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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

That replying to work emails on the train IS working?

292 replies

managedmis · 13/09/2019 12:43

Jury seems to be out on this one at work so thought I'd ask on her.

I commute 2 hours per day to get to work, an hour there and back. I have my work email on my phone and reply /send emails when I'm on the train. Note that my role is admin based, so always loads of emails to respond to etc.

I consider that this is work.

What do you think?

OP posts:
PinkLacy · 13/09/2019 12:44

Of course you are working.

ScreamingValenta · 13/09/2019 12:45

Of course it is work, unless they're all emails from colleagues planning social events.

BrunoLovesMe · 13/09/2019 12:45

Yep, it’s working.

ChicCroissant · 13/09/2019 12:46

I don't think commuting time is working time, no. If you are trying to claim commuting time as part of your working day it is a massive no from me.

CloudRusting · 13/09/2019 12:46

What’s the context? Who is saying it isn’t work and for what purposes?

SundayShawl · 13/09/2019 12:46

Where I work we get 15 minutes per phonecall or email if it's in our own time.

Your doing it for their benefit after all.

MulticolourMophead · 13/09/2019 12:46

Yes, it's working. Is someone telling you it isn't?

Ishoos · 13/09/2019 12:47

I’d say no. If you are travelling for work ie to an appointment then yes that would be part of your working day but not the commute. I wouldn’t have thought that you’d be as productive in an hour on the train as you would in the office but may be worth asking if it would be possible to negotiate some of the time to count.

kjhkj · 13/09/2019 12:47

You are working but as pp has said, commuting time is not part of your working day.

Floralnomad · 13/09/2019 12:49

Yes you are working , no you can’t work 2 hours less in the actual office and call it part of your day so if that’s the angle you are coming from read a book on the train instead.

m0therofdragons · 13/09/2019 12:49

Depends on the workplace. Dh's says if your doing work then it doesn't matter where you are and it counts and actively encourages outcomes over hours so as long as the job is done you can pop off for a 2 hour lunch break etc but many workplaces like bums on seats and unless you're in your seat then it doesn't count. They tend to be less productive workplaces ime

eurochick · 13/09/2019 12:49

It depends. If you are solidly replying to emails for the train journey maybe. If you are dealing with one or two things that happen to come up then probably not.

WidowTwonky · 13/09/2019 12:50

Yes of course you are working

akkakk · 13/09/2019 12:50

It is pretty simple...
commuting is not work time - if you choose to answer work emails during that time / work expects you to, then that is a slightly different issue - but it is generally accepted (including HMRC for tax reasons) that commuting is not itself work time...

dollydaydream114 · 13/09/2019 12:50

It’s work, yes. Obviously how much work it is depends on how many emails you answer and how much of your journey you spend on it. I wouldn’t consider someone who answers two or three emails on a two-hour journey to have ‘spent their journey working’ but obviously they have done a few minutes’ work, if that makes sense.

Also do you do it because you want to use your journey that way, or because your employer expects you to? In other words, if it’s your choice then I wouldn’t expect your colleagues to sympathise much but if it’s something you have to do, then it’s a bit different.

MulticolourMophead · 13/09/2019 12:50

I don't think commuting time is working time, no. If you are trying to claim commuting time as part of your working day it is a massive no from me.

Emails are time stamped, it's easy to see when they've been worked on. Doesn't matter if OP is answering them on the commute or in the office, she's still working.

If OP is being told it can't be considered working, then I'd stop answering any emails, calls, etc.

RaisinsRuinEverything · 13/09/2019 12:51

The time you spend reading and writing emails is working time but you can’t claim the whole 2-hour commute. You’d have to keep a record of how much time you spend emailing.

WidowTwonky · 13/09/2019 12:51

OP is not asking about work hours though - question is do you consider answering work email to be work

CassianAndor · 13/09/2019 12:52

it's work, but it's up to you whether you chose to work on your commute or not.

My employers aren't a charity therefore I don't donate my time to them for free, so time on my commute is my time.

Stickystuck · 13/09/2019 12:52

Yes you are working but why are you doing it? If your workload is too heavy and you can't manage within your working hours then speak to your manager. Your commute is your own personal time and you cannot claim expenses or a tax deduction for it.

user1487194234 · 13/09/2019 12:52

It is work,but you wouldn't expect to get paid for it

RainOrSun · 13/09/2019 12:52

You are working, but it is not as productive as working in the office.
So, I would do it if I was going to need to work over my hours, but wouldnt count it towards my 7.6 hrs of daily work.

ScreamingValenta · 13/09/2019 12:52

If OP is being told it can't be considered working, then I'd stop answering any emails, calls, etc.

I agree with this.

Hont1986 · 13/09/2019 12:53

Are you trying to claim that you can get in at 9:30 and leave at 16:30 because your commute is still time spent working?

Replying to emails is work but you aren't necessarily 'at work' while you do it.

Actionhasmagic · 13/09/2019 12:53

It’s work but if you wanted to have a work free commute you could maybe just listen to a podcast. Any emailing is classed as work