Is it bad to wait this long sending work emails?

[ohgodimanidiot]

Im starting a new job in August and they have kindly arranged a catch-up lunch to introduce me to people.

I am just looking through the email trail and I have just realised to my horror that I have taken about 5-7 days to replace to each stage of the email process e.g. does this day work for you, do you have any food preferences?

This is really not the done thing in the workplace is it!!!!!

Is this poor conduct?

It's not the end of the world, but it doesn't make you look very enthusiastic, does it?
Why did you wait so long? Is it just one or several?

Erm, I'll be honest, I wouldn't be very impressed. One email, ok, but several would probably be annoying. Still, you don't work for them yet, plenty of time to redeem yourself before August!

Can you sync your emails to your phone so you can reply straight away? I would be pretty annoyed with a new starter being very slow tbh. You can redeem yourself if you suddenly sort yourself out and become uber efficient from now on.

Why did it take so long to reply? They were probably trying to get dates in the diary and waiting for you to reply. I wouldn't be impressed especially if it was more than once.

Ok so Ive just chcked and it was 4 days and then 7 days.

For two emails.

I was actually abroad when the second was received so wasn't checking my emails very often.

Does that redeem it slightly?

Did you apologise when you replied to say you'd been away?

I didn't, no.

I feel sick!

Must give a very bad impression.

How long is it since the last email?

It was sent this morning, I have replied now.

Oh shit, I really feel sick.

Should I send a quick apology?

I would,but not if there is lots of people cc'd in, send it to the original person

Make sure you don't look as though you are making excuses though..like it or not, (and believe me I don't! ) being abroad, as well asalmost anything else you could mention no longer works as a valid reason not to check your emails. (I hate that we are expected to be available 24/7 but it's a sad fact of modern life) I would just apologise firmly 'I've just noticed it took me X days to get back to you and would like to apologise for that.'

Don't apologise - that starts the trend of 'always apologising', that then, in the recipients eyes turns in to 'always in the wrong'.

August is months away - it will all be forgotten before you start.

Instead, at an appropriate time, find a suitable subject to send an email TO them, with the purpose of catching up - maybe after seeing an item in the news about the job / clients / whatever.

That will boost your 'keenness' points.

Don't over think stuff - I am sure they are not.

Christ stop worrying about it - it's the best part of 3 months away and you've been away. You can say AT the lunch by way of conversation that you've been abroad doing x y and z.

Don't apologise. They may not have even realised how long you have taken. At work I communicate via email and don't check how long people take to reply unless it's urgent xx

Travelling abroad is a valid excuse provided you clearly say upfront before going away that you are due to be on a trip abroad and apologies in advance if you don't respond to emails as quickly as you would like.

I wouldn't beat yourself up about it ohgod, something to watch out for when you start work.

You are allowed to have a life when not at work, it's OK
you have allowed plenty of time for them to prepare their introductions, etc
and Im sure you will email promptly in future

I doubt they are analysing the time taken to reply, I'd assume you were away without access or just not checking daily. I think apologising to the orginal sender could make you look a bit neurotic. If the catch up day is very soon and they'd have been waiting for a swift reply that is slightly different and may be worth a quick mail to sender only explaining delay and expressing hope the suggested day still works.

Don't apologise, they might not have noticed but you flagging it up may not go in your favour.

I'd just make note to check emails more regularly & reply asap. Agree with pp, make sure their synced to your phone.

Good luck in your new job! (For Aug)

I would just have mentioned, very briefly, the reason for the delay when replying to the email. It's not a big deal. You don't start until August so there is presumably no particular urgency to any of this. And until August they have no call on your time.

Anyway, I think you're overreacting and this is a non issue, but next time you go away, you could consider setting up an automatic reply with your date of return.

Be sure to send an email thanking them for the catchup lunch on the same day !

Oh I don't reply to work emails sometimes for longer than that. Never had a negative comment about it..I wouldn't worry.

I think there is a difference once you are working somewhere and are an established colleague tbh.

And really, "no access" can't possibly be given anywhere anymore. Not in the days of wifi/smartphones. Nobody will believe you. Better not to say anything IMO. Again, once you are in situ, it's fine to say "Oi, I'm on leave next week, so don't even think about contacting me, I won't be checking my email" but I wouldn't use it as a reason to not have replied before starting. I'd certainly raise an eyebrow, more so than the lateness in replying itself.

They won't say anything though- honestly. They might privately think that they hope you aren't going to be flakey, but you're going to show them you're not!