Asking colleagues not to contact me on AL

[Sooverwork]

I’ve name changed for this post. I’m a manager in which I am almost on call 24/7 with no compensation . After 4.5 years I’m exhausted as have no respite. I am going on annual leave for less than 2 weeks . I do all the usual things - delegate work to the alleged 2 “ second in charge “, have an out of office reply on etc . However even with a “ Do Not Disturb” on my phone I still have the second in charge (s) texting me . This happens all the time even if I have a scheduled day off for doctors / elderly parent appt. I can’t go on like this anymore . How do I inform them NOT to contact me on my leave and not sound like a bitch . Please note that I never do this to either of them or any other member of my staff . With these two it’s a bit of a combination of laziness , not wanting to be responsible but for reasons I don’t want to go into I can’t sack or denote either of them . I just need to make it clear that I do not want to be contacted . Sorry for rant !

Just wanted to add that there is NOTHING that you need to be contacted about on leave. Not one thing. UNLESS - someone had work just pulled out a gun and said they are going over to yours to shoot you. Everything else can wait.

at work, not had work!

I have holiday rules with my team, works both ways as I insist that they are also not contacted if it can be helped during their time off.

if it’s super urgent - call my boss (he and I are never off at the same time as I’m his back too)

if it’s something only I can answer and critical - send me a LOW priority email (I get a bunch of high priority ones that aren’t, so if it’s marked low, it will be obvious it’s really critical)

I’ll check my email twice a week and respond to low priority mails only.

your texts/WhatsApp’s will be muted.

my teams will be logged out completely.

i’m not taking my laptop, so if it can’t deal with something quickly from my mobile, see rule 1.

I delegate all of my meetings in advance and make sure each person is aware that they have delighted authority while I’m out.

turn on my OOO with delegation contact for each project/customer, making it clear that I will not respond to them until after x date.

and go…ignoring anything that comes my way apart from the 30 mins or so I quietly slip away from family/friends early a couple of mornings a week to check for low priority mails and promptly log back out of outlook once I’ve checked and responded to any I receive.

Just don’t respond. You need to train them by your own behaviour.

Helpful. Amazingly all jobs are not like yours.

OP, talk to HR or your boss if you need any help with how to manage your direct reports on this - someone to help you see wood from trees might be useful. I run a small business so I know how it is, but this lot are really out of control.

Just don't answer, to be honest I think you're being a bit of a martyr. You've created this situation. No one is so important or indispensable they can't have a day off. I'd also suggest you take a decent break 3+ weeks so people get used to the idea, better yet get another job

Is it NHS?
I'd draw up SOPs for the most likely eventualities, and ensure they understand them. Ensure they know who is deputising.

Then out of office message just needs to say 'I will not be looking at any work messages while on leave. All enquiries to (deputy).

Do not look at your emails/texts etc while on AL.

Any comeback - you were out of range, waterskiing, scuba diving, in a hot air balloon ... ON HOLIDAY.

This is one of the reasons why I have 2 phones - a work one and a personal
one. My work phone is switched off during holidays. Maybe you are able to get a work phone before you go?

If they message just don't reply or send a message saying 'I'm on AL at the minute any issues speak with xxx' See you when I get back.

I’ve sat them both down , explained handover , no outstanding items that they need to deal with at present , where to access information ( should know this already …but) . Emphasised that during my very short leave I won’t be responding to any queries from either of them. Formalised it all in an email and included my line manager ( this area is not their specialty so can’t be called upon for anything ) and emphasised I won’t be available . Response from one … oh just text or call me if you need anything ?! I’m not responding. All other staff who report to me have also been informed in an email that those two are the contacts in my absence and I am not available . I refuse to lie to anyone and pretend I’m without Internet / scuba diving / fishing / different time zone etc etc . I respect everyone else’s down time.

Good luck! You can do this.

Thank you 🙏. Yes I agree with you entirely , everyone’s jobs and responsibilities are different. Some are managing a 24/7 service with its challenges and expectations that you are endlessly available. Others are running their own business and are constantly switched “ on”. One of them a few weeks ago called me on a scheduled day off to squirm out of a situation whilst it was on her shift. Informed her she had to deal with it according to policy as I wasn’t available . I’m definitely not responding to them on my leave .

You don't need to lie. You've done the handover, now block their numbers until you return from leave.

I just ignore anyone while I am on AL especially if I am abroad.

Stay strong OP! ❤️

Turn off your work phone? Remove the Outlook/Teams app from your personal phone if you also have that on there.

Saw this and thought of you, OP:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4711jg34vo

Thanks for that! It'll shake things up in my workplace for sure!

I would just ignore them and wait for them to say something when you get back to work. They will either mention it it which case you can tell them that you were on annual leave or they won’t mention it and it will be a lesson learned and you will probably find that they won’t do it anymore. They are taking advantage and you should be compensated for your time.

This is a great approach!