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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

On annual leave - colleagues messaging

154 replies

Bunny2021 · 22/03/2023 08:58

My first AIBU - please be gentle 😂

I’m on annual leave this week as I had holiday days I needed to use up before the end of the month. I haven’t gone away anywhere other than visiting family Monday and Tuesday.

Yesterday my boss sent me a WhatsApp on my personal phone asking about a document that had corrupted and would I be able to go back in to redact the information and resend. He finished the message with “if you can’t, not to worry I will do it tomorrow”. I did it last night.

This morning at 8:30 - so outside of normal working hours - another colleague has messaged (same level as me) asking for a call today to talk him through a contract that could probably wait until Monday. If not, my boss has my notes from when I went on mat leave that covered this contract. This message has really annoyed me. I think because it’s before our usual working day (which starts at 9:00).

YABU - it’s a quick message and they only want to chat for 5 mins.
YANBU - you’re on annual leave and it’s unacceptable to be messaging at 8:30 on your day off.

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 22/03/2023 19:37

I don't care what job or what level; ignore all work related requests when on leave. You fulfil one ask then another then another and its expected- its a toxic trait, don't promote it.

cartagenagina · 22/03/2023 19:42

How do they have your personal number?

You shouldn’t have done the first task. You’re supposed to be on holiday. The second one, just ignore them and put a dnd/mute whatever on all work numbers for the remainder of your holiday.

1stWorldProblems · 22/03/2023 20:10

I'm rubbish at ignoring email pings but have recently realised that my work don't actually value me (or my team enough) to be dealing with stuff outside of work - so I've installed one of those apps that are supposed to block the fun apps on your phone so you can focus on work - but I use it automatically block my work email & notifications outside of working hours (as I find it useful to have access to work stuff on my phone during work hours). It's only been a fortnight but it's definitely improved my life.

My team colleagues have my mobile so if they need help then they can get hold of me but no more official (or customer) contact when I'm not in work. They don't pay me enough or respect me enough to disrupt my weekends, evenings or holidays.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 22/03/2023 20:11

It's not on that they messaged you OP but it's your boundaries that are soft.

Welshmonster · 22/03/2023 20:40

Set your boundaries now or next time they are on holiday and on a beach relaxing you can send them banal messages

Bournetilly · 22/03/2023 20:52

YANBU but just ignore the calls/ messages.

Grohlette · 22/03/2023 21:41

Next time you’re on leave, tell then you’re going somewhere really exotic and will be unreachable!

Sennelier1 · 22/03/2023 22:30

I would answer the call but tell the caller I can't possibly help right now as I'm very busy b t I'll do it straight away next week - promised - first thing 😁

Rewis · 22/03/2023 23:32

Really depends on the job. In my position I should not be bothered on annual leave unless it is an emergency. And can't really think what it could be. But it can be expected in managerial and more senior positions but the expectations is usually known and the it is reflected in compensation. I'm assuming it's not an expectation in your job so say you'll sort it when you get back to work and silence the chat

IndysMamaRex · 22/03/2023 23:45

I would politely respond that I’ll deal with it when I’m back in office & leave it at that. Any messages after that would be ignored

maddy68 · 22/03/2023 23:48

Block everyone from work

You are on holiday. Do not have anyone from work on your personal contact

Howdoesitworkagain · 22/03/2023 23:52

Why don’t you just mute and archive the chat on what’s app while you’re on A/L?

And failing that, even if you do read the messages, why be compelled to respond or do the work?

YANBU in drawing the boundaries.

YABU in being precious about 8:30 vs 9:00. You’re on A/L, working hours are irrelevant so it’s not logical that you would be more annoyed for the sake of 30 minutes before your usual start time.

Doingmybest12 · 23/03/2023 00:32

Neither of those messages were about urgent things that couldn't wait or someone else couldn't sort out. It sounds like they were taking the lazy option by contacting you in the hope you'd just do it. So basically no respect for you.

Ndhdiwntbsivnwg · 23/03/2023 05:49

You know, you can ignore the messages. It’s your own damn fault, answering them.

Desiredeffect · 23/03/2023 06:01

I'm on annual leave to this week and my boss messaged me twice but when he's on annual leave he expects to be left alone. I've muted him now

78Summer · 23/03/2023 06:29

Depends what you are paid. If you’re in a senior well paid position I think there is an expectation to be always available. That is why the salaries are large. If not - then ignore. And on your next holiday tell them you’ll be turning your phone off.

ToDoListAddict · 23/03/2023 06:45

I had this in my previous job. Needy colleague would message me all day when I was off.
When I was going away on holiday my boss was joking about messaging me if he had any problems covering me.
I announced to everyone that they can feel free to message me about work whilst I'm on holiday, but I would NOT be responding until I was back at work. It worked 🤣

TheEliminator · 23/03/2023 06:49

YANBU to be annoyed at your colleagues. However, you also need for take some responsibility here. You should have set some boundaries and completely ignored their messages. They even said it ‘could wait’ yet you contacted them. That’s setting a precedent so I guarantee they’ll do it again.

piesforever · 23/03/2023 06:52

I had this once when we went to Florida a few years ago. "Sorry I'm on annual leave, I'll sort when I get back" was my reply but it was annoying, did make me think of work more!

Phoebo · 23/03/2023 06:55

It really depends. I'd maybe be ok with the corrupted doc, but not anything else. You're on leave.

LlynTegid · 23/03/2023 07:14

You must be firm about holidays, set a standard, and likewise never contact work during that time.

Not just for your own wellbeing, but to set an example to others for theirs.

If a work colleague died or was hospitalised, perhaps an exception, cannot think of many others.

Fairyliz · 23/03/2023 07:20

MrsPinkCock · 22/03/2023 09:14

Maybe it’s industry specific but I find it incredibly odd when people on mumsnet refuse to talk to their colleagues outside office hours. In the real world, most of us are team players and would be happy to give our colleagues five minutes of our time (as long as they asked politely).

People wouldn’t last five minutes in my profession if they expected work to be a bog standard 9-5 and weren’t prepared to answer the odd text or call on leave or at night.

Working a full day on leave? No. A quick 5 minute phone call to make your colleagues life a bit easier and help work to run more smoothly - totally fine IMO.

Me to and I worked in the public sector. Five minutes of my time would possibly save them 30 minutes of searching for an answer. If they do the same for me it’s a win win for everyone.

SagittariusDwarf · 23/03/2023 07:39

No one from work contacts me while I am on leave. I make sure I do a decent handover - that's very important - and say to one or two people that if there's a dire emergency they can WhatsApp me on my personal phone and I'll respond when I see it. In ten years at current workplace they have never had to do that. My work is very busy and high pressure (senior-ish lawyer in global firm) but the entire team respects each others' boundaries especially regarding AL. Work phone goes in the safe, switched off until I return from leave.

Mrscooper13 · 23/03/2023 07:42

The first has said he can do it so why would you not let him! As soon as you’ve done it your saying your available

The second has said it can wait until Monday so I would let them

we all need a proper break from work

Notamum12345577 · 23/03/2023 13:47

I work shifts and occasionally get a message or call when I’m off, usually it is something along the lines of ‘can you work this day in a couple of weeks?’. Or it very occasionally has been a question related to something I dealt with. I use my work phone as my personal phone as I’m too tight to pay a phone bill 🤣, so it’s always on. But I would also feel totally fine with ignoring the message if I wanted to.
I think you should bring up how indispensable the company must think you are at the next pay review though!