‘Emails should not come after hours, expecting immediate replies’: Boss sends email after work hours. Employee answers 3 days later, after weekend.

Weekends are meant to enjoy a much-needed break from deadlines, meetings, and the constant pressure of work. For many employees, that boundary often gets blurred when emails, calls, or meeting requests start creeping into their personal time. What should be a chance to recharge can quickly turn into an extension of the workweek, leaving people feeling drained and frustrated. Being expected to stay available even during off-hours can disrupt personal plans, affect mental well-being, and create resentment over time. Recently, career coach Simon Ingari shared a similar story on his X-handle.

Employee doesn’t respond to after-work email

In the post, Simon Ingari described a sharp exchange between a manager and an employee that highlighted the growing tension around after-hours work expectations. The manager questioned why an email sent three days earlier had gone unanswered. The employee calmly responded that it had only been seen five minutes after logging in on Monday morning.


When the manager pointed out that the email had originally been sent late on Friday evening, the employee firmly noted that the workweek had ended at 5 pm. on Friday and resumed at 8 am on Monday, making it technically only five business minutes old.

Employee justifies his claim

As the conversation continued, the employee made it clear that if immediate responses were expected, emails should not be sent after working hours. The conversation shows the frustration many professionals feel when workplace boundaries are ignored, while also underscoring the importance of respecting personal time in an always-connected work culture.

In a separate post, Simon Ingari revealed how to respond to your manager when they ask you to work on weekends. He suggested beginning with a polite but firm response, acknowledging the message while clearly stating that you are currently offline for the weekend and would be happy to address the matter first thing on Monday unless it is genuinely urgent.

How to respond to weekend work

If the manager continues to push and insists that the task must be completed the same day, Simon Ingari advised responding professionally by seeking clarification on whether the matter truly requires immediate attention or if it can wait until regular working hours. This approach, he noted, reinforces boundaries while also demonstrating a willingness to prioritize responsibilities appropriately.

Should the pressure persist, the career coach recommended addressing the issue more directly by pointing out that if urgent weekend work is becoming a recurring expectation, it may be more effective for the organization to plan proper coverage during standard working hours. His suggested responses emphasize professionalism while firmly protecting personal time.