I was wondering if anyone has set hours of operation? Working with several clients, some in different time zones, I am getting calls all day and all evening.

So...do you just not answer the phone if you're not "working" or let them know when you are "open". I get the feeling some clients know we are generally working from home (does anyone not work at home?) and expect us to be available all waking hours of the day.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Brandy

Well formally for my clients I don't have set hours. I lay out at the beginning that the preferred form of contact is via email and then by phone and preferably by scheduled phone call. I don't answer the phone after 4:30pm (no matter what) and have my main line set up to automatically go to voicemail after hours and on the weekends.

If I choose to work the weekends or odd hours it's my choice and it also gives me the flexibility to adjust my schedule as needed.

I know some VAs that offer open office hours - set hours at the same time every week that clients can call unscheduled all other times it necessary to schedule a call.

Remember this is your business and you can run it however it works well for you. They are your client and not your boss and you have the option to lay out the terms of how you want to work with them.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
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Brandy,

I too have set hours and let calls go to voice mail after hours. My clients who are in different time zones or those who have an emergency know to just shoot me an email that they need a chat or have an emergency so that I can accommodate them as well.

By not setting these boundaries you will get calls all times of the day and night. Once your clients know your processes and that you are not available after a certain time they will stop calling all hours of the evening and weekends.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Thanks Renee, that's good advice. This is something that I have also been thinking about myself. Thanks Brandy for asking.

[QUOTE=reneeshupe;137873]Well formally for my clients I don't have set hours. I lay out at the beginning that the preferred form of contact is via email and then by phone and preferably by scheduled phone call. I don't answer the phone after 4:30pm (no matter what) and have my main line set up to automatically go to voicemail after hours and on the weekends.
[QUOTE]

I would love to set things up the way you have. Since I have a baby, I really need the ability to be flexible, and phone calls from 8am - 6pm won't cut it. I didn't do the research first and placed hours of operation on my website and on a few advertisements. I think that I will remove and follow in your footsteps, providing my preferences for email and scheduled phone calls. Thanks for sharing...

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Crystal Chambliss - YourAdminCenter
Owner (Virtual Assistant)

Personally I don't. I'm available 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (shhhh! only regular, quality clients know that!). I start new clients out with the notion of regular office hours, and note that I return email/voicemail within 3 hours, until we've worked together for some time and I know they're decent enough not to call or email at all hours unless it's a dire (and I mean "dire") emergency.

As I care for an elderly, frail parent with major health issues, a large house, 2 dogs and other pets, it suits me as I can be very flexible and get everything done that needs to be done in both my professional and personal life.

I guess everyone's situation is different.

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

I shut my lines down at 5 pm. My clients email first and if they need to, request a call back.

I tell clients my hours are 8am to 4 pm for them to contact me. I don't always work then, I may work on their projects in the evening, but they don't know that. As long as I am available when I said I would be, there are no problems.

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Pamela J Erb, Owner
Common Cents Bookkeeping

So do you find that it is best to not state hours available on your website? I was thinking of just stating it in my contracts.

I have been working on my Policy of late and just added this in. My preferred contact method is via Email and I will contact back within 24 hours. I figure if I am constantly on the phone with someone, I can't get anything done.

Just my 2 cents.

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Dawn - Your Virtual Office Girl