re: Getting contacted by work during vacation

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I'm just riding it into retirement, where I will start my own biz.

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I’m sure Etsy is going to appreciate your balls to the wall mentality.

I will respond to text messages with the answer if I know it off hand, or I will look into this xxx. For e-mails, I will check them periodically to make sure no fires I need to pass on to other to handle (even though my out of office is setup), and will hit any major e-mails at the end of the day between getting the kids in bed and settling in for time with the wife. Phone calls are directed to text messages unless the text with this is an emergency then call.

My employees respect my time away and try to be a succinct as possible. They also know that I will not reach out to them after hours, on weekends, holidays, vacations... unless absolute emergency and I have already exhausted all other possibilities and it is absolutely urgent.

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While there's a lot of benefits to WFH in industries where you're able to do so, one of the cons that have come up is this. We were never meant to be available 100% of the time.

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When I started my post-college career, I didn't even own a cell phone. Times have certainly changed in that regard.

Teams is the biggest nuisance to me outside of normal work hours.

I’m in the middle of a 3 week vacation and I scan email every couple days and once per week call my people and see if there’s anything pressing that I need to know.


If something is brought to my attention and it’s a quick one response interaction I don’t really mind that, but if you aren’t texting me directly I count on my peers to be competent adults who are handling things appropriately without checking in frequently.

If someone contacts me on some bullshite, I tell them it's bullshite and ask why the frick they called me. If someone contacts me on something important, I'll log in and handle business. I take pride in my career and my employer treats me well....I intend to uphold my end of the bargain.

I'll call my guys when they're on vacation, too. It's a last resort, but I will call if I have to. They know I will be available during vacations and know I expect the same of them. Day to day, they have all the freedom in the world to do whatever personal shite they need to do whenever they need to do it.

Long lunch? Take it.

Knock off early? I don't give a shite, why are you asking me?

Need a week on short notice? Go for it, just know I'll call if I need you.

They have all the flexibility in the world working for me. They understand the deal is when I absolutely need them, they'll be available.

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hen I started my post-college career, I didn't even own a cell phone. Times have certainly changed in that regard.

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I had the big old blocky Motorola truck phone, It was liberating.

Being able to get away from the office and work is one of the best gifts ever.

I appreciate not having to stay at work, having technology that allows mobility and freedom.

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A) I’m an adult and can handle calls and texts
B) it’s his fault he didn’t tie up loose ends or ensure coverage of potential hot items while he was out.

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GTFO with this nonsense. If you're out the office for vacation, you're out the office for vacation. You want to stay connected to the office, good for you. Doesn't mean Op's friend did anything wrong.

The grinder is one of the easier roles to replace. The total slacker is the easiest but the solo grinder isn't that far behind.

They're generally overpaid, think way too highly of themselves and their value, bring little value beyond quantity based work and with training and development, a cheaper replacement can be found who puts more value in efficiency and quality.

It’s wrong for coworkers to contact you, but I’ve been guilty of taking the calls while on vacation. I actually regret it now. When I had enough to retire I finally I did to focus more on family.

I have noticed that Americans are much more inclined to answer the calls than Europeans.