Do you answer work e-mails from home?

[Fabinva]

Yes I do, I have a company laptop and recently got a blackberry as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

DH does. He has a proper salary now (he has had a different salary where he could still earn overtime before) and it's expected. But even before the true salary, he did it. Answering emails doesn't take that much away from family life, though it was annoying to me before the proper salary.


aepecoraro, my sister in law is a lawyer for a big big firm, and she is on her Blackberry at Disneyland, most definitely. It's funny to see her do it (she only texts), but she can conduct a conversation with us at the same time and it's the way she helps fund their lovely lifestyle, so no one complains. Now she's coming up on the make or break for partnership (cross fingers and toes and knock wood), so I'm sure it would be even more prevalent if we visited and she took us to Disneyland!

 

[brockash]

I do if it's something quick I can reply to, or if I'm behind and need to get caught up ect. (at that point though, I'd consider myself working from home.) I don't consider it working from home by just answering some quick emails.

 

[Angelhalo]

Nope. I get paid hourly and once I'm off the clock, I'm off the clock!

 

[kilee]

I absolutely do. I have to. I also can access my work computer through the internet so I frequently do other work from home too.

I am hourly too, so this is uncompensated time. I'm not going to complain though, I got a job I love. As of this year I'm managing 4 times the staff size I had, so it's impossible to do all my work at work.

 

[TimeforMe]

Too much of my childhood was wasted because my mom couldnt separate work from home and home suffered. I will not do that to my kids.

That's an interesting point. Both of my kids are away at college and I now have the time, desire and energy (most days) to devote to my career. In the past, I definitely was not as conscientious as I am now about my job.

 

[shellybaxter]

I answer work emails at home a lot of the time - but I also do personal emailing from work from time to time. I like work and home to mesh so its not so separate - I know that doesn't work for most -but it is best for me

 

[bookgirl]

I have occasionally in the past but my system has made it very clear that they do NOT want us checking company email at home. If you are checking and answering email that means you are working and if you're working you're supposed to get paid. By having a policy in place that we are not supposed to check it, they protect themselves from overtime complaints.

However sometimes I do check it because I need something out of a email, but I never answer emails from home.

 

[oct2014]

Generally employer expectations vary depending on the job. Whether the time requires additional pay also can vary depending on the job. You should find out your obligations based on your particular position in your company. It could be that you should not do these activities unless an emergency and/or that you are required to record the time.
As someone required to have a BB, I caution you to manage people's expectations. It is hard to cut back once people think you are always available!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yep me too!! I only work part time and if I didn't do my emails from home then when I get to the office i'd have close to a 100 to go thru and wouldn't have time to do any of my work.

A hundred e-mails, and they expect you to handle all of them AND do your assigned work in limited hours?

Reading (and responding to) work e-mail from home voluntarily to save a few minutes is one thing. Even if it takes one minute to open/read/close each e-mail, that's over an hour and a half - and if you have to actually respond to any of them? And you're doing this FREE?

 

[Angelhalo]

Yep me too!! I only work part time and if I didn't do my emails from home then when I get to the office i'd have close to a 100 to go thru and wouldn't have time to do any of my work.

I only work part time as well. 4 hours a day. Luckily they know that they either get it to me by 12:30 or they can wait until tomorrow.

 

[MariDisney]

I'm attached to the BlackBerry nearly 24/7. I answer work emails in the line at the grocery store, waiting for Fantasmic! to start, and even before I get out of my bed in the morning.

 

[pixiewings71]

Nope, I don't have access from home, but I've been wanting my company to set me up so I can. It would make things easier some days, like today....lol

 

[FireDancer]

I can and have but it is very rare. It is more common that I will VPN in and fix a little problem then answer or send an email. I have pretty rigid boundaries between my work and home life (outside of some friendships) and very rarely do any work when I am not at work.

My position necessitates it from time to time but I would estimate it is no more than an hour or so total per year and I get paid for the time. As a PP said it comes down to managing expectations and not appearing as though you are available 24/7.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Just curious. I recently got a promotion and am much busier in my new job than I was before. I sometimes just can't wade through and reply to everything during the course of a workday. I find myself lately reading and responding from home at night and at weekends. It just helps and only takes a few minutes without interruptions. So am I the exception or do most people do this?

I am one that does that same thing. I agree that it helps and only takes a few minutes without interruptions.

Jason

 

[supercarrie]

Yes, I do. My work is VERY willing to give me paid time off for medical situations this year - I have had 3 surgeries in the past 4 months, all with full paid time off. I have also had countless doctor's appointments, again, all fully paid. I return the favour by checking e-mail from home and staying on top of things.

As an example, I had surgery Monday afternoon and do not anticipate returning to work until Friday. However, I logged in this morning to take care of a few things and will monitor them in between resting.

If work didn't treat me as well (i.e. if this wasn't paid time off) I don't think I would be as generous with my time.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

On my BB, OWA and Citrix Login.

 

[luvwinnie]

I am constantly checking my Crackberry and replying...also go on to our system to work if necessary from home.

 

[MainStMandy]

I do most of the time...also while on vacation...eek! But I'm also a type of support for payroll so I need to be available nights and weekends. Sometimes it just makes life easier!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

My dad has always been this way. He is constantly on his blackberry. I can remember one trip where he answered the phone on Splash Mountain!

We used to joke all the time that someone that was in a higher position would call him from the restroom and ask my dad how to wipe..Haha
Its almost like they cant function when my dad is out of the office.. It has gotten much better where his phone isn't always ringing. But again, its part of his job and he deals with people all over the world, so many times the phone has gone off in the middle of the night

That is my husband. Due to the nature of his job, he is required to be available 24x7, 365 days a year. That includes middle of the night, weekends and vacations. He glances at his phone approximately every half hour while awake. Since they have offices all over the world, urgent e-mail requests, texts and conference calls are at all sorts of weird hours.

I have become used to him excusing himself during dinners, vacations, school functions to go somewhere private to answer e-mail or take a call.

But then, we can't enjoy the perks of his job and also complain about what commitment it takes. So, if he has to excuse himself while in line at Disney, we just remember that it is because of that job we get to go so often

If he tried to institute a rigid boundary between work and home life, he wouldn't need that boundary for long as all he would have would be his home life. There are way too many up and coming hungry executives that would gladly check e-mail at all hours in exchange for a promotion, more so now with the current economy and job picture.