Messaging outside of work
Discussion
Random84 said:
I think the key thing is that we're comparing vistly different roles. I can totally understand some roles have a need to message colleagues at all hours, I'm fortunate that mine definitely doesn't and that's the issue.
As for their mental health/well-being.... If there was an issue during their week off I would deal with it 100% but if it's been a particularly busy week I look forward to my break at the weekend! There's no need to spend time summarising everything that has happened on a Sunday evening, it won't achieve anything and a handover on a Monday morning will cover everything. One reply creates multiple questions and before you know it you've spent all evening discussing work.
This is obviously a question which raises many opinions, I don't agree with some of them but it's good to hear different views!
Why does he have you number? .Have you managed to speak to him and tell him to stop it?As for their mental health/well-being.... If there was an issue during their week off I would deal with it 100% but if it's been a particularly busy week I look forward to my break at the weekend! There's no need to spend time summarising everything that has happened on a Sunday evening, it won't achieve anything and a handover on a Monday morning will cover everything. One reply creates multiple questions and before you know it you've spent all evening discussing work.
This is obviously a question which raises many opinions, I don't agree with some of them but it's good to hear different views!
Random84 said:
I think the key thing is that we're comparing vistly different roles. ....
Some roles, you have responsibility 24/365. That's why you get a nice salary and maybe share options.Some roles you are an hourly paid grunt whose responsibility ends when the whistle blows.
Many roles have some middle ground.
Also, I don't mind being phoned at 3 AM if WW3 breaks out, but I don't need trivial stuff at the weekend.
Then again, if you know someone has a 90 minute train ride on a Monday morning commute, they might appreciate being brought up to speed by email.
I used to get messages on a Sunday night, I never checked them until Monday morning, they got the message that when I was on shift I gave 100%. I of the belief that some employers sent messages out of hours to test the water. There is nothing in my job that would be so urgent that it couldn't wait until Monday morning.
Once got messages about going to a meeting at 7.30am, I didn't start until 9am. I got three requests and made it clear I wouldn't be attending and that was that. Public sector seems to have a lot of this sort of thing.
Once got messages about going to a meeting at 7.30am, I didn't start until 9am. I got three requests and made it clear I wouldn't be attending and that was that. Public sector seems to have a lot of this sort of thing.
I will email or message colleagues at any time I feel if its convenient for me. It doesn't mean I expect a response.
My email footer contains the message:
"we work flexible hours around the world. Although I have sent this email at a time convenient for me, I don't expect you to respond until it works for you"
I generally check emails 365 days a year, including Christmas Day & will answer 365 days a year.. It's easier for me to work this way. I work Saturdays & BHs when the rest of my office don't. I often use those days to do planning & task allocation, hence will send out a lot o actions on those days. People know that.
As long as people are transparent about expectation on responses I don't see any problem with out of hours messaging/mails.
My email footer contains the message:
"we work flexible hours around the world. Although I have sent this email at a time convenient for me, I don't expect you to respond until it works for you"
I generally check emails 365 days a year, including Christmas Day & will answer 365 days a year.. It's easier for me to work this way. I work Saturdays & BHs when the rest of my office don't. I often use those days to do planning & task allocation, hence will send out a lot o actions on those days. People know that.
As long as people are transparent about expectation on responses I don't see any problem with out of hours messaging/mails.
NDA said:
GT03ROB said:
I generally check emails 365 days a year, including Christmas Day & will answer 365 days a year..
Same.I wonder if there's a correlation between nice garages and that type of work ethic?
People know I won’t reply to an email outside of my office hours but if it’s an emergency they can call.
It depends on the work situation. If you are a one man band/small team working together then I imagine you will have to be flexible and message out of work hours.
Currently I'm contracting on a Govt. project and I can only log in on site for security. It's M-F/9-5 with weekends free. The only time someone messages me is because they are being lazy - they can't be arsed to find out where the information is, or to work out the data. Helpful people, I'll help. The project I'm has enough knowledgable staff on site 24/7 to operate.
Currently I'm contracting on a Govt. project and I can only log in on site for security. It's M-F/9-5 with weekends free. The only time someone messages me is because they are being lazy - they can't be arsed to find out where the information is, or to work out the data. Helpful people, I'll help. The project I'm has enough knowledgable staff on site 24/7 to operate.
When I was in Compliance - it was very much a set working day, but now I work for myself, it's a totally different mindset; if I receive an email from a potential or existing client out-of-hours, then it's a pleasure to answer it.
In relation to the OP, I wouldn't mind getting the messages (if they were irregular) but I guess the outcome depends on if the sender of the messages expects a response out-of-hours, then something needs to be said.
In relation to the OP, I wouldn't mind getting the messages (if they were irregular) but I guess the outcome depends on if the sender of the messages expects a response out-of-hours, then something needs to be said.
