about 'urgent' work emails when I'm on leave?

[flopsyandjim]

I'm on annual leave for a month due to having no childcare. My line manager approved this. She can be a bit of a pain, sometimes nice, sometimes not.

I do have a history of checking emails during annual leave and responding to some, but I've been trying not to respond this time (although checking them). My manager even sent me an email last week before leaving saying that I absolutely must not check emails, and copied others in telling them not to email me until I'm back.

except today I get an "I know you are on leave, but this is urgent" email. Asking for information that I've already provided but she can't find...I get all my email alerts on my phone.

I responded. It took me only 2 minutes but AIBU to feel annoyed? I'm trying to do better with keeping work and life separate, and I'm off to spend time with my DD (and catch up on study). I thought she wanted me to switch off but seemingly she wants me to save her skin because she's under pressure again and being a nice person mug I find myself helping again.

DH says as it only takes 2 minutes to provide the info, not to worry (he has done work on his annual leave too, we are quite a pair aren't we?)

I am waiting on the outcome of an interview for a position in another department where hopefully I will have better management. This entire team have been very mixed messages - do not take work home, do not check emails, but we will give you so much work that you will end up doing it in your spare time anyway.

It does sound as if she made an effort by telling others not to bother you - hopefully, it was only after exhausting all other avenues that she contacted you. If it is only 2 minutes I think you could make the concession to help out in an emergency ?

I used to get a bit cross with my husband frequently checking work emails when we were away ( 'Me: What an amazing view from this 15th century tower !' Him (leaning backwards over parapet) 'Great ! I've got a signal from here') but then I realised he could only relax when he had reassured himself, so it was not up up to me to police his activity. He would then completely chill out. I found it much easier to relax if I put an out of office message on, but left my deputy with a private alternative number and email for real emergencies - coping by herself was a good chance for her to prove her worth for promotion.

I would definitely try to refrain from contacting a subordinate on holiday ,but I would hope that if they had a month's leave there would not be many loose ends left before they went. If some one takes a week or so there are things that can be left to ride.( Of course, in the case of illness, the company just has to work on as best they can - I did have a boss call me the day after surgery to find out something he could have worked out - he get very little sense and had the decency to apologise later)

I actually think willingness and happiness to answer work emails while on leave should be the key employee satisfaction measurement that all employers should take, because in my experience it's the one most telling measurement of employee engagement and satisfaction. People who work in an environment where they feel valued, where their contribution is seen as significant and important, where they have a good connection with their colleagues, generally don't think twice about answering emails in holiday time - of course they'll help because everyone is working towards a goal and not doing it is counterproductive.

Refusing to answer emails may seem petty but it usually comes from a long history of feeling devalued - it's an expression of frustration (one that usually is ineffective) a way of saying 'you don't value me so I won't help you.' Unfortunately most employers are oblivious to that.

Yes but it's 2 minutes this time, what happens when it's 10 times a day and as they are all "urgent" which would mean a quick response so it's not like op could just take half an hour once a day.

For what it's worth most jobs are not life and death, and mostly they are not the only person with that unique skill that would prevent someone else being able to do that work (in a general way) If someone is off sick or on holiday then for that time period effectively they don't work there leave them alone.

It is hard to unsee and ignore if you login. Respond to this one but make it clear you are now unavailable until x date. Put an out of office message on or better still a divert to your manager. Don't check again until your return.

It sounds like thinking about you workplace situation is taking more time and effort than replying to the emails. So it sounds like you are right to think of moving departments, to change your environment. For thus month can you do something to help move your mind away from ‘obligations’? There are some brilliant mindfulness apps out there. Or get out of the house in this gorgeous weather and leave your phone at home.

I don't check emails when I'm on annual leave. I used to have them on my phone and iPad but deleted the apps. It's my private phone and iPad so I don't see why I need to have access to my emails. I If I'm off I'm off and it'll have to wait until I'm back.

Don't do it. My previous MD had a strict no-contact rule on holiday, and encouraged everyone under her to do the same. It doesn't matter how much you get paid, just don't do it. Also take your emails off your phone.

You only have yourself to blame I'm afraid.

Firstly, because you have your tech set up so that you can see work emails all the time.

Secondly, because you have a history of responding to work emails when you're on leave.

You need to change your behaviour in order for them to change theirs!

Difficult one really.

As a pp said, it's great that you have a month old. This in itself would make me think a 2 minute email is fair.

BUT in other circumstances I'd say vacation is vacation - no work whatsoever.

Depends on your team / ethos I guess.

I think sending you an email to your work address is fine as long as they don’t expect you to answer it.

I think it is your responsibility here not to check your work emails. Work are offering communication and it is entirely in your control to not engage in it.

A month off, not a month old!

I would respond - as it is give and take- but don’t do it immediately so as not to encourage it

I also think your manager sounds like she would only bother you if she needed to

OP - you have a choice.... either check them or don't check them. It's really that simple.

Then once you've made that choice be happy and content with your decision.

It's not up to your boss, colleagues or us to tell you what to do.

Stop checking your emails. Your boss will phone if it's truly urgent.

I think if it's a 2 minute job which would help them out a lot then there is no issue.

The problem is that if you do it once then it becomes expected. My DP was at his grandmother's funeral recently and was inundated with calls/emails despite them knowing where he was.

That's awful! I hope he complained to his boss about their behaviour when he got back.

You have no real boundaries in place.

Turn off or disable work emails in leave

You have undermined what little boundary you might have by replying.

Part of having leave is, well, disconnecting.

No wonder mental health and stress levels are so high. You're setting up expectations for your colleagues too here. Stop it.

You have wasted a lot more than 2 minutes posting/readingon here?

The more emails you answer, the more you'll get.

I was once rung up screaming with a fake crisis when I took the day off in an attempt to console a friend whose DD had cancer. Sorted silliness. Told them to back off. They rang back squealing 2 hrs later.

This manager never stopped doing it. I stopped answering the phone tho' - that did it.

You have wasted a lot more than 2 minutes posting/readingon here?
^
It's not work though, is it

I turn the email notification off on my phone when I'm on leave.

My OOO message always says "On Annual Leave with no access to phone or emails".

My old boss once rang me & asked me to check something for him - he wasn't very impressed when I said I was in a tent, in a field, with no laptop......

Didn't do it again though.

I categorically tell my team that they're not to log in out of hours or on leave. No one's indispensable & we'll get along just fine until they come back.

I am a bugger for checking my work phone on my days off. This is why I leave my work phone and laptop at work when I'm on annual leave so I won't be tempted to check.

YANBU. Turn off your alerts.

I won't look at my work emails when I'm on Annual Leave. My Out of Office is there for a reason.

I may if I'm off sick, because if it's unexpected such as a bad cold there's no out of office on. Though the majority of my sick leave in the last few years were expected and planned for (hysterectomy and surgery to treat a torn cartilage on my knee.) On those occasions when I was well enough I did log in occasionally to make sure I was ''in the loop'' with things that were going on, especially the hysterectomy as I was off for some time, though didn't actually do much with my emails.

This thread is reminiscent of the one where posters were divided over whether it was ok to check "urgent" emails when socialising/eating with friends/whatever.

Two very polarised camps there too.

OP (said with all kindness), stop wringing your hands over an issue you brought on yourself. Either turn the notifications off or deal with the emails.