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Personally, I'm a bit freaked out about the negative reaction some people have to this. Everyone should be allowed some time off and that includes email. If y

Personally, I'm a bit freaked out about the negative reaction some people have to this. Everyone should be allowed some time off and that includes email. If you aren't ignoring work, then it isn't a real vacation. That said, I would encourage a slightly different tone with an autoresponse email. Saying you will not even attempt to read the email is over the line in my book. Yes, skimming 5,000 emails will take time, but it isn't that difficult. Say something like: * I'm going on vacation and will not see this email until I return on <date> * I will make an effort to respond, but due to the volume of email I receive, it may take some time. * Please resend your email with '[urgent]' after <date> if you would like me to respond faster. What's so bad about that?

sunir 15y ago
Your more diplomatic attempt isn't setting expectations properly and therefore is more trouble. Don't make promises you can't keep. He simply won't read your email. He hardly said don't communicate with him again. Email him when he is back on two weeks. Perfect. I know what to expect and what to do by when.
Legion 15y ago
What you're describing is fine. It doesn't require me to write emails twice (one that goes to /dev/null and gets instructions, then the re-email with the special don't-delete-me-bro code that makes it go through). Just keep my first email and have your auto responder let me know that you're not reading email until <date>.
- kbutler 15y ago
  Would you actually write the email twice? Your sent folder should let you trivially re-send it with the "urgent" flag if you care. "Keep the email" is fine if almost all of them will need attention in two weeks. What percentage of email he receives will be important enough in two weeks to demand part of his attention during those overloaded first day(s) back? I think the affirmative filter is a great idea - "I won't be able to help with this for two weeks, and then I'm going to be really busy for a few days. Please confirm that this is something that will need my time in two weeks."

sunir 15y ago

Your more diplomatic attempt isn't setting expectations properly and therefore is more trouble. Don't make promises you can't keep. He simply won't read your email. He hardly said don't communicate with him again. Email him when he is back on two weeks. Perfect. I know what to expect and what to do by when.

Legion 15y ago

What you're describing is fine. It doesn't require me to write emails twice (one that goes to /dev/null and gets instructions, then the re-email with the special don't-delete-me-bro code that makes it go through). Just keep my first email and have your auto responder let me know that you're not reading email until <date>.

kbutler 15y ago
Would you actually write the email twice? Your sent folder should let you trivially re-send it with the "urgent" flag if you care. "Keep the email" is fine if almost all of them will need attention in two weeks. What percentage of email he receives will be important enough in two weeks to demand part of his attention during those overloaded first day(s) back? I think the affirmative filter is a great idea - "I won't be able to help with this for two weeks, and then I'm going to be really busy for a few days. Please confirm that this is something that will need my time in two weeks."