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How contactable do you need to be? Especially if self employed - in business

Sal

Veteran

Hi all,

I am self employed/work for our business. I have a work email, a personal email, a home office, and a cell phone (one number).

Most of what I do is non-urgent (accounting/human resources/strategy/administration).

I mostly work between 8.30-4.00 but am flexible (working longer and evenings on some days, and fitting in personal appointments during the day). When I go away I advise key people, but I don't check my work emails, as I know those who need to have my cell phone number.

Today I received a work text at 6am. It was not urgent - and it really annoyed me as it work me up.

My person etiquette regarding contacting people:
- work calls between 9am and 5pm unless there is a particular reason for doing so (ie recruitment, reference checking, time zones etc)
- phone calls or texts, personal or work - never before 7am nor after 9pm unless it is urgent or a family member that you know has a certain routine.

I am trying to put in boundaries to protect my family time, and my head space, but I wondered how other people manage this.

Thanks
Sally

Off Topic

23 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Sally, I think your limits are very reasonable. I'm guessing the person who sent the text figured you would not have your phone on at that time and he/she could text without bothering you and that you could respond at your convenience. I would set the phone to no sound for texts during off-duty times. One way to set limits even more clearly is to get a second work phone, and you could just turn it off or to complete no-sound settings during off-duty times.

Anonymous

I admit to sometimes texting " after hours" as I figure that if someone were sleeping or generally unavailable, the sound would be turned off, if not the phone turned off altogether. That's how I handle my own communications, anyways. Also - and funny you bring this up because I was just having this conversation with a friend the other day: I don't expect an immediate response from a text - you can answer me when you have a minute. But I have this friend who often will text back" I can't chat-text right now because I'm in a meeting!" . Fine, then why did you even answer me ??! Lol.. Anyways - do you text a lot for work purposes? That's one thing that I don't do - unless it's informal convo with a co-worker. It almost seems to personal for a work setting, and also not a good permanent record of a conversation. Anyways - just turn your phone off and ignore anything incoming until you want to see it!

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

What Firecracker said.

I expect people to be fairly easy to reach between 0900 and 1630, but outside those hours I don't contact anyone other than friends and family. My own phone gets turned off before I go to bed and I turn it back on after my morning shower.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Firecracker and Lisa.

I don't often text for work to be honest, but I am interviewing graduates right now, and one of them texted me regarding referees. He had my number from a phone call, and from a text confirmation the morning of the interview as he was travelling from out of town.

I do use my phone as an alarm for my gym mornings (I cannot stand our current alarm clock, the alarm is awful and it is complicated to turn off).

I do send emails at odd times, but not texts, but this could be an arbitrary distinction!!

Lisa - haha! People are funny. I have one friend that texts me 30 mins after sending a text to see why I have not replied!!

Sharan - I could do this. I also have a friend that texts me between 6 and 7 re her days plans or meeting her etc... I had to say, I am not interested then, please wait!!

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Alexandra! I think a new alarm clock might solve the problem. I had my teenage one until a year ago when it died, but the replacement irritates me so much (too many buttons to turn on and off, the alarm is piercing and annoying).

Then I can keep the phone elsewhere. There are times I like to have it handy (when Jon is overseas, or when my Mum is in hospital) but I think there are settings to adapt for this.

rachylou

Veteran

The alarm should still work altho txt/call/email alerts are silenced...

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I figured you might be using your phone as an alarm; otherwise, it would probably be out of earshot while you were sleeping. So, what Rachy said. I don't think you need a new alarm clock--why get another gadget? I'd stick with what's working for you.
I agree with Lisa about texting and email. I think a lot of people use text the way many of us use, or used to use, email--i.e., as a way of sending someone a message right now while it's on one's mind, and then letting them respond when they will. I think of texting and emailing as non-intrusive contacting methods, and I think of texting as more likely to be seen first these days (sooner than email), with most people. I've been known to text someone to tell them I sent an email (where I can be more detailed).

Gaylene

Veteran

As contactable as you want to be.

