Out of office message examples, plain to funny

I'm on vacation with no access to email. [colleague] is covering for me and has a list of everything I left behind. I'll answer the rest when I return on [date].

I'm on vacation. By the time you read this, I've opened your email on my phone and decided it can wait until [date]. If it can't, [colleague] can help.

Your email has been moved to a folder called After Vacation, which I'll open on [date] with the joy of someone opening a tax bill. [colleague] is covering. Good luck to you both.

Thank you for your message. I'm out of the office on annual leave until [date]. If you need help before then, [colleague] can take it from here.

I'm on vacation until [date]. I booked it in January and have thought about little else since. [colleague] is covering, and was told about it in January too.

I'm on vacation and I've left my laptop in a locker at the airport, which I regret slightly less each day. Back on [date]. [colleague] has the combination to my workload.

I'm away on vacation and will reply after I return on [date]. If this can't wait, please email [colleague], who knows where everything is.

I'm away until [date], somewhere with bad Wi-Fi on purpose. If it's urgent, [colleague] has signal and a better attitude than mine would be right now.

I am currently horizontal near a body of water. Please hold all reorgs until [date]. Urgent matters go to [colleague], who did not get the week off.

I'm on leave and not reading email. Your message will be waiting for me on [date]. For urgent matters, [colleague] is the person to ask.

I'm on vacation. My manager told me to switch off completely, so this is me trying. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering until then.

This is an automated reply from a person holding a drink with an umbrella in it. Back on [date]. [colleague] is holding a coffee and answering email.

Hello, and thanks for getting in touch. I'm taking some time off and will be back at my desk on [date]. [colleague] is looking after my projects while I'm away.

I'm on PTO until [date]. It took four reminders from HR to get me to use it, so I'm not spending it on email. [colleague] can help.

I'm on a mountain with one bar of signal, and I'm saving it for the weather. Back on [date]. [colleague] has five bars and no mountain.

I'm on PTO until [date] with limited access to email. I'll respond as soon as I can after that. For time-sensitive requests, please contact [colleague].

I'm on vacation and have deleted the email app from my phone, which I'll reinstall on the plane home. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm out of the office on vacation this week. I'll work through my inbox in the order it arrived once I'm back on [date]. [colleague] can help in the meantime.

I'm on vacation until [date]. I'll read your email when I'm back, along with the 400 that arrived before it. [colleague] can help sooner.

Thanks for reaching out. I'm away until [date] and won't see this before then. Please send it again after that date if it's still relevant, or contact [colleague] now.

I'm on a two-week vacation and offline until [date]. Messages sent while I'm away won't be forwarded, so please write to [colleague] if you need an answer sooner.

Thanks for your note. I'm traveling on vacation and checking email once a day at most. Expect a short reply, or a full one on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm away on leave and back on [date]. If your message concerns an open order or invoice, [colleague] has the details and can reply today.

I'm out of the office for the holiday season and back on [date]. I'll reply to your message once I return. Wishing you a restful break.

Out for the holidays. Nothing sent this week will be read, by me or anyone else in the building. Back on [date]. [colleague] is on call, reluctantly.

This inbox is closed for the season, like the canteen, the thermostat and my patience. Reopening [date]. Urgent matters to [colleague].

Happy holidays. I'm away until [date] and won't see email. [colleague] is covering urgent requests, and everything else gets a reply in the new year.

I'm away until [date]. Every email sent between the holidays opens with an apology for emailing between the holidays, so I've saved us both the trouble. [colleague] can help.

I am out of office until [date]. The office party took more from me than I expected. [colleague] went home early and is fully operational.

Thanks for your message. I'm off for the public holiday and back on [date]. If your request can't wait, [colleague] can help.

It's a long weekend and I'm taking all of it. Back on [date]. [colleague] covers this one, and gets the next long weekend in exchange.

New year, same inbox. I'll open it on [date], after one more slice of cake. [colleague] has already made a resolution to answer your email.

Our team is taking a break between the holidays. We're back on [date] and will answer messages in the order they came in. For urgent issues, please email [colleague].

I'm out for Thanksgiving, at a table answering questions about my job from relatives. I'll answer yours on [date]. [colleague] can help sooner.

I'm out for the holiday and have handed my inbox to [colleague], along with a tin of biscuits that is mostly the bad ones. Back on [date].

I'm out of the office for Thanksgiving and back on [date]. If you need anything before then, [colleague] is available.

The office is shut and so is my laptop. Both open again on [date]. [colleague] drew the short straw for the on-call week.

