Use Short (or Automatic) Responses to Work Emails During Holidays
You probably shouldn’t get emails from your boss on holidays, but it can still happen. In these situations, use short answers that say you will figure it out later. Or better yet, set up an answering machine while on vacation.
As tips site The Muse explains, if you reply to work emails on holidays like any other day, you can blur the lines between work and everyday life. If you want to keep some distance from your weekend work, an automatic email reply can help you determine that you are unavailable. However, if you don’t want to install one of these, at least stick to the short messages that say you’ll figure it out when you get back to work:
Now, if you don’t know if they are expecting a response and if they start to feel uncomfortable, send a one-line message making it clear that you were not going to work today. Even if you are chatting with them in real time while on vacation, you should skip the small talk. This is because a common response (think: starting the note “Happy Holidays! Can’t wait to hear how your pie came out!”) Normalizes and rewards their behavior. Try one of the following instead:
“Just made a note to answer this in more detail as soon as I get back to the office.”
“I can’t give it my full attention today, but I’ll be happy to check it out first thing on Monday morning.”
“I’ll watch it when I get back to the office next week.”
Of course, you also have to judge a little for yourself. If people’s lives depend on your work, a longer email response may be needed, but this is probably not the case. Maybe your boss has a legitimate emergency, but chances are he’s just getting the job done, not following, and you don’t need to let them drag you into the habit.
The Best Way To Reply To A Boss Who Email You During The Obvious Holidays | Muse