I once had a student who was miffed when I didn't respond to his 2am message. It took all of my self-control to not laugh at his indignant face. After that incident, I told my students not to expect a reply to any message between 6pm and 8am. I also told them I only answered their texts and e-mails during my office hours in the morning and late afternoon. With over 300 students a semester, it was the only way to stay sane.

It's also perfectly fine in my books to look briefly at an incoming message and ignore it until I want to respond. Same goes for letting a call go to my answering service if I'm busy with another person, wrapped up in a meeting, or just plain occupied with something else. Being available isn't synonymous with constantly being on-call.

Astrid

Veteran

I think that's very reasonable. I also keep to office hours when I phone anyone who isn't family. Or if I haven't made an appointment to speak on the phone. But I also see texts as a way to reach people in the meantime when I'm thinking of something. Everyone I know turns their phone off or silent at night. I do too. I have been woken by text messages in the past, but then I was more annoyed with myself because I didn't remember to turn it silent, less with the person contacting me.

ETA I don't expect instant response to my messages. I figure people will answer as soon as they have time to do so.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am contactable 24/7, but do not promise a response back right away at odd hours, when I travel, or on holidays.

I am often "okaying" and suggesting outfits late at night - 10pm or so - for the next day via text or on mail. I am available all weekend via phone, email and text (but do not work with clients over the weekend in their homes or in stores). I am up at 6am and asleep by 11.30pm - and will respond to clients no problem during my awake hours. My clients are spoiled!

Lucy

Veteran

I think it is quite rude to text anyone at that hour! I would certainly be asleep, and woken up.
I often send late night emails, but I do not expect a reply until office hours. Like Gaylene, I have had my fair share of students who expected me to be "on" 24/7, but no way am I even aware if they are emailing me in the middle of the night. My thoughts are, if I see it and have a chance to reply out of hours, I will do so, but I don't feel obliged and please don't expect!

viva

Veteran

I have my own business and my cell phone is part of my email signature and the way I communicate most often; still, texting is the rarest way clients communicate and very early morning is even rarer in the professional world in my experience. But when dealing with students I can see that could happen easily. And, if a client did happen to send me a 6am text I would likely see it. But I think I would be inclined always to answer at what for me is a reasonable hour -- 7am -- which is typically when I begin my workday. (I take breaks midday to do non-work things.) I would not want to encourage the behavior -- and with students, I might be direct: don't expect a response that early.

It's hard, because I don't have great discipline at separating my work and leisure lives. I take a lot of freedom during the so-called work week (to go to yoga and barre, or whatever) but I also work every weekend. So I check, write, and respond to email every single day. There really is no clear break for me. I wouldn't however, go so far as Angie did and say I am available 24/7. No one has a marketing research emergency in the middle of the night. No one needs to disturb me or my personal life between 8pm and 7am. Those lines I will draw.

Anonymous

Being self-employed is a test in compartmentalization. Everything flows into my phone under " all mail" and like Vivian, I see email all day and all weekend long. I often get emails from my customers at weird hours (they too do business on a weekend evening with a glass of wine in hand !) and depending on who it is, I'll often answer. Retail never sleeps

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I am self employed as an immigration lawyer. So there's a base expectation for communication during standard work hours, plus some evening hours.

However, I don't necessarily work all the standard hours. I am like Vivian, I start early, answering mails and such, but generally take exercise and dog walking breaks. I also work every day, but fewer hours on weekends.

I have a separate work e-mail based on my own domain, plus a separate work mobile phone.

I answer e-mails every day, but if I think people are over-reaching in terms of their demands, I answer the mail and leave it in my drafts and send it out at 8:30 on a Monday morning. I don't generally communicate with clients via text. I generally only do phone calls if I have scheduled something, and I find that most people these days find it rude to call someone without an appointment. I never tell clients to text me, but sometimes it occurs to them to text my work number (I only have the mobile for work), and I don't object to it. The work phone lives in my office. I do not carry it around. I do answer e-mails (which also go to my personal phone) when I am out and about, if I think they need a quick replay.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Sally, you could always just put the phone in airplane mode. That way your alarm will go off but you won't be bothered by any phone calls, texts, or emails. That's what I mean by turning off the phone - I don't actually power it down, just airplane mode. Also, the iPhone has a "do not disturb" feature where you can set the hours. Does your phone have something like that?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Someone else already mentioned this, but I assume phones will be off, set to silent, or not responded to after work hours. I think this is partly generational. The younger kids send whatever type of communication whatever way, assuming if you're not available your phone will be off or silent and you will reply when you can.