I'm away for the bank holiday weekend and return on [date]. [colleague] is covering anything that can't wait until then.

I'm out until [date] for the holidays. I've set this reply so I can stop checking whether I set it. [colleague] is covering.

Season's greetings. I'm on holiday leave until [date] and not checking email. Please contact [colleague] for anything urgent. I hope you get a break too.

I'm out for the New Year holiday and back in the office on [date]. Your email will get a reply then. For urgent matters, [colleague] is on call.

The office is closed for the Fourth of July holiday. I'll be back on [date]. For anything urgent, please reach [colleague].

We're closed from Christmas Eve and open again on [date]. Orders placed in the meantime will ship once we're back. Questions can go to [colleague].

I'm taking the Easter break and back on [date]. Please send anything urgent to [colleague], who is working through the long weekend.

I'm off sick and away from my inbox. [colleague] is handling anything urgent, and I'll catch up on the rest when I'm back on [date].

I'm off sick. Please don't ask what with; you don't want to know, and neither did my doctor. Back on [date]. Until then, [colleague] is healthier and can help.

Out sick. I've seen more of my ceiling this week than of my calendar. Back on [date], or when the soup runs out. [colleague] has the keys.

I'm unwell and away from work today. I'll respond when I'm back, which I expect to be [date]. For anything urgent, please reach out to [colleague].

I'm sick and have promised my manager I won't log on. This message is me keeping that promise. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm off sick and sending this from under three blankets. Do not reply all. Back on [date]. [colleague] has been put in charge of my soup and my inbox.

I'm on sick leave until [date]. My inbox will wait, but if your request won't, please contact [colleague].

I'm off sick. I tried working from bed for an hour and it went about as well as you'd expect. Back on [date]. [colleague] can help.

My doctor has advised rest, fluids and no spreadsheets. I'm following all three. Back on [date]. [colleague] is permitted spreadsheets.

I'm on medical leave and not reading email. I plan to return on [date]. [colleague] has my handover notes and can help with anything pressing.

I'm out with whatever has been going round the office. If you were in last week, you may be next. Back on [date]. [colleague] seems immune so far.

Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office on medical leave until [date]. Please direct anything time-sensitive to [colleague].

I'm sick, and not the kind a cup of tea fixes. Back on [date]. Until then [colleague] covers, after washing their hands.

I'm recovering from a procedure and away from work until [date]. I won't be checking messages. [colleague] is covering my accounts while I'm out.

I'm off today because I'm not well. I'll reply when I'm back. Meetings booked with me today will be moved by [colleague].

I'm out of the office unwell and expect to return on [date]. Please don't wait on me for a decision: [colleague] can make it.

I'm away at a conference until [date] and checking email between sessions, so replies may be short. [colleague] can help with anything that won't wait.

I'm at a conference and back on [date]. I'll come home with a lanyard, a tote bag and the same opinions I left with. [colleague] can help until then.

I'm at a conference, three sessions deep into a talk about synergy. If I'm not back on [date], tell my family I was networking. [colleague] knows where I keep the snacks.

I'm attending a conference this week and reading email only in the evenings. I'll reply by [date] at the latest. For urgent issues, please contact [colleague].

I'm at a conference until [date], wearing a lanyard and introducing myself to people I met at last year's conference. [colleague] is back at the office doing the work.

I'm at a conference. Today's agenda is a keynote, a panel about the keynote, and a networking lunch about the panel. Back on [date]. [colleague] has escaped.

Thanks for your email. I'm at an industry event until [date] with little time at my inbox. [colleague] is available if you need help sooner.

I'm at a conference until [date]. I'll be back with forty business cards and no memory of whose they are. [colleague] remembers everyone.

I'm in a conference hotel where the coffee is free and the Wi-Fi costs nine dollars a day. You can guess which one I'm using. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm presenting at a conference and away from the office until [date]. Replies may be slow. Please contact [colleague] for anything that can't wait.

I'm at a trade show this week. If we're meeting there, my phone is the fastest way to reach me. Otherwise I'll reply on [date], or [colleague] can help.

Thank you for your message. I'm representing the team at a conference until [date], and I'll be glad to share notes from it when I return.

Thank you for your message. I'm attending training this week and back at work on [date]. Until then, [colleague] is your contact.

I'm on mandatory training until [date]. Day one was about time management and ran 40 minutes over. [colleague] can help.

I'm in a training room with no windows, learning to think outside the box. Back on [date]. [colleague] is outside the box and reachable.

