve do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the panic over receiving an email in off hours. It’s inherently asynchronous communication. You’re expected to respond when you’re available.

Op here. No, it’s not clear. We are not supposed to send emails outside normal hours (with unwritten rule about an hour or so before work and an hour or so after- basically 8 to 7:30 is fair game) so an email at midnight implies urgency. Understand now?

If it was urgent, it wouldn’t have been sent as an email.

Op here- not accurate. I cant think of the last time anyone spoke on a phone at my company, other than once or twice with a 70 year old consultant we work on with some projects.

Doesn’t change the fact that most people don’t use email for urgent items. They’ll ping you on Teams or Slack. Maybe they send an email to fully explain the situation, but they’ll ping you on Teams to let you know there’s an urgent issue that needs your attention. Sorry, but it’s not my job to manage your workday.

Why would I be on Teams at night? Huh? The issue is off hours communications for non urgent issues, however they are made. You should be able to manage YOUR workday so you don't have to send emails at night, and if you do, it should be a. because they are important or b. put them on a delay. Easy to do. I work at night all the time, but I know better than to have stuff go out at 3AM. First, it looks douchey and sort of pathetic (am I trying to look like a really hard worker?? that look is really dated), especially if its a non urgent matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My last two old company we never used emails for work deliverables. It be either Jira or Service Now ticketing system.

There are SLAs to respond. Failure to meet SLAs on a regular basis impacts your raise and bonus.

So the Hot Potato game was very rampant. I often send out a pile of requests or respond on Fridays between 5 pm and 630 pm and I also jump back on Sunday night around 9pm and see if any one responded and do it again. I was king of late nights.

And Slack dont get me started I love Slack, but trouble with Slack it is channels and in channels everyone can see the slack. So if you are slacked and dont respond everyone in the channel sees.

Both jobs Forbidden to assign work or ask questions or answer questions in an email or text as they wanted a record for everyone. Slack is great with AI so I can query to see if answered before and ex-employees slacks stay forwever too.

All deliverables in Jira or Service not for all to see even if left.

And Google Docs they see your activity and they can edit it anytime and your get alerted.

Both companies did not really have standard work hours so to speak. So I know you people are old as dirt but lets say a young person is going to a concert or club Sunday night and wants to sleep in Monday they will get most of Monday work done on Sunday. If a old fart like me wants to go to beach Friday afternoon I will bang out some work late Thursday night.

My phone of course had Slack, Jira, Google, Email 24/7 and my work mac or laptop was in my office plugged in and open 24/7. If I was up at 2 am and could not sleep of course I would jump on line. If asleep or course I would not jump on line.

This all sounds insanely painful and stupid. Did you work for an IT support (like help desk) type place? That's the only place I've heard of that has "tickets" like this.

This response shows me that many of you are older millenials or gen x or even boomers who don't understand tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the panic over receiving an email in off hours. It’s inherently asynchronous communication. You’re expected to respond when you’re available.

Op here. No, it’s not clear. We are not supposed to send emails outside normal hours (with unwritten rule about an hour or so before work and an hour or so after- basically 8 to 7:30 is fair game) so an email at midnight implies urgency. Understand now?

If it was urgent, it wouldn’t have been sent as an email.

Op here- not accurate. I cant think of the last time anyone spoke on a phone at my company, other than once or twice with a 70 year old consultant we work on with some projects.

Doesn’t change the fact that most people don’t use email for urgent items. They’ll ping you on Teams or Slack. Maybe they send an email to fully explain the situation, but they’ll ping you on Teams to let you know there’s an urgent issue that needs your attention. Sorry, but it’s not my job to manage your workday.

Why would I be on Teams at night? Huh? The issue is off hours communications for non urgent issues, however they are made. You should be able to manage YOUR workday so you don't have to send emails at night, and if you do, it should be a. because they are important or b. put them on a delay. Easy to do. I work at night all the time, but I know better than to have stuff go out at 3AM. First, it looks douchey and sort of pathetic (am I trying to look like a really hard worker?? that look is really dated), especially if its a non urgent matter.

You get alerts from emails after hours but not Teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we send our emails at all hours. I don’t chat people off hours unless we have a very established friendly relationship and we both know we don’t have to respond til morning.

I don’t like using schedule send because things can happen between when you schedule it and send it.

This is a big deal. I’ve had situations change so my email looks redundant or even wrong.

?? You know you can go in and revise it, right??

