To joke or not to joke?: How to write a good out-of-office message

1. Be polite: Don’t just launch in with “I’m on annual leave”. Preface your message with a greeting, such as “Thank you for your email”.

2. Give a specific return date and back-up contact if appropriate. Ensure all the contact details are correct

4. Be clear about your availability: Manage expectations and if you would prefer not to be contacted, say so

5. Don’t promise instant replies on your return: A backlog is completely normal, so “within a few days” is a better promise to make

6. Tick both internal and external contacts if you use Outlook. It’s an easy one to miss

7. Switch off your out of office when you return: A stale OOO can look disorganised.

Sources: Debretts, Linkedin