Banning out-of-hours work emails

This is the first really credible research I've seen which concludes that blocking out of hours emails would be BAD for employee wellbeing. Actually I'm finding it hard to disagree with...

What’s your view on sending out of hours emails? This is a real bone of contention for many businesses. A business I worked with recently struggled with this - those who liked to send out of hours emails did so as it ‘cleared the decks’ for the next day. In the other camp those who didn’t hated coming into lots of emails the next day after they felt they’d cleared their in box. It made them feel stressed to come into more emails. The MD in particular liked to send out of hours emails which then led to an expectation that the staff should too - not that this was his intention. How have you seen it managed effectively? Alan Smith Lucy Butters Bryan Mclelland Gin Lalli Julie Clark Julie Diver Mica Allan Jo Wright

An interesting dilemma: Everyone manages their workload differently so can see why this wouldn't work for some. Don't think i'd relish a few hundred emails appearing at the same time in my inbox at 7am every day

What’s your view on sending out of hours emails? This is a real bone of contention for many businesses. A business I worked with recently struggled with this - those who liked to send out of hours emails did so as it ‘cleared the decks’ for the next day. In the other camp those who didn’t hated coming into lots of emails the next day after they felt they’d cleared their in box. It made them feel stressed to come into more emails. The MD in particular liked to send out of hours emails which then led to an expectation that the staff should too - not that this was his intention. How have you seen it managed effectively? Alan Smith Lucy Butters Bryan Mclelland Gin Lalli Julie Clark Julie Diver Mica Allan Jo Wright

In the last year being able to access my emails and replying when I’m able allowed me to feel calmer and connected to work when I couldn’t be fully there. If I look at an email and reply on a ‘non work day’ that’s my choice. I would like to think I don’t pressure people to reply until they are working, I obviously can’t be sure that happens so I do have a flexible working disclaimer in my signature as I understand what currently works for me might not work for others. Can anything truly be ‘One size fits all’ ? I know I’d feel extremely pressured if a ban on my email access was put into place.

An interesting post from the BBC shared by Patrick Waterhouse. Professionals ought to have good managements skills. We should know how (and when) to communicate. We should be able to judge for ourselves when to send or read emails. But in a world full of diversity. One that cares for mental health and safety as well as physical health and safety it’s not always clear cut. Are we taking advantage of advances in technology or are advances in technology taking advantage of us! Unlike the #Terminator we are not machines. Should we “ban” emails outside of working hours? What are working hours? Who decides what is or is not effective? (For those of you playing Attribute Bingo. I think that covers all nine attributes) #civilengineering #civils #ice #engineer #technician