Sal

Veteran

Fascinating, we all manage ourselves differently - I guess it is a mix of the type of role we have, the type of industry and different personality types. And different situations in terms of age of children.

I try not to work in the weekend, with the exception of urgent work or getting ahead for the week. I worked Monday to Thursday nights last week as I had a lot on, and I worked about 2 hours on Saturday and took the rest of the weekend off. I do try and compartmentalize my work to a degree, with mixed success. I am trying to do this more effectively.

I do tend to send texts expecting a reply within an hour or two, and normally reply to any within a similar timeframe. I can see this is a different model to others here who do not expect this. With emails, I don't expect such instant replies, although I mostly reply within 24 hours.

Staysfit

Veteran

As a physician with a consulting practice, I have been on call 24/7 for the past 20+ years. I rarely get calls outside normal business hours, and if I do, I know it's a true crisis that requires my immediate attention. If someone infringes on my personal time, I clearly establish boundaries. I haven't had repeat offenders. People are very respectful.

Traci

Veteran

I think these days there are just so many variables that, unless you work for an organization that has a policy, it is really up to each individual to set their own comfort level boundaries, both by communicating them with others and by using the settings on the technology in ways that protects our boundaries for us.

I assume a phone call means something needs my immediate attention. Texts and emails I interpret to be on my own timetable, to be tended to when I have time.

I figure I chose to muddy the waters when I started using my personal phone for my business activities and the occasional inconvenience because of that is not worth carrying two devices to me.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

I second what Alexandra said: I put my phone on airplane mode, so my alarm works but I don't get texts or calls. I'd kill the person who'd wake up my sleeping toddler!
Also, a different phone for work is a good idea. Sometimes I live my work phone at home when I go out in weekend, but still, I rarely get calls during weekends.

unfrumped

Veteran

Along with what UmmLila said-- on the flip side I've stopped sending non-urgent work messages outside of business hours even though something may be " on my mind". I know people can wait to respond, but it's still one more thought pressing in on one's brain. Even fun items I might forward-/ like, take a look at this great article or whatever. I'm trying to be more mindful of how intrusive our devices can be.

There was a person doing the tough job of herding staff to complete charts or other forms. But she would send out somewhat scolding e-mails at say, 8:30pm on Sunday. Possibly worked an irregular or flexible time. Now, the target recipients did need to complete these tasks by certain deadlines. But it could be very disturbing.

Serenity Now!

Isabel

Veteran

Yes, the world of technology.

I am a stay at home mom. But I need to be reachable pretty much all the time unless there is back up. Both my parents are in heart failure, their dog is old, blind and diabetic, my only sibling lives with them and is mentally disabled and has seizures, my son is on the spectrum and used to be prone to all out panic attacks ( the hand flapping, pulling his hair, etc ).....you get the picture.

And there is the expectation that one needs to respond immediately to everything. But it doesn't have to be that way. When I did work, my supervisor felt that since I had a cell phone, I should pick up every time she called - which I didn't. I told her that the phone was for MY convenience, not for HERS. And that is my attitude with everything. If it doesn't behoove me to pick up the phone, leave a message ( I will listen to messages immediately if it is my family or my sister's day program ). I will call you back. It helps to set a block of time to do just that. Sometimes I will just send out a quick text saying, got it. Will get back. And just not have your phone around in the early am. THAT drives me nuts too when I get non urgent texts really early.

Hang in there !

Sal

Veteran

Thanks all....
I am learning to put in better boundaries, and this is the reality for so many people...