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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

110 replies

flopsyandjim · 28/06/2018 11:25

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.

OP posts:

Polarbearflavour · 28/06/2018 12:37

What did we do before smart phones and email?!

I think it’s pretty sad we are so connected to work constantly. My current job doesn’t come with a smart phone but in previous jobs I had a Blackberry. When I was on annual leave it was turned off and in a drawer.

thecatsthecats · 28/06/2018 12:40

The fact that she should have been able to find the information herself is why I wouldn't have answered.

I actually refused to send my SMT colleague a document a third time, because I'm not his fucking PA - and in fact am senior.

Parker231 · 28/06/2018 12:41

NO one should be contacting you when you are away from work on annual leave. It’s poor management if this allowed. Nothing is so urgent that someone who is in the office can’t sort out for themselves. You are at fault for responding - it will two minutes of your time now but next time, two hours? Why are email alerts coming through on your phone when you are away from work?

Queenofthedrivensnow · 28/06/2018 12:43

Don't check emails at all. If it's actually urgent my manager phones me when I am on leave. It's happened about twice in 2 years

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 28/06/2018 12:46

Ordinarily I'd say no email when on leave, even if 2 mins out of a month doesn't seem like a long time, work has approved a long vacation so should respect that. However, a month is a long time for things to be waiting, and it might stop work allowing you or others such a long vacation in future. In that position, id have a word with my boss and suggest putting in OOO that anything urgent which can't wait til your return should be forwarded to your boss. That in itself might deter some people and if not, your boss can handle or at least if you know she contacts you it really is urgent.

Magicpaintbrush · 28/06/2018 12:48

It could be worse. My old boss turned up at my house on a saturday evening to tell me she wanted me to come into work on sunday (I was contracted mon-fri). She had lost my phone number, hence the personal visit. I was beyond pissed off. It felt like a massive intrusion of my personal space, and out of order expecting me to give up my sunday at such short notice.

MachineBee · 28/06/2018 12:55

IMO it would a no, YANBU to be annoyed. However if you are very very senior then it tends to be an accepted norm and salary levels sort of reflect this.

But I’m increasingly hearing from friends and family that despite downsizing their jobs (and pay packets) to achieve better work/life balance, working models are changing and suddenly they find they are working longer hours again. Hot desking, changing to laptops from computers, removing landlines and paying a contribution to use your personal phone ‘et voila’ managers and colleagues suddenly think they have the right to contact you whenever.

I don’t check emails when on holiday, in the evening or at weekends and my colleagues and manager seem to respect this. But I don’t work in a life or death job and everything pretty much can wait until the next working day. For total emergencies my closest colleagues can contact me via FB or text.

SerenDippitty · 28/06/2018 12:58

It s virtual presenteeism and I hate it. No way will I check work emails while I'm on holiday. If there's something really urgent they can text.

Back in pre email, pre internet pre mobile days, which I am old enough to remember, if someone was on holiday they were not contactable and that was that. The problem had to be solved without them.

TheGreatestHo · 28/06/2018 13:02

Stop checking. The more you do the more they will ask.

TheGreatestHo · 28/06/2018 13:03

I feel stupid for even pointing out the obvious here

Sequencedress · 28/06/2018 13:09

When I go on annual leave my emails go on OOO, and I give a number to my immediate line manager, to be used if necessary. He's done that once in 6 years (and it really was very necessary - life or death, due to the line of work I'm in) so I'm fine with it.
My staff are never contacted while on A/L - that's their down time and I respect that. I made my position very clear when I started that that was how I would be running my dept - but I have the seniority to do that, I understand not everyone does.
Set the boundary OP, or accept this will happen again (I say that gently) because people will react to what you allow, and reinforce.

victoriaspongecake · 28/06/2018 13:09

I think you are extremely lucky to have been granted a whole month's worth of Annual Leave in one go.
I would therefore be happy to answer any email whilst I was off work.

Sequencedress · 28/06/2018 13:09

Vitalogy · 28/06/2018 13:18

The auto response set up sounds ideal.

brizzledrizzle · 28/06/2018 13:19

Your manager has let you have a month off and you can't spare two minutes of your time to help her out? A little bit of goodwill goes a long way.

Thebluedog · 28/06/2018 13:22

I do respond to work emails whilst I’m on leave but only if it’s quick, important and only if I can. If I’m in the middle of a day out or simply can’t be arsed to look, then I don’t.

RosyPrimroseface · 28/06/2018 13:23

i think it entirely depends how much you earn and your level of seniority!
SMT - suck it up and answer mails
Senior director/manager level - probably suck it up but make it clear if you're really unavailable ("I'm camping/having am operation mon-thurs then home on Friday so may check mails then, back in office on Monday")
Anything more junior- only answer if you want.

ShotsFired · 28/06/2018 13:23

@victoriaspongecake I think you are extremely lucky to have been granted a whole month's worth of Annual Leave in one go.
Op obviously just has different policies to your employer then, so its nowt to do with 'luck'.

I would therefore be happy to answer any email whilst I was off work.
If you were on [whatever period of leave is permitted by your work], would you still be rushing to reply like this? And if so, then you aren't really on leave, are you?

Cyantist · 28/06/2018 13:27

Not many places would let you take a full month off work and it seems like the boss really was trying to avoid you being contacted.

I'm off on holiday for a fortnight next month and am worried as there's no reception or wifi where we are staying and I won't be able to reply to emails most of the time. When we are out and about and I get signal I'll definitely be doing what I can but then my work is very flexible and I'm more than happy to try to be the same in return.

beautifulgirls · 28/06/2018 13:30

Don't be annoyed by them. Switch them off and don't read them, or choose to read them but accept that you will then feel obliged to deal with some of them. You have a choice.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 28/06/2018 13:32

I do like to be contactable whilst I am away. I wouldn't spend 24h a day on my emails, but I do check them a couple of times a day. It keeps me in the loop, avoid the panic about going back to the office, I can send quick replies or re-direct to colleagues. It has saved a lot of time in the past.

Of course no one is indispensable, but telling a client that you are not on top of something because the person in charge is at a funeral/in hospital doesn't have the same tone as saying they are on holiday.

Being contactable means that I can therefore work from home, leave early and finish stuff in the evening and never have to go to the office at the weekend. It works both ways, and on the whole, I think it's a massive bonus.

GirlsBlouse17 · 28/06/2018 13:35

Stop your work email alerts on your phone. Stop checking work emails. Keep work and private life separate. Protect your personal time with your family. Work already gets enough of your time.