Answering work emails on the weekend

[Peter]

Does anyone else do this? Work-free weekends are sacred to me and to this point I've refused to engage with my inbox until Monday. But now I'm spending a lot of my Mondays catching up on weekend emails. Not from my coworkers but from external clients, etc. Is there any solution or is this just how it is?

 

[AgronAlum]

Does anyone else do this? Work-free weekends are sacred to me and to this point I've refused to engage with my inbox until Monday. But now I'm spending a lot of my Mondays catching up on weekend emails. Not from my coworkers but from external clients, etc. Is there any solution or is this just how it is?

I generally read them enough (usually just the notification) to get the gist of what is being sent but very rarely answer them.

I work with some people that work quite literally every single weekend in the office (a couple people both days every single weekend) but I actually enjoy spending time with my family.

 

[EnkAMania]

I generally read them enough (usually just the notification) to get the gist of what is being sent but very rarely answer them.

Pretty much the same, I'll glance them on Sunday night.

 

[Nelcyn]

No!

 

[JM4CY]

Shouldn’t, but I do.

 

[Sousaclone]

I generally read them enough (usually just the notification) to get the gist of what is being sent but very rarely answer them.

I'd agree. I'll look at the subject line (or the sender) to have an idea where it needs to rank in my priority list on Monday. Some stuff I'll respond to if it's a quick response

I am guilty of sending work emails on Saturdays but typically it's because I'm working on a Saturday playing catch up. I don't (typically), expect responses over the weekend unless it's a critical item.

 

[Mr Janny]

I generally read them enough (usually just the notification) to get the gist of what is being sent but very rarely answer them.

Yeah, I'm the same. If there's an emergency like a system outage, I'll respond, but I've discovered that there are some people that will continue to send email at all times of the day and on the weekend. And they're not necessarily expecting an answer, but if you do respond, they're more than happy to engage you and drag you down with them.

So, I keep an eye on my email, but if you want me to respond on a weekend, you'd better have a pretty eye grabbing subject line.

 

[aeroclone]

Unless there is something really pressing, no. And by really pressing I would say that is a couple weekends a year, not a common thing. Most of it can wait.

 

[Fishhead]

Imagine back in time when there were no cell phones, no home computers to even have this be a subject.

 

[mj4cy]

I do if its people I know respect my time and worth and show appreciation for me taking weekend time to answer. I don't if its someone who is needy or who waited until the last minute.

 

[CycloneNorth]

I always look as they come in but typically wait until Monday to reply unless it is something that needs to be done prior to Monday morning which it almost never is.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Always. I can't stand letting it go.

 

[Mr Janny]

When it comes to responding after hours, there are three questions that need to be answered:

Is it an emergency?
Do I like you?
Do I care if you don't like me?

A yes to any of those, and I'll probably respond. If it's straight "No" it can wait until the next business day

 

[chuckd4735]

Its something I have got a lot better about ignoring over the last few years. Work text messages I struggle with because I tend to forget about texts on Monday morning that I get Saturday morning. On those, I will usually just respond and say something like "remind me on Monday".

On a side note, we were on vacation 3 weeks ago, and I shut my phone off the entire time and locked it in the safe. Once of the best weeks of my life.

 

[Messi]

My daily out of office

Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office with limited email access. I will be returning the next business day at 0800 cst

If you need immediate assistance before then, you may reach me at my mobile - 123.456.7890

putting my cell in there has more or less allowed me to not doom scroll emails all weekend. if its an emergency and they call me I figure its worth picking up the phone and seeing what's going on.

 

[Mr Janny]

Its something I have got a lot better about ignoring over the last few years. Work text messages I struggle with because I tend to forget about texts on Monday morning that I get Saturday morning. On those, I will usually just respond and say something like "remind me on Monday".

On a side note, we were on vacation 3 weeks ago, and I shut my phone off the entire time and locked it in the safe. Once of the best weeks of my life.

It takes a little bit for the withdrawal symptoms from being cut off from work communication, to wear off, but once they do, it's glorious

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Literally turn off all notifications from Teams and Outlook on Friday around 4pm-ish and during all vacations.

If it’s truly an emergency it wouldn’t be done over those two contact mechanisms anyway.

 

[CyCrazy]

I will read them I won't respond until Monday.

 

[dosry5]

When it comes to responding after hours, there are three questions that need to be answered:

Is it an emergency?
Do I like you?
Do I care if you don't like me?

A yes to any of those, and I'll probably respond. If it's straight "No" it can wait until the next business day

Does this mean, as a CF staff member, you’re less likely to drop the ban hammer on a weekend? Asking for a friend….

 

[GMackey32]

Once I leave the office, it's a Monday problem. My time away from work is my time and I refuse to do anything work related.

I used to earlier in my career but have learned there needs to be boundaries.