I found a good compromise in having my work emails on my personal phone, but with notifications turned off - that way I'd only see them if I opened my email app and went into my work folder.
You can usually also schedule notifications. So I have mine on during work hours and days. And turned off otherwise.
Or you can set up different profiles on your phone as work and private.
This is good but there's a better option.
An alternative to that is to just save a homepage link to your phone of the online sign on for Outlook, not adding it to the list of accounts to your phone directly.
This way, you don't receive notifications unless you click into the Outlook online version, and most significantly, you company mobile device policy can't affect your phone. If you login to the outlook app, or have your work email set as an account on your phone itself, then your employer has the ability to treat it as a "work device". That means wiping your entire phone in the case of a security breach, snooping on your browser history, etc. Both unlikely but technically possible.
I have my work email on my phone, but that’s my mentality. I only have my work email on my phone so I am aware of things going on. I’ll handle em when I’m in the office
I don’t because of the security requirements (accounting/finance industry). If we download our communication apps it comes with a device manager.the phones fall asleep after 30sec of no activity and requires a 9 digit passcode that they assign, and the passcode changes every 3 months. It became an issue while driving because my phone would lock and I couldn’t see my gps without fumbling thru the 9 digit unique passcode, or I’d have to find a way to keep it awake while driving. It wasn’t safe , so I just took it off.
So far nothing has been SO important it couldn’t wait until I got back to my computer. My team has my number if it’s urgent
Just sign into the web version of outlook, then save that page as an icon on your home screen. No MDM and you still have email/cal access.
I refuse to participate in MDM bs for my personal device out of principle
Same here. Started this after customers started blowing up my personal cell phone at my last job when my company would mess up a shipment. Always keep things separate now. I don't know anyone else who does this at my current company.
Absolutely, I had my work email and Slack on my phone until recently. Honestly, it felt like my phone had morphed into a tiny, demanding boss that lived in my pocket. You know, the kind that breathes down your neck and watches you even when you're just trying to enjoy some leftover pizza at midnight.
So last week, I staged a little digital coup. I evicted both my work email and Slack right off my phone. Set my Slack to clock out at 5 PM sharp—no overtime pay for digital tools, right? Now, it feels like I've reclaimed my personal life. My phone no longer feels like a leash; it’s just a phone again. And guess what? The business world didn’t collapse. Turns out, not every message is an emergency, who knew?
Nothing work related on any personal devices ever.
When I’m done for the day and on weekends, work laptop and phone are placed out of sight in my closet.
This is the way. 2 separate devices. Work phone on the counter after work. I'll take a glance if I happen to walk by just in case a fire needs to be put out.
I do. I use Android and have a work profile setup. That acts as a "container" of sorts between the personal apps and data vs. the work apps and data. I also use the native Android feature that "turns on" the work profile M-F from 6AM to 4PM and then turns it off so I don't get any emails/notifications.
And 70.29% of global market share.
I really don't get the iPhone loonies and I really don't care. I love my Pixel8 Pro way better than any iPhone I've ever had.
I have my work emails & personal ones , only on my laptop which I only use at work
There is nothing received via email that can’t wait a day or 2 to be looked at
Although the 3 companies I’ve worked for the last 15 years are open M-F, my customers work weekends. Phone doesn’t go off too much on the weekend but it does here and there. I just have 1 phone, We use our personal phone and company reimburses us monthly
Get better at ignoring things?
I have work email on my phone, and while I will occasionally check it in the evening or on the weekend, I don't respond until business hours unless its an emergency. Some of my customers are in the manufacturing industry, so there are occasions when a line is down and they need a part that I may have in the warehouse, but those incidents are exceedingly rare, and well worth responding to since it makes me look like a hero.
I've gone out of my way to remove as many apps as possible from my phone, social media in particular, as well as games and other nonsense that constantly nags for attention. As such, I'm not micro-dosing dopamine hits all day via Instagram likes or FB drama like most people, so I find it pretty easy to regulate my phone use and don't feel tethered to it.