I'm away on a training program with limited access to email until [date]. If your message is time-sensitive, please forward it to [colleague].

I'm away on a leadership course until [date]. If I come back saying empower, please book me a short meeting about it. [colleague] is covering.

I'm in a certification exam today and unreachable until tomorrow, [date]. [colleague] is covering my calls.

I'm on an all-day workshop and my phone is off during sessions. I'll reply this evening or on [date]. [colleague] can help sooner.

Thank you for your email. I'm on a business trip and back in the office on [date]. Replies may be delayed by time zones. [colleague] can help sooner.

I'm traveling for work. The hotel Wi-Fi works in the lobby, next to the vending machine, so replies may be brief. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm on a business trip, which is like a vacation except the beach is a conference room. Back on [date]. Urgent things to [colleague].

I'm visiting clients this week and checking messages in the evenings only. You'll hear from me by [date]. Urgent requests can go to [colleague].

I'm on a plane, then in a taxi, then in a meeting, then on a plane. I'll reply on [date]. [colleague] is on the ground and reachable.

I'm three time zones away and have no idea what day it is. I'll reply on [date], or what feels like it. [colleague] still knows the time.

I'm in transit today with no access to email. I'll catch up once I land and expect to be back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I'm working from our other office until [date] and may be slow to reply. If you need an answer today, [colleague] can help.

I'm on site with a client until [date] and away from my desk for most of the day. I'll reply each evening. [colleague] can take calls.

I'm overseas for work until [date], eight hours ahead of the office. I'll answer in my morning, so please allow a day for replies, or contact [colleague].

I'm at a client site until [date] and will reply each morning before my meetings. For anything that can't wait a day, please call [colleague].

I'm on parental leave and away from email. [colleague] is looking after my work while I look after someone smaller. I'll catch up when I'm back on [date].

I'm on parental leave. My inbox and I are on a break, and the baby agreed. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering anything urgent.

I'm on parental leave and haven't slept in a while. I'll be back on [date], and nothing you send before then will be remembered. [colleague] is in charge.

I'm on maternity leave and won't be checking email. I'm due back on [date]. In the meantime, please contact [colleague] for anything related to my work.

I'm on parental leave until [date]. My new boss is very small, works nights and gives all feedback by crying. [colleague] has the old boss.

I'm on parental leave and have learned to change a nappy with one hand. I can't type with either. Back on [date]. [colleague] has both hands free.

I'm on paternity leave until [date] and offline. [colleague] is handling my projects and can help with anything urgent.

I'm on paternity leave. If this reply took a while to arrive, it was written one-handed. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

Thank you for your message. I'm on parental leave and will return on [date]. Your email will not be forwarded, so please resend it to [colleague] if you need a reply sooner.

I'm on family leave and back at work on [date]. I won't see emails sent before then. [colleague] is your contact until I return.

I'm away on adoption leave until [date]. [colleague] is covering my responsibilities and has everything they need from me.

I'm on shared parental leave until [date] and won't be reading email. [colleague] can help with my clients and projects until I return.

Thank you for your email. I'm away for a family wedding until [date]. [colleague] can help while I'm gone.

I'm getting married, which turns out to be a project with more stakeholders than anything at work. Back on [date]. [colleague] can help.

I'm on my honeymoon. My spouse says any reply from me before [date] voids the vows. [colleague] made no vows and is covering.

I'm away on my honeymoon until [date] and offline. [colleague] has my work and knows where everything is.

I'm at a family wedding until [date], where my main job is the seating plan and keeping two uncles apart. [colleague] has the easier job.

I'm out of the office for my wedding and back on [date], possibly with a new surname. My email address will stay the same. [colleague] is covering.

I'm taking some time away and not checking email. I'll be back on [date]. [colleague] can help with anything time-sensitive.

I'm out of town until [date]. I'm out of town on all my days off, which is what keeps them days off. [colleague] is covering.

This inbox is closed for maintenance. The maintenance is me, lying down. Reopening on [date]. [colleague] is taking questions.

I'm out of the office today for a personal matter and back on [date]. For anything urgent, please email [colleague].

I'm taking a mental health day. My mental health has asked me not to explain further. Back on [date]. [colleague] is covering.

I've used a personal day for personal reasons, and the reason is my bed. Back on [date]. [colleague] is upright and available.

I'm taking a personal day and not reading email. I'll be back tomorrow, [date]. [colleague] can help in the meantime.

I'm out today for an appointment that has been moved four times, so I'm not risking a fifth. Back on [date]. [colleague] can help.

