How do you deal with emails and work stuff after office hours?
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I “respond only to urgent matters” (Score:4)
And, honestly, I shouldn’t do this. If 24-hour monitoring is important to my employer, they should pay for it. But I hate leaving co-workers - and students, even more so - in the lurch.
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I have a theory, if it's after hours and it's important enough to need immediate attention you can call otherwise I will address the email first thing in the morning. My company has a 24 hour service desk if they can't handle it and it is truly urgent they have no problem calling in the middle of the night, while I'm in the shower, or on the toilet.
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I leave the computer at work and haven't applied for a work VPN so if there's something really serious going on then they have to call me in. Haven't happened for 7 years.
Re: I “respond only to urgent matters” (Score:2)
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The place where I work, they haven't promoted me in 13 years. Yet, they know that if it's urgent, I get a phone call to come into work to deal with whatever problem, and get paid accordingly. People who choose to reply to work related emails on their own time... well, they are just providing their service and expertise for free then.
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they are just providing their service and expertise for free then.
I count myself lucky that my work allows me a 6:30-3:00 schedule (no strict requirements, but this is my norm). But I realize that things come up after 3:00 that are still part of the "normal" work day, so I'll usually remote in around 4:00 or 4:30 if it's convenient and at least reassure anyone looking for me that I'll address their issue when I get in. In exchange for a flexible schedule, I'll donate 5 or 10 minutes. And maybe lunch stretches to 35 or 40 minutes. Everyone wins.
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In my line of work promotion means less satisfying work without really improved benefits.
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Fair enough, I'll answer emails but I'll never take a call outside of office hours. I don't mind typing while doing something else but I hate being on the phone so that you gotta pay me for :P
Re: I “respond only to urgent matters” (Score:4, Interesting)
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Often, I'm too busy at work to even check my emails; so if I get one after hours, I'll respond to it, since I'm likely checking the emails for the first time since early morning.
Really and truly, what's the inconvenience? I can check the days emails at my leisure, on my cellie, at home or in the middle of a field, while enjoying the comforts of a scotch while entertaining the grandchildren... it's only an imposition if I deem it so.
Re: I “respond only to urgent matters&rd (Score:1)
And that's not a case of "I respond only to urgent matters", unless of course, said powerpoint is a presentation to either a regulator agency or major investors, and the normal presenter is out of commission. Urgent are threats to imminent threats to life, limb, continuity of business, or jail time. If the FBI is running amuck in the office, and grabbing computers, any IT tech you can get in should be there to document what they take and the condition, as well as secure copies of any backups. If there's
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Yeah, I answered "Important things only" and what I really mean by that is "People I like" and "Situations that'll make my tomorrow easier" :)
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While on the clock my phones are on. (Score:3)
The rest of the time only numbers not known to my employers are enabled.
I have never read a work related email or email sent to a work address while not being paid to do so.
If a company needs 24 hour employees then it needs to pay for shift work and staff to man them.
I'm on call 24x7 (Score:1)
I answer email, sms, phone 24x7 because I enjoy my job and love getting paid.
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I answer email, sms, phone 24x7 because I enjoy my job and love getting paid.
Said no one ever.
I'm retired (Score:3)
Re: I'm retired (Score:2)
By choice or because you can't get a job?
Re: I'm retired (Score:3)
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Reminds me of my situation, though I'd describe it as being kicked out of the rat race and having no urge to race again. The young whippersnappers deserve their time in the sun, too.
Then again, I didn't appreciate the strong assumption of the large corporate cancer I used to work for that old techies are worthless or less than worthless. I still feel like I'm a bit more than worthless, but what do I know?
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I don't think that they consider us worthless; it's more that they're not willing to pay us what we're worth. And, of course, they think that we're too old to learn new products or technologies.
Only when I'm on call and it's high prority. (Score:1)
Neither (Score:4, Interesting)
Not email (Score:2)
I'm self employed.... (Score:4, Informative)
What are working hours? Answer: Any time I'm not asleep.
