I'm considering a policy regarding email/text, specifically what times are off limits to contact folks to ensure work/life balance. Thoughts?

2017-03-25T13:47:40-04:00

SIRs obviously excluded. I'm a USAR officer about to assume a second BN CMD and want to create boundaries for work life balance. Perhaps email free days as well where people have to call people if they need something. Comments?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Mar 25 at 2017 1:50 PM

2017-03-25T13:50:59-04:00

I think it's a good idea, of course, there are times when such communication needs to be done even on the weekends. Work/Life balance is super critical. I know there are days I'll put my phone on Do Not Disturb and only allow certain numbers to contact me during those times.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 25 at 2017 1:58 PM

2017-03-25T13:58:19-04:00

Its a good plan. Emails have a tendency to take over your life, if you allow them. I would definitely create "no email hours" or even some "no email days." You will find your life will be easier and that life will not end if you don't respond immediately to every email.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2017 1:59 PM

2017-03-25T13:59:00-04:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I served when dinosaurs were chomping on the grass. During my civilian career, folks were not suppose to use the internet/phones for personal business except at lunch or an emergency. Our internet use and phones were randomly monitored. We had a lot of folks fired for abusing the policies. Many were terminated for going to pornographic sites. They would go to these sites even though they knew internet use was being monitored. Some policy has to be in place to ensure a good work/life balance. Does the Army Reserve have any policies/guidance? Good luck!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2017 1:59 PM

2017-03-25T13:59:41-04:00

Does this apply to your whole command or just contacting you? If its command, I'd suggest having a heart to heart with NCO's encouraging them to prioritize hip-pocket training, professional development, and -10 training before going straight to the pen-and-paper. Give Leaders a chance to handle at the lowest level.

Am I missing something here?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2017 2:07 PM

2017-03-25T14:07:03-04:00

I'm not as worried about people not doing what they're supposed to as I am them being constantly accessible and or distracted.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2017 2:24 PM

2017-03-25T14:24:22-04:00

I have two comments: Is it enforceable and is it realistic?
Depending on where your unit is in the ARFORGEN process keeping personnel updated via e-mail is a useful tool.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 25 at 2017 3:09 PM

2017-03-25T15:09:03-04:00

On one hand I consider military leadership as a calling not just a job. On the other, is the sincere concern for life/work balance for the Citizen Soldiers in the Reserve Component. My daughter is a Navy Reserve Nurse Corps Unit OIC. She has command responsibilities and authority. She gets e-mails and texts all the time and at any time from the officers and sailors in her detachment. It seems like a bit much. Here's some ideas you might consider.
-Communication downward at any time, but seniors should use good judgement with regard to non-operational issues and try to communicate so the message arrives between 0700 and 2200.
-Communication upward limited except in emergency to only the next level above the sender and timed to arrive between 0700 and 2200.
-Stress good e-mail discipline. Send messages to the minimum number of people necessary. When e-mailing up-channel only include the authority that issued the tasker and any intermediate level of the organization that may have been excluded from tasking, don't include your boss's boss. When e-mailing down-channel, only include action addressees and copy to those required to coordinate. In other words, cc addressing the entire unit is a waste of time for everybody.
-To maximum extent practical, seniors should allow subordinates 2/3 of available time to respond to taskings.
-Analyze the battle rhythm of the unit and identify days when communication traffic is low. Designate a few of those days each month for emergency communication only.
-Discuss the idea of limited communications hours or days with the senior NCOs. They will have a good perspective on the practicality of the initiative and how it might be implemented.

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 26 at 2017 12:34 AM

2017-03-26T00:34:07-04:00

sounds Like a good Policy...
I know Teachers are making the Kids turn them in During Classes Now...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2017 2:05 AM

2017-03-26T02:05:55-04:00

I can see why you would Sir. Lots of Soldiers earning their Facebook Campaign Ribbon. When I was in an S1 texting was a necessity just to keep constant communication flowing. At an OSJA we work so close together that it's not necessary so you seldom see people on their phones unless it was for work purposes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2017 11:20 AM

2017-03-26T11:20:03-04:00

good question this can also be related to the civi world, texting should be a no go, in the company I work for if you are on a cell phone and its not company business or a family emergency you can be fired period, I understand the reserve thing and family, been there done that, but your sm's also need to educate their families as to what requires texting or emailing while they are on duty, if its a true emergency I suggest a code, I did that with my wife in 2008 while in Iraq, my email simply stated 911, my daughter was killed in a car accident

Response by SGT Kevin Berman made Mar 26 at 2017 4:43 PM

2017-03-26T16:43:45-04:00

I tend to use the rule of if the conversation is one-on-one, I pick up the phone, but if multiple resources are involved I use email. Similar w/ texting, if you require more than a one/two word answer I pick up the phone and call.

