While this may not be as service- oriented as other options, it may cut down on caller frustration. Employees should contact Telephone Services, at 831-2411, to have an extension give a busy signal instead of going to voice mail during a busy condition. Some people have told Riston that they assume they are channeled into the voice mail system because the person they are trying to call is in the office but will not answer the telephone. It's also important for the caller to listen carefully to the greeting that has been recorded. Many conscientious users have updated greetings for holidays and vacation periods when they will be away.
Voice mail is only as good as the people who use it.
It cannot make the few persons who don't want to return messages suddenly start making return calls. It cannot make those persons who never answer the phone start doing so. Those are management issues. What voice mail can do is take messages for you when you are not at your desk or when your phone is busy. It has the potential to be a great enhancement to one's job.