In the past, answering emails and texts after hours was seen as a sign of dedication, with big corporations even incentivising late night work with paid dinners and car services home.
However, the work culture has shifted. Today, retaining employees is a priority due to a competitive labour market, and excessive after-hours work is now discouraged. Modern workplaces focus on both employee satisfaction and productivity, with regular staff surveys informing leadership reviews. If employees are unhappy with work-life balance, it’s up to management to address these issues.
Despite this, many remote workers still engage in after-hours communication with a recent study revealing that 81% of remote employees check and respond to work messages outside their official hours.
So, if responding to emails outside of work hours is common practice at your company, here are three reasons why it should be discouraged:
Overworking is no longer considered beneficial: Companies today closely monitor trends in employee retention and satisfaction, using this data to guide decisions on bonuses and raises. Employees who are expected to respond to emails and texts outside of work hours often experience lower job satisfaction. In short, overworking is no longer seen as beneficial and encouraging this practice can often backfire both on managers and employees.
Lack of information increases the likelihood of errors: After hours emails and text messages are often brief, lacking the depth of phone calls or face-to-face conversations. Responding quickly in this way can lead to hasty decisions or costly mistakes.
Working out of hours can lead to mental fatigue: Dealing with work-related messages in the evening reduces the time for rest and relaxation. Minimising work-related interruptions out of hours is crucial for maintaining mental well-being and productivity for the following day.
If you see yourself as an overperformer who is keen to advance quickly by working longer hours, remember that employers in a post-pandemic world face higher costs for hiring and training, so are more mindful than before of preventing staff burnout and retaining employees. Consequently, being a “keener”, is less valued that in times gone by. Instead, employees today are being encouraged to work more productively during regular business hours which ultimately leads to greater work satisfaction and quality.