Response by Deborah Gregson made Mar 26 at 2017 8:17 PM

2017-03-26T20:17:09-04:00

Isn't is sad that people can't be relied upon to use common sense and respect concerning this issue so that you feel there needs to be a written policy to deal with the problem? The fact that everyone feels there's a need to constantly communicate every little detail immediately and have immediate responses shows how invasive technology has become in our lives, and how it's had a negative effect on the quality of our lives.

Considering that, you seem to have had some kind of problems in your own life with interruptions by messages that aren't all that important on your "private" time that could have waited until "work" time, and you want a policy that somehow teaches those who haven't been taught manners to have some. I think it's a start, along with training that includes telling them to use some common sense.

My husband has his own business. He does sign graphics and vehicle lettering, mostly for emergency services like ambulances, fire trucks and police cars. Most of our clients we've had for more than 25 years and know us really well. He goes out of his way to take care of them and give specialized service. These people work 24 hours shifts, so never think that it's odd to call about the work they want done at 10pm on Sunday, or 7am on Saturday. To them there's no off time for us, and since our work number is our home number (and they all know that), calling during meal times, after 7pm or before 8am or on weekends doesn't matter, because Mike is ALWAYS home. Likewise when I tell him to let the answering machine to get the call, he won't because it might be important, so he answers almost every time. I can't understand the urgency since he's "not a brain surgeon", but eventually adjusted to the understanding that "it's the nature of the sign business."

So since people don't have the manners to contact people concerning business only between the hours of 9-5 M-F (or adjusted for military life) as in the days of olde, a written and training policy is needed, with reasonable flexibility for issues that may come up. The bottom line is teaching peo;le common sense, respect and responsibility again, and having some regard for the lives of others.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 27 at 2017 12:30 AM

2017-03-27T00:30:19-04:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member It sounds awesome, if you can make it work. Imagine a world where you could not contact friends and family 24/7.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2017 9:31 AM

2017-03-27T09:31:40-04:00

COL Private RallyPoint Member very difficult to enforce and impossible if you want to be responsive to your higher headquarters. I am an AGR and while assigned to RC units most communication from higher was all email with little phone calls besides meetings. The other parts are checking statistics and tasker trackers (depending if they use ELAS or not). You can only influence those who work for you but not your higher headquarters. Also, if you are not checking email how will you know if there is an SIR or not? Good idea, but I do not think it is practical.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 27 at 2017 11:25 AM

2017-03-27T11:25:50-04:00

I appreciate the thought, but as a fellow reservist, I would suggest a different approach.

The issue I see is that, while well intentioned, your proposed policy could actually exacerbate the work-life balance you want to address. For instance, I will often make lists o' things throughout the day. Then, when I have some quiet time and/or a bout of insomnia, I will spend a few hours writing emails about this/that/the other. Sometimes it'll be during my work lunch break, before work, after work, etc. It's a given that, as reservists, we are doing work off the clock. As a practical matter, it can't really be helped. However, I want some control over when I'm doing that. For me, right now, the answer would be "never on a Saturday."

A proposed different approach - work to the STRENGTH of asynchronous communications - namely that people DON'T have to do it in real time. Establish a policy that states something to the effect that "Soldiers are not required to view, acknowledge, or act on non-emergency communications outside of certain hours. Nor can the time before the next "receiving window" be counted as "lead/prep time", etc." In other words, don't attack it from the sending side, attack it from the receiving side.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2018 5:03 PM

2018-06-18T17:03:15-04:00

Sir, this is a good topic to bring up. I would say you'd want to develop a digital SOP for calling emailing, say 0800-1700hrs generally. If not wait until the next day. I've never seen an SOP/Instructions detailing this in an unit, active or reserve that I have been in.

Obviously, if there is a tasker that needs done- You'd want your subordinate officers/senior NCOs to complete as soon as possible, even if they have to call someone, generally not after 2200hrs local time.

As you state, SIRs for serious injury or death/loss of classified material would have to be reported at any time that they are discovered.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Jun 19 at 2018 11:07 AM

2018-06-19T11:07:34-04:00

Well Sir you just brought up the biggest problem in todays work force. People can not stay off their phones and pay attention to their jobs. We take away their weekly production bonus but it is still not enough to keep them off their phones. For us it is also a safety hazard here in an industrial environment. There is no good solution, they are addicted to their phones.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 19 at 2018 11:31 AM

2018-06-19T11:31:50-04:00

Gee I would just restrict personal phones during duty hours, that would have to increase efficiency.