Why create a mess to correct? Not efficient. Send current emails when they’re current

Look, I can see tech scares you. Lets move on

[Anonymous]

Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fundamental issue is probably that OP has company does have a thing called urgent emails. He is expected to respond to those at all hours.

They should transition to a modern technology like teams or texting and leave the asynchronous email for non-urgent matters, since it has a much higher volume

But is he actually expected to respond? It doesn't sound like he's having trouble differentiating between what's urgent and what isn't. And if he is, that's a lot easier to solve than getting people to stop sending emails when they want to.

Op here, fwiw I'm a woman and fairly senior at my co. I suspect a lot of the people answering don't appreciate that I work in a very heavy tech world (so no, it's not that I don't know how to use email or understand it can be sent whenever, and of course we use Teams and dozens of other technologies for efficiencies, both front end and back end) and that as a senior person, there is no way I would ever set a 'do not disturb' on my email other than if I was legitimately out of the country on a personal vacation (and even then, I would monitor). It would be embarrassing to set a DND; it is just not done at any level above admin. I do work across other time zones, so yes, if I get an email from someone in LA or in Europe, of course I know we are on different times, and those are not really what I'm complaining about. It is that these *local* tech people often send emails outside of work time, and too often for little stuff. But of course I don't always know it's little (and very often, I haven't thought about whatever it is there asking about in days) so I have to spend time thinking about it, or trying to find out some background. That's the primary issue. Our HR has reminded people not to do this (also because for admin staff, they might then be entitled to overtime) but some of these guys insist, and again, these are sophisticated technologists, they know how to work emails and other communication tools.

Also, as far as the people referencing asynchronous communication... of course its fine but it has to be done properly or else its considered bad form and inefficient. This is a known problem/issue at sophisticated, well run companies. As example, you don't ping someone on Teams and say 'hey Beth, do you have a minute?' (disruptive- use my calendar and/or also tell me what it is you want to talk about so we can be productive) or "Hi Joe, I have a question" (same issue). And you don't send emails during off hours (when you are on the same time zone) unless its important or unless you have specifically said 'Beth, detail detail detail info/question... and this can wait until X."

Understand now?

Sorry, I think this issue is unique to your industry or organization. I work in tech and it’s understood that emails will be responded to during normal working hours. If you have an emergency, you send out an alert on Teams looking for help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the panic over receiving an email in off hours. It’s inherently asynchronous communication. You’re expected to respond when you’re available.

Op here. No, it’s not clear. We are not supposed to send emails outside normal hours (with unwritten rule about an hour or so before work and an hour or so after- basically 8 to 7:30 is fair game) so an email at midnight implies urgency. Understand now?

If it was urgent, it wouldn’t have been sent as an email.

Op here- not accurate. I cant think of the last time anyone spoke on a phone at my company, other than once or twice with a 70 year old consultant we work on with some projects.

Doesn’t change the fact that most people don’t use email for urgent items. They’ll ping you on Teams or Slack. Maybe they send an email to fully explain the situation, but they’ll ping you on Teams to let you know there’s an urgent issue that needs your attention. Sorry, but it’s not my job to manage your workday.

Why would I be on Teams at night? Huh? The issue is off hours communications for non urgent issues, however they are made. You should be able to manage YOUR workday so you don't have to send emails at night, and if you do, it should be a. because they are important or b. put them on a delay. Easy to do. I work at night all the time, but I know better than to have stuff go out at 3AM. First, it looks douchey and sort of pathetic (am I trying to look like a really hard worker?? that look is really dated), especially if its a non urgent matter.

You get alerts from emails after hours but not Teams?

People at my co don't use Teams chat after hours, and I don't monitor it, but I suppose I would see a message pop up. I don't use Slack with these particular business people, its a company rule that we can't cross these particular workflows on Slack. I get tons of alerts throughout the evening from various work related apps (my co work style is probably closer to the gen Z person above, but not quite as connected) and I know what to ignore from most of those apps. (oh, i just got an alert that this piece of the project is routing to the next person, that sort of thing). That's why these local email messages often throw me for a loop and require me to open them up and consider them... to be honest, I think its just mid level nerdy tech guys who want to feel important and like they 'have to work long hours'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

oh god, DBT. please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fundamental issue is probably that OP has company does have a thing called urgent emails. He is expected to respond to those at all hours.

They should transition to a modern technology like teams or texting and leave the asynchronous email for non-urgent matters, since it has a much higher volume

But is he actually expected to respond? It doesn't sound like he's having trouble differentiating between what's urgent and what isn't. And if he is, that's a lot easier to solve than getting people to stop sending emails when they want to.

