does that mean you just fire back a "got it thx!"

yeah i know a few of those people. annoying.

Nah. Just means a little prompt box comes up when I open the email that I have to click on to inform them I've read it.

It can be useful for important emails but not every. single. time.

or those people who insist on making every one of their messages a high priority with that red "!"

WHITE COLLAR PROBLEMS

Worst of the worst. My secretary is one of these people.

Don't you have the option of not sending the notification? That's what I would do just to piss them off. They probably don't even realize they have that setting since it is just a checkbox in Outlook settings somewhere. At least with mine that's the case.

Started cleaning out my desk today in anticipation of government furlough after tomorrow. Also, position I accepted in DC starting next month will not be available until federal funding allocated. Damn.

I think you can disable that feature so you don't have to respond. (They may be able to require you to respond to view the message.)

probably easier to just fire the person

these people are all over this company. it's amazing that some people still do not know how to use email effectively, like writing out an entire message in the subject line.

Haha.

I've probably mentioned this before, but I'm related to this guy's wife. I met him once, and he did seem like a prick.

My slightly insane business partner does shit like this...Last weekend, he was "off" technically (we trade for answering the phone on the weekends) and he blew me up with an URGENT OPEN IMMEDIATELY email first thing Saturday morning followed by a "I hope you got my email" text.

This all over some minor thing in Google Adwords...My literal reply was: "Dude, this is your weekend off--go do something. I thought one of the warehouses must be on fire, but no. Talk to you Monday"

My dad makes every one of his voice mails "urgent" so it goes to the first message I hear whether it's about a nuclear bomb going off or if he saw a coupon for milk in the newspaper.

Peanuts with the last panel removed:

http://3eanuts.tumblr.com/

Just be glad you have a secretary, which I can say for certainty you do not need.

Neither does Rod. But hey - you pay her, so maybe it's worth it?

I dont have my own. I share 2.5 admins with 3 other attorneys. I should have my own though.

Same here. I share 1 with 2 other attorneys. I give her almost no work. In return, I think she says nice things about me around the office.

Neither of them actually pay their secretaries themselves which explains why they have them.

I know - I'm just thinking about what will happen when lawyers realize they don't need secretaries. I guess in big firms, one of which I am in and out of a lot, I guess they have some kind of CBA analysis that has less to do with performance and more to do with P&L etc.

It's just funny because the two I deal with the most - one is a partner who needs a secretary but never uses her for much more than guarding his door, and filing his political action committee papers - the other who seems to always be needing something from her seems to be using her to do most of his work.

I could use someone, but the job i need done would need real remuneration, which I'd rather just work more hours to do her job than pay someone what it would be worth -- and I'd have too hard a time turning over my calendar, etc.

Forgive me since my understanding of US government ends with 8th grade civics, but can someone explain the real ramifications of the government shutdown from a practical perspective? Is the freakout akin to y2k or will it be anarchy as some suggest?

all i remember from the shutdown in the 90s was my dad saying "welp, they shut down the government" in a slightly sour tone at some family get together.

the end.

I'm here at the office ready to riot if that tells you anything. I don't fully understand all of the ramifications, but for how us government employees are impacted http://www.opm.gov/furlough/ gives a pretty good breakdown.

Seriously, I am the first one in every morning and I can see the stack of furlough notices on our Director's desk. Don't think this is going to be a very good day.

EDIT: A few more links; http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14393
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/08/shutdown.state.department/

things affecting me re: gov't shutdown:
if gov't shuts down, the offer I'm putting on a house with an FHA Loan stands a good chance of getting stalled.
I'm applying for a new passport (my first was stolen in 2004) so that would be delayed as well.

anyone think this will backfire on the repubs like last time? or are they succeeding in their "SHE MADE ME HIT HER" messaging spin?