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Whenever I use delayed send at work, it’s for optics. If I’m working outside of business hours (a few instances per week) I don’t like to slack my direct repor

by cj 3y ago

Whenever I use delayed send at work, it’s for optics. If I’m working outside of business hours (a few instances per week) I don’t like to slack my direct reports because I personally don’t want to create an “always on” culture at our company. If your manager messages you at all hours of the day and on weekends, it can become unclear whether the same is expected of you. So, I like to delay messages to 8am the next morning, especially if they’re not time sensitive. Imagine a message “Just a quick reminder that project X is due next week” sent at 7pm on Friday. Unless the person is expected to work over the weekend, why not delay it to 8am Monday?

kbenson 3y ago
Yes, where there's a large power imbalance, you have to take that into consideration. I manage people, and if I message one in their off time and it's not an emergency or something I really need them to answer if they see, I'll be careful to state clearly that no reply is needed or we can follow up on Monday or whenever they are next on. Its the same reason I don't make jokes deprecating them to them within a group (and try not to in private with them). What can be a joint form of bonding where you make light fun of each other can start becoming bullying (even if inadvertently) when one party feels like they aren't free to fire back anymore. I've witnessed that dynamic before, where childhood friends worked with each other and one was the owner and continued the familiar personal reactions while the other started feeling less and less able to interact that way (at least in group settings). Many of us are somewhat blind to certain power imbalances, others of us are very aware because they deal with it in many aspects of our lives. In any case, it usually matters if there's an imbalance, whether we want it to or not.
- bee_rider 3y ago
  I think it doesn’t even need to be a large power imbalance. It is probably best for the longest-serving worker (aka, someone with only social seniority) to set a good example by making sure routine communications only show up during the work week.
- noisy_boy 3y ago
  > 'll be careful to state clearly that no reply is needed or we can follow up on Monday or whenever they are next on. If my manager sent this, all it will do is make me think about it over the weekend, irrespective of the "lowering of importance". I would rather keep my mind free over the weekend and see the message Monday morning.
  - kbenson 3y ago
    I agree, and I try not to message people on their time off, but if I felt it was important for some reason (for example, maybe if I'm not going to be around on that day which is the only reason I can remember doing it), I'd make sure to clarify expectations, or lack thereof.
eszed 3y ago
Indeed. My circadian rhythm is set later than some of my colleagues, so if I'm working on something between 2200 and 2400, I set emails to be sent at ~0700 - 0800, when I know they'll be starting work. I get no sort of he's-a-hard-worker credit for working late, but plenty of up-and-at-'em plaudits when they receive an email at what they think of as the "correct" time of day. Meanwhile, I'm asleep, and catch their first round of replies when I wake up. It's somewhat ridiculous, but not a big deal.

by cj 3y ago

kbenson 3y ago

Yes, where there's a large power imbalance, you have to take that into consideration. I manage people, and if I message one in their off time and it's not an emergency or something I really need them to answer if they see, I'll be careful to state clearly that no reply is needed or we can follow up on Monday or whenever they are next on. Its the same reason I don't make jokes deprecating them to them within a group (and try not to in private with them). What can be a joint form of bonding where you make light fun of each other can start becoming bullying (even if inadvertently) when one party feels like they aren't free to fire back anymore. I've witnessed that dynamic before, where childhood friends worked with each other and one was the owner and continued the familiar personal reactions while the other started feeling less and less able to interact that way (at least in group settings). Many of us are somewhat blind to certain power imbalances, others of us are very aware because they deal with it in many aspects of our lives. In any case, it usually matters if there's an imbalance, whether we want it to or not.

bee_rider 3y ago
I think it doesn’t even need to be a large power imbalance. It is probably best for the longest-serving worker (aka, someone with only social seniority) to set a good example by making sure routine communications only show up during the work week.
noisy_boy 3y ago
> 'll be careful to state clearly that no reply is needed or we can follow up on Monday or whenever they are next on. If my manager sent this, all it will do is make me think about it over the weekend, irrespective of the "lowering of importance". I would rather keep my mind free over the weekend and see the message Monday morning.
- kbenson 3y ago
  I agree, and I try not to message people on their time off, but if I felt it was important for some reason (for example, maybe if I'm not going to be around on that day which is the only reason I can remember doing it), I'd make sure to clarify expectations, or lack thereof.

eszed 3y ago

Indeed. My circadian rhythm is set later than some of my colleagues, so if I'm working on something between 2200 and 2400, I set emails to be sent at ~0700 - 0800, when I know they'll be starting work. I get no sort of he's-a-hard-worker credit for working late, but plenty of up-and-at-'em plaudits when they receive an email at what they think of as the "correct" time of day. Meanwhile, I'm asleep, and catch their first round of replies when I wake up. It's somewhat ridiculous, but not a big deal.