Office communications protocol

[tvguy]

Do you call or e-mail or walk over and talk to co-workers when you need to relay information to them? I'm talking about folks that are just a few desks away from you.

I am amazed at how many of my co-workers will call or e-mail someone 6 desks away instead of just walking over to tell them something.

I saw a story on US Cellular, they actually banned e-mails on Fridays, you had to call or talk to people face to face. A guy profiled in the story worked in a high rise in New York City, and discovered someone he had been e-mailing for years, was not in Chicago as he thought, but in the same building, on the same floor he was. Literally across the hall.

 

[Mariep26]

Honestly only if I need to cover my behind. For example If my co-irker will say that I never requested something if I only tell him verbally. I need the written evidence to show I did my job correctly. Otherwise I prefer to actually speak with the person.

 

[Southernmiss]

Do you call or e-mail or walk over and talk to co-workers when you need to relay information to them? I'm talking about folks that are just a few desks away from you.

I am amazed at how many of my co-workers will call or e-mail someone 6 desks away instead of just walking over to tell them something.

I saw a story on US Cellular, they actually banned e-mails on Fridays, you had to call or talk to people face to face. A guy profiled in the story worked in a high rise in New York City, and discovered someone he had been e-mailing for years, was not in Chicago as he thought, but in the same building, on the same floor he was. Literally across the hall.

Depends on the information. Sometimes I'll want the paper trail. Also depends on how busy they are. Sometimes our Secretary is having a crazy day. Rather than interrupt her yet again, I'll email her info if it's not critical to that moment. Other times I'll buzz her on the phone. Our offices are about 50 feet away.

Same goes for the lady next to me.

 

[sk!mom]

I talk to people in person everyday but also email those nearby. Sometimes it is to provide a record. Often times because I want them to send me something through email.

I actually will request that people email me things that they told me in person as a reminder and others do the same to me. Emails make it so easy to add things to a calendar or set a reminder.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DH does both, but I know he will often email even if he is sitting next to the person. PPs covered the reasons, but here they are again:

1. to provide a written record
2. so as not to interrupt someone; they can look at it when they have time
3. so as not to get sucked into a long conversation when busy with other work

 

[gojoe]

Honestly only if I need to cover my behind. For example If my co-irker will say that I never requested something if I only tell him verbally. I need the written evidence to show I did my job correctly. Otherwise I prefer to actually speak with the person.

Totally agree.

 

[tvguy]

Honestly only if I need to cover my behind. For example If my co-irker will say that I never requested something if I only tell him verbally. I need the written evidence to show I did my job correctly. Otherwise I prefer to actually speak with the person.

That became an issue at my wife's place, they now have a rule if you e-mail, you HAVE to either call or verbally tell someone something. At crunch time, you just don't have time to check e-mail, you're too busy working in 5 or 6 other pieces of software. I know my wife checks her e-mail once a day. Usually just before her lunch break. Beginning of her shift is her busiest time. Her supervisor actually ordered her to check her e-mail first thing every day. That lasted one day because something that HAD to get done almost immediately after she gone in, did not get done in time because she was checking her e-mail.

 

[tvguy]

DH does both, but I know he will often email even if he is sitting next to the person. PPs covered the reasons, but here they are again:

1. to provide a written record
2. so as not to interrupt someone; they can look at it when they have time
3. so as not to get sucked into a long conversation when busy with other work

I guess for DW and I in our industry, since soooo many of our communications are things that need to be done that instant, (almost to the second) it may be different that other offices.

 

[pixiewings71]

In my office I email, because I want the written proof to back myself up. In my two previous positions I had major issues with people saying I didn't say something or do something and I had no proof that I in fact had communicated so yes, I email.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I guess for DW and I in our industry, since soooo many of our communications are things that need to be done that instant, (almost to the second) it may be different that other offices.

Sounds like it. I think almost any office would use verbal communication if they needed something almost instantly like that.

My DH's job is the opposite--the thought that he would not check his email first thing is nuts. If it was going to be too hectic to do it in the office he would be expected to do so from home before going in. Actually, he nearly always checks email right after he gets up--and deals with whatever came in from the US while he was asleep before getting ready and going in here or wherever he is travelling that week).

 

[smadath]

... everything. As someone stated above, it's a CYA thing. This way, if six months up the line someone decided to take poetic license with their version of the story, I can just pull up an email with their actual response.

