To not check my work emails on my days off?

[OverpaidT]

I don't work a normal 9-5 job. I work shifts and only work three days a week due to my shifts. However, my company is made up of shift workers and 9-5 workers. If I send an email I don't expect a reply for a few days minimum as I might be sending it at 2am on a Saturday night. I don't check my emails when I'm home on non-working days. I received an email which has had me questioning this and I now wonder if people who do have equipment to WFH check their emails when they are on their days off?

Yes, most of the time. It’s an expectation at my level of seniority. If you’re senior too, then I’d say you should check them; however, because you’re questioning it I don’t think you are senior so enforce your boundaries now because they will go when you’re senior!

My job shares have always slightly crossed over with my hours. Our hours were arranged this way by managers for this reason. When I am out of the office my manager or job share can pick up anything thay needs dealing with. My manager dislikes me logging on outside my hours and doesn't do so herself (she is part time). If they are both on holiday, I might work mornings across the week to ensure someone is in every day.

No I don't. However if you are not going to be in for a couple of days I would say it's good practice to put an out of office reply on, saying when you are back and who someone can contact in the interim if it's urgent.

We work 9am to 5:45pm officially and the head of our organisation recently talked at length to senior managers about “creep” of work while we’ve all been WFH - with a strict instruction that they, as the managers and giving example, are not to send any emails after 7pm and not to deal with any email arriving after that (well - I suspect there may be exceptions for some things - but not to send things to their staff after 7 which would potentially put them under pressure to respond).

My new boss has given out to me for sending on something (a useful piece of information ) when I was on a recent day off - I shouldn’t have been looking at my emails.

(TBH that was a refreshing change as all recent bosses have been very happy to receive emails and often sent things needing attention until maybe 9 at night, but I’ve had access to my work emails on my phone since 2004).

No I don't as soon as I clock off everything is switched off and don't check until I log back in my next working day. In my previous job you were expected to answer emails 24/7, you were given work phone and expected to answer it at any hour, with no extra pay. It really took a toll on me. There needs to be a clear cut off from work so you can relax . In this case I work mention this to your manager. In my own place now we have people who work part time or shift and they either out an out of office on their mails or their working hours are at the bottom of their signature on their email to let people know what their working hours and you then know when you expect a response. If your manager is happy with you working this way then don't

I would set an out of office, so people know when to expect a reply.

But you do not need to check emails outside work, to me people slowly getting into these habits of always being available is creating a toxic work culture.

Just had this same conversation with my DH last week. He works shifts (4 on 4 off) and he doesn’t check his emails either. If they ever expected him to he would have a thing or two to say about it.

Yep I check emails even if an out of office on....it’s sort of expected. Even on holiday 🤔

I check my work emails when I’m not working, to be honest it’s probably a bad habit to get into. But then I’m working from home, I have all of the equipment and a company phone - I don’t expect those who work for me to check their work emails whilst they’re not working.

I don't need equipment to check my emails I just use my phone. I do check because I work part time in 2 jobs on 1.5 days a week and one 2 days a week so I like to be in the loop and address things I can quickly so others can get on. However I really like my job, I work in the cultural sector which is really hard to get into (from my background at least). So I do feel a bit lucky to be doing my job in a way. Even though its not amazingly paid and often temp contracts. But yes anyway I do check because I wnat to not because its expected.

'08:48GreySkyClouds

Yes, most of the time. It’s an expectation at my level of seniority. If you’re senior too, then I’d say you should check them; however, because you’re questioning it I don’t think you are senior so enforce your boundaries now because they will go when you’re senior!'

Yes that's the excuse dh gives too for doing it but he has an out of office for urgent queries so to me it isn't needed. Also there are pps on this thread also senior who don't so I think it depends largely on the company you're work for and the culture there.

In my workplace, as well as an out of office message it's also the custom to include your working days/times in your email signature. Personally I refuse to have work emails linked up to my personal phone (well technically I could access them via webmail, but that's such a faff that it would have to be really, really important!). YANBU OP, life-work boundaries are important.

I'm working on a "leave" day as we speak. I'm expected to check emails about 18 hours a day and I haven't had a full "leave" day honoured since March of this year (I've booked over two weeks of leave and had to work through every single one of them). If I didn't respond to an urgent email that came to me from a client when I was on leave I would probably be fired. I would be encouraged to forward the email to another team member to deal with, but if I actually didn't read it I would be in all kinds of trouble.

