What is the 'close of business' e-mail policy?

What is the 'close of business' e-mail policy?

Tim Burress (E-mail Etiquette and Organization Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What sites are not allowed to be viewed at the office of most businesses?; Can I check my myspace at the office? and more...

Some companies have instituted policies to try to tame e-mail. So they will put into a policy into effect saying, "Hey, please respond to all e-mail before the close of business." The challenge with that is what constitutes a reply. So most cases where we see this instituted at about 4:30, 4:15 generally everyday people are typing back, "Got your e-mail." "OK" "Working on it." "Sure" "OK." It constitutes as a reply but it doesn't really do anything in terms of closing a loop of that communication. It actually adds to the volume. It is very difficult to understand what close of business means for most people. Close of business for someone could mean 5:00 or 5:30. It could be when I close up business later that day when I stop doing work maybe at home after I put the kids to bed and that can be 10:40 at night.