And yes, this has saved my butt on numerous occasions. Better to be safe than sorry!

 

[okeydokey]

We instant message in my office a lot. We get an immediate answer that way and can work more efficiently.

 

[DebbieB]

we instant message a lot, especially if it's not critical. Or it's personal (do you want to go to lunch today?).

 

[Mariep26]

That became an issue at my wife's place, they now have a rule if you e-mail, you HAVE to either call or verbally tell someone something. At crunch time, you just don't have time to check e-mail, you're too busy working in 5 or 6 other pieces of software. I know my wife checks her e-mail once a day. Usually just before her lunch break. Beginning of her shift is her busiest time. Her supervisor actually ordered her to check her e-mail first thing every day. That lasted one day because something that HAD to get done almost immediately after she gone in, did not get done in time because she was checking her e-mail.

It totally depends on the culture of the organization with regards to email. My current company and recent employers were incredibly email centric. Basically when that little envelope appears in the toolbar, we are all scrambling to see what it is. My manager is notorious for emailing and then IMing soon after to ask if we saw the email lol.
I can see where your wife's organization needs specific rules around notification if the focus of their jobs is not to sort through emails!!

 

[disney212]

Depends on the information. Sometimes I'll want the paper trail. Also depends on how busy they are. Sometimes our Secretary is having a crazy day. Rather than interrupt her yet again, I'll email her info if it's not critical to that moment. Other times I'll buzz her on the phone. Our offices are about 50 feet away.

Same goes for the lady next to me.

As a secretary I thank you!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

DH does both, but I know he will often email even if he is sitting next to the person. PPs covered the reasons, but here they are again:

1. to provide a written record
2. so as not to interrupt someone; they can look at it when they have time
3. so as not to get sucked into a long conversation when busy with other work

This - exactly.

As far as emailing someone and then calling/visiting in person? That is a huge waste of time. Yipes.

 

[Lynne M]

In our office, people who e-mail and then call to tell you they e-mailed get made fun of. Mercilessly. It takes up twice the time, for both parties.

I hate it when management tries to tell people how to communicate. Let workgroups figure out the communication methods that works best for them. We listen to each other. We know who prefers to get e-mail, who'd rather get an IM, who'd rather talk on the phone.

Generally, if it's not an urgent matter, we e-mail, so that we don't interrupt the recipient and let them choose when to deal with it. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of figuring out a complicated bit of code and having someone walk into my cubicle to tell me something that's not critical at that moment. Totally breaks my concentration. Drives me crazy.

If it's a somewhat-urgent matter, we'll IM each other. If it's "the sky's going to fall if you don't do something about this RIGHT NOW", I'll walk over to the person's cubicle. Or yell over the wall.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I hate e-mail. I hate it with a passion! I have approximately 12,000 unread work e-mails from the past year--yes, 12,000--and people who know me realize that e-mail is not the medium to use to engage me in a dialogue. It is useful for transferring documents or providing information to keep on file, but for an actual conversation I much prefer to speak to the other person, either face-to-face or on the phone. I'm also likely to call somebody to respond to an e-mail they send, as it's usually much more efficient that trying to tap out a detailed response by e-mail (I'm also frequently on the road, so typing out a response on my little phone is even more cumbersome).

I also work in a culture where there is not backstabbing or nearly as much politicking as I gather exists in other offices, so needing a paper trail is not important to me. I'd much rather be able to read the other person's voice or, even better, their eyes than to have a paper trail.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I prefer for folks to email me, I get interrupted ALL DAY LONG.

 

[Skywalker]

I prefer to email or text, even if the person is just across the aisle from me. I hate in person or phone. I have a few reasons:

1) I am an introvert by nature and I hate talking to people in person or on the phone. Oh I can fake it just fine but it stresses me out. I prefer to communicate in writing and so email just suits me better.

2) I find it much more efficient. Talking in person so often results in wasted time as people get in niceties, chit chat, conversation, etc. In writing I can be more direct. I can also take the time to make sure I have expressed myself correctly.

3) I can deal with the issue (as can they) at their leisure rather than be interrupted.

4) Paper trail, or even just reminder of what has gone down.

This seems to be the accepted way in my office. We all seem to email and we all seem to like it so it is not an issue. Face to face conversation seems saved only for urgent matters or social matters. lol