• by Ray Schultz , January 13, 2019

A new feature introduced by Speakap allows workers to tell bosses who send them emails after hours: “Do not disturb.”

Speakap is designed to let employees “choose to disconnect when they aren't working,” states Patrick Van Der Mijl, co-founder of Speakap.

The launch comes in the wake of increasing discussion about the toll taken on employees by checking work emails after hours, and laws to prevent firms from expecting them to do so.

It is not yet clear what the impact might be on email marketers. If extended to B2B emails, the Do Not Disturb function could in theory interfere with delivery. Work-related product emails could also produce stress, and presumably that will come up in the ongoing debate.

It is also unclear whether the feature could be applied to both work and personal email accounts.

All that said, it appears that the product is mostly designed to stop work emails. Speakap's Open API allows companies to integrate the tool with their existing software, including HR and CRM systems, the firm says.  

With Speakap, users to turn on the “Do Not Disturb feature rom their desktops and laptops and from their iOS and Android apps, it adds. They can also schedule the messages in advance for birthdays, holidays and other such events.

A red badge will appear next to their profile image to signal that they are off limits for work emails.

The product is designed to be used on a recurring basis -- not as a one-off -- thus establishing consistency and preventing work-related anxiety at home, the company says.  

The feature is available to Speakap’s customers in the retail, hospitality & restaurants, entertainment, logistic and manufacturing industries. The firm serves over 350 clients, including McDonald's, IKEA, Hudson's Bay and Rituals.

Speakap cites a survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, showing that two-fifths of personnel check work emails at least five times a day when not at work.

Last year, the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech released a study showing that the mere expectation of work contact can increase the strain on employees and their spouses.

The author of that study, William Becker, argued that “'flexible work boundaries' often turn into 'work without boundaries,' compromising an employee's and their family's health and well-being."

And last year, the New York City Council proposed a right to disconnect bill, prohibiting employers from requiring staff members to check and respond to emails, Startap notes.

Van Der Mijl argues: “If they want to switch off once their shift has ended, they have every right to do so and should feel supported and empowered to do so by their employer - be it to spend quality time with their loved ones or simply decompress for their emotional well-being.”