I'm taking a day for myself. It's going well so far: I've had breakfast sitting down. Back on [date]. [colleague] had breakfast at a desk.

I'm on jury service until [date] and can't check email during the day. Please contact [colleague] with anything urgent.

I'm away for a family matter and back on [date]. Replies will be slow until then. [colleague] is covering.

I'm moving house today and offline until [date]. [colleague] is covering any urgent questions.

I'm out this morning for an appointment and back online by early afternoon. If it can't wait until then, [colleague] can help.

You've emailed outside my working hours. I'll reply during my next working day. For urgent matters, please contact [colleague].

I've logged off for the day. My laptop is closed and I'm proud of it. I'll answer on [date].

After 5 pm this inbox turns into a pumpkin. It turns back on [date] at 9. [colleague] is also a pumpkin.

My working hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Your email arrived after hours, and I'll respond on [date].

You sent this at 11 pm. I'll answer it at 9 am, which is when I start, and when you should be asleep. [colleague] keeps the same hours.

I've finished for the day and will read your message tomorrow morning. If it can't wait, [colleague] is on call tonight.

I don't check email on Sundays. I don't check it on Saturdays either. Monday, [date], is when I'll see this.

Thank you for your message. I work flexible hours and may not reply straight away. You'll hear from me by [date].

Our support desk is open weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm. Your request has been received and we'll answer it on [date].

I work part time and I'm not in today. I'll get back to you on [date]. If you need help sooner, [colleague] can assist.

I'm part time. The emails are full time. I'll catch up with yours on [date].

My working days are Tuesday to Friday. Your email arrived on a day I'm off, and I'll pick it up on [date].

I'm on a four-day week and Fridays are my day off. I'll reply on Monday, [date]. Please contact [colleague] if it's urgent.

I'm in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'll see your message on [date]. [colleague] works every day and can help before then.

Thanks for your message. I work mornings only, Monday to Friday, and I've finished for today. I'll answer on [date], or [colleague] can help this afternoon.

I'm no longer with the company as of [date]. Your message has not been forwarded. Please resend it to [colleague].

I don't work here any more. I left on [date] with a cake, a card and a box of pens that may not have been mine. [colleague] has my job.

This inbox closed on [date]. Whatever you're asking about, the answer is in a shared drive folder called Final v3. [colleague] knows which one.

Today is my last day, and from tomorrow this inbox won't be read. [colleague] is taking over my projects. Thank you for working with me.

This is my last out of office here. Nobody needs to cover for me any more, but [colleague] has agreed to anyway.

I've left. My last act was to unsubscribe this inbox from every newsletter it ever joined. [colleague] got the snack drawer.

I've moved to a new role and this mailbox closes on [date]. For anything about my old projects, please contact [colleague].

Thanks for your message. I left the team on [date]. [colleague] now looks after my accounts and can help with your request.

I've retired, and this account will close at the end of the month. It's been a pleasure. Please send anything for my old role to [colleague].

I've been told to disconnect, so I'm trying it. Back on [date].

Your email has joined the pile. I'll dig it out on [date].

Out of the office, and out of office clothes. Back on [date].

Out of office, and for once out of reach. Back on [date].

I'm away until [date], and so is my sense of urgency.

Out until [date]. Ask [colleague] if it can't wait.

Away until [date]. Your email is in the queue.

Back on [date]. [colleague] has the answers until then.

On leave until [date]. Please contact [colleague].

Gone fishing. Not literally. Back on [date].

Out of office. Back on [date], refreshed, or at least rested.

I'm away until [date]. Please don't save it all for my first morning.

Offline until [date]. [colleague] is online.

Away from my desk until [date]. My desk has noticed.

I'm out. [colleague] is in. Back on [date].

On vacation until [date]. Your email can come too, but it stays in the bag.

Out until [date], learning what a lunch break feels like.

Away until [date]. Mark it urgent and it will still be [date].

Back on [date]. Until then, assume the answer is yes and check with [colleague].

Out of office, into the sea. Back on [date].

Offline for the holidays. Back on [date].

Back on [date] with fresh eyes and, hopefully, the same password.

This is the only honest email I'll send all year: I'm out. Back on [date].

Out until [date]. Please don't reply to this to ask when I'm back.

Out until [date]. My calendar is out too.

Out of office. In a hammock. Back on [date].

Not here. Back on [date]. Still not here before then.

Back on [date]. Please send it again then, with feeling.

Out until [date]. The plant on my desk is in charge.