>Not at all, unless frequent contacts are expected in which case you should be warned through other channels. Obviously, this differs. At my actual job, email

>Not at all, unless frequent contacts are expected in which case you should be warned through other channels. Obviously, this differs. At my actual job, email is the "need a response today" communication, while instant messaging or phone is "need a response now". Out-of-office messages are invaluable to know if someone is just out today, in which case things are fine, or they are out for two weeks, in which case I need to find their delegate.