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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask what you’d interpret by the phrase “Close of Play”

330 replies

CyanSnake · 18/03/2021 19:24

Hello all.

WIBU to ask you to help settle a light hearted debate I had with a colleague over lunch today?

I’d sent an email out asking for a task to be completed “by close of play Friday”. Now what I meant by this, was that I’m going to work on the project over the weekend; so I need other staff to do their part before 5pm on Friday.

If I knew I wasn’t going to look at it until Monday I’d have said “The deadline is first thing Monday” or “Can I have it by 9am Monday.”

Now my colleague said that she would interpret the phrase “by close of play Friday” to mean “I want to work on it first thing Monday” and that if I directly set a deadline of Monday morning it sounds like I’m directing staff to work over the weekend.

I asked what she would do if she needed something to work on over the weekend and she said she’d ask for it by Friday lunch and chase over the afternoon if it wasn’t done.

So how would you take the phrase?

YANBU - “Close of play Friday” means “By end of business hours on Friday”

YABU - “Close of play Friday” means “On my desk before I start work on Monday”

OP posts:
EternalOptimist7 · 18/03/2021 20:06

AdrosAdraDrosDolig what’s not to understand?! And I’m wondering what your username means?

PanickedPanini · 18/03/2021 20:07

Wasn't there a lawsuit about this phrase? Some lawyers sent something "late" because the interpretation wasn't clear.

Anyway it means end of day Friday but people are always late in my experience and would think that you're not going to be looking at it until Monday morning so what's the harm in sending it then? So I think you should have been clear that you will be working over the weekend, especially if that isn't normal practice in your company.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 18/03/2021 20:07

I'd think finished by 5pm Friday. A deadline is a deadline, not a guideline.

However, knowing what other people are like piss takers , I'd have said in the email 'Close of Play Thursday' preferably last Thursday to boot, knowing I'd still be chasing some of them up 2.30pm Friday and there would probably at least one submission still outstanding at 5.05pm. If they hadn't phoned in sick already.

ElderMillennial · 18/03/2021 20:09

@milinhas

“Before you go home on Friday” but not necessarily by 5pm!
This
pcmcgregor · 18/03/2021 20:09

Midnight on Friday

DavidsSchitt · 18/03/2021 20:10

It means the end of the working day on Friday but is a phrase that I'd happily stick in room 101 along with "singing from the same hymn sheet" and "working under the same umbrella"

MRex · 18/03/2021 20:13

I'd think it should be submitted by 5pm on Friday and wouldn't worry about asking if it can be submitted up until midnight on Friday. That's the thing really; you meet the timescale easily by firing it over earlier on Friday to be polite, but if you'll struggle to make the time then you act like a human and ask the recipient if your later time is ok or not.

If your colleague was submitting for a professional bid then they'd risk being thrown out of the process by bit responding until the end of the weekend, certainly if they are not one of the few favourites already.

Bourbonbiccy · 18/03/2021 20:15

End of the working day Friday.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 18/03/2021 20:16

@SheilaTheThief

End of business day Friday
End of business on Friday.

Next time, don't credit her with any intelligence, and tell her "5.00pm on Friday. FRIDAY. FIVE O'CLOCK. IN THE AFTERNOON."

Make it clear.

Insertfunnyname · 18/03/2021 20:17

Friday 5pm. Or the end of your working day Friday if that happens to be 6pm or similar.

MillyMolly123 · 18/03/2021 20:21

5pm Friday, not sure how it can be interpreted in any other way Confused

NovemberR · 18/03/2021 20:22

Pretty much unanimous that it's by end of office hours on Friday! I would say by 5pm, but wouldn't quibble if I had it by about 6.30.

I'd possibly be going to take a look at it either Friday evening or over the weekend, but that's because I have a job that often carries on out of hours.

I'd be pissed off to not have it by early evening.

user1471464218 · 18/03/2021 20:23

Yeah 5pm Fri.... but in my work we do shifts so you should know that someone is working the weekend and might want to work on the project, Monday morning definitely wouldn't work for us

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 18/03/2021 20:23

Midnight on Friday. The fact that you choose to stop work at 5 pm doesn't make that arbitrary time anyone else's "close of play". If you want it by 5 pm, say 5 pm and explain why you need it by that precise time.

Stoic123 · 18/03/2021 20:23

I would interpret to be done before logging off for the day on Friday (not necessarily 5pm if work later).

Chloemol · 18/03/2021 20:24

End of business friday

MRex · 18/03/2021 20:25

Another note though, it does depend on the team; with global teams it's expected to be end of day in their timezone if the specific time and timezone hasn't been specified.

GreyhoundG1rl · 18/03/2021 20:27

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

Midnight on Friday. The fact that you choose to stop work at 5 pm doesn't make that arbitrary time anyone else's "close of play". If you want it by 5 pm, say 5 pm and explain why you need it by that precise time.
No, it’s before the person leaves the office. If they actually needed to stay till midnight in order to finish the work there’d need to be a conversation about that.
museumum · 18/03/2021 20:27

Close of play friday means before you log off. For many designers I work with that can be 8 or 9pm but if they wanted an extension till Monday morning I’d expect them to ask for it not just assume.

Cam2020 · 18/03/2021 20:30

Had this so many times in previous jobs! People in other locations fully aware that where I am my COB is different to theirs taking the piss and sending things late at night. I ended up putting a specific time. Always the same culprit/s every time without fail.

DiamondBright · 18/03/2021 20:31

It always means by the end of the working day on Friday, I'd generally use it for something I need to be able to work on the following Monday so I'd anticipate responses coming back first thing Monday morning (lots of us start at 8am or earlier) so if I needed to work on it over the weekend I'd say that or I'd ask for it by Friday lunchtime.

1Morewineplease · 18/03/2021 20:33

Your friend is being silly.

GreyhoundG1rl · 18/03/2021 20:35

@DiamondBright

It always means by the end of the working day on Friday, I'd generally use it for something I need to be able to work on the following Monday so I'd anticipate responses coming back first thing Monday morning (lots of us start at 8am or earlier) so if I needed to work on it over the weekend I'd say that or I'd ask for it by Friday lunchtime.
Why, if you see it as meaning the end of the working day on Friday (which it does) would you anticipate people ignoring this and sending things on Monday morning? Confused
partyatthepalace · 18/03/2021 20:36

@SheilaTheThief

End of business day Friday
This is what it means. There is no other interpretation!
CombatBarbie · 18/03/2021 20:39

Why would you mention Friday if you want it Monday 🤔 close of play means end of the working day of the specified day