Op here, fwiw I'm a woman and fairly senior at my co. I suspect a lot of the people answering don't appreciate that I work in a very heavy tech world (so no, it's not that I don't know how to use email or understand it can be sent whenever, and of course we use Teams and dozens of other technologies for efficiencies, both front end and back end) and that as a senior person, there is no way I would ever set a 'do not disturb' on my email other than if I was legitimately out of the country on a personal vacation (and even then, I would monitor). It would be embarrassing to set a DND; it is just not done at any level above admin. I do work across other time zones, so yes, if I get an email from someone in LA or in Europe, of course I know we are on different times, and those are not really what I'm complaining about. It is that these *local* tech people often send emails outside of work time, and too often for little stuff. But of course I don't always know it's little (and very often, I haven't thought about whatever it is there asking about in days) so I have to spend time thinking about it, or trying to find out some background. That's the primary issue. Our HR has reminded people not to do this (also because for admin staff, they might then be entitled to overtime) but some of these guys insist, and again, these are sophisticated technologists, they know how to work emails and other communication tools.

Also, as far as the people referencing asynchronous communication... of course its fine but it has to be done properly or else its considered bad form and inefficient. This is a known problem/issue at sophisticated, well run companies. As example, you don't ping someone on Teams and say 'hey Beth, do you have a minute?' (disruptive- use my calendar and/or also tell me what it is you want to talk about so we can be productive) or "Hi Joe, I have a question" (same issue). And you don't send emails during off hours (when you are on the same time zone) unless its important or unless you have specifically said 'Beth, detail detail detail info/question... and this can wait until X."

Understand now?

Sorry, I think this issue is unique to your industry or organization. I work in tech and it’s understood that emails will be responded to during normal working hours. If you have an emergency, you send out an alert on Teams looking for help.

This might be a worlds collide issue, perhaps. I work along tech but also cross over into more traditional work areas (like the finance and accounting people) so I think the message from HR about work hours is heard by some groups (the more traditional divisions) but not by others (the tech guys- although there are a few women).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

oh god, DBT. please.

That was meant to be snarky. But op does need to find away to tolerate distress better if an undemanding mail sent at 7pm and not asking for after hours reply is so upsetting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

Op- this is the issue that people seem to keep missing. They have been told to delay emails or send them during work hours *unless* it is urgent. Understand now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

oh god, DBT. please.

That was meant to be snarky. But op does need to find away to tolerate distress better if an undemanding mail sent at 7pm and not asking for after hours reply is so upsetting.

Dont quit your day job. And learn how to read

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg turn on DND.

It’s 2025, it’s not my job to make sure your email is not arriving during dinner time. E-mail. It’s not a phone call. It’s not even a text. It’s the most non urgent communication imaginable. People work all hours now, for flexibility not necessarily urgency or long hours.

This. It's on you OP. I'm not fiddling with each email or Teams message to delay receipt when I have coworkers in just about every time zone (British Columbia to Australia).

I don't get alerts on personal devices. My personal routine is that I only see work things when I open my work laptop.

Op here. Not sure why people are getting so angry. My HR dept has specifically instructed people NOT to send comms during off hours ‘unless it’s urgent’ so an email during off hours is implicitly urgent (except these often aren’t, or it’s unclear if they are, which is even more annoying).

It takes an extra five seconds to delay delivery when one sends an email. Arguably it’s on them to do it, if they’re breaking the email rule.

That seems like an HR policy that should be revisited.

Email is attended to at all times of the day, based on one's availability, etc. Unless it states URGENT in the subject, no one is expected to respond ASAP (and for that, I would likely text them to read email). Like another pp, I am waiting to respond during your work hours, or set a delayed delivery on each email. Not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

oh god, DBT. please.

That was meant to be snarky. But op does need to find away to tolerate distress better if an undemanding mail sent at 7pm and not asking for after hours reply is so upsetting.

This. OP literally said the emails are "too often for little stuff" which suggests they don't need an immediate response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, you need dbt or something to improve your distress tolerance. If your work isn’t such that you are expected to reply in off hours, then don’t check your email in off hours if it’s so upsetting.

This would be a different story if people were hounding you and requiring an answer about non urgent issues but someone catching up on work emails after the kids are in bed (and not bothering with a delay bc they are normal and understand an email isn’t an sos) is fine.

Op- this is the issue that people seem to keep missing. They have been told to delay emails or send them during work hours *unless* it is urgent. Understand now?

Your new comment sounds super balanced and not at all deranged, op! Very normal!