One in three employees often get emails from their boss over the weekend and they are expected to reply, according to a new survey we recently conducted at Right Management.
An additional one-third of survey respondents also reported getting emails from their boss on the weekend, not often, but just from time to time. More than 569 employees throughout North America responded to the poll which was conducted in May and June.
The survey findings are another indication of an increasingly 24/7 workplace. Everybody once thought technology would reduce the drudgery and make the workplace more efficient. Sure, technology has delivered great benefits to employees, but also crosses the boundary between the workplace and the worker’s own private space. It seems one can no longer get away at all from work or responsibility.
We specifically asked if workers were expected to respond to the emails from their boss. So we were not talking about broadcast emails or purely informational communications, but those intended for a particular person and looking for a response. It’s now taken for granted that everyone has to check their work email during the weekend.
Continuous communications are now a workplace fact of life. It is possible that weekend emails serve to smooth out the pressures of a Monday morning, but likewise they may become an intrusive nuisance. We know workers are feeling exceptional pressures, and so many weekend emails may be counterproductive.
When did it become expected for employees to be checking e-mail on days off? Is there a way around this anymore?
Advances in technology have enabled a 24/7 working environment. Employees must discuss communication expectations with managers and agree on what is realistic. Gain a mutual understanding for when something really warrants the employee’s response over a weekend and when it doesn’t.
Managers need to set clear expectations about what really needs to be addressed over the weekend. And if items might just as easily wait until Monday, say so. If you don’t have to send an email on the weekend, don’t. Create a draft and send it Monday.
Workers need down time. Weekends should be a time to re-energize. When bosses expect employees to be constantly at attention, you wind up with burned out employees and productivity loss.
So, under what circumstances should employees reply to a Saturday morning e-mail right away? Basically, employees should respond if the manager marks it as “urgent” or if it directly relates to a project the employee is driving and has implications on anticipated results from that initiative. Otherwise, it can wait until Monday morning if it’s not time-sensitive or mission critical.
It’s also important for employees to understand their boss’ communication style. Perhaps email is the preferred method and the weekend is the only time he/she has to catch up. That’s OK, but be clear on whether or not you are expected to respond immediately or when it can wait until normal working hours.
This research signals that more than ever managers need to help employees manage their workloads. In another survey completed by Right Management of 443 U.S. workers, we found that 71 percent report that their work burden had increased as a result of layoffs.
In fact, 54 percent said their workload had increased “a lot.” The findings are similar to a survey we conducted a year earlier when 79 percent of workers indicated their workload had gotten heavier.
Organizations risk losing their hard-fought productivity gains if they continue to ignore the pressures employees are working under. The most effective strategies are based on communications and candor. Be frank and acknowledge the increased workloads. Help employees acquire new skills and engage them in a continuing dialog to foster a mutual understanding between workers and leaders.
Peter Russell is a regional vice president in the career management practice at Right Management, the talent and career management expert within ManpowerGroup. Reach him at peter.russell@right.com.
