When the boss expects you to work on vacation

Q: My boss is a total workaholic. We work at a small company with only five employees, and when someone is on vacation, she fully expects him or her to be checking e-mail and working on documents. When I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation. I don't check voice mail or e-mail. I don't travel with a computer, and many of the places I go don't even get cellphone service. Whenever I return, there are angry messages about project x and memo y, even if they're not due for two weeks! It makes me dread being out and reluctant to take any time off, even when I'm sick. Now I try to have everything she could possibly want done before I leave, but even that doesn't seem to work. Thanks for any advice you have.

A: The only thing you can do is clarify expectations up front as much as possible. If you will not have Internet access, or if you don't plan to check in even if you do, then you must tell her.

If it is not a good time for you to take vacation, that is another story, and your boss should exercise her prerogative to deny your vacation request. Otherwise, barring an emergency, she should leave you alone to rest.