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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think if you're on holiday, you're on holiday

100 replies

JanineStHubbins · 30/06/2014 12:06

And shouldn't be hassled to work?

Today is the first day of my holiday - the first proper one I've had in three years. Last year I went abroad for a week, but ended up bringing work with me as I was behind on a writing deadline (I work in Higher ed).

I'm on the way to the airport, and just got an email from one of our administrators, telling me I have to set a resit exam paper for a student who didn't turn up for the original paper (and didn't submit coursework) by Friday.

AIBU to just ignore this email? My out of office is on. Advice welcome, especially from fellow academics!

OP posts:

BeanyIsPregnant · 30/06/2014 12:07

I'd ignore it, your on holiday, they would have had back the 'I'm out of office until x date' reply back... What more can you do!

londonrach · 30/06/2014 12:08

Ignore. Leave phone off. You should gave left it at home. You on holiday. One of the colleagues will have to sort any problems like you would if they are on holiday. Enjoy your holiday and do not check your emails!

ClockWatchingLady · 30/06/2014 12:08

If this is the first you've heard of it (i.e., it's not something you forgot to do before you left), then yes I think you can ignore it. Definitely.

ZacharyQuack · 30/06/2014 12:08

Yep, your phone is turned off because you're on a plane. Ignore for a few days, then reply. By then they'll have sorted it out themselves if it's urgent, or it can wait until you get back to work.

HecatePropylaea · 30/06/2014 12:10

I would email back "sorry to hear that you have this problem. As you know, I am on annual leave until X date. I hope you find someone to assist you."

Luggagecarousel · 30/06/2014 12:11

Unfortunately the internet connection is dodgy/ you left all electronic devices at home, or what ever. You didn't open the email until your first day back at work.

I never do open work emails, except from my desk at work.

TalcumPowder · 30/06/2014 12:11

I'm an academic, and unfortunately this is pretty much par for the course. Holidays often coincide with the hell of examining, the externs, marking resits etc. I would expect to be checking mail and dealing with stuff wherever I was this time of year. Having said that, a few days to set a resit paper isn't much notice - we always have to submit the resit paper along with the original paper, much earlier in the year. Is it something you can do off the top of your head, or dies it need a lot if work?

Original poster

JanineStHubbins · 30/06/2014 12:11

Yes, this is the first I've heard of it. Not sure if my ignoring it will adversely affect the student (ie, if the paper isn't set and approved internally and externally, he will not be able to resist and might therefore have to repeat the year).

Quite how you're supposed to set a full exam paper with no access to course materials and from a beach in Asia is beyond me!

OP posts:

londonrach · 30/06/2014 12:11

Not that it matters it was the students fault anyway for not turned up. Now turn off your email, phone etc. maybe keep mn. Now relax

Original poster

JanineStHubbins · 30/06/2014 12:12

Resit, not resist!

OP posts:

LtEveDallas · 30/06/2014 12:13

I'm not an academic, but after every single holiday for years being interupted by work, I told them that I had changed my phone contract and that it no longer supported roaming.

I set my email OOO to say the same - and that I was uncontactable from X to Y date, but in emergencies only my contact number was XX (was actually DHs phone) that would be switched on and checked for text messages once per day (simply because of the nature of my job - I wouldn't have done that in a 'normal' job).

I wouldn't reply to that email, but then I am so pig sick of being 'indespensible' that it's made me hardline.

Vintagejazz · 30/06/2014 12:14

That's exactly what I would email back Janine. It's just not possible for you to reset a paper because you don't have access to all the stuff you need and, as agreed, are on leave until such a date.

Libra · 30/06/2014 12:17

We always have a rota in our department of one member of staff per week who is the official 'on call' person. Do you have that? Could you suggest that the administrator contact that person?

Higheredserf · 30/06/2014 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Andrewofgg · 30/06/2014 12:19

On holiday I leave my work phone at home and set an out-of-office on my work email. You are not indispensable. The graveyards are full of people who were indispensable and yet the world goes on. Sod 'em.

