How many is a barrage of emails?

[RechargeableGnu]

Just that - if someone was being bombarded or barraged with emails, how many emails in numbers would that be in your eyes? And in what time frame?

AIBU - can't find a figure on Google!

Depends on the context - ten emails in a day from my line manager outlining different work they needed doing, upcoming events, a new starter etc etc is completely different from ten emails in a day on the topic of why I’m missing Christmas with Aunty Hilda from a pissed off cousin.

Five or six on the same topic from a friend or relative would feel excessive, I think.

10 from an abusive ex or toxic ex friend in a week would be a barrage. 10 emails saying the same thing in different ways over a week could feel like a barrage. 10 emails in a week when the person hasn't answered any could feel like a barrage. 10 emails when they're part of a discussion back and forth even in a day might not feel like a barrage. Feelings between the parties, the content of the emails and the time frame all matter.

3 +

Apparently it relates to activities in quick succession' as well the number.

Context? If it's work, I am guessing you don't get much choice with how many you get.

If it's personal, more than two in a row would be irritating.

I class a ‘barrage’ of anything as someone contacting you over and over again without giving you time to reply.. could be the same topic or multiple different ones, I’d say at least 3.

if you’ve had time to reply and you are ignoring them then getting multiple emails from them isn’t a barrage as such, it’s a follow up.

Give us some context, here!

I've been in 'funnels' where they've sent five emails a day and I've very quickly bailed off the mailing list.

I get Caroline Criado Perez' occasional newsletter and it's a great read.

I've had colleagues with issues who never bloody stopped with the emails, and had to speak to the manager.

Can you expand?

Context is key!

You need to tell us what the situation is, and you will be able to get people to offer you their opinion.

I think more than three a day, over multiple days.

Or five+ in one day.

But it does depend on the circumstances.

If I haven’t replied to the first or second, I would see yet another as being bombarded. Or being unnecessarily copied in on several emails as ‘a barrage’. Also when a group email is being replied to by others using ‘reply all’.
We do need some context, is it poor email etiquette at work or personal emails?

But generally 3 or more would feel like a barrage to the recipient. If you need to send that many in quick succession, put it all in one email.

3 or more detailing similar or asking for something similar or chasing would be a barrage in my opinion.

One or two is tbe limit, unless forwarding on something or a different topic if useful to keep emails separate however I would prep the person in an email or call first...apologies H there are a few actions today, I'll send them through separately to help you move each forward. Etc

More than two regarding the same topic.

My tolerance would be higher in a professional setting than personal.

One email with a polite follow up is acceptable imo

No it is not something google can answer.

It depends

Colleague sent seven emails in 30 minutes asking for clarification on project, each time I answered (in full) they'd ask something else.

Some of it was completely wrong, on one they said they could see I'd amended 2023 doc but could I amend 2024 - I had amended 2024 and said as much and also sent the link to the specific document but the questions kept coming!

And copied in multiple people each time...

We have rules around this sort of stuff so it wouldn’t happen where I am. If it going to take more than 3 emails on the topic then it needs to be a phone call as clearly the comms isn’t working on email.

is there a backstory to you and this colleague? Were they against a deadline and maybe a bit flustered? As a one off I’d be ok with i think. Why was she cc loads of others?

I feel “barrage” here implies all relating to same or similar topic, not giving sufficient time to reply and possibly with an aggressive tone to them. I think 3+ in a single day I would be getting a bit frustrated.

A barrage suggested these are received without reply. You had an annoying exchange with a needy colleague. I suspect they were panicking and looking to you for help support.

if you’d not replied but kept receiving demands for help that would be a barrage.

let it go and be kinder.

I think double or triple what would be appropriate in the context.

Colleague sounds like a pain in the arse. Perhaps push back and ask them to collate their queries so that they only contact you once a day on this project/issue. Explain that it’s very distracting to have repeated emails.

I suppose you’re not obliged to read or reply immediately, but I’d find this hard going.

Context is very important here .
My company does not email after 6pm anything sent after this ( very rarely) does not require a response.

I work part time . Etiquette ( unsaid - it's become the culture as led by new boss 6 years ago ) in my company is you do not message on days I'm not in .

I have complained about receiving a barrage of emails ... I used this exact word . I received 3 emails in 2 weeks on my day off from the same person . I saw a pattern developing by this person ... I requested a meeting with my line manager and voiced what I wanted ... they do not email on my days off ... they email other sources first .

Haven't had an email since and told I acted professionally and they shared my concern up the chain just in case it was made out I was being obstructive .

I think it's when somebody doesn't give you the opportunity to answer but sends another message immediately afterwards.

One of you needed to say at the 3rd or 4th email in 30mins (?!).. " email isn't working here, politely you need more support, either seek alternative real-time help or see my diary availability for a meeting".

Then leave it to them..

Just because someone played a tune, doesn't force you to dance, as long as it's not a reasonable request e.g. your boss who should know or be able to help prioritise your tasks if there's a conflict on time.

@neonjumper

My company does not email after 6pm anything sent after this ( very rarely) does not require a response.

I always laugh bitterly when I read stuff like this. “Barrage” characterises normal course of business in my line of work. I get several hundred emails a day and probably half of those are orders from my supervisors who will follow up within an hour if things aren’t replied to. Honestly I know it’s dysfunctional but our company wouldn’t work if we had rules about not emailing after 6pm. It is what it is.

We routinely have to hand over to colleagues in the US: if I downed tools and clocked off at 6pm on the dot clients would not be properly serviced.

While I agree in theory that repeatedly chasing and emailing outside office hours are stressful and unpleasant I think having hard rules about this is a bit naive and bureaucratic it makes me think it’s probably only public sector which can afford to be this precious about it.

I also think people are being a bit ridiculous when they say an email on their day off is intrusive. No one is forcing you to open it, let alone respond. Just let it sit there until you get in. Managing email overload in a way that suits your life is absolutely fine. Mandating that everyone follows this even if it’s to the detriment of the business overall is unhelpful and probably not great for the company.

I get several hundred emails a day and probably half of those are orders from my supervisors who will follow up within an hour if things aren’t replied to

I don't know how you get anything done, you must spend your day managing emails!