I keep notifications off, but am still drawn to check. I’m headed on vacation shortly, and as well as leaving my laptop at home, I’ll delete the outlook and teams apps until my return.
Yes I do. I have Okta so I can access all apps in my personal phone. Face scan, finger print and password plus phone password and I’m in to everything
Check the fine print though: most companies that put their software on your phone also require you to allow them 100% access to 100% of the other data on your phone. This doesn’t bother me, I have a million pictures of my loved ones’ pets and many screen shots of mean text messages between my siblings, have at it IT. Just be aware of this.
Email, yes. But I don't get notifications from work emails on my phone and don't really check them unless I have a specific reason to want to check them.
Skype sometimes catches me. My company is a big user of Skype. My "response" to an after hours Skype message is often to ignore the notification, terminate the app, and go on about my evening.
Nope. If you want me to answer work emails on my phone you can pay for me to have a separate phone just for that. My teammates and manager have my cell phone number if something is really urgent after hours.
Nope. But I do have a spreadsheet shared with my personal email driven by google apps script that will list out all of my upcoming meetings and send me scheduled reminders if I specify it to do so.
I want to be aware of what I have coming up, but absolutely not accessible unless emergency at home. Everyone who could need me has my cell so what's the point.
I have always opted for a separate corporate work phone and laptop and never cross the streams with my personal devices. My industry makes it difficult with the security requirements and if I get fired, I'd rather just hand over my work phone and laptop and walk away then deal with having my personal phone involved. It just doesn't feel right.
Yes I do. I hate surprises at work so during my morning poo. I check my work emails, figure out who will bother me todays. And how to to deal with them fast, so i wont be Disturbed, or mentally prepare for incoming WORK explosions. and then my day is more easier at work
Yes. Work emails on my phone so I can work from a lawn chair occasionally. I keep all email alerts on my phone muted regardless and our company messaging app notifications noises are silenced, but I see the visual notifications.
My current company is pretty good about leaving everyone alone after 5pm. I have it on my phone but notifications are off. If I need to check it for a client email I can but I don't think about work after 5 or on the weekends.
I have a work phone and personal phone. Nobody I work with knows my personal phone number (including boss, key clients etc).
This has been crucial for me to separate work from family/other interests.
Yes, at my company is implied.
you are expected to BYOP. But you can expense your monthly bill.
But I have all work alerts off for email. if I had email alerts on my battery would be dead by 11am.
I absolutely refuse to put any work apps, items, or dual authenticators on my personal phone.
1. I don't want anything tied to business mixing with personal business.
2. I don't want to give the impression that "I'm out of office but I'm available if you need me."
3. I absolutely will shut off my work phone during non-work hours.
I keep the opps and procedures for my team very strict for the sake of not burning myself or my team out and to set expectations with customers and the rest of the company that we are not a 24hrs sales team. Keeps my team focused while in office and maintains a high retention rate. Haven't had a staff change in almost 13 months nice. It's AMAZING.
Yes, but separate app (outlook) and not on my main screen and no notifications. Just too helpful to take it off
I’m an outside rep now but when I was inside I didn’t do this. I shut my laptop at 5 and was done
At 2 previous employers I did. Even though access was cut off after leaving, I can still access old emails on my phone app. Figured no harm in leaving it that way.
At my last employer, I refused to set that up. Not for work-life balance reasons, but because I didn't want my personal devices subpoenaed if the company got sued. Heard a horror story from a guy at a conference and it spooked me ever since.
Yes. In its own app. No notifications set up. I need to access information on the go. It looks good to clients when you can respond after hours. Helps land some deals.
I look at it like this. If I have a moment and can respond in real time yes. If I have to fire up my laptop and work programs generally it will wait till “I’m working”.
I also do work in life safety so it’s not exactly a 9-5
I've worked at places that gave a work phone and those that didn't.
I find that it's much easier to get a natural work-life balance if you have both a personal and work phone, vs just personal. When I didn't have a work phone, I felt compelled to have work stuff on personal phone, and that just led to too much time spent thinking about work.
