The last thing we should be doing during Thanksgiving is checking our work e-mail, right? Yet most of us do, according to a recent survey -- and some of us even admit to peeking at our in boxes because it's better than facing our in-laws.
Not that I'm getting on my high horse or anything. I know I've done it, and I'm certain I will again in about 24 hours.
Released just in time for the holidays, a new online survey conducted by Harris Interactive (and commissioned by Xobni, which makes an e-mail add-on for Microsoft Outlook) finds that a good 59% of employed U.S. adults say they check their work e-mail during "traditional" holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas -- and of those who peek, 55% do so daily, while 28% check their in boxes "multiple" times a day.
Of course, one of the best reasons for not checking your e-mail during a holiday is because of what you might find -- and indeed, 79% of those who opened their in boxes found a pesky work message waiting there.
And while not everyone gets flummoxed because some office die-hard is firing off e-mail during a holiday, about 41% of us do, with the Harris researchers hearing words like "annoyed," "frustrated," and "resentful" when workers describe their feelings about it. In fact, 12% of us "dread" getting work e-mail during a holiday.
Yet, our fear of holiday work e-mail doesn't seem to stop us from checking, with 10% of those checking their messages admitting to doing so during holiday gatherings -- or even at the dinner table (trust me, your brother-in-law's face isn't glowing because he's so happy to see everyone).
Which brings us to the main point: If we're all so annoyed by getting work e-mail over the holidays, why are we checking our inboxes in the first place?
Well, some are probably checking because they have to -- as in, their bosses expect them to be online, even during turkey time. Others might be looking for assurance that there's nothing bad happening at the office, although it appears most aren't getting the satisfaction they're looking for.
On the other hand, according to Harris, about 20% of those who check said they wanted a break from their vacations, and actually felt "thankful" or "relieved" by the welcome "distraction" of work e-mail.
The best part? At least 5% admitted they checked their work phones to "avoid awkward family moments" during the holidays -- and if you ask me, I think that percentage is a little low. Come on -- look me in the eye and tell me you've never longed for your iPhone, BlackBerry, or Droid X while your Aunt Ruth drones on and on about … oh, who can remember?
Seriously, though, if you're dreading the prospect of nervously peeking at your work inbox during the holidays, allow me to offer a few quick suggestions:
1. Assuming you have the option (and I hope you do), send out an e-mail your last day in the office, telling everyone when you'll be back from the holiday -- and that you won't be checking your inbox. Period. (Of course, if you're a brain surgeon, a secret agent, or the head of IT, and it's your job to be on-call 24/7, well … hey, it's nice to be working these days, right?)
2. Set up an out-of-office message, similar to the one you sent around on your last day of work. If you can, include a list of deputies who can field requests while you're gone (poor devils), and again, make it clear you won't be checking your messages until you're back at your desk.
3. If your personal smartphone doubles as your work phone, go into your e-mail settings and deactivate your work inbox. I know, it's hard -- my wife once forced me to do it, while she watched -- but at least you won't be tempted by your unread-message count.
4. So, despite everything you've read, are you about to check your work e-mail anyway? Stop, and ask yourself: Are you going to feel better after checking your work inbox, or worse? If the answer is definitely "worse" (and again, assuming you're not on call or anything), resist the urge to ruin Thanksgiving dinner by checking your messages. Nothing good will come of it.
5. If you must fire up your smartphone to avoid your relatives (hey, no judgments here), try Angry Birds rather than e-mail. Nothing but fun, and no angst -- guaranteed.
Having said all this, will I go ahead and break all my rules tomorrow? Well … probably, yeah.
What about you: Will you refrain from checking work e-mail on your smartphone during Thanksgiving? Anyone out there who has to check their messages during holidays?
(P.S. Speaking of which, here's hoping you have a great Thanksgiving — and I'll see you back here Monday, bright and early.)