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Apologize for putting bread on the table and a roof over their heads? You must be trolling.
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What are working hours? Answer: Any time I'm not asleep.
Tough boss.
Check Occasionally (Score:3)
I have a different phone I bought for work specific stuff (work wanted to add an app to my personal phone). When I'm home, it's either still in my backpack in the hallway or on the headboard being charged.
I will, if I'm close to the phone for some reason, check the mail just to see what's going on and maybe even reply to an email if it's a quick response but whether nor not it's urgent isn't really a flag in my case. It's more that I'm interested enough to reply, clarifying an earlier response or providing extra detail.
My work inbox is generally empty. I might look at an email and reply if needed throughout the day. Then every few hours I'll process what's in the inbox either deleting it or filtering it to another folder until it's empty.
[John]
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Below low priority (Score:2)
Currently unemployed. (Score:2)
When I was employed, only urgent e-mails and then I deduct my work times unless they want me to do OT.
I have reasons to respond after hours (Score:1)
a) I'm salaried
b) I'm very well paid, so I have no complaints
c) I'm generous, and I generally want to respond to people who need help or are reaching out to me
d) I'm productive. If I have downtime that isn't filled with other stuff (I do have a life -- hobbies, spouse, kids), then if I plow through a few emails in a spare few minutes, that's less I have to do when at work
All that said, if it's not my turn to be on call for my group, I'll take a stray inadvertent call, but I'll say, "it's not my turn to
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My list looks like this:
a) I'm salaried.
b) I tend to slide in late and bail early, because my productivity in my shitty cubeland sucks. If I'm not being productive at work, I'm going to go somewhere else and be productive. That often means I'm working later than I should be, but it also means I'm someplace quiet and comfortable with a beer in my hand.
c) Spending my first hour or two at work when my brain works and I'm still running on good coffee and fresh air dealing with trivial problems is a waste of res
Sometimes read, always reply (Score:2)
I occasionally perform minor work-related tasks from home but don't like unfinished work hanging over me, so if I do check my work email outside of hours I will respond to anything that warrants a response.
Not routinely... (Score:2)
As a sysadmin in a small company, I'm on call pretty much always, but I don't usually check work email after hours. They'll call me if they really need me (and sometimes when they don't ;-) ).
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Same.
I will respond to the company owner's emails on weekends though if I see them. And nagios notifications, of course.
No E-mail (Score:2)
Rarely work after hours, don't check emails (Score:3)
99% of the time it's strictly regular working hours and I don't check work emails outside of them, although I may do work after hours if there's some maintenance/upgrade that can't be done during working hours. Other than that, if there's some emergency that can't wait until working hours start again, I'd get a call.
I don't really have office hours. (Score:1)
After hours? (Score:2)
My contract says I'm on call 24/7/365; there are no after hours.
So you can never drink alcohol? EVER? (Score:2)
There's a regulation for the British police that allows a senior officer who's not explicitly on call to refuse an emergency call out if they've just been drinking.
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There's a regulation for the British police that allows a senior officer who's not explicitly on call to refuse an emergency call out if they've just been drinking.
As a Latter-day Saint, I don't drink alcohol regardless of company policy (we even use water instead of wine for the Lord's Supper). I don't mind others drinking as long as they don't put me or my family in danger (I'm a strong advocate for prosecuting drunk drivers). My company used to have a "Thirsty Thursday" program: one Thursday per month the company would bring in alcohol and appetizers about an hour before quitting time. Now the company even frowns on drinks during lunch. If I were so inclined I coul
Not a fan of teetotalism (Score:2)
Having completed an MA dissertation for a church history degree that concluded that mandatory teetotalism was a bad 19th mistake, based on interpretations of the bible that are a bad joke, I can't say I have any sympathy with your view! OTOH I get the point that for too many people alcohol is a problem, and it's good to model alternative ways of living...