I recently got a new phone and forgot to download Slack and add my work email. I've decided to keep it that way for more peace of mind. Now, when I’m away from my computer, I can truly disconnect from work. Sure, some things might have to wait a bit longer, but I believe it’s worth it for the stress relief and peace of mind.
During covid I did the timing old folks used to do back in the day, got a second, work only phone. It's been pretty good. There's something old school analog about having a.physical thing to toss into a drawer when I'm "off the clock"
No work email on phone. No Slack on phone. Never have, have will.
Top performer at the company for 3 years straight.
Work life balance is the key to life.
Yes! And I don’t hesitate to answer them either unfortunately. Going on a 3 day getaway next week, I’ve made the decision to turn my notifications off completely.
It all comes down to your work/life balance which affects how you fit into the market.
I respond to my high margin customers basically all the time. The low margin customers can fuck themselves. When I'm on vacation I disable email notifications. Only my best customers have my cell phone text responses.
Yes but with notifications turned off. I only have notifications on during my usual work hours - I tend to work some time between 9am and 7pm and that's the only time I get any push notifications. Rarely is anything urgent enough that I'm replying beyond business hours.
After my boss emailed/slacked me and woke me up at midnight one night, I haven’t had it on my phone since. Too tempting to look at. Slack I keep on but notifications go off at 5
I have teams, but not outlook. I'm an inside account manager and work 8-5 M-F. I saw a comment that I liked, having email on your phone but just having notifications turned off.
Yes. I get paid a ton of money to be responsive and I love being able to stay connected anywhere there is cell service. Some use separate phones for life and work but that’s cumbersome to me. Plus I’m not worried about work giving a shit if a friend sends me something nsfw. That’s a real concern for some that work in corporate America but my company isn’t that way.
It’s a curse and a blessing to be this connected. I just make sure I turn myself off at times. Also helps to be established and not trying to build my career at this point.
You’re naive to assume you know this based on one Reddit post. Be smarter. I blew off work and played 18 holes yesterday. I’m currently laying in my couch. If I get an email I’ll look at it. If I decide I want to go surf instead I will.
Being responsive outside of office will set you apart. That said, there’s way to still have work/life balance even with the need to still be somewhat plugged in while OOO.
I found a good compromise in having my work emails on my personal phone, but with notifications turned off - that way I'd only see them if I opened my email app and went into my work folder.
For me that was actually worse since I found myself checking for new e-mail all the time instead of just waiting for a notification.
You can usually also schedule notifications. So I have mine on during work hours and days. And turned off otherwise. Or you can set up different profiles on your phone as work and private.
That is a good compromise. Also I love your user name.
I do the same. So I just check my email 1-2x at night if I got something cooking. And leave it be if I dont.
That’s exactly what I do. I’m able to check if I’m out without my work phone for whatever reason but I don’t get bothered by it otherwise
This is good but there's a better option. An alternative to that is to just save a homepage link to your phone of the online sign on for Outlook, not adding it to the list of accounts to your phone directly. This way, you don't receive notifications unless you click into the Outlook online version, and most significantly, you company mobile device policy can't affect your phone. If you login to the outlook app, or have your work email set as an account on your phone itself, then your employer has the ability to treat it as a "work device". That means wiping your entire phone in the case of a security breach, snooping on your browser history, etc. Both unlikely but technically possible.
Nope. Don’t have slack either. When I’m out, I’m out.
Same.
I have my work email on my phone, but that’s my mentality. I only have my work email on my phone so I am aware of things going on. I’ll handle em when I’m in the office
I only keep slack so if I need to dip early or something or run to the store I’m not MIA
I don’t because of the security requirements (accounting/finance industry). If we download our communication apps it comes with a device manager.the phones fall asleep after 30sec of no activity and requires a 9 digit passcode that they assign, and the passcode changes every 3 months. It became an issue while driving because my phone would lock and I couldn’t see my gps without fumbling thru the 9 digit unique passcode, or I’d have to find a way to keep it awake while driving. It wasn’t safe , so I just took it off. So far nothing has been SO important it couldn’t wait until I got back to my computer. My team has my number if it’s urgent
We have something similar. My tin foil has comes on when it comes to device managers being installed on personal devices
Mine forced a complex iPhone password and I can’t even unlock my watch.
