Out of office auto reply when you are working: is this a new thing?
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Anonymous
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Since the pandemic, I’ve noticed a number of auto replies along the lines of:
“I’m taking a mental health break from e-mail this week. Please consider recalling this message if it isn’t urgent. Otherwise, my response will be delayed.” “I’m out of the office this week and will return your message when I return on Monday.” Except they are not officially on PTO, say they are working remotely, and enter M-W as worked and actually begin their PTO on Thursday. They effectively just threw up a barrier to emails by saying they were out when they were paid to work. I’ve seen others like: “I’m focused on other work today and will respond to your message later this week.” This reply is constant, not periodic. The best: “I’m very busy, and I don’t have time to handle email this week. You probably are, too. Perhaps try sending fewer emails? If you need to reach me urgently, please call or text.” They don’t include a phone number. Has everyone lost their minds? |
Anonymous
| Yes, people have lost their minds. The only time I put my OOO message when I was working was a couple months ago when I have COVID. I wanted the option to take a nap or rest if I needed to, so I put a message that I was on PTO. Otherwise, no OOO messages when I am not on PTO (unless I am in an all day meeting, in which case I say that). |
Anonymous
| I wouldn’t dare, but I admire this. Most email doesn’t accomplish anything. |
Anonymous
| I don't think this is a new thing. I have a colleague who has done this for at least a decade..."I get lots of e-mails. If you don't receive a follow-up from me within three business days, try again." I always thought that was both bold and stupid. |
Anonymous
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If you have the time and energy to keep track of what others are doing in regards to their own emails and workload, AND to come gossip about it on DCUM at 11:03 on a Friday, you’re not exactly in a position to whine about productivity.
That’s all. |
Anonymous
I’m killing time in a doctors office waiting room. I encountered a weird ooo auto reply. I had encountered others recently. Nice try deflecting. |
Anonymous
Hee. Sureeee. Sorry I got under your skin to the point that you are lying. |
Anonymous
| How old and at what level are these people who are using OOO replies like this? |
Anonymous
Any of those would lead to a pip or termination. What I do see more of for internal is "I have x with a hard due date of y and will have a delayed response until I have finished." |
Anonymous
Yeah, I’m old and I can’t imagine writing that I “need a mental health break from email”. |
Anonymous
| I think this takes a lot of guts and I know my boss would never let me get away with it.... but honestly Zoom meetings have gotten out of control this past year and I have precious little time for actual work -- and then I spend a large chunk of that "free time" dealing with email. If I have a project that requires multiple hours of dedicated focus, I have to do it after hours or on the weekend. I would love to block meetings and emails for a 3 day stretch and knock out projects that I can't find time to do. |
Anonymous
| My boss does this, she's 50 and a director. It's weird but oh well. |
Anonymous
The only people I know who are doing similar (3) to this are nearing retirement age. They're people who topped out at some middle range and just rot in place with no expectations to do anything. |
Anonymous
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I never put an out of office message on. If i am away I take 5 minutes each day and delegate the emails. to my staff and come back to an empty email box vs 500.
If my staff can't handle the things I send them then I clearly hired the wrong people. |
Anonymous
| I've never seen these. |