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Having completed an MA dissertation for a church history degree that concluded that mandatory teetotalism was a bad 19th mistake, based on interpretations of the bible that are a bad joke, I can't say I have any sympathy with your view! OTOH I get the point that for too many people alcohol is a problem, and it's good to model alternative ways of living...
I was a bit surprised to hear of a Church History degree. Unlike other sects, we have a lay clergy and no theological degrees.
What's now known as "The Word of Wisdom" is derived from D&C section 89. This section is the written account of a "revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet" in 1833. It was not a case of jumping onto the prohibition bandwagon. D&C 89 was "adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints" D&C 89:3 [lds.org] . In earlier day
Hmm... (Score:2)
"Teetotalism as a movement can be dated from 1st September 1832 when seven men took a temporary pledge, for a year, in Preston. They included Joseph Livesey - who became a leader of the movement - and also Richard Turner. whose stuttering probably invented the word 'teetotal'." However the movement was built on the roots of the earlier anti-spirit movement that led up to its emergence. So 1833 is impressively early for such a shift in the USA, but is not a massive leap; given the communication between Engla
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"Teetotalism as a movement can be dated from 1st September 1832 when seven men took a temporary pledge, for a year, in Preston. They included Joseph Livesey - who became a leader of the movement - and also Richard Turner. whose stuttering probably invented the word 'teetotal'." However the movement was built on the roots of the earlier anti-spirit movement that led up to its emergence. So 1833 is impressively early for such a shift in the USA, but is not a massive leap; given the communication between England and the Us, the story of the Preston seven would probably have been known in Ohio by 1833.
With Kirtland being such a small village at that time, I honestly don't know if word of activities in Preston, England in September 1832 would have reached there by February 1833 (less than 6 months later). Admittedly there is more background. Some brethren weren't the best aims when spitting tobacco juice at church meetings, so Joseph's wife had to scrub the floors. This extra work may have had a larger influence than activities on the other side of the pond.
Deuteronomy 14 offers us:
Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field. In the presence of the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. But if, when the Lord your God has blessed you, the distance is so great that you are unable to transport it, because the place where the Lord your God will choose to set his name is too far away from you, then you may turn it into money. With the money secure in hand, go to the place that the Lord your God will choose; spend the money for whatever you wish—oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you desire. And you shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your household rejoicing together.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
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Thank you for your reply. Church history usually categorises The LDS with Jehovah's Witnesses and Church of Christ as being 'Restorationist'. I hadn't realised the degree to which 'new revelation' was an element in the LDS approach, so it was good to be corrected! I disagree of course - such 'revelations' need to be tested against scripture, and the clash in this instance makes me reject the claim that it is a valid word of God.
I was also fascinated by your mention of the use of meat and coconut juice for t
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Thank you for your reply. Church history usually categorises The LDS with Jehovah's Witnesses and Church of Christ as being 'Restorationist'.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and the 150+ groups that splintered from it) are most definitely part of the Restorationist Movement. We often call the establishment of our sect, and the events leading up to it, as "The Restoration". We believe that the Priesthood was lost to the earth about the time of the end of the Apostolic Age. With no new Apostles, there was no one authorized to confer the Priesthood to new people (Joseph Smith claims to have received the Aaronic Priesthood - includin
How about some balance? (Score:1)
Flexible working (Score:2)
Just to note that emails don't come to my phone but are only accessible from my work laptop. I therefore have to specifically switch it on to check and people can't therefore expect that I will be able
Trying to defeat the stereotype (Score:2)
As a college professor, my students often do their projects and homework at odd hours. I try (as much as practical) to be responsive. That means checking my email and responding late at night and on weekends.
When I was in industry, we developed software used by chip designers. When they had a chip release coming up, they worked insane hours, so we tried to be there for them, and that meant checking email on weekends and late at night.
