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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:
WonderWomansSpin · 13/09/2019 13:17

If you don't need to answer emails at that time then I think it's questionable that it's 'working' time. You'd just be using work to distract you during your commute.
But, if the office expects you to be contactable during that time ie the emails need to read and replied to at that time, then it's working.

NotStayingIn · 13/09/2019 13:19

If someone I worked with said they worked a 10 hour day instead of 8 hours (for example) because answering emails during their commute counts as ‘work’ then I wouldn’t be very convinced. Really depends on the context and what point you are trying to make.

QueSera · 13/09/2019 13:21

Responding to work emails is work, no matter where you happen to be when you're doing it - office, home, train, bus etc

Ratonastick · 13/09/2019 13:22

I think it is. I used to have a 1.5 hour commute each way with 45 minutes on a train. I used to spend that time going through email, sorting out my diary, working out priorities and to do lists, etc. All stuff I would otherwise do at my desk. But the difference was that some days I would just read the paper or do my ocado shop. It wasn’t a guaranteed part of my working day, but when I did it (probably 75-80% of the time) it was valued work time.

Interestingly, my boss changed his form of commute to one that took about 10-15 minutes longer but allowed him to do exactly this as it allowed him to be more productive and effective during his time in the office with other people.

YobaOljazUwaque · 13/09/2019 13:22

You may be working, but it is not reasonable to claim that your 2 hours of travelling count towards the hours requirement of the job. I get that doing 2 hours on top of an 8 or 9 hour stint in the office is exhausting but you tackle that by getting a job closer to home or moving closer to work.

Where would you draw the line anyway? If a colleague lived 3 hours away, and arrived at noon claiming to have done 3 hours work already, then stayed for 2 hours before leaving at 2pm for their 3 hour journey back, would that seem like a full day's work?

On the train you may be able to reply to emails but you probably can't access the full range of software and information that you could at your desk, nor be available for phone queries or colleague conversations that may be needed. You certainly shouldn't be having anything on screen that is confidential or sensitive so there may be limits there too. Some days you may have to stand and can't even use your device. You are therefore not fully "at work".

Buy a neck-supporting travel pillow and invest in some good earphones and an app that does soothing sleep sounds, and use these hours for naps instead. You'll arrive at work in the morning, and to home in the evening, feeling rested and with a spring in your step having used the journey for effective rest which will make both work and home time feel less draining.

thecatsthecats · 13/09/2019 13:23

As a manager, I would be very discouraging of an employee doing work whilst commuting.

You don't have all your work tools, references or materials, and you can't guarantee a work environment. Plus a phone is not a fitting substitute for a work laptop and you can't write emails as quickly or perform any other task as quickly. It will add up.

But I ban company emails on phones as far as I humanly can anyway.

OakElmAsh · 13/09/2019 13:24

I think there's a couple of subtleties here:

Do you absolutely have to answer email during your commute ? Or are you getting them out of the way so that you can orgnaise your day in the office without having to answer them ? If you're choosing to do this because it makes your work day easier and because it kills time in the train, as PPs have said, you could also choose to read a book, listen to a podcast, watch something you've downloaded from Netflix
However if there is a clear and (importantly) stated need for you to respond to email during your commute, then it could be considered "working time"

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/09/2019 13:25

I don't think you can say 'I do emails on the train so actually I'm leaving the office an hour early every day.' But equally I think you can say 'I do emails on the train so even though there was a half hour hold up yesterday, I don't have any time to make up.'

It's all about give and take, isn't it?

BlueKarou · 13/09/2019 13:36

Depends on how much of your job is email based. I could probably spend 2 or 3 minutes going through my emails, maybe send a reply or accept a meeting request, but then I'd run out of things to do without my laptop on and connected to the work network.

If you're making as much of a contribution as you would in the office then I guess you could call it work time. I can't think of many people from my place of work who could be fully working with just a phone and their emails.

Chitarra · 13/09/2019 13:39

If you’re trying to claim that your hours at the office should be reduced by the length of your time on the train then YABU and I don’t know anyone who does this.

