As salaried employees should we really look at our emails when we’re on vacation?

32 Comments

1. AnonymousJune 14,2024 at 6:10PM UTC

   Unless you hold an important role in key projects that know no days off during certain high profile milestones.......you shouldn't have to sacrifice your time off.

   It comes down to common sense and work ethic.

2. AnonymousJune 14,2024 at 6:44PM UTC

   If you are working on vacation, and checking emails counts, then get the time back. I would probably avoid drawing a hard line. I usually say I don’t check emails but if it’s absolutely urgent then you can call or text. That puts enough of a barrier that you never hear from anyone but also doesn’t come across as petulant

3. AnonymousJune 15,2024 at 2:32AM UTC

   The best thing to do is to craft an auto-response to emails that you are out of the office, when you will return, and who to contact if they need assistance before you return. These are things and agreements you should have in place before you leave, so your boss or co-worker doesn't get a request out of the blue. Take your time. You earned it. Let your boss know that you will have limited ability to check emails while you are gone (you don't have to say why). If you feel so inclined, leave your boss a way to contact you if things get escalated, but ask that they only contact you in emergencies.

4. surfnwriteJune 17,2024 at 12:10PM UTC

   No. Review when you return.

5. surfnwriteJune 17,2024 at 12:11PM UTC

   Hotel phone number?? I don't think so. No. Never.

6. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 12:30PM UTC

   Nope. I turn on out of office specifically noting not in office, no access to email and will respond on such and such a date

7. GirlBossanova934974June 17,2024 at 12:32PM UTC

   As a business owner, I ask my employees to set their "Out of the Office" message on their email and then depart for their vacation. That's it! See you in a week or two. Have a good time! The company time is company time and employee time is employee time. We don't cross the two. It is a matter of ethics. You want someone to work on a project. You pay for their time. No exceptions.

8. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 12:36PM UTC

   No, I recently removed email and teams from my personal phone and left my work phone and laptop home. It was great not to check in while on PTO. And I’m not putting the apps back on my personal phone.

9. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 12:43PM UTC

   Vacation is vacation. Set your out of office and ignore work for the time you're out. If a company expects you to work on vacation, then that's not really vacation, and you should get that time back.

10. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 12:44PM UTC

    You absolutely should not have to but there are unfortunately some company cultures where it is expected. So just like with all aspects of company culture that you might not like, you have to weigh the impact of not doing it against the potential consequences.

    If you are senior enough to influence company culture, then please set an example of not expecting emails to be checked on vacation.

11. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 12:46PM UTC

    No. Vacation is vacation and you should not be working on vacation. Checking work email counts as working.

12. CMTJune 17,2024 at 1:12PM UTC

    Vacation is your time to be off the grid from everything you choose to be off the grid from that includes work. How would your boss like her phone to be called 50 times a day while she’s sitting on the beach or on vacation somewhere she wouldn’t so they need to respect your vacation

13. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

    I generally set my away message and turn off all notifications on my phone. I might check during downtime (my friend is still sleeping or we’re waiting in line for something, etc). I use that time to get rid of the stupid emails, like “George has accepted your meeting request” and “thanks!” - stuff like that, because then I can have a less cluttered inbox and more easily prioritize things when I return. I will answer something if it’s an emergency, but spoil alert, it rarely is. I can think of two times in an eighteen year career where there was something the person named in my ooo reply couldn’t handle.

14. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 1:24PM UTC

    On the one hand, plenty of work cultures do “expect” you to at least screen work emails for ~1hr a day while on vacation and respond or forward anything very pressing. I have had plenty of bosses who text if I don’t respond.

    On the other hand, with the crackdown on “quiet vacationing” and corporations pitching fits saying that working outside of your home state creates unique legal issues….oh golly gee, I guess I can’t work while on vacation….

    ….it really comes down to responsibility…

15. Sandy PochapinJune 17,2024 at 2:12PM UTC

    I think it depends how long you're going to be OOO and how big a job you have. I hear people say they came back from vacation to 600 emails -- not my idea of a good time. I generally check my email when I'm on vacation at least a few times a week so I can weed out the clutter and be better prepared for what's going to have hit the fan when I return.

