If you are not needed, you will be replaced. If you are looking to be promoted, being available makes it look like you are ready for the next level.

Anonymous wrote:I am typing this from vacation. I am a C-level exec of a business being hit by the government craziness right now. There is no break.

If you got fired tomorrow the business would continue on without you.

Because in America everything is right to work, which is designed to make employees paranoid and feel they cannot take a vacation. It is what companies want. As for me, I am stoical and highly passive aggressive so don't care and if I did, would not confront anyone.

Anonymous wrote:Best out of office autoreply I saw recently was:

I am on vacation until August 1st. All emails I receive between now and then will be deleted. Please contact me again after August 1st if still needed. If you need to connect with someone beforehand, my assistant, Sally Strutters, at 202-555-9999, can help direct you to the appropriate team member.

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The person really did delete their entire inbox on returning from vacation! Miraculously all those problems did get solved by someone else.

Wut. That is stupid.

I regularly copy or include colleagues on emails, not for their action, but for their knowledge upon return. I dont expect you to do anything while you're out, but you'll want to know about it when you get back.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not c-level, but I’m the sole technical writer at my software company. Sometimes there is text that needs to be reviewed and I’m the only one who does that. My company is flexible about me taking time to pick my kids up from school or other things, so I don’t mind giving them a couple of hours when I’m out for a week on vacation.

Same.

I won't do it if I'm overseas/doing some kind of serious trek, but have zero problem dealing with things if we're just hanging out in OBX for a week or two.

Best out of office autoreply I saw recently was:

I am on vacation until August 1st. All emails I receive between now and then will be deleted. Please contact me again after August 1st if still needed. If you need to connect with someone beforehand, my assistant, Sally Strutters, at 202-555-9999, can help direct you to the appropriate team member.

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The person really did delete their entire inbox on returning from vacation! Miraculously all those problems did get solved by someone else.

don't provide your cell phone number.

I do not put my cell number in my out of office. That's not typical in my office. My supervisor and coworkers have my cell and use it very sparingly. I wouldn't put it out there for anyone to use. I also say in my out of office that my access to email will be limited and to not expect a response till my return. It varies how much I check it in reality. If something big is happening I may check a few times, if I'm not expecting anything then I don't check at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am typing this from vacation. I am a C-level exec of a business being hit by the government craziness right now. There is no break.

This is OP. C-level I get: your input is needed and I assume you’re getting a six-figure compensation package. Okay. But for rank and file people with no contract, no potential severance etc - why are they killing themselves to be available 24/7? I don’t get it.

Because they're insecure and it's in their DNA.

When I was a partner in Biglaw my out of office auto reply never gave my personal phone number. It said in case of an emergency contact my secretary and gave out hers. She would then direct the call to another senior lawyer working on whatever matter the call was about.

I’m not c-level, but I’m the sole technical writer at my software company. Sometimes there is text that needs to be reviewed and I’m the only one who does that. My company is flexible about me taking time to pick my kids up from school or other things, so I don’t mind giving them a couple of hours when I’m out for a week on vacation.

Anonymous wrote:I am typing this from vacation. I am a C-level exec of a business being hit by the government craziness right now. There is no break.

Um, this isn't your job. It's DCUM. Ms. C-level exec isn't all that busy. She just has a DCUM addiction.

Anonymous wrote:I am typing this from vacation. I am a C-level exec of a business being hit by the government craziness right now. There is no break.

This is OP. C-level I get: your input is needed and I assume you’re getting a six-figure compensation package. Okay. But for rank and file people with no contract, no potential severance etc - why are they killing themselves to be available 24/7? I don’t get it.

It's a trip, not a vacation.

I am typing this from vacation. I am a C-level exec of a business being hit by the government craziness right now. There is no break.

It bugs me when I get out of office messages saying “I’m out of the office with some/limited access to email” and the sender including their personal cell number in case of an emergency.

I work in business. Unless you are in the process of closing a deal/signing a contract, NOTHING is that important.

Why do we even expect/assume people should or would be available during vacation? Why do we pathologize taking actual time off? Is this a case of self-importance or companies exploiting the inborn American work ethic?

Why can’t we just relax?