Reasonable email response time

[schafernaker]

I work in a school and emailed the head teacher about quite a pressing personal issue (medical that he is aware of) and asked to meet with him at some point (probably in January). This was yesterday. He was in school for the rest of the day yesterday and today and I even saw him wondering around site with a Christmas hat on spreading festive cheer (checking we weren’t showing movies)

Is it unreasonable to think a reply in 24 hours would be a professional response? I know he has struggled to know how to deal with my personal situation and has previously spoken to my head of department to filter back an answer, but how hard can it be to respond? Would you follow up with a further email or go and knock and speak to him. It’s a situation that I can’t bury my head in the sand about and he will need to be informed as it will have implications for work.

Thoughts please!

Asking to meet at some point doesn’t sound like it needs an urgent response. If you Bercow an answer before the holidays, if knock and ask to talk.

Bercow? Bloody phone.

That should say “if you need an answer...”

I didn’t phrase it as at some point I did suggest either this week or the first week back, ideally this week.

Ah well

A week would be reasonable- perhaps longer this time of year

I think YABU and a bit self-centred. He’s a head teacher. Can you imagine what his inbox is like? He’ll have so much going on. And walking around spreading festive cheer is sort of part of leadership at this time of year. It’s not really up to you to decide how he spends his time.

Be careful in your follow up approach - do try to recognise that he has other demands on his time.

He is probably trying to find a suitable appointment time when he isn’t otherwise doing his job. Which includes spreading cheer and being visible to his staff.

Sometimes the only quick answer is no. I don’t respond to all emails within 24 hours and I usually can’t fit in last minute meeting requests unless they are urgent.

Part of his job actually involves tasks like “ wondering around site with a Christmas hat on spreading festive cheer“. YABU to expect him to adhere to a 24hr rule for non urgent emails.

I disagree with other posters. I'm a secondary teacher. I asked in the first week of September (arguably busier) to meet with the head teacher 'in the next week or so' and didn't even state why. It was organised for the next day. He said he understood that if staff wanted to meet with him, it almost certainly was urgent.
Does he have a pa you could do through?

Speak to your line manager or speak to your HT in person. Does he have a secretary that organises his diary? If so you could arrange a time via them.

I disagree with those who say he doesn’t need to respond. I would absolutely expect a response within a 24 hour period and every school I have worked in has had an expectation that emails are dealt with within one working day (that is a rule for all staff not just the head). That may mean a holding email - “yes, absolutely, I will get back to you with a time and date tomorrow”, but actually it doesn’t take more than two minutes to look at a diary and schedule a meeting. In a secondary school his PA would usually sort it so he would only need to reply to tell you to ask to find a suitable time with the PA. The attitude that personal issues are unimportant and don’t warrant any effort to respond is completely wrong and I’m actually a bit saddened that so many pps seem to think this is the case.

Having seen our HT's inbox, you're definitely BU.

If you really, really need to know you have the appointment booked (sounds like you genuinely do) then go in early today and grab him before school starts and make the appointment in person.

Not sure when your term finishes but we have 48 hour policy at our school. But if it is something you feel needs acting on directly, can you approach him again politely? End of terms are so busy, the HT might not have had time to read it yet or, like ours, seems to reply to staff emails at night time. I suggest either go through line manager or if HT is approachable, go and have a quick word if it is preying on your mind and you need to feel something is in place before holiday. He may very well reply today... mean this nicely but maybe next time try to email week before end of term if at all possible. He should reply within 24/48 hours but real world is not always like that. Hope it gets resolved for your peace of mind though.

YANBU to expect a reply. I would be expecting a reply today and would follow up with a polite reminder.

For those confused, dealing with employment issues is 100% part of his job, and a very important part.

At this time of year, a couple of days before the end of term, I'd expect a reply in the New Year.

If you see him around just go and talk to him in person and ask to meet. He probably has 101 things to do, if you speak to him you're likely to get bumped up the list.

I would expect a reply even if it’s just a holding one within 24 hours yes.

He is probably trying to find a suitable appointment time when he isn’t otherwise doing his job.

Staffing is his job, and he already knows she’s dealing with something sensitive. I’d have expected a pretty quick response even if it was to say he couldn’t see you til after the holidays.

I aouldnt expect a response within 24 hours, I'd allow 2 or 3 days.

😂