In her weekly blog, Debi O’Donovan, editor of Employee Benefits, launched a campaign to save the out-of-office autoreply in response to the Financial Times’ Lucy Kellaway’s view that employees should check their work emails while on holiday.
I agree. There is nothing that cannot either wait or be dealt with by colleagues equally well, and possibly better when they are not trying to think their way out of holiday mode and back into a work mindset at that moment. I’d love to be indispensable, but delegating and/or working as part of a team has lots of other benefits. Roll on my three weeks of electronic disconnect!
Lesley Fidler, tax director at Baker Tilly
I couldn’t agree more. I seem to be the only one in the HR management team who switches off the Blackberry and leaves it at home for the duration of all holidays. In my view, there is nothing more valuable than a full recharge of your own batteries, both from a mental health perspective and because of the new energy it allows you to bring to the workplace on your return.
Gareth Whalley, head of group HR services at LSL Property
It seems that the approach to work by Lucy Kellaway and others of a similar mind is fuelling the unrealistic expectations of instant reply demanded by the modern age. Surely, a more productive way is to effectively delegate workload. You are then able to fully recharge and come back more productive. Your colleagues gain wider experience and a greater sense of ‘team’ is achieved as you, in turn, reciprocate. No one is irreplaceable, don’t get fooled into thinking only you can do the job well; others can, too.
Colin Boxall, corporate director at Advo Group