Holiday Time
As the holiday season approaches a timely reminder of your out of office message: Professional communication doesn’t stop when you go on holiday. In fact, it may be more important than ever during this time.
Your ‘out of office’, the automatic reply that your email sends when you are on annual leave, is a key communication tool.
Having one, how it is worded, and how informative it is shows the working world – well, the portion of it that emails you – just how professional you are and you want the best of you out there while you have the best of times on annual leave.
Here we look at some of the biggest sins when it comes to writing the out of office message.
Forgetting to set one up
Not bothering to set one up at all is probably the biggest mistake. It lets bosses know you’re slap dash at best or, totally unprofessional at worst. The implication is: ‘I’m on holiday, screw you lot’.
Forgetting to say when you’ll be back
You need to let people know when you’ll be back at work. Getting the dates wrong is worse than forgetting to set it altogether because it makes you look as though you don’t know what you are doing.
Bragging about your holidays
Resist the urge to type something about chillaxing or sipping pina coladas by the pool while everyone else is working. Clients won’t be impressed and neither will bosses.
Being rude
You may be out of the office but that’s no excuse to be rude to people. Remember to type please and thank you.
Filling it up with office speak and jargon
Such as you’ll ‘revert’ when you get back. You don’t talk like this in the real world so why should you on email.
Being too friendly
Employees often write out of office messages with their friends in mind, so the tone is usually casual and informal. Don't forget that this message will be sent to everyone who gets in touch over the coming weeks, both internal and external, so it needs to be professional - no ‘mate’s or ‘darling’s.
Forgetting to give alternative contact details
Just because you are not there doesn’t mean the business will grind to a halt! Remember to give details of someone who can manage enquiries if you aren’t there.
Forgetting to tell your alternate contact
There is no point in giving your boss’ or a colleagues contact details without telling them. Even worse, your alternate contact could be on holiday too; check before you use them!
Trying to be funny
Out of office messages should be clear, concise and polite, but they should not be funny - unless you are a professional stand-up.
Forgetting to turn it off
OK, so you have had your holiday and now you’re back in the office but your email keeps telling people you are still away. These can go on for weeks and even months after someone’s return - turn it OFF.
Enjoy your holiday.
As the holiday season approaches a timely reminder of your out of office message: Professional communication doesn’t stop when you go on holiday. In fact, it may be more important than ever during this time.
Your ‘out of office’, the automatic reply that your email sends when you are on annual leave, is a key communication tool.
Having one, how it is worded, and how informative it is shows the working world – well, the portion of it that emails you – just how professional you are and you want the best of you out there while you have the best of times on annual leave.
Here we look at some of the biggest sins when it comes to writing the out of office message.
Forgetting to set one up
Not bothering to set one up at all is probably the biggest mistake. It lets bosses know you’re slap dash at best or, totally unprofessional at worst. The implication is: ‘I’m on holiday, screw you lot’.
Forgetting to say when you’ll be back
You need to let people know when you’ll be back at work. Getting the dates wrong is worse than forgetting to set it altogether because it makes you look as though you don’t know what you are doing.
Bragging about your holidays
Resist the urge to type something about chillaxing or sipping pina coladas by the pool while everyone else is working. Clients won’t be impressed and neither will bosses.
Being rude
You may be out of the office but that’s no excuse to be rude to people. Remember to type please and thank you.
Filling it up with office speak and jargon
Such as you’ll ‘revert’ when you get back. You don’t talk like this in the real world so why should you on email.
Being too friendly
Employees often write out of office messages with their friends in mind, so the tone is usually casual and informal. Don't forget that this message will be sent to everyone who gets in touch over the coming weeks, both internal and external, so it needs to be professional - no ‘mate’s or ‘darling’s.
Forgetting to give alternative contact details
Just because you are not there doesn’t mean the business will grind to a halt! Remember to give details of someone who can manage enquiries if you aren’t there.
Forgetting to tell your alternate contact
There is no point in giving your boss’ or a colleagues contact details without telling them. Even worse, your alternate contact could be on holiday too; check before you use them!
Trying to be funny
Out of office messages should be clear, concise and polite, but they should not be funny - unless you are a professional stand-up.
Forgetting to turn it off
OK, so you have had your holiday and now you’re back in the office but your email keeps telling people you are still away. These can go on for weeks and even months after someone’s return - turn it OFF.
Enjoy your holiday.
The contents of this page are for reference purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Independent legal advice should be sought in relation to any specific legal matter.