It seemed like a good idea at the time, but was so abused by spammers as a tracking device, that most mail systems and clients turn these notifications off by default. Many others have indicated that mail receipts in general is a feature left over from the more innocent (less spam) days of the 80's and 90's. Regarding clients: just because you use Outlook, it's not reasonable to assume your clients will. Learn how to create a mail rule shunting all your mail to their junk folder.Learn how to disable read receipt notifications.If you were one of these managers, how would you view an employee who routinely turned a one click operation (open message) into a two-click operation (open, answer question about receipt). Combine that with communications they initiated, meeting invitations and spam, the number of emails can easily run into the hundreds per day. They may have lots of direct reports and their subordinates copying them on dozens of emails per day in order to 'keep them in the loop'. Not sure if it rates as 'bad manners', but most people in senior management are busy. On the other hand, if you use this tool to keep tabs on people and don't follow the receipt up with a phone call or a visit, then you do run the risk of coming off as rude. When dealing with managers, this may show you as being organized, proactive, and on the ball. Instead of expecting them to respond to the email, you take the burden away and also appear more responsive. When dealing with clients, this will wow them. The advantage you have in these situations is that, for the next few minutes after the read receipt, you know you can call or otherwise drop in on your client or manager and know that you're not interrupting them or taking their thought away from something else. It can be a tool to know that your manager is actively thinking about a problem you're having that you specifically need their help with. For example, a good way to make use of this tool could be to use the 'mail read' option to proactively and quickly make a phone call to a client to ask if their issue has been resolved. The best way to use a tool such as this is when follow up by you is immediately necessary. Request Read Receipt is a tool, and like any other tool, it can be used, or it can be abused. The answer to this question depends largely on how you use this 'cool option'.

Outlook read receipt request