© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
Quick question
Do you think it is rude to send emails to clients/business partners after a certain time? I generally restrict myself to sending emails during daylight hours (maybe around 6am-8pm) but this might be an unnecessary formality on my end. Thoughts?
HILYEDUCATED
I AM A GOOD WOMAN
285
04/13/19 at 12:59PM UTC
Being from the old way of doing things but still respecting people I would just send emails out during regular business hours and if it is one that is extremely urgent and must be address at once, then it should be a phone call instead of a message. You are taking a chance of just sending an email because how can you be so confident that the recipient will even read it? If you call them to tell them about the message then send it you might as well tell them what is so important then tell them you will follow this call up with a confirmation email on the matter. Anything of dire consequence needs to be a direct communication and put in the system of possible crashing electronics. We are all familiar with systems that do crash and data lost, right?
phamilton427
11
02/24/19 at 10:11PM UTC
It really depends on the work life balance your company is trying to honor. I worked in music business and would set up notifications for clients that were in different time zones in case there was an emergency (sometimes musicians don’t realize it’s Saturday!) but I didn’t have notifications for my coworkers because they knew my work hours.
LEANNE TOBIASInvestment real estate/sustainability
4.08k
02/21/19 at 12:28PM UTC
I am surprised at the sensitivity surrounding this topic.
In non-emergency situations, if I email someone late at night, it does not mean that I expect an immediate response. It does mean that I am catching up on my emails at a late hour.
The only issue with late night emails is the possibility that the chime that accompanies the emails might wake a sleeper. But if a recipient is a sensitive on this point, s/he can easily disable the sound or store her/his phone outside earshot.
Lady MidwestLady
13
02/19/19 at 11:59PM UTC
As a late night emailer, I think people are way too sensitive about receiving emails. I don’t get upset when someone emails me before 9 am. I think we all have to be honest that business does not happen from 9 - 5 anymore. That said, a lot of the advice above is good practice. I’ve started drafting all my emails to send in the morning on my way into the office. I also try to set expectations with staff that unless we’ve talked in advance I don’t expect off hours replies.
Nancy ChapinI live with my male partner with 2 cats.
22
02/19/19 at 11:23PM UTC
I agree. Business should not be conducted with others after 8:00 pm latest!
Orlagh CostelloEngineering Manager for food manufacturing site
1.2k
02/18/19 at 6:17AM UTC
I've had managers send emails at 1am & then expect replies before 8am (when work didn't start til 9am). That was a very unpleasant experience. Especially with subordinates, I think you need to make it very, very clear you don't expect a response until office hours. Or else set up the auto send. I make it a policy not to bring work home with me & assume if someone's emailing outside of office hrs, it's not urgent. They all have my phone number for the urgent things that crop up. I strongly encourage this in my team as well - work hard in work, then go home, rest & come in refreshed the next day.
Eliza Mae Diaz- Cabarroguis
11
02/18/19 at 4:38AM UTC
For me it'a okay. My clients usually open their email at a particular time of the day. They feel that their concerns were still being looked upon to the best of our capacity even after working hours.
meggonjinninsurance product and professional violinist
114
02/18/19 at 4:18AM UTC
I was taught as a consultant with several major management consulting firms to avoid sending client emails after a certain time (say 8pm). Any later, and you look inefficient/like you don't have the project under control. I set them up to auto-send at 7am the next AM, when they'll be the first thing they read in their inbox for that morning anyway.
phxtransplant1
13
02/18/19 at 2:51AM UTC
Having worked in almost every capacity up to and including owning my own company, I look upon those emails sent before and after standard business hours to make me feel that my customer's, or my own best interests are being looked after by people who really care.
Anonymous
02/18/19 at 12:08AM UTC
I think it depends. I’m many cases it’s fine as long as you do not expect a response until business hours. Where I think it gets tough is for managers because it can make the direct report feel as if they need or should be on call. I have also experienced it used to create hostile competition between team members.
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.