Boss contacting me day after day on vacation--nothing urgent

[Anonymous]

My boss has contacted me twice already on a planned vacation. I haven't been able to take vacation in years as I'm too busy to (I know, I know). My out of office reply named contacts for help yet this person has continued to contact me for two days. The basic information they wanted was not important and at least 10 others had this information and this information could have been found on a simple search online even.

[Anonymous]

Why did you answer? I would just let it go to voicemail assuming it was a call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you answer? I would just let it go to voicemail assuming it was a call.

+1. Sorry OP but this is on you. Always remember you are not as important as you think you are.

[Anonymous]

No one can take advantage of you without your permission.

[Anonymous]

Wow, everyone beating up on OP. Do you all not realize she may feel pressure from her BOSS? the one who decides if she gets promoted or raises?

It isn't right, but she shouldn't be beaten up on. I wonder if you all are like this in your real life.

Don't get me wrong, she has the right to point all this out to her boss or not answer the phone, but it isn't always that simple.

[Anonymous]

I would block their numbers. Out of sight out of mind. I’ve been there OP and I feel guilt ignoring the calls/texts but then feel extreme frustration that I can’t relax. So now I block my coworkers when I’m on vacation and unblock when I return.

[Anonymous]

It's very unclear what's going on. Was this a call or email? Did he request an immediate response? Maybe he thought you'd get to it when you returned. If it was something that took you a minute or two by email in the evening, maybe he thought you wouldn't mind; I wouldn't. If it does bother you, tell him. He's not a mind reader. If you specifically told him not to contact you while you're on vacation and he did, respond that you're vacation and that if no one in the office can help, you'll address it when you return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, everyone beating up on OP. Do you all not realize she may feel pressure from her BOSS? the one who decides if she gets promoted or raises?

It isn't right, but she shouldn't be beaten up on. I wonder if you all are like this in your real life.

Don't get me wrong, she has the right to point all this out to her boss or not answer the phone, but it isn't always that simple.

It really is that simple. She is the one who decides whether she is going to respond. If she feels pressure, that is her choice.

I ignore everything non-essential when on vacation. By the time I am back it will have been sorted out and no one will remember. These people need to be trained not to bother people on leave.

[Anonymous]

If you want to be able to be contacted by family or friends but not coworkers, put your phone on Do Not Disturb with a few key numbers that can break through. On Outlook email there is "VIP Mode" that is similar.

[Anonymous]

He's not expecting an answer necessarily...it's more of an FYI for when you return.
Or, if by the off chance you're checking email, you could take 30 sec and do him a favor and reply with a quick sentence about where you left the TPS reports before you took off hastily last week.

And it's easier to email someone when the idea or question is fresh in your mind rather than wait 1week+ and draft a super long email with all the things happening .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boss has contacted me twice already on a planned vacation. I haven't been able to take vacation in years as I'm too busy to (I know, I know). My out of office reply named contacts for help yet this person has continued to contact me for two days. The basic information they wanted was not important and at least 10 others had this information and this information could have been found on a simple search online even.

You are on vacation. Don’t answer the calls.

Or, next time he calls and when you answer, because I know you will, say that you don’t have access to the information he needs because you are in the middle of the desert rock climbing up the mountain. Hopefully he’ll get the hint. But really, my advice to you is to not answer calls or emails.

[Anonymous]

My boss used to do this. I did not respond. Now she does not do this anymore. Bosses are simple creatures--they will take the path of least resistance. When you are on vacation, it is your job to put up some resistance so they go elsewhere for their needs.

Now, I have had jobs where the firmwide expectation was to be responsive on vacation. In those jobs, I was responsive. I also quit those jobs and got a new job where that is not the expectation.

[Anonymous]

Yeah OP that’s on you. Ignore the call. Gotta set se boundaries.

[Anonymous]

For FYI type stuff, OP should reply 1x/day with a quick "thanks" or "check wtih Larlo and if he doesn't know I can deal with it when I get back."

That said, in my job I just build 1-2h/day of answering email into my schedule (and my leave request). Makes return to office much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boss has contacted me twice already on a planned vacation. I haven't been able to take vacation in years as I'm too busy to (I know, I know). My out of office reply named contacts for help yet this person has continued to contact me for two days. The basic information they wanted was not important and at least 10 others had this information and this information could have been found on a simple search online even.

Why did you answer, why were you checking?