Higheredserf · 30/06/2014 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rubadubstylee · 30/06/2014 12:20

I'm looking at this from the other side. I have been that administrator who has desperately been trying to resolve an academic issue.

If you were aware that there was stuff outstanding then YWBU to go on holiday without making adequate alternative arrangements - even if those arrangements are that someone else will deal with queries while you are away.

One organisation I worked for had too much of these kind of incidents and actually moved the planning for the following academic year to the end of the current acdemic year and staff were not allowed to leave for their holidays until their immediate line manager countersigned that they had completed all of their tasks - organising resits/checking each student could complete their course/year of study would be part of that. Sounds draconian, but it worked and the numbers of students desparately trying to resolve issues in July dropped significantly.

Original poster

JanineStHubbins · 30/06/2014 12:22

There is virtual storage on the uni system, so I suppose I could try to find an Internet cafe when I arrive at my destination (in about 20 hours time). The thought of sitting while jetlagged and sweaty, trying to get my brain back into work mode, for an hour or more and set a fair paper is not how I hoped to spend the first few days of my holiday. I resent having to do that when I've worked my butt off this year, including at least one day every weekend. We just don't get paid enough for this level of intrusion into personal time.

Incidentally, this holiday is a belated honeymoon for DH and I. Pisses me off even more.

OP posts:

WhereHas1999DissappearedToo · 30/06/2014 12:22

YANBU! Just leave it and say you did not have roaming, it's not you problem when you're on holiday.

I got pestered on the second day of my holiday because some idiot office manager forgot to pay the creditors, hence me getting a phone call from my boss wondering how he can sort it without my signature. Not much I can do at the other end of the country which is a 2 hour plane ride away!

Original poster

JanineStHubbins · 30/06/2014 12:23

Should have said - my holiday is for 3 weeks.

OP posts:

Lweji · 30/06/2014 12:23

I don't read emails during the weekend, unless I know there is an important deadline for me.

And often don't have email on holiday. Tough for the student.
The admin will have read your reply and should look for someone else to do it.

hamptoncourt · 30/06/2014 12:25

I am a manager in FE and it is par for the course to work 60/70/80 hour weeks including evenings/weekends/so called holidays.

However, I am on holiday today and although I cannot resist looking at the odd email I haven't replied to any - this is massive progress for me!!

Definitely do not reply. Your out of office is there for a reason and if the person who sent you the email doesn't make alternative arrangements then it is them who is in the wrong.

Have a fabulous holiday!!

rubadubstylee · 30/06/2014 12:30

JanineStHubbins
Should have said - my holiday is for 3 weeks.

Sorry, I'm not trying to harrangue you, but didn't you realise this student hadn't sat the exam before you left? What did you think was going to happen? If the normal process is that they resit exams at the start of the following academic year then YANBU. But if you knew they hadn't sat their exam and made no attempt to clarify what the consequences of this were for you and them before leaving for your holiday then I think YABU.

AlpacaPicnic · 30/06/2014 12:37

YaSnbu!

My dh has this week booked off work. His boss decided to try and arrange for cover him last week. Lo and behold, nobody is available at such short notice. He sent my dh lots of panicked emails saying things like 'how can we resolve this?' and 'i would never adk anyone to cancel their leave but...' but crucially not offering to come in and cover him himself...
Dh has turned his phone off...

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 30/06/2014 12:42

Well if you keep taking work on holiday with you and replying to e-mails then of course people will keep contacting you!

This 'oh I'm so important they can't manage without me' attitude is ridiculous. If you are on holiday then you are on holiday, unless you are running the country or something.

However, if this is something that you should have sorted before you went away and didn't, then it is your own fault for not managing your time in such a way that you can go away for 3 weeks.
I'm sympathetic, but it doesn't sound like you are very good at ensuring your holiday time can be your own.

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