How to Take Paid Time Off When You're a One-Person Team

Editor’s note: This piece is part of our Columnist Network series, which explores the tactical thoughts and actions from Adweek’s community of high-level experts. Today, Davos Brand's Adrian Molina shares his hilarious out-of-office messaging strategy. Pardon the Obnoxiousness. Whatever you may call your well-deserved time away from emails, WFH situations and eyebrows on company Zoom calls, PTO is a human necessity and a right. While some people may have direct reports to cover Slack and not let the department burn to the ground overnight, there are a few of us who are the much controversial and often underappreciated: the one-person team. So how does an OPT like myself handle PTO to fully enjoy and relax? Here is a handy guide that is part in jest and speaks truth in humor. Advertise your PTO If you’re an OPT, then it's more than likely your company is not a mega corporation. So, in the lead-up to your PTO, advertise the f out of it. On a Company Zoom? Have a messy background of the clothing you’re packing, and even without anyone asking, say, “Pardon the mess behind me, but I’m packing for my vacation which is in XX days.” Reply to calendar invites boasting the timing of when you will be gloriously somewhere else: “Sorry Ted, Would love to be on that call but unfortunately, I WILL BE AWAY ON MY VACATION SORRY TED!” As marketers, we know that word of mouth and repetition of a message is a clear way to get through to the end audience. Be your own billboard. Now or laters The week before you leave, prioritize what would give you anxiety during your vacay. Essentially, what are the clothes that need washing ASAP to avoid the stench of vacation remorse—or the shirts that don’t smell bad and can be put back in the drawer and reworn once you’re back in the office? This goes a long way in determining what can be put off and what is important in general. And remember: You’re an OPT and not saving lives, so it’s OK to wear the same pair of jeans thrice in one week. OOO lol I believe the most important thing to have as an OPT is a stellar “Out Of Office” message. A comical OOO goes a long way in diffusing any urgent emails that may come when enjoying your time off. Just imagine, an angry sales person shoots you a note and your OOO has puns, GIFs and a heart-warming message. Their rage will subside, they will enjoy the GIF and forget about it. This has worked like a charm for years. Working on the weekend For advanced OPTs, first determine which tasks or replies aren’t urgent before your trip or can wait for a response after your trip. Take those and schedule the email reply sporadically over the course of your vacation. Those who were not paying attention while you were advertising your PTO will randomly get an email response on a Sunday at 7 a.m., reply back to your email and boom: The OOO goes into effect. They would assume that even on a vacation, you are pumping away at work and forever be grateful that you took the time to reply with a simple yes. While psychotic on the outside, you yourself know very well that you are enjoying a well deserved vacation and looking like the f-ing rockstar you are.

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How to Take Paid Time Off When You're a One-Person Team

Be your own billboard

Adrian Molina

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Adrian Molina