I have worked in jobs where we dealt with loss of life, but it was all office based and we couldn't access systems unless in the office.
Now I have a relatively well paid job and I check and answer emails / coms if I know there is a job that my go beyond working hours or we have a fast ball, but I generally don't do out of hours.
My current boss has a habit of texting and mailing me at all sort of hours, very early on I put a boundary that he can do it, but I won't be reading them or answering. The company has a policy that you "have to have a mobile phone and we will give this number out" - which I do have an issue with, so I got a PAYG phone and just leave it in the office.
I never share personal numbers for work purposes.
I do appreciate that people work different hours and sometimes just want to get it out of their head.
Now I have a relatively well paid job and I check and answer emails / coms if I know there is a job that my go beyond working hours or we have a fast ball, but I generally don't do out of hours.
My current boss has a habit of texting and mailing me at all sort of hours, very early on I put a boundary that he can do it, but I won't be reading them or answering. The company has a policy that you "have to have a mobile phone and we will give this number out" - which I do have an issue with, so I got a PAYG phone and just leave it in the office.
I never share personal numbers for work purposes.
I do appreciate that people work different hours and sometimes just want to get it out of their head.
I have had a fair number of senior roles and check mails/ messages frequently - I prefer to respond quickly but do not expect the same out of hours . On international travel I always use home country time.
I have always had adequate personal time and messaging does not bother me at all.
A phone call has generally meant something seriously urgent if it is business.
Recognizing that we all have different work circumstances I do believe that in my business experience people who respond quickly and are problem solvers tend to progress more quickly. Not a requirement to do so and many will do ok without this.
I have always had adequate personal time and messaging does not bother me at all.
A phone call has generally meant something seriously urgent if it is business.
Recognizing that we all have different work circumstances I do believe that in my business experience people who respond quickly and are problem solvers tend to progress more quickly. Not a requirement to do so and many will do ok without this.
Pete54 said:
I was surprised by the number of people talking about not responding or even switching off work comms. But then I remembered the low levels of UK productivity and it all sort of fitted.
If you want to progress in a company and become a valued resource those tactics are very counter productive and will consign you to slow lane. Or if business gets really bad, the first out of the door lane.
People talking about they would respond in an emergency does suggest they would at least look at the comms - which is really the absolute minimum a business would expect. Always interesting to see how some people think.
I disagree, but it depends on the business/sector/industry. If you want to progress in a company and become a valued resource those tactics are very counter productive and will consign you to slow lane. Or if business gets really bad, the first out of the door lane.
People talking about they would respond in an emergency does suggest they would at least look at the comms - which is really the absolute minimum a business would expect. Always interesting to see how some people think.
I've done reasonably well for myself and been headhunted/promoted, been asked to be join the board of directors etc, and I very rarely interact with work outside of Monday to Friday, 8-5pm. There is not been the need to, as frankly no one else would be in the office or working outside those hours either. Our particular sector is very good at 'enforcing' free time and discouraging work outside core hours.
Last year, my employer abandoned working hours altogether. We have no timesheets, no clocking in out, no monitoring of hours, or anything like that. We just get asked to do our jobs when it is convenient for us, as long as we stick to a core of 9am - 4pm when arranging meetings or Teams calls. Quite a few people work 7:30am-3pm so they can finish early and pick kids up from school, or some people start late, finish early, then do a couple of hours late evening. I sometimes work a couple of long days then have an afternoon off.
It isn't about how many hours you do, or being contactable/responsive at all times, it is about performing your job well, although, as per my opining line, I fully accept it may be different in other businesses. Some businesses still place value on employees being at their beck and call out of hours, and being responsive. Time is money etc etc.
My boss sometimes messages me outside of work hours via WhatsApp, but purely for social reasons, and I'm totally fine with this as we get on very well and go for beers after work on occasion.
For clarity, I would personally be happy to answer the phone or a text message outside of traditional office hours on the odd occasion if it helped a situation, but I certainly wouldn't make a habit of routinely being on call for responses, discussions or decisions in my free time, and it isn't needed.
Uninterrupted time with my family is more important than my work.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 March 14:58
Lord Marylebone said:
Last year, my employer abandoned working hours altogether. We have no timesheets, no clocking in out, no monitoring of hours, or anything like that. We just get asked to do our jobs when it is convenient for us, as long as we stick to a core of 9am - 4pm when arranging meetings or Teams calls. Quite a few people work 7:30am-3pm so they can finish early and pick kids up from school, or some people start late, finish early, then do a couple of hours late evening. I sometimes work a couple of long days then have an afternoon off.
It isn't about how many hours you do, or being contactable/responsive at all times, it is about performing your job well.
That's how my work is. I usually do a couple of hours early morning then a couple of hours in the middle of the day.It isn't about how many hours you do, or being contactable/responsive at all times, it is about performing your job well.
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