Conference quark::human_relations-v1

    I'm afraid I don't see the problem. Unless there are other facts
    unstated, what I hear you saying is that you needed to talk to some
    people about business, you called and got the voicemail instead, and
    instead of assuming that the callees were unavailable and leaving a
    message, you declared the system to be bollixing up communication. (Or
    is the problem that you suspect the voicemail is being used as the
    default, so that people *never* answer their own phones? If so, and if
    that is not the decision of the individuals, I'd say there's a problem
    with the system.)
    
    I don't like phones myself, and I'm made especially nervous by
    answering machines of any type, but if I need to get in touch with
    someone (and can't use E-mail!), I have no objection to leaving a
    message on whatever answering service or device presents itself. This
    only works as well as the callee chooses it to, of course - someone who
    never screens their messages or doesn't respond in a timely fashion
    will make the whole system look bad.
    
    As for specifying a time when everyone should be available for
    phone-answering - well, perhaps, in some locales and in some
    businesses. But it would be tough to pick a single time that would work
    for an international company, without landing somebody on the graveyard
    shift... Besides, even if Fred *is* at his phone between 9 and 10, what
    if he's talking to Honcho Customer just when you need to speak with
    him? Or what if you _really_ need to speak with him at 10:15? Seems
    like leaving a message is the simplest thing to do - and if he hasn't
    gotten back to you soon enough, you can always call him again later.
    
    -b

I'd suggest discussing this in HUMAN::DIGITAL, which is where topics
relating to "working at Digital" are relevant.

I consider voice mail or answering machines (when they work) to be far
superior to trying to play "telephone tag".  Of course, I like electronic
mail even better.  I'd rather get a voice mail system or answering machine
than an endlessly ringing phone.

As I tell people who complain about my answering machine - if they leave
a message, I'll call them back on MY "nickel".

					Steve

    Well, we HAD a problem with people letting the phones roll over
    to voice mail instead of answering the phone.  Then after I talked
    to one of the companies reps (we use ASPEN) I learned that theres
    a way around that.  ON the system used here if you press *1 then
    dial the extension... the phone will not roll over to voice-mail
    regardless what the person at the other end has set on his phone.
    
    That ended the problem and as I hear people complain about "I know
    he/she's at their desk but just not answering the phone", I let
    them know about the *1 and tell them to "pass it on" you can check
    with your telecomm people to see if such a feature is included with
    your voicemail system.  
    
    Skip

    Our group has had voice mail for about a month and it's working very
    well.  Everyone was required to go to a training session, and the
    Telecomm rep was very clear about what voice mail can and can't do (re
    becoming ineffective if calls aren't returned promptly, etc.)  Many
    people in the group travel extensively and voice mail is very
    convenient if they want to pick up messages or relay specific info in
    their message.  It has reduced the number of phone messages by about
    80% and eliminated lost and scribbled messages.
    
    There are some people who will let their phones roll over *no matter
    what system is in place*.  I've even seen some people hard forward
    their phones to the support person because they didn't feel like
    answering it! 
    
    If used properly, voice mail is a tremendously effective communications
    tool.
    
    Judi
    

       We have had voice mail (ASPEN) here in VRO for at least two
       years.  One of the nice features is that if you are on the phone
       with someone already, the caller can still leave a message for
       you.  Then when you hang up from the first caller, the little
       light starts winking and you can find out who else called.

       Maybe the person you called was already on the phone, and by not
       leaving a message, they didn't know you called.

       Richard       

    On all employees being available at some hours:
    
    Do you mean just the ones in the same time zone? What if your project
    is split between both coasts of the US, Europe, and the Far East?
    
    I'm afraid that that's what scheduling meetings are for.
    
    	Jon

    
    Often, when I call up someone to ask them out on a date, I get their
    machine.  I'm never quite sure whether to ask them out via the tape, or
    wait until I actually catch them at home!
    
    Sometimes the week is getting late, so although I want to wait until
    I get them in-person, I also want to extend my invitation before they
    already have other weekend plans.
    
    I think I'd welcome an invitation on my tape but I'm not sure other
    people feel that way.
    
    /Eric

    re: .7
    
    Eric, leave a message on the tape, but make it something interesting. 
    Most answering machine owners (that I know of) *love* getting messages
    left for them.  And creative messages are usually remembered...
    
       - Larry

    
    Yes, I always leave a message, I just hesitate to extend an invitation
    on the tape.
    
    I hate getting hangups on my tape, I get *so* curious about who it was,
    so I try not to give other people hangups.
    
    /Eric