One of the highlights of preparing for a vacation is crafting just the right words for your out-of-office message. If you’ve ever struggled to find the words to professionally let others know you’ll be offline and unavailable, World Traveler and Travel Blogger Jessica Ufuoma (IG: @theufuoma) has you covered.
Ufuoma offers several options to communicate your away status. The hilarious but very relevant office messages are fun alternatives to the standard “I’m out of office returning on [date] with limited access to email”.
Before we get into her creative suggestions, Ufuoma shares the following for those in corporate:
“Don’t forget to add a contact email who is covering for you while away, to these messages because corporate is still corporate haha.”
In The Event of An Emergency
There’s often a self-induced perception that career-driven professionals have to hop in the mix when an emergency arises at work. The truth is, a healthy work environment respects your vacation time and will cover unexpected fires while you’re enjoying some much-needed R&R.
For the first responders and fire extinguishers, Ufuoma suggests:
“I will be out of office from [date] to [date]. If this is an emergency, call 911.”
Accessible But (Still) Unavailable
Creating boundaries is essential in making your beach or mountain getaways count. This next message is for those who want to let co-workers or clients know that while you could use your tech devices for work, it’s a strong no.
Ufuoma offers:
“I am out of office and returning next week. I have incredibly easy access to a phone and email, but I assure you it will not be used for work purposes.”
It Can Wait
24/7 access to work communication and an always-on culture can leave even the most balanced person feeling like they need to respond to issues right away. The reality is that, in most cases, whatever’s happening at work isn’t as timely as we make it out to be.
“I’m currently out of office and can be reached by waiting until I get back,” Ufuoma proposes as an option.
Oop. This might be the one.
Good News, Bad News
The good news, bad news game can spark a bit of anxious energy but this away message is both comical and relatable. This next status is perfect for the self-employed and corporate cultures where humor and PTO are valued.
Ufuoma recommends: “The bad news is that I’m out of office. The good news is that I’m office.”
BRB: Chilling On The Beach
Sometimes the best messages are the ones that cut straight to the chase. The brevity of this last message lets those emailing you know that you’re unavailable for work so you can be present in enjoying your life.
“I am currently out of the office and probably chilling on the beach somewhere. Enjoy your work week.”
Are you adding one of these messages ahead of your next vacation? Let us know which is your favorite!
Check out the full post here.
Related: Positive Work-Life Balance Makes This Country A Hotspot For Work Abroad | Here’s How You Can Take A Break From Your Career To Travel