Colleague emailing during annual leave...

[Greenartywitch]

I had two days off this week and noticed today that one of my colleagues emailed me (work email) something in the line of ''I know you are on annual leave but would you be able to send me a copy of X''.

Why was the point of that? I am on leave and I don't log into my work emails on my days off.

I am also pissed off because I made a point in our weekly team meeting on the day before my leave that I would be away for two days and to ask for anything urgent before I signed off that day.

That (male, middle aged) colleague has form in asking things at the last minute and also seem to think that his needs should be prioritised and I must say I am really starting to have enough of this.

How would you reply to his request/email?

The wider issue is that the organisation has chosen to have only one person (myself) looking after an entire function and to make the role part-time so it is not uncommon that requests cannot be answered immediately anyway...

It amuses me that he would have got another 'out of office' reply to his second email explaining he got your 'out of office' reply the first time. 😂

Sounds like the expectation, or maybe more hope, of one person that you would reply rather than an company wide thing?

I'd get back to him saying you're just back from leave and catching up on emails, ask if he got sorted.

The fact his own bad planning bit him on the arse not being able to get the document he needed when he needed it should be a lesson for him.

Depends a bit on the culture in your workplace but I think I'd be inclined to say

"If you knew I was on leave, why would you ask again? . Did you manage to get what you wanted, or do you still need it ?"

I wouldn't have seen it. Colleagues know that in a real emergency I'll help if I can, but they need to call or text me. I don't ever look at emails when I'm not working.

I do think it's perfectly reasonable to email someone who you know to be away, for them to pick up when they get back, and I'd assume that's what he was doing.

it is about the expectation I should be responding

He can "expect" all he likes, but he is going to be perennially disappointed.😄

Just hold your boundaries and grow a thicker skin.

Apologies, my post wasn't clear. The first sentence was quoting the OP. I wasn't saying it.

So no issue then?

@IdaGlossop · Today 16:01

''If I were your manager, I would support you fully in not answering (and reading!) emails when on leave BUT I would let you know that I wasn't impressed with your 'I'm not backing down' attitude.''

I have no idea as to what this comment is supposed to mean...

I wouldn't even respond now you are back.

If he needed it that desperately I would assume he had the report/whatever he needed by now.

If he hasn't and still needs it he can ask again at which stage you can say to him thay you assumed he had it already as it seemed to be urgent at the time of his email when he asked for it but BTW I never check emails when on leave.

I wouldn’t say anything. I’d reply now you are back at work saying. Hi John, please find attached below the XYZ report. Thanks.

the issue is he knew she was on. annual
leave but asked her to reply anyway, that’s rude and cheeky.

@greenartywitch No wonder you didn't understand my comment. I owe you an apology. I've confused your post with a recent one on a theme of annoying office behaviour. You are being totally reasonable to be annoyed by your colleague.