I always thought of it as part of being a professional.
Education (Score:2)
Glance at subject (Score:2)
I read the truncated subject line and determine how intrigued I am. While an emergency is always intriguing, there are many cases where it's not an emergency, but I'll still jump in for some other reason.
I check and respond to emails if I want to (Score:2)
If there is a situation going on that I'm interested in or if I'm actually working during off hours, I may check email and respond as I see fit. I can respond on my phone if I choose to check but notifications are turned off.
Warn them off (Score:2)
I'm now retired, but when I was going on holiday and there might have been a crisis, I emailed at the time of my departure that I would be happy to respond to any requests for help - on the basis of being a contractor being paid £1000 per day; they didn't. Other than that I was never near enough the front line to possibly be needed so urgently, and we had paid on call staff so there was no excuse for contacting other people.
After Hours E-mails - Not a hope (Score:2)
I only check my work emails when on call and getting paid for it. Prior client demanded my cell phone number and home email as they wanted to reach me anywhere and at any time. They were told no, if they needed me they could pay me and then use the work email address to reach me. When I am at home on my time it is MY TIME to relax.
Nope (Score:1)
I barely respond to emails during office hours, so don't set your expectations high.
If it's important, someone will call (Score:2)
If it's important, someone will call. If I'm on call, I have to answer. If not, they leave a message, and then I'll decide whether or not I'm available.
I never go *looking* for trouble by reading emails when I'm not already working, even when I'm on call.
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If I need to respond then I'm on the clock.
When on call I can set up the computer then ignore it but for specifically requested times where I was asked to check. At these times the subject tells me if I need to respond. All else gets ignored.
I only respond to urgent matters.... (Score:1)
At the company I work for, I routinely receive 200-300 e-mails a day. They're not addressed to me, but I get to sift through them all due to some stupid on the other end of the e-mail system. I work 4 days a week and honestly, I'll donate an hour or two on the day before I'm scheduled to go in to wade through the ocean of e-mail to catch up on what I've missed in the last 72 hours.
I'm retired. (Score:2)
I'm on call (Score:2)
I'm on call after hours, but I refuse to deal with email outside of the normal work hours. I made this very clear years ago.* I get alerts when a server needs attention. I can be reached via my company cell phone if necessary. A few key people even have my personal cell phone number in case I am not responding (because I am not on call) and it's a high enough level problem that I need to be dragged in.
* It was necessary to clarify my email protocol when a manager got pissed that I missed an early Monday
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missing option: I don't read and respond to email (Score:2)
My email inbox has something like 20k messages and counting. Every once in a while I will delete a few thousand and I'll occasionally happen to notice an interesting email and read it but for the most part I treat my email like a news feed and selectively read it when I'm bored or if someone calls and tells me to check it but otherwise I mostly ignore it.
I'll respond, but it better be important (Score:2)
I'm an Environmental Engineer, and occasionally I do get very late phone calls that are real emergencies that need to be handled. That's fine, and that's part of the job, and it doesn't happen nearly often enough to justify a 24-7 operation or something.
So yeah, if it's a real urgency, call me. If it's just that you happen to be thinking about that report that isn't due for another week, I'm going to be upset.
I Own The Conpany (Score:2)
Since I own the company, the only "after hours" for me are really when I'm asleep and turn all my devices off. I try and detach from bright screens an hour or two before going to bed, and during social situations when being on my phone/laptop/tablet would be socially unacceptable, but otherwise I'm basically on-call.
My employees, contractors, and clients are all aware of how I choose to respond. We have one worker in another time zone that REALLY mission critical stuff can fall back on, but most of our work
Money (Score:2)
what are office hours? (Score:2)
I'm a freelancer... I don't have "office hours".
I am in charge of a 7-day process (Score:2)
Typically, though, if there's an urgent matter, my staff will text me. Way faster.
Semi Retired. (Score:1)
Respond just urgency mails (Score:1)