I don't believe we should have to work extra time beforehand to get our promised vacation time unhampered by calls from work.

But when things don't work out that way, it should be a Large Indicator than your employer hasn't done his job when it comes to cross-training and arranging adequate staffing for scheduled employee leaves. That's HIS/HER job but so often they don't or won't do it, and the consequences are dumped onto the IT worker without another thought.

As workers we should never be penalized for an employer's lack of attention to this. Thinking that someone will always be on duty is wishful thinking and they deserve to have their noses rubbed in the fact. Maybe they'll a) change their planning routines or b) pay us a lot more since we're so indispensable.

I'm glad to see that most people are coming down so firmly on the side of taking their vacations and spending time with their families.