16. Coach Nancie Kay ShumanJune 17,2024 at 2:41PM UTC

    Below is the article I was speaking about. More and more, the idea of thinking about work 24/7/365 is being debunked and workers, no matter what the level, are being encouraged to disconnect in their off hours. This is contrary to centuries of previous work practices, and can be challenging to implement and embrace.

    https://hbr.org/2024/01/want-to-be-a-better-leader-stop-thinking-about-work-after-hours?utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=domcontent_leadership&utm_term=Non-Brand&tpcc=domcontent_leadership&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4OOHzOHlhgMVMRetBh1UBQv5EAAYAiAAEgLzB_D_BwE

17. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 3:56PM UTC

    I would tell my teams to reach out (call me) only if there is an emergency; like the building literally burned down or someone died. Other than that, I would not be checking emails or voice mails. The minute I open that work email, I'm no longer on vacation and defeats the purpose of taking time to recharge. BTW-no one ever called.

18. EMILY KIKUE FRANKJune 17,2024 at 3:57PM UTC

    Very much nope. Your not-working time is important. Be fully on vacation when you're on vacation. Focus on your personal life after work and on weekends. We need to recharge and we need to relax, and thinking about (or acting on) work stuff will prevent us from both.

19. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 4:13PM UTC

    Whatever you do in your personal life is personal, you didn't have to share that here either as part of why you want guidance on working when on vacation. So if you have vacation it is just that, vacation. Put an out of office email in your email account and defer any urgent messages to either your direct manager or a peer who is aligned with the work or who can field urgent needs while you are gone. That's it.

20. asmith13June 17,2024 at 4:14PM UTC

    I think it depends on your role and what type of backup you have in place. I am the only HR person for a very large site and have to have another HRBP cover me if I truly want to unplug. For random days off here and there, I note in my ooo email to contact me with any HR emergencies that cannot wait until I return. Usually nothing comes up, but if it does, the manager will reach out via text or IM.

    It doesn't really bother me since we get unlimited PTO and that is kind of part of the deal.

21. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 4:46PM UTC

    Technically, vacation is your personal time. Professionally, you and your company should have supports in place prior to your time away. You may have protocols like giving a heads up to key folks (clients, stakeholders), away message which may have a backup person, backup person in place and what they should handle.

    Maybe the support person handles things while you're away. Maybe they take messages. Maybe they only handle (or punt to appropriate staff) if urgent/important.

    That said, we have changing times and company/personal cultures and practices have changed. Know what you're expected to do. Some companies expect you to answer (and reward you well). Some expect you to clock off. I know for me, when I was on small teams, I'd manage my account load before I left, scheduled meetings after my return and let them know who to go to in an emergency while I was away. In some jobs, I'd let my boss know my cell and say, you can call me if X or Y occurs. They never called. (whew).

    For the last decade, I would check my email for 5 minutes in the beginning and end of day just to see if anything was burning. Most were fyi emails so I'd just file them away so I could return from vacation with very little in my inbox. BUT, I did that for me. It was not a work expectation. For the last few years, I don't check anymore. I do a 5 minute scan the night before I return to work and I plan my first day back to just catch up. My vacation time is mine. I set up all the protocols ahead of time, found respectful workplaces, and clock off. Do what's best for you.

    Best of luck.

22. Beth DaniellJune 18,2024 at 12:20PM UTC

    I heartily agree with this view. Some people need to check-in because it stresses them out not to. I try and keep my emails clean so I do check in for a few mins each day. However, be careful answering and setting an expectation that you will.

    Also, there may be something that catches fire right before you leave that needs some TLC.

    I am fortunate that company strongly encourages completely disconnecting and does not punish people for doing so (European leadership). Knowing your culture and setting form expectations are key.

23. AnonymousJune 17,2024 at 9:11PM UTC

    Vacations are for relaxing. Activate an automated message for your email, record a vacation voicemail message, and be on your way.

24. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 2:40PM UTC

    You shouldn't have to. You requested the time off, I assume you have an OOO contact for people to reach out to in the case of something urgent. Your time off is yours to use without the stress of work. There needs to be boundaries to support work/life balance.

25. maria roseJune 19,2024 at 4:55PM UTC

    I am assuming that you work in a company that has multiple branches globally and the company perception of employees availability for salaried employees is 24/7, but that’s not reasonable especially if you are “technically on vacation time” which even though it is a paid time off benefit doesn’t mean that employees are available to consult for whatever reason. That’s why there’s supposed to be a backup plan which includes your associates continuing to do their jobs without your direct supervision. You are not the sole member of your team and nor do you need to depend on one of the members of your team to call when they are off work duty. You didn’t mention your exact role in this company but it seems that you ( the OP are in a supervisor position and those who might call you would either be your superiors in the company who need something done that they can’t depend on your team to do or it’s your team members who can’t perform their jobs properly unless you walk them through it. In any case, you created this need to only rely on you.

    If you truly want an unfettered vacation free from being interrupted from work calls, train your team to do their jobs without having your constant reminders to do it. And then inform your superiors that you are not going to be able to answer any calls while on vacation. Then enjoy the vacation and deal with what you find when you return from the vacation—you need the break

26. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 5:48PM UTC

    PTO is not a reduced work schedule - it's paid time off. Off from answering emails, attending meetings, sending reports, dealing with anything work related. You have a planned vacation so you'll know the status of your workload at that time and can plan accordingly by delegating back-ups. I understand some individuals are in circumstances where there is no suitable back-up or it's a small team/department of 1. If that's the case (which currently applies to myself), you should be planning your vacation during a time that does not leave critical tasks un-done. (Ex: payroll processing - I do it a day or two early or take my PTO so it doesn't impact payroll processing).

    Think of it this way - if (God forbid) - you suddenly became ill and were not able to work at all - what would the company do? They would figure it out and ensure things were completed. They can certainly keep things afloat during your pre-planned PTO.

    I caution anyone to not work on PTO or on the weekends (unless required or critical) because once you start, you now set the expectation you will work and be available during those times. And this is coming from someone in HR :)

27. ppinesJune 20,2024 at 5:08AM UTC

    Are you able to place an out of office message on email and nominate a colleague who can handle queries while you are on vacation? If so, could you redirect calls on your phone to this colleague (in case people call and haven't emailed first)?

28. Alanea HannaJune 20,2024 at 1:10PM UTC

    So wait PTO doesn't mean Prepare The Others. You are exactly correct your time off is just that, Time Off. Constant work means you can't recharge. To be your best self for you and your employer, it is normal to not look at your emails or phone during YOUR vacations.

29. Lesa GoodmanJune 24,2024 at 9:30PM UTC

    Brilliant! I hope you don't mind if I use your definition?

30. AnonymousJune 21,2024 at 2:48PM UTC

    No way! Vacation is for vacating your role. And honestly, it's better for the company if you actually disconnect and come back refreshed.

31. AnonymousJune 24,2024 at 12:34PM UTC

    Over the last couple of years, I have tried to wean myself off of being available 24/7. I'm learning from my colleagues in Europe. I am just back from vacation (I was off 6/12 - 6/21) and made it clear in my OOO auto response that I was off and would not have access to email during this time. My manager and one of my coworkers knew how to get a hold of me in case of emergency...but let's face it, I'm an HR manager, no one is going to die if I don't respond immediately. I've learned it is simply not healthy nor is it good for my family, to not be able to completely check out from work and be present with those I'm with.

32. Ashley RichardJune 24,2024 at 5:41PM UTC

    Absolutely not, no emails, no calls, PTO is paid TIME OFF. That’s your time off. I’m going on vacation tomorrow, I’m also salaried, and I told my boss that as far as I’m concerned after 4:00pm today I don’t have a job until I’m back in the office on 7/2 hahaha! No shame on the edibles either, I live in a state with recreational and I’m a medical patient, so I hope you enjoy your gummies on your PTO!