In theory you shouldn't have to read emails when you're off and should be able to enforce "boundaries".

In practice for people in certain types of jobs and at certain levels there are no boundaries.

I think it's important to skim through them. If my place of work is shut I would want to know before I get there. Also, if somebody I work with has covid I would quite like to know too. I read the titles then forget about them unless vital.

I am fortunate to wfh currently in a low paid p.t role and I never turn my laptop on off days.
I retain the same boundaries with my time as when office based. The workcrate is placed in a hidden cupboard and chair goes into the garage on my off days. My role is horribly stressful and keeps me up worrying as it is.
I'm not looking for advancement in my team because the senior and sideways roles look like a shit show.

I work four days a week (so 0.8 wte) in a senior management post. I put an out of office on for my non-working day (Friday) so no-one expects a reply. That said, I do tend to keep an eye on my emails for two reasons

1. It makes Monday easier as I don't
2. Sometimes a quick intervention via email on a Friday can save time for all concerned.

I only have experience of office based employment (or WFH thst would have been office based). Same with my DH. Mobile phones are given as part of employment with internet capacity

It’s expected we check emails even on holiday, days off, sick days etc. If you’re not checking messages it there would be delays, then an out of office message would be the norm, illustrating their working hours and to expect replies during these hours. That type of message, however, for non managerial level staff.

This is also the case for those employees who work reduced days or “compressed” days.

My daughter is a nanny. She’s expected to check her emails regularly, even on her days off.

@Mysterian

I think it's important to skim through them. If my place of work is shut I would want to know before I get there. Also, if somebody I work with has covid I would quite like to know too. I read the titles then forget about them unless vital.

Hm, I would expect my colleagues to send me a text/WhatsApp instead if there is really something serious.

No. You shouldn’t check your emails. My DH is a senior manager and has made it clear he doesn’t check his emails and doesn’t expect others too either. He has a mobile they can ring if it’s an emergency, but otherwise it can wait. Being always ‘on’ causes chronic stress and ultimately lower productivity.

@OvertheRainbow2U

I don't check my work email on days off but will do if on annual leave- just to keep up with any changes in the workplace - which happens regularly!

I am glad that this is actually physical not possible for me. Any leave for 5 working days or more means I can’t use the token to log into my work laptop. Pre-Covid we had to hand them to Compliance and now we have to sign a declaration which is filled in our personal file.

People with work phone could technical do read mails but it is monitored and unless you have a really good reason you get a serious telling off.

If there is a serious issue we need to know about or affects us and can’t wait we are contacted by HR or our team by phone.

No.

I also work part-time (but not shifts) and I don't check my emails on my days off.

Anyone who just expect someone to 'do more than their core hours' is delusional...

I do the hours I am paid for. End of.

If you need more of my time, you pay for it.

It is not acceptable for employers to employ someone part-time to save money but expect them to work more hours for free....

@thepeopleversuswork

I'm working on a "leave" day as we speak. I'm expected to check emails about 18 hours a day and I haven't had a full "leave" day honoured since March of this year (I've booked over two weeks of leave and had to work through every single one of them). If I didn't respond to an urgent email that came to me from a client when I was on leave I would probably be fired. I would be encouraged to forward the email to another team member to deal with, but if I actually didn't read it I would be in all kinds of trouble.

In theory you shouldn't have to read emails when you're off and should be able to enforce "boundaries".

In practice for people in certain types of jobs and at certain levels there are no boundaries.

That’s a poor company. You should have a colleague you work with and can brief before leave, then set out of office. If they’re overworked then that’s just not enough staffing levels. The result is utterly toxic. Get out before your body Or mind gives out.

Absolutely not. Work emails are for work time. My time is my own.

You have to have a balance and boundaries otherwise work will take over your life.

@alliejay81 I work four days like you (am on leave this week) but chose Monday, and incidentally found this creates less of the kind of issues you have.

Worth remembering that others lack of planning is their issue not yours.

Haha hell no. If they want me to check my emails on my days off they can give me an appropriate job title and payrise to go with it.

If your job isn't managerial and time critical, then no I wouldn't be checking OP.