If you’re arguing with someone because you used the phrase “I was working on the train” and they said “no you weren’t” then YANBU.

pimbee · 13/09/2019 13:43

In a sense it is working, when I am on a train going to a course and doing this I will "clock in" from when I am on the train (I'm travelling on work's time too anyway) but when I used to get the train into work as part of my commute I didn't "clock in" until I was at the office. So it is kind of work....but not to the extent I would consider you clocked on- if that makes sense?

Rezie · 13/09/2019 13:45

I know few people that commute to work 2h one way. The commute is considered part of his work day. So he is in the office for 4h/day. But it has been separately agreed and mentioned in his contract.

Yes it is working. If manager is claiming it isn't then stop doing it. I would never recommend doing free work.

RedPanda2 · 13/09/2019 13:46

Yes it is working.

Bibidy · 13/09/2019 13:47

Obviously it's working but not something you can count/claim back as it's your own choice to check your emails out of hours.

Answerthequestion · 13/09/2019 13:51

But I ban company emails on phones as far as I humanly can anyway

Why? I have absolutely no issue with this at all. I couldn’t care less how emails are responded to so long as they’re done

Dutch1e · 13/09/2019 13:51

You are working, but it is not as productive as working in the office.

Fully-remote workers might disagree. I find an office environment distracting and unproductive (the only exception being the odd occasion when face-to-face group meetings are held to make a single decision).

With good equipment and a strong connection the train is a great place to get a lot achieved.

youngestisapsycho · 13/09/2019 13:51

Do the emails need immediate attention. Are you just replying cos you're on the train doing nothing?

gamerwidow · 13/09/2019 13:53

Commuting isn't part of your working day even if you choose to answer work emails during your commute.

If work were to insist you deal with emails during this period then this would be different but you can't unilaterally decide that you should be paid for working during your commute. If work won't pay you for it you have the right to stop doing it though.

I look at emails all the time during my non working hours but it is my choice to get ahead of things no-one asks me to.

MRex · 13/09/2019 13:55

I ban company emails on phones as far as I humanly can anyway
What's your objection to people being connected to their work and efficient? Some aspects of work need privacy, but a phone is more private than a laptop on the train.

Chathamhouserules · 13/09/2019 13:57

I have a 1.5 hour commute each way with a good hour on a comfortable train with WiFi. I do some of my best work on my laptop on the train because there are no distractions from other people. I work about 6 hours in the office and about 1.5 to 2 hours on the train. My manager has no issue as long as I get my work done.
I'd have to trust someone very much to allow them to do that. But I'm lucky because my manager knows I work hard and I do a lot of writing etc that can be done on trains, and I don't need things that are in the office.

Dutch1e · 13/09/2019 13:57

Commuting isn't part of your working day even if you choose to answer work emails during your commute.

You're right, but a long commute that involves regularly working can make a strong case for a couple of WFH days each week (generally speaking I mean, I've no idea what this particular case is about)

lavenderbluedilly · 13/09/2019 13:58

Yes, but are you choosing to do this additional work or have you been asked to? Is there ample time during your contracted hours to deal with the emails instead?

Chathamhouserules · 13/09/2019 13:59

I wouldn't do a long commute unless I could work on train aa otherwise it gets a bit boring and I'd have to leave home super early and get back late.

thecatsthecats · 13/09/2019 13:59

Why? I have absolutely no issue with this at all. I couldn’t care less how emails are responded to so long as they’re done.

  1. Employee wellbeing. Downtime is good for employees.
  2. Employee ability. Downtime actually also improves employees mental agility.
  3. As I mentioned in my first post, employee errors due to do not being fully 'on task'.
  4. As a bonus, a lot of our work involves data security.

There are studies around this, but I have plenty of first hand experience. One of our senior managers is always 'on', even on holiday. He's ridiculously burned out, and it shows in his work.

I have been the employee who was always on. My mental and physical health suffered badly. I'm not letting anyone do that to themselves on my watch.

ElizaPancakes · 13/09/2019 14:00

Of course it is work.

If you’re using that as an excuse to come in later, I see the direction they’re coming from but they’re still wrong.