Comments on: Out of office reply: a loss of personality http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/out-of-office-reply-a-loss-of-personality/ THE blog for copywriters and communicators Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:34:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: David Hoskin http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/out-of-office-reply-a-loss-of-personality/#comment-132 David Hoskin Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:50:35 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=89#comment-132 In the real world of business, of course, you shouldn't be contactable all the time. It's up to you whether you stay in touch on holiday, but it would pretty impolite to sit through a workshop, briefing or other client meeting checking your emails and text messages on your mobile device. It's one sure-fire way of the client cutting your meeting short! (I also think it's bad practice to leave your phone on and screen calls during meetings, but that's another topic altogether.) So these are times when an out-of-office message can be a nice gesture. The other, more sinister side of the argument is that out-of-office messages are a great tool for spammers. It shows that your email address is active and it's likely to mean you'll get even more spam. Has anyone got any ideas for a good compromise? In the real world of business, of course, you shouldn’t be contactable all the time. It’s up to you whether you stay in touch on holiday, but it would pretty impolite to sit through a workshop, briefing or other client meeting checking your emails and text messages on your mobile device. It’s one sure-fire way of the client cutting your meeting short! (I also think it’s bad practice to leave your phone on and screen calls during meetings, but that’s another topic altogether.) So these are times when an out-of-office message can be a nice gesture.

The other, more sinister side of the argument is that out-of-office messages are a great tool for spammers. It shows that your email address is active and it’s likely to mean you’ll get even more spam. Has anyone got any ideas for a good compromise?

]]> By: Russell http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/out-of-office-reply-a-loss-of-personality/#comment-127 Russell Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:57:53 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=89#comment-127 Hello. Congratulations on your new site ;) Hello. Congratulations on your new site ;)

]]> By: Dan Elloway http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/out-of-office-reply-a-loss-of-personality/#comment-125 Dan Elloway Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:46:09 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=89#comment-125 That's true. I did see a nice out of office that said: "I'm on holiday, but send me a text and I will get back to as soon as I can." It's not as funky as checking emails out on the slopes, but it does offer to be contactable at anytime. Perhaps we should have two levels: Out of office = I am uncontactable Out of office delay = I'm on the road but will get back to you soon That’s true. I did see a nice out of office that said: “I’m on holiday, but send me a text and I will get back to as soon as I can.” It’s not as funky as checking emails out on the slopes, but it does offer to be contactable at anytime.

Perhaps we should have two levels:

Out of office = I am uncontactable
Out of office delay = I’m on the road but will get back to you soon

]]> By: Russell http://www.eye-for-image.com/blog/out-of-office-reply-a-loss-of-personality/#comment-124 Russell Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:01:50 +0000 http://ready6.dev.visionteam.dk/blog/?p=89#comment-124 I think the whole "out of office" concept needs to change though. Isn't it unprofessional these days to declare yourself uncontactable just because you're out of the office. To me it translates to "I only have one static beige-box computer on my desk and have not embraced any other technology".. something you'd expect from SKAT or the kommune :) It really needs to be changed to something indicating a possible delayed response... "I'm skiing in Norway for four days and of course I can check my email, even from the chairlift, but it is my time off work so there may be a delay in replying." :) I think the whole “out of office” concept needs to change though. Isn’t it unprofessional these days to declare yourself uncontactable just because you’re out of the office. To me it translates to “I only have one static beige-box computer on my desk and have not embraced any other technology”.. something you’d expect from SKAT or the kommune :)
It really needs to be changed to something indicating a possible delayed response… “I’m skiing in Norway for four days and of course I can check my email, even from the chairlift, but it is my time off work so there may be a delay in replying.”
:)

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