Manager Vexed as Employees Actually Circled Back After the Holidays

Peterborough, On

With the holiday season over and everyone getting back to the grind, Ellen Miller returned to the office Monday ready to settle back into her regular routine. As she opened her inbox, there was the usual influx of post Christmas emails, but much to her chagrin these included a multitude of inquiries that stemmed from questions she'd fielded before the break.

As many do, matters that aren't of critical important are pushed back to after the new year in order to view them with a fresh set of eyes, if at all. In this mold, she'd replied to these qustions with the usual, 'We'll check back in the new year.'

"The last thing you need is people following up with 'did you get that?', so I wanted to make sure they at least felt acknowledged." However, this perfunctory gesture, akin to "Let's graba coffee some time" is generally just short of plain speak for not dealing with it in any fashion. “It’s just sorta understood." she remarked.

Now a litany of time off requests, product details and travel budgets remain to be disseminated…ASAP, according to the senders. "Since when does the new year mean day one?”

As one of those awaiting a response (who asked to remain nameless) clarified, “If you’re back at work, you work. We’re all busy. If you want to settle in, you’d better own the place.” When asked if they anticipated an uptick in work after the break, they elaborated “Not if I can help it.”

Ellen set about her day, trying to cut through the various manner of red tape, promopting the natural follow up, if this coming year she'd be more direct in addressing things before the holidays, she suggeted it would be taken under advisement.