It’s 9 p.m. and a thought comes to mind. That problem you were working on with a colleague earlier that day? You’ve figured it out! So you grab your phone and shoot them an email with your discovery.
STOP.
If you (and your employees) are guilty of emailing after hours, it’s time to put a stop to it. It’s certainly not healthy for anyone, and can actually drain your entire team.
A study from ReachMail has indicated Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers, who are more likely to be in management positions, are notorious for sending too many after-hours emails.
We all need a break from work, and email tends to keep us connected 24/7. We’re glued to our smartphones, and sometimes it’s hard to just put it away, especially when that great idea comes to mind at night. But we all need distance from work — a time to step away and get refreshed. And we need to respect that time for our employees as well.
Emailing after hours can lead to:
- Burnout
- Frustration
- A drop in creativity
- A drop in production
While some employees aren’t going to get that email until the next morning (which may make it seem harmless to send the email while you’re thinking about it), others are going to get that notification right away and feel the need to check it. Employees are likely to respond because they feel the need to — if the boss is working at 9 p.m. at night, shouldn’t I be? Or they get the idea that responding right away will make them appear diligent and committed to their work. All false.
Think about the message you’d like to send. Do you intend for your employees to reply to you immediately? Or are you just sending the email because you’re thinking about it at the moment, and want to get it done before you forget? If it’s the former, you’re intentionally chaining your employees to the office 24/7. If it’s the latter, you’re unintentionally chaining your employees to the office 24/7. And this isn’t good for you, your employees, or your company culture.
A few ways to make a conscious effort to stop:
- Come to a clear understanding with your employees on how everyone prefers to be reached after hours, and make sure this is only used in emergency situations.
- Use a different communication channel, such as Slack, and make sure everyone on the team has snoozed all notifications after hours. This allows you to send the message if needed without notifying the employee until the next day.
- If it’s truly important and can not wait for the next time you are at the office, call. This should force you to really think through the importance of the email. If it’s important enough to call someone at 9 p.m., it’s likely very important.
- Log notes on your phone or through Google Docs that you can come back to, organize, and send to the appropriate employee in the morning.
- Carry an “ideas/brainstorm notebook” with you or put one by your bed. Use it to write that thought down when it comes to you. Then transfer those notes to your computer (or an email) the next day.
Technology in the workplace, while awesome, can become dangerous when we let it get too far. Take care of your employees first. Protect your company culture. Do what works best for you and your company, but keep in mind the importance of stepping away from the office. Your employees are more likely to come back the next day refreshed and ready for a productive day.
“Find your courage, embrace your authenticity, put down your smartphone, and connect with your team.” – Mick Mooney, Contributor
Challenge: Start a “no emails after work” policy and see how it works for a few weeks. Get back to us and let us know how it went!