...Say what?

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

So i manage the company's BlackBerry server. Most people take this to mean that i also know every minuscule detail about the handhelds, too, and make demands that i show them how to do generally reasonable tasks (ie, empty Deleted Items on the server from the BB so that their mailbox doesn't overflow while they're on a trip). No problem, i enjoy teaching people how to do things, and some of it you'd really have to sit down for a couple hours to figure it out.

My only question in is this: Why, given the nature of wireless, handheld devices, why would you need to put an Out-of-Office message on it?

Comments

[azurelunatic]

So someone pestering you can be told instantly that you're not Right There rather than waiting 10 minutes for you to wake up and typo to tell them to go bother someone else?

[eliz.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

Also because every now and then I actually force myself to TURN IT OFF during my vacation time. Okay, I just put it on silent, but leave it in the other room and not check it when the light flashes. ;)

If I didn't have an OOO turned on, people would want to know why emails were not being responded to in my customary quickness and they usually would not know who to go to for help in the event they didn't have perfect timing and catch me when I was checking it.

Also, I hear that there are some people who actually leave their work BB's at home when on vacation. Shocking!!!

My addiction is bad- I got a BB for personal use. LOVE IT but want a Bold. :)

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

And that's why we have the OOO message in Outlook. Set it before you leave, take it down when you get back. That way, people know you might not get the message right away, and you don't have to set it every time you turn your BB off.

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

Besides, this guy's high enough up that he doesn't get real vacations. he just gets to leave long enough to get a call that says, "We're doomed!" and then he has to come back to fix whatever it was his underlings screwed up.

[eliz.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Oh I know those all too well. I am NOT that high up and had to deal with that kind of crap too much. I'm at the point now where if I can't help them out via the phone or email, then they get the hot water for not knowing their job instead of me for not being omnipotent.

[eliz.livejournal.com]

What? Set it before I go? *lol* I'm being silly- that would be the key thing, but I've also had to change mine on the fly as well before too. It's just another part of functionality of a tool to make my work life easier. :) (at least that is what I tell myself...)

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

This individual is high enough up the ladder that there's nobody else to bother, and they need to handle situations at any hour. Hence the reason they carry a BB.

[azurelunatic]

Hm, then. For when they're taking a long bubblebath?

[mouser.livejournal.com]

It may well be the "If you're calling because of X, refer to page, one line one of manual that's RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU" kind of message...

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

Entirely possible, but given the personality of said exec, not likely. But then, you didn't know that bit.

Still, the idea of setting up a "I'm not in my office" message on one's BB makes me think that if one is going to do this, they quite possibly don't need the BB to begin with...ours are typically reserved for critical personnel.

[misfit4leaf.livejournal.com]

You know, I've wondered that too. The only thing I can think of is that they don't really want to be contacted when they're "out of the office". Example: Boss wants you to keep your work phone on you while on vacation in case of a snafu, but you don't want to keep getting notifications of incoming (work) mail while you're gone.

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

Mail still gets delivered to the device despite the Away message, the sender just gets a reply that says, "Your problems don't concern me, mortal. I'm currently out of the office, and will return on x date."

But this guy really shouldn't have a message like that, because then his immediate underlings start freaking out and trying to figure out how to run his department. They, generally, are clueless, and this would be a bad thing, though terribly amusing at the same time.

[eliz.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THAT. If we weren't in such a crap economy I'd consider it for my next OOO (the Your problems... line).

I'm a firm believer that there should be at least one person who can stand up and take charge in a situation if the key person is out- one go-to backup person. Go to the expert if you can- but be prepared for the day they get hit by a bus. Or dropped their phone into the ocean/river/less pleasant bodies of water.

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

You're quite right, there should be a suitable substitute available. However, this seldom seems to be the case.

[kerberos.livejournal.com]

Kerberos does the Konga-.


Single point of FAILURE!
Single point of FAILURE!
Single point of FAILURE!

I'm the only person dealing with web,domains,ipreverse,email,dns and abuse for an ISP.

I sometimes wonder what will happen the day I leave/get hit by a bus.

[zendequervain.livejournal.com]

And that's the exact reason my dad used to be called in at all hours whenever there was a big problem. He was a manager in IS at a large insurance company.

He once had to go in for 11 hours on Father's Day. =\

[fnordx.livejournal.com]

Maybe instead, an "In office" message?

"Hi there, I can't answer the cell phone right now because I'm in the office. Call me there."

[eliz.livejournal.com]

I know someone who permanently forwards his office phone to his BB. Then again, he's never at his desk so this is a good thing...

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

OOO is a state of mind :)