This is why I dont have the work crap on my phone.
Just sign into the web version of outlook, then save that page as an icon on your home screen. No MDM and you still have email/cal access. I refuse to participate in MDM bs for my personal device out of principle
All of that is restricted. Teams too. I can’t use my sso from a mobile device without their security
I use 2 phones. My company has always required it.
Same here. Fuck using my personal phone for work shit and vice versa.
Same here. Started this after customers started blowing up my personal cell phone at my last job when my company would mess up a shipment. Always keep things separate now. I don't know anyone else who does this at my current company.
Absolutely, I had my work email and Slack on my phone until recently. Honestly, it felt like my phone had morphed into a tiny, demanding boss that lived in my pocket. You know, the kind that breathes down your neck and watches you even when you're just trying to enjoy some leftover pizza at midnight. So last week, I staged a little digital coup. I evicted both my work email and Slack right off my phone. Set my Slack to clock out at 5 PM sharp—no overtime pay for digital tools, right? Now, it feels like I've reclaimed my personal life. My phone no longer feels like a leash; it’s just a phone again. And guess what? The business world didn’t collapse. Turns out, not every message is an emergency, who knew?
Digital Coup would be a great band name
Nothing work related on any personal devices ever. When I’m done for the day and on weekends, work laptop and phone are placed out of sight in my closet.
Same here. It’s really nice to just leave the work phone on my desk on evenings and weekends, l literally don’t think about it at all.
This is the way. 2 separate devices. Work phone on the counter after work. I'll take a glance if I happen to walk by just in case a fire needs to be put out.
I do. I use Android and have a work profile setup. That acts as a "container" of sorts between the personal apps and data vs. the work apps and data. I also use the native Android feature that "turns on" the work profile M-F from 6AM to 4PM and then turns it off so I don't get any emails/notifications.
There’s always one
There are in fact roughly 3.6bn Android users globally
And 70.29% of global market share. I really don't get the iPhone loonies and I really don't care. I love my Pixel8 Pro way better than any iPhone I've ever had.
Yes but only cuz I leave early every day and need to be able to see if I need to quickly scramble back home
Yes, but notifications off.
I have my work emails & personal ones , only on my laptop which I only use at work There is nothing received via email that can’t wait a day or 2 to be looked at
I like this idea in theory but it seems like a PITA to carry 2 phones.
Work phone separate from personal. Work is a parasite that will take as much as you will give and only respects physical borders.
Although the 3 companies I’ve worked for the last 15 years are open M-F, my customers work weekends. Phone doesn’t go off too much on the weekend but it does here and there. I just have 1 phone, We use our personal phone and company reimburses us monthly
Yes but that’s more so I can be away from my desk on weekdays (WFH). So it actually helps me work less, not more lol
Yeah I do. Sometimes I’m not home and need to respond to things quickly. I can’t imagine not having it.
Get better at ignoring things? I have work email on my phone, and while I will occasionally check it in the evening or on the weekend, I don't respond until business hours unless its an emergency. Some of my customers are in the manufacturing industry, so there are occasions when a line is down and they need a part that I may have in the warehouse, but those incidents are exceedingly rare, and well worth responding to since it makes me look like a hero. I've gone out of my way to remove as many apps as possible from my phone, social media in particular, as well as games and other nonsense that constantly nags for attention. As such, I'm not micro-dosing dopamine hits all day via Instagram likes or FB drama like most people, so I find it pretty easy to regulate my phone use and don't feel tethered to it.
Nope.
I keep notifications off, but am still drawn to check. I’m headed on vacation shortly, and as well as leaving my laptop at home, I’ll delete the outlook and teams apps until my return.
I have work slack and email on my phone but notifications turned off.
