Email signatures

There are ways to let colleagues know that just because you may be working off-hours does not mean you expect a response outside of their working hours. We acknowledge that not all have the privilege to work outside of normal business hours or work off site. Incorporating an email signature also reminds others of the diverse work hours across our department, and that there is no pressure to read or respond to an email from you immediately.  

Consider using one of the following statements in your email signature to let others know you understand and respect their work/life balance and acknowledge that everyone has a different workday. 

Example signature:

Name 
Pronouns: She/her/hers 
Title
Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care 
University of California, San Francisco 
Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and X 
The future of healing, teaching, and discovery. 
I value and respect flexible work arrangements so please respond when you are working.  
UCSF sits upon the traditional unceded lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples.

Sample work hour signature lines: 

My workday may look different from your workday. Please do not feel obligated to respond outside of your typical working hours. 

I work flexibly and may send emails outside traditional office hours. No need to respond to my emails outside yours. 

I work on a flexible schedule and across several time zones so I’m sending this message now because it works for me. Feel free to read, act on, or respond at a time that works for you. 

I don’t expect you to respond to my email outside your work hours. 

I value and respect flexible work arrangements so please respond when you are working. 

If you have received an email from me outside of your normal business hours, I do not expect a response. 

Due to my new family/work life schedule crossover, you may receive emails from me outside of typical work hours. Please do not feel any pressure to respond outside of your own work schedule. 

I do not respond to emails on weekends. If this is an emergency, please <<insert directions of who to contact>>. 

Please note that my working hours might vary from yours. Please do not feel any pressure or obligation to respond to messages on my schedule.  

Please note I do not expect a response to my emails on nights, weekends, or holidays. 

For specific email access times: I check email twice a day between 9–11 a.m. PT and between 3:00–5:00 p.m. PT. 

For part-time workers: Please note my workdays are <<insert days>>.  

For hybrid workers: Please note I am on site on <<insert days>> and I work from home on <<insert days>>.  

Land acknowledgement:

In addition to the statements below, consider including a line that acknowledges the land that UCSF sits upon.

San Francisco: UCSF sits upon the traditional unceded lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples.

Oakland: UCSF sits upon the traditional unceded lands of the Muwekma​ Ohlone peoples.

Department taglines:

The future of healing, teaching, and discovery. 

The future of perioperative care starts here.

UCSF signature:

UCSF email signature template