Network communication using user-relative addressing

A system and method of providing user-relative addressing in a computer network environment 100 includes associating a plurality of user-relative destinations with a corresponding plurality of actions. User identification information and a first user-relative destination are received. A first action in the plurality of actions associated with the first user-relative destination is identified. A first absolute destination is determined based on the first action and the user identification information. The absolute destination may be determined with reference to a directory server 108 and the method may be used, for example, in e-mail 110 or facsimile 122 communication. In one embodiment the system/method allows a sender to easily address communications to an intended recipient or plurality of recipients, such as for example employees in the same business, by using user-relative attributes such as manager, department or job type or title to specify the intended destinations.