How often do you check your work email inbox?

Bassmansam · 6 Aug 2020 at 17:13

Just curious because today i got up a bit earlier as i'm working on a big task so I thought i'd get get some extra work done on it.

About 11am i notice there is an email from i boss asking me to work on a task as priority for that morning. I definitely did not see the pop up alert for this. Maybe i was making coffee/ in toilet. He called me about 1 and asked how i was getting on and i said sorry i only saw the mail at 11 as i was focusing on the other task but I am currently working on it and trying to get it done asap. He was pretty blunt with me after that.

Surely if the task is very important he could have given me a call to give me a proper alert, or am i in the wrong GD?

Bassmansam · 6 Aug 2020 at 17:27

Unseul said:
When was the email sent? If it was before you'd normally start work, I can sort of understand. But equally, if you're working from home, assuming start/stop times is not smart thinking. I've worked from home for 2 years now, I've had email conversations with my boss at 11pm before, not because it was urgent, but because I was working (I don't work a straight 8/9 hours).

8.46. When im in the office i do start at 8:30 though. Generally been starting at 9 at home but he knew i was working on another task. So I think he should have dropped me call or a message on teams if it was that important.

Bassmansam · 6 Aug 2020 at 18:23

Mushy Peas said:
If you want an ambulance, you call for one, you don't email for one.

Ha i like that anaology!

Thanks for your replies everyone, i always tend to panick in these situations as i have only been in this job since December. It's only after a while i tend to think a bit more rationally.

Bassmansam · 6 Aug 2020 at 20:52

Azza said:
Tell them you need another monitor to have your email open on so you can continuously monitor it while decreasing your normal work productivity.

i do use 2 screens although both are my own. Maybe i should ask for a 3rd just for outlook

Bassmansam · 6 Aug 2020 at 21:07

Slam62 said:
You sound like you struggle, tbh, if you get an email outlook shows a little picture of an envelope so it's not difficult is it?
No wonder he was annoyed. He's put you on the useless list.

I was already doing an important task. I get a-lot of emails that aren’t urgent. Just an phone call or sms would have alerted me enough to the emails importance.

Bassmansam · 7 Aug 2020 at 18:23

weldon855 said:
It sounds more like someone was sleeping in.

If you get an email from your boss/manager read it.
If your boss rings and asks for an update don't tell him you didn't read the email until 11 if you start at 8.
Solved.

EDIT: I thought this thread was going to be about outside of work hours but 3 hours to catch an email from your boss during work hours is fairly poor especially if you are sat in front of your computer all day.

if i looked at every email i get as they arrived i wouldn’t get much actual work done.

Bassmansam · 8 Aug 2020 at 08:44

Dirk Diggler said:
Did you book overtime for this, or did you finish early?

As for specific OP question, if I was your boss I would have called you if it's that important or if it was too early to call I would have asked you to acknowledge receipt of email.

No i just worked longer that day. Im on 2 weeks leave from Monday so wanted to make sure i got stuff done.