A method includes determining that a message sent using a sender account to a first user account of an email application is unopened for a first predetermined amount of time. The method further includes, in response to determining that the message is unopened for the first predetermined amount of time, transmitting the message to a second user account on a predetermined escalation list, wherein the predetermined escalation list is configured using the sender account prior to sending the message to the first user account. The method further includes restricting the first user account from performing an action associated with the message.