'I'm in Barbados': The dos and don'ts of writing an out-of-office reply
Etiquette experts provide guidance on writing professional out-of-office emails, emphasizing the need for clarity and conciseness. The advice warns against oversharing personal details or using 'virtue signaling' that might alienate colleagues.
Why it matters
As remote and hybrid work become standard, professional communication norms are evolving, making workplace etiquette increasingly relevant.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Daniel Thomas Business reporter Getty Images You're finally about to head off on a well-earned break, but there's one more task to tick off your to-do list: composing an out-of-office reply.
Many will be all too familiar with debating how much information to include and how available you will be - and whether to inject some personality into your message, or even risk cracking a joke.
Experts say there are clear dos and don'ts when it comes to writing an out-of-office message (OOO) - and getting it wrong can have more serious consequences than you might think. Here are their rules to penning the perfect out-of-office reply.
Debretts, an etiquette consultancy, says a good automatic reply should be polite and concise, give a specific return date, and provide another point of contact if appropriate.
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