How long to reply to an email

[pamelanoon]

If i havent replied to an email one day after it was sent, i get an email from my boss asking why it was not replied to.

I could still be checking out some things before replying.

Is this excessive. It feels like it is to me. How long does your boss give you to reply

Wow I’m feeling a bit humbled by these responses - it routinely takes me days if not weeks to respond to emails!

If it was an instruction to do a task, I'd expect to have semblance of how urgent it was. But if it was part of my day to day work then I'd try and start doing it immediately, then reply once it was complete. If I was unsure I'd ask when they need it by as I'm also doing xyz.

It really depends on how long it takes to do the thing they needed and how busy you were. And the nature of the request.

They clearly wanted it sooner. But they shouldn't be asking 'why didn't you reply', (what do they think you'll say 'oh, because I was ignoring you and think you're a tosser'?!)
They should politely follow it up with 'have you finished doing this yet? If not can you do so now please as I have x deadline'.

You asked if it was excessive - most people said no. Some kind people offered suggestions to work differently and you countered all of them.

What is it you actually want to hear?

if your boss says you have time and you say you don’t then one of you is wrong. If it’s your boss then they need to show you how they think you have time or tell you what bit of your job they want you to do later to reply to emails.

Its often nothing to do with the job I get emails from her saying that we need to clean the kitchen, or has anyone taken her cup etc.

They are definitely non urgent

I don't agree that most people said no.

The poster above you said that she takes weeks to reply to emails.

They are clearly an arse then.

That is literally I think the only poster who has said that, which means that yes, most people did say no.

@LightCameraBitchSmile
I'm the same, I have hundreds of unread emails. I have no idea if they are important or not, as I just don't have time day to day to get through them.

People often dont get a reply from me for a week.

Some I reply to in minutes.

Sounds like a discussion is needed. If swift email turnaround is required then maybe need a shared mailbox that one of you always covers rather than one each. Or assigned time start, middle and end of day for emails and not the other stuff.

Since your manager clearly expects responses by the end of each day I would send a response that day - in some cases it would be “ I am still working on x so hope have the answer by tomorrow lunchtime “

proactive

Create a doc with some set phrases and c&p across

How many emails do you get in one day?

Maybe send her one, and say that on average, you usually receive 100 emails a day (or whatever) and which ones would she like you to prioritise over all the others.

It depends entirely on what was being asked in the email.

Once you know what they want and when you can then manage their expectations as to when they are going to get a reply.

As a general rule I would say that anybody who sends an email to you asking you why they have not had a reply to a previous email is a moron.

However as they are your boss, you can just apologise and say you didn’t realise it was urgent and let them know when you will do it by.

If she is cc’d in and it’s mega urgent , tell her to reply to it

My team and I are extremely busy so our rule is that emails should be replied to within 24 hours Mon-Fri. That has been set by the boss and I feel it's fair. If it's going to be longer (for example if the email needs more thought and time spent on it) then a holding email should be sent.

It sounds like you need a discussion with your boss about setting some more realistic expectations. I sometimes take longer to reply to emails, but I'm also missing lunch breaks to get my job done and I'm only human. So be it.

Work in the media industry - and if something isn't urgent, some people can take weeks to reply.

I think it's quite rude though, and will always try to respond to something within 48 hours max, even if it's a 'thanks, I'll get back to you' email.

If it was my boss id usually reply that day even if a holding email.

I'm quite responsive and it does my head in when emails go unanswered, although if you do eventually reply just not straight away its not as bad as completely ignoring.