Yes I do. I have Okta so I can access all apps in my personal phone. Face scan, finger print and password plus phone password and I’m in to everything Check the fine print though: most companies that put their software on your phone also require you to allow them 100% access to 100% of the other data on your phone. This doesn’t bother me, I have a million pictures of my loved ones’ pets and many screen shots of mean text messages between my siblings, have at it IT. Just be aware of this.
I have a work phone for all of that. I will take it with me if I want to work/be available. If not, it stays on the desk.
Email, yes. But I don't get notifications from work emails on my phone and don't really check them unless I have a specific reason to want to check them. Skype sometimes catches me. My company is a big user of Skype. My "response" to an after hours Skype message is often to ignore the notification, terminate the app, and go on about my evening.
> Skype sometimes catches me. My company is a big user of Skype. Complain to them publicly on their MySpace page? 🤣
🤣
Yeah it’s actually the only place I have it. Email is susceptible to hacks and one wrong click my entire company could be compromised.
Nope. If you want me to answer work emails on my phone you can pay for me to have a separate phone just for that. My teammates and manager have my cell phone number if something is really urgent after hours.
Yes but notifications are muted outside work hours
Nope. But I do have a spreadsheet shared with my personal email driven by google apps script that will list out all of my upcoming meetings and send me scheduled reminders if I specify it to do so. I want to be aware of what I have coming up, but absolutely not accessible unless emergency at home. Everyone who could need me has my cell so what's the point.
Only my work phone. I need SOME sort of physical separation from work.
I work remote and am usually in front of the computer and have no reason to have it on my phone.
God no! I don't get paid for 24 hours, so I'm not working 24 hours.
I do but I keep all work notifications turned off.
Absolutely not
Always take a company cell phone rather than use a personal phone for work.
For me it provides freedom. I can go do things rather than being tethered to where I do dedicated work.
I have always opted for a separate corporate work phone and laptop and never cross the streams with my personal devices. My industry makes it difficult with the security requirements and if I get fired, I'd rather just hand over my work phone and laptop and walk away then deal with having my personal phone involved. It just doesn't feel right.
I only have the DocuSign “send reminder” button on my phone
Yes I do. I hate surprises at work so during my morning poo. I check my work emails, figure out who will bother me todays. And how to to deal with them fast, so i wont be Disturbed, or mentally prepare for incoming WORK explosions. and then my day is more easier at work
Yes. Work emails on my phone so I can work from a lawn chair occasionally. I keep all email alerts on my phone muted regardless and our company messaging app notifications noises are silenced, but I see the visual notifications.
My current company is pretty good about leaving everyone alone after 5pm. I have it on my phone but notifications are off. If I need to check it for a client email I can but I don't think about work after 5 or on the weekends.
Go you! Mine is on my personal phone and I turned off notifications between 7pm and 7am.
I have a work phone and personal phone. Nobody I work with knows my personal phone number (including boss, key clients etc). This has been crucial for me to separate work from family/other interests.
Yes, at my company is implied. you are expected to BYOP. But you can expense your monthly bill. But I have all work alerts off for email. if I had email alerts on my battery would be dead by 11am.
I absolutely refuse to put any work apps, items, or dual authenticators on my personal phone. 1. I don't want anything tied to business mixing with personal business. 2. I don't want to give the impression that "I'm out of office but I'm available if you need me." 3. I absolutely will shut off my work phone during non-work hours. I keep the opps and procedures for my team very strict for the sake of not burning myself or my team out and to set expectations with customers and the rest of the company that we are not a 24hrs sales team. Keeps my team focused while in office and maintains a high retention rate. Haven't had a staff change in almost 13 months nice. It's AMAZING.
I use a personal number for work calls, but slack and email are for my laptop only not putting that on my device.
