Setting a Boundary
Not applicable
Warm
Setting a boundary with a coworker who messages after hours
A colleague sends non-urgent messages at night and expects fast replies.
Strategy
Set the rule, not the grievance. Give them a clear escalation path for real emergencies so the boundary does not read as unavailability.
Quick thing about how we work together. I am offline after seven most nights. I will see anything you send, but I will answer in the morning. If something is genuinely on fire, call me. A call means urgent, a message means tomorrow.
If they push back
If they push back that things move fast: "Agreed, and the call line is there for exactly that. What I want to avoid is both of us treating everything as urgent."
What not to say
- You need to respect my time
- Do you know what time it is
- I am not paid enough for this
- Sorry, I am just really bad at boundaries
Follow-up
Just closing the loop on last night's question — answer is yes, and I updated the doc. Call anytime it is truly urgent.