Doug Sprei’s Post

Had a good laugh watching & listening to this tour of OoO messages; Laura Whaley really brings each one to life, as if you were listening to the person that wrote it. It brought back the memory of the first time something like this popped up in my environment (a number of years ago); it was from a more junior colleague, very similar to the first message in the clip from Brandon, and it definitely had my and other management peers’ eyebrows raised at first. But it also prompted a good and thorough conversation about "why", and what issues there may be that inspired that (such as the lack of boundaries). Since then, it seems to me that we have collectively acquired a better understanding and appreciation for the need for teams and colleagues to have time and space to do work when they are best positioned to do it, as well as (more importantly) to rest and refresh. So it’s easier to see the lighter side of these, and some are quite funny and creative (personal fave is the error one - crisp!). That being said, I doubt I could ever bring myself to pen & leave one along these lines, even if it is for internal use only (and it is definitely more problematic if clients will be receiving it). As with all things professional, it all depends on where you work, who’s going to read it, and one’s preparedness to deal with the consequences - so choose yours wisely! Lessons for leaders (and this applies to myself too): if we profess commitment to staff having proper time off the grid (and it’s becoming regulation in some countries), then we need to respect that commitment, role model it, and use discernment (is it really that urgent?).

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the value of stepping away from the daily grind. But here’s the truth—taking time off isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity. I saw this post in my daily scrolling and had to literally laugh at some of the posts. While they are all pretty dramatic, it illustrates the importance of recognizing that people need to step away from their desks for time off. PTO (Paid Time Off), and just time off in general, isn’t just about getting a break from the office; it’s about recharging, gaining new perspectives, and ultimately, coming back stronger. When we give ourselves the space to rest, we improve our ability to think creatively, solve problems, and stay productive in the long run. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to create and protect an environment that allows and encourages people to step away and recharge—without interrupting their time to themselves or with their families. Empowering employees to take meaningful time off ensures they come back refreshed and ready to contribute even more. Encouraging time off benefits not just the employee but the organization as a whole. It fosters well-being, prevents burnout, and drives a healthier, more engaged team. Leaders, let’s champion PTO and model the behavior ourselves. Let’s show that stepping away is not a sign of weakness but a strategy for long-term success. What’s your next PTO destination? 🌍✈️ #WorkLifeBalance #PTO #EmployeeWellBeing #Productivity #MentalHealth #Leadership #OutOfOffice #BurnoutPrevention #FamilyTime

This made me smile. I am envious of those who are able to produce pithy, humorous, one liners, however, there is a more serious side to this. How many of us dutifully put on our OOO messages, but then still log in when on leave “just to check”… Or, the classic……“ I’ll just check my emails on Sunday so that I don’t start back on Monday with hundreds to sort through” ……or….”I want to be ahead of the game” ……or ..”straight out the starting blocks on my first day back” I know I’m guilty of this. We need to tell ourselves 3 simple things, and keep telling ourselves them….. 1. Every hour of leave, is leave and is precious. You have earned it, so take it. 2. The org won’t grind to a halt if you don’t check your emails whilst on leave. 3. Do I want to work for an org where this in normal practice? I have read a lot of posts on here this week about burn out, traumatised workforces and saying “no” Culture is driven by the people leading the org and the element of power and control vested in those leading it. It is often difficult to swim against the tide in an org where the culture rewards long hours, out of hours working and not saying no, but it is really important to take time to think about your own values and whether these align with the organisation’s. I don’t mean the glossy, shiny ones on their website next to their vision. I mean the ones that are exhibited and lived everyday by the authentic leaders, who do care that we take our leave and don’t expect us to check our emails!

Kind of amusing but also needlessly passive aggressive. The hideously instantaneous nature of emails demands an immediate response and so setting an out of office is on of the few occasions we get to act as gatekeeper. Hence the relish with which some seize it. Some offices used to have a mail trolley which came round at 10am and 3pm. How about a policy of only checking emails at those times. Give ourselves a period of reflection? Or the email system automatically delays sending by an hour to stop the de facto live time chats? Or there is a constant OoO to help direct people to somewhere more appropriate for their query? I say this as the biggest hypocrite who is a serial abuser of email and relentless sender of messages. But the first step to salvation is first acknowledging your faults.

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