1

It is kinda funny…I am taking a vacation next week (which is needed), but getting things ready and up to date before I leave is crazy. Going through all the scenarios of “what if” and “if this happens” so everyone will know what to do is a daunting task.

I am thinking IT is one of those jobs where it is so hard to completely disconnect, even just for a week. I do envy my coworkers that take vacations and their job doesn’t even cross their minds. Cause if your boss can’t get to their emails or the network is down, you will be getting a call at 7:00am at your beach house asking why doesn’t this stupid network work? Even though it works 99% of the time…just blown off steam…sorry!

40 Spice ups
2

I used to be like that. Not anymore.

Look at it this was: You consistantly solve problems and there is probably little downtime or major issues. You go on vacation, most likely things wont get done until you get back. People will see your value.

3

Pick a holiday destination where you know you cant get any phone signal, thats what Im doing in a few weeks, heading out to south coast of sunny Scotland for a week or so.

If someone wants me they can leave a voicemail and il reply when I go to the nearby village for food.

Alternatively just leave your phone off and only check it every few days, at the end of the day your on holiday to relax and rebuild your tolerance for idiots ( :smiley: ), unless your getting paid extra if someone does call then make sure you cant be reached unless it is an absolute emergency.

4

My problem with vacations is that someone always calls and something critical always happens…everything works while I am there but the moment I leave BAM!!!

5

that is the way the universe works. or maybe we don’t realize how many fires we put out until we are not there?

6

It’s your time. Enjoy it. Remember the three magical words: No cell signal.

7

at my old job i would always get bothered on my vacation. i have since moved to a smaller company where when you go on vacation you get your time. so far so good i have not taken a whole week off yet but then again i don’t have the same amount of problems i used to. so a long vacation is not as important.

8

Kinda sad that the majority of us(me included) have been conditioned to accept the fact that we really don’t get to have a true vacation from our responsibilities…but, if our jobs were easy, everybody would be doing them, right?

9

True that! I just took a 10 day vacation out of the country - I had to get a phone that would work “just in case” - I took my laptop and while on vacation, I checked the systems almost every morning, checked emails at least 2-3 times a day.

Now that I’m back, I regret doing that, just for the reason of not really “disconnecting”.

The sad thing about this, it may never happen until I retire. damn.

10

The funny thing is, we all want a vacation without having to even think about our jobs. Yet the people we support, well, at least in my experience, while on vacation want to be able to check their voicemails, they have smartphones to check their e-mails, and they take their laptops with them and want to make sure the VPN will work. My thought is that if you have that much work to do, you shouldn’t go on vacation!

11

Sounds like you need a competent IT consulting firm to back you up when you are trying to be on vacation.

On the other hand, we love our jobs and don’t necessarily want to completely disconnect. If I did most other jobs I would demand a 100% disconnect vacation too.

12

Ehh… I have no problems. 3 day weekend starts tonight, and there will be no work for 3 days! woohioooo!

13

I understand your plight OP - And up until last year I felt the same way - but the truth is that I need time off - time to decompress.

If I don’t get that time completely away from the pressures of my job I am not going to operate at optimal levels. That’s the bottom line.

If I burn out bad things happen - like me not having a job any more.

Same is probably true for you too. And what Bret said is very true: If things go pear shaped while you’re not there then they will see your value.

Take your vacation and don’t answer your cell. It’s okay to do that for you and your family.

14

I used to get phone calls regarding trivial matters when I was on holiday, but since my company phone was taken off me (I went to places without a signal), I have been able to enjoy my holidays and weekends anywhere without interuption.

With the maintenance manager now taking responsibility for my systems, we now have good backup plans in place should anything major happen whilst I’m on holiday.

15

Scott Alan Miller wrote:

Sounds like you need a competent IT consulting firm to back you up when you are trying to be on vacation.

Second that.

When the power goes out you send people home because the computers don’t work. When the computers don’t work you lose revenue. The only way many learn this lesson is the hard way so I say Go on vacation, enjoy yourself and leave your phone with your boss. Let him answer it while your gone.

16

Again, I am one of the lucky ones - We are not 24/7, but I still am on call during vacations. I make them pay for the luxury, it was part of my original salary negotiations. I said, if I am to be on-call even during vacations, then I need additional salary to compensate. Got me an extra 10%, and if I have to spend more than 10% of my off time to support “my” system, then I am not doing my job.

It is relative, pardon the pun, but even on vacation, friends and family still expect you to take their call.

I am with those that turn their phones off or go “out of signal” and I do that as well, but I do check VM regularly in case there is a real problem.

17

If you do take calls while on vacation, and you have a good rapport with the caller, make sure to ask the caller if they will do you a favor and get a dictionary to look up a word for you. Give them time to get the dictionary open, then ask them to look up the word VACATION :slight_smile: They may think twice about bothering you in the future if there are alternate options to resolving their problem.

18

This is only a problem in one man shops. I don’t see why these shops don’t have a partnership with a MSP for “hit-by-a-bus” situations or situations like these. Unless you work for a mom and pop shop, you can’t get away with the lone-wolf stuff.

Now finding a MSP that won’t go behind your back and try to convince your company that they don’t need you, that’s another matter.

You’re good, we get it. You know your shit, we get it. But you can’t do it alone.

19

I am kind of forgetful to begin with so the premise has always been if they can’t reach me on my cell… there is option A.) Forgot Cell at Work, B.) No Cell Service C.) Just not answering… that also being said I have taken to the when the shift ends I don’t answer calls from co-workers plain and simple. I need to be able to decompress after work just the same as anyone else and letting the coils loose in the brain allows me some give to wrap my head around the new interesting problems that follow the next day… In my honest opinion if they aren’t paying you to be on call just tidy up leave your cell off in your desk and enjoy your vacation with family/friends… and deal with the excitement when you get back. Burnout can be a really scary thing in our industry and it’s not something to be tempted with.

20

Ok!

First up you NEED to take a break! Take it from me as I know, having been through chronic depression. Take a break or hit the wall.

So what are your options. Contractors can work. Third party companies. There must be someone out there who offers support as an on-going business. I suggest building a working relationship then you can use them as a fall-back.

Hope this helps.