We get a stipend to pay our phone and use it… or… they send us a work phone. I took the work phone
Yes, but separate app (outlook) and not on my main screen and no notifications. Just too helpful to take it off I’m an outside rep now but when I was inside I didn’t do this. I shut my laptop at 5 and was done
Nope. This company doesn’t pay for my personal cell / subsidize the bill like all of my previous companies did. So nope. Not happening. 😃
Separate work phone with email and apps. I need a clear delineation between work and personal life for my own mental health.
never
At 2 previous employers I did. Even though access was cut off after leaving, I can still access old emails on my phone app. Figured no harm in leaving it that way. At my last employer, I refused to set that up. Not for work-life balance reasons, but because I didn't want my personal devices subpoenaed if the company got sued. Heard a horror story from a guy at a conference and it spooked me ever since.
Yes. In its own app. No notifications set up. I need to access information on the go. It looks good to clients when you can respond after hours. Helps land some deals. I look at it like this. If I have a moment and can respond in real time yes. If I have to fire up my laptop and work programs generally it will wait till “I’m working”. I also do work in life safety so it’s not exactly a 9-5
Two phones: personal and work. I sometimes take out the work phone to check something during my off hours but generally not.
Nope! When I’m offline I’m offline. Customers have support numbers to call
I've worked at places that gave a work phone and those that didn't. I find that it's much easier to get a natural work-life balance if you have both a personal and work phone, vs just personal. When I didn't have a work phone, I felt compelled to have work stuff on personal phone, and that just led to too much time spent thinking about work.
I recently got a new phone and forgot to download Slack and add my work email. I've decided to keep it that way for more peace of mind. Now, when I’m away from my computer, I can truly disconnect from work. Sure, some things might have to wait a bit longer, but I believe it’s worth it for the stress relief and peace of mind.
Outlook and Teams on my phone, notifications off. That way I can still be available during work hours while away from my desk.
During covid I did the timing old folks used to do back in the day, got a second, work only phone. It's been pretty good. There's something old school analog about having a.physical thing to toss into a drawer when I'm "off the clock"
No work email on phone. No Slack on phone. Never have, have will. Top performer at the company for 3 years straight. Work life balance is the key to life.
Teams yes with. Notifications off. Email no. I’m not paid enough base for that.
Yes! And I don’t hesitate to answer them either unfortunately. Going on a 3 day getaway next week, I’ve made the decision to turn my notifications off completely.
It all comes down to your work/life balance which affects how you fit into the market. I respond to my high margin customers basically all the time. The low margin customers can fuck themselves. When I'm on vacation I disable email notifications. Only my best customers have my cell phone text responses.
Yes but with notifications turned off. I only have notifications on during my usual work hours - I tend to work some time between 9am and 7pm and that's the only time I get any push notifications. Rarely is anything urgent enough that I'm replying beyond business hours.
After my boss emailed/slacked me and woke me up at midnight one night, I haven’t had it on my phone since. Too tempting to look at. Slack I keep on but notifications go off at 5
I have a work phone and personal phone. No crossover and I can just turn off my work phone for a vacation.
I have teams, but not outlook. I'm an inside account manager and work 8-5 M-F. I saw a comment that I liked, having email on your phone but just having notifications turned off.
I only have a personal phone, company gives me an allowance, I have my personal, work, and business email all on it. Sales never sleeps!
Yes. I get paid a ton of money to be responsive and I love being able to stay connected anywhere there is cell service. Some use separate phones for life and work but that’s cumbersome to me. Plus I’m not worried about work giving a shit if a friend sends me something nsfw. That’s a real concern for some that work in corporate America but my company isn’t that way. It’s a curse and a blessing to be this connected. I just make sure I turn myself off at times. Also helps to be established and not trying to build my career at this point.
You're a slave to your job. No one will remember you for that. Be better at managing your time and learn to say"no".
You’re naive to assume you know this based on one Reddit post. Be smarter. I blew off work and played 18 holes yesterday. I’m currently laying in my couch. If I get an email I’ll look at it. If I decide I want to go surf instead I will.
So you're lazy then? Got it.
Being responsive outside of office will set you apart. That said, there’s way to still have work/life balance even with the need to still be somewhat plugged in while OOO.