92.6 per cent of Brits think there are certain things you should never do over a work email, with the sending of inappropriate content, kisses and not addressing people correctly, taking the lead. That’s according to the latest data from the independent job board, CV-Library.

The study explored the views of 1,100 UK workers around emails in the workplace. And while 73.2 per cent say that they always remain professional no matter who their emails are being sent to, the study did highlight the 8 email mistakes which workers think you should never do:

1. Sending inappropriate content (90.7 per cent)
2. Sending kisses (64.6 per cent)
3. Not addressing people by their name (43.8 per cent)
4. Not signing off an email correctly (38.7 per cent)
5. Blind copying people into the email (29.1 per cent)
6. Copying in a manager just to get a response (16.6 per cent)
7. Sending read receipts (11.5 per cent)
8. Flagging the email as high importance (10 per cent)

In addition to this, it appears that a more formal approach to emails is favoured by workers, with 38.9 per cent stating that they’d open an email with ‘Dear [Name]’ and 41.8 per cent would close the email with ‘Kind Regards’. Following this, 30.2 per cent would open with ‘Hi [Name]’ and close with ‘Regards’ (16.8 per cent).

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, says: “It’s no secret that sending inappropriate content over email is a no-go in the workplace. That said, it’s interesting to hear that other small common occurrences are bugging workers, not to mention the fact that the majority appear to be take a more formal approach with their communications.

“It’s always important to remember that the workplace is a professional environment, and while interaction through technology is increasingly becoming more and more instant, the traditional rules still apply. Alongside this, it’s worth thinking about whether you really do need to copy in your manager, send a read receipt, or flag something as high importance – most people simply find it irritating!”

The survey also found that nearly two thirds (64.9 per cent) of workers read and reply to emails outside of work hours, with a further 39% stating that they spend between 1-2 hours of their spare time doing so.

Biggins continues: “Email traffic outside of traditional working hours is increasing and this can have a negative effect on your work-life balance. If you simply can’t part with your emails after work, or while you’re away, try to stick to allocated time slots in which you’re allowed to look at them. In some companies and industries the nature of the job will require you to do this, but I do believe that businesses should not actively encourage this always-on culture.”