Ditch the vacation guilt and set healthy boundaries this season with one of these seven OOO message templates.

For over a century, the American work culture has been notorious around the globe for its "always-on" mentality. With the emphasis on hard work, long hours, measly 90-day maternity leaves, and the mindset that vacation days should cause shame rather than joy, taking time off was often seen as a luxury — even with companies' "use-it-or-lose-it" PTO policies. The idea of “vacation guilt” ran deep, with employees feeling obligated to check emails while away — even if it was only once a day — or worse, not taking time off at all for fear of career repercussions.

Now four years after the global pandemic, this narrative has finally begun to change. Undeniably, COVID-19 forced many to reconsider their work habits, as well as their entire approach to work-life balance to reach the same realization: Life is short and time off is essential. As 2024 winds down, Americans are not just taking their vacations, they have begun becoming unapologetic about establishing clear boundaries — beginning with the art of the out-of-office message.

Today's out-of-office messages in the United States are now more likely to take a candid and sometimes blunt tone, with many professionals explicitly stating they will not be checking emails while on vacation or taking time off for personal days, all in an effort to discourage unnecessary contact during this period, manage expectations about response times, and encourage recipients to also embrace a healthier work-life balance.

“Professionals are increasingly crafting out-of-office messages that are not only less apologetic and more likely to explicitly set boundaries, but that also provide an opportunity to humanize oneself by sharing an unprecedented sense of transparency and relatability,” says Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and the resident career expert at TopResume. 

“While maintaining one's professionalism remains important, it's increasingly more acceptable for employees to leave less formal out-of-office messages that incorporate a bit of humor and provide some insight into the sender's personality. This makes sense when you consider how workplace communication overall has shifted in recent years,” Augustine added.

When TopResume asked 1,000 U.S. career-professionals across various generations how they feel about using informal language in professional communication, an overwhelming majority felt comfortable incorporating more casual language into their communication, including the use of abbreviations, slang, and emojis. In fact, only one in three employees — ranging from Gen Z to Baby Boomers — preferred to communicate using strictly “formal” language.

Out-of-office message templates for the holidays

Important Note: As the holiday season approaches, the team at TopResume has crafted seven festive out-of-office email responses and subject lines to help you set boundaries and promote a healthy work-life balance. These samples vary from formal and straightforward to snarky and blunt. We encourage you to consider your company's communication policies, brand guidelines, and work culture before choosing some of the more sarcastic options — your career will thank you.

  1. Traditional and Professional
  2. Friendly and Approachable
  3. Casual and Informal
  4. Playful and Cheeky
  5. Sassy and Festive
  6. Witty Yet Risky
  7. Unfiltered and Honest

1. Traditional and professional

Subject: Out of Office [start date] to [end date]: [Your Name]

Thank you for your email. I'm currently out of the office for the holidays from [start date] to [end date], and I won't be checking emails during this time.

For any urgent matters, please contact [alternative contact name and email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as I return.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

2. Friendly and approachable

Subject: Off enjoying holiday cheer [start date] to [end date]: [Your Name]

Hello,

Thank you for your message. I'm currently out of the office, enjoying the holiday season and some much-needed rest. I'll be away from [start date] to [end date].

I'll have limited access to emails, but if your matter is urgent, please reach out to [alternative contact name] at [alternative contact email].

Looking forward to reconnecting after the holidays!

Warm regards,

[Your Name]

3. Casual and informal

Subject: Out of Office & Off to Celebrate the Season

Happy Holidays!

I'm out of the office, taking a break to celebrate the holiday season from [start date] to [end date]. I'll be back, refreshed and recharged, after that.

If you need immediate assistance, please get in touch with [alternative contact name] at [alternative contact email]. Otherwise, I'll get back to you as soon as I'm back in the swing of things.

Cheers,

[Your Name]

4. Playful and cheeky

Subject: Guess Who's Decking the Halls? (Hint: It's Me)

Guess what? I'm on holiday! ❄️ From [start date] to [end date], I'll be enjoying some holiday cheer, far from emails and spreadsheets.

If it's urgent, don't worry — [alternative contact name] is here to help. You can reach them at [alternative contact email].

Otherwise, I'll get back to you when I return — probably with some holiday spirit and a fresh perspective!

Catch you later,

[Your Name]

5. Sassy and festive

Subject: Out of Office: Off Being Jolly (and Avoiding Emails)

Ho ho ho! 🎅 You've reached me during my escape from the office for some much-needed holiday cheer. From [start date] to [end date], I'll be trading in my keyboard for eggnog and festivities.

If your email can't wait until I'm back to my usual jolly self, you can reach out to [alternative contact name] at [alternative contact email]. They've agreed to handle the holiday madness in my absence.

For everything else, I'll get back to you after I've had my fill of yuletide joy and maybe a few too many holiday cookies.

Stay merry,

[Your Name]

6. Witty yet risky

Subject: Pretending Emails Don't Exist (Out of Office)

Thanks for your email. I've hit my limit for work stress and decided to take a much-needed break for the holidays from [start date] to [end date]. During this time, I'll be prioritizing my mental health and won't be checking emails.

If this is an emergency, please pause and consider: Is it really an emergency? If so, you can contact [alternative contact name] at [alternative contact email], who's bravely agreed to manage things in my absence.

Otherwise, I'll get back to you when I return — hopefully with more holiday cheer and less stress. Thanks for understanding — maybe take a break yourself!

Best of luck,

[Your Name]

7. Unfiltered and honest

Subject: The Holiday Hustle Finally Got Me

Hi there,

Congrats! You've reached my inbox at a time when I've decided to take a break from the end-of-year craziness at work. From [start date] to [end date], I'll be on vacation, far away from emails, deadlines, and meetings that could've been emails.

If your email is about something that could have been handled weeks ago, please ask yourself why you're only addressing it now. If it's truly urgent (like, the Christmas-tree-is-on-fire urgent), you can try your luck with [alternative contact name] at [alternative contact email].

For everything else, I'll get back to you when I return — hopefully before the next work crisis arises.

Happy Holidays,

[Your Name]

How to choose the right out-of-office message for work

“The tone of your out-of-office message will depend upon many factors, including your company's official policies on communication, the company culture, your personality, and the position you hold within the company,” says Augustine. She suggests asking yourself the following questions as you decide on what tone to take with your out-of-office email message without coming across as unprofessional:

  • Company policy: Does my company have any official policies on what we can — and cannot — say when it comes to internal and external communication? Are there any HR policies in place? What are the company's brand guidelines?
  • Target audiences: Who do I typically communicate with via email at work? For example, if I put up an out-of-office message, who is likely to receive it (e.g., staff, colleagues, clients or customers, vendors, company managers or leaders, business partners, etc.)? Do I have the ability to tailor a different message for internal recipients versus those outside the company?
  • Company culture: How does my employer define its corporate culture and work environment? How laid back or buttoned up is the company? How casual or formal is everyday communication between colleagues, vendors, and/or clients?
  • Employee status: What level of responsibility does my position hold within the company? How senior is my current position within the organization? What is my potential for career advancement within this company or otherwise? Given my place within the organizational structure, is there an expectation as to how I communicate with others? 

Your responses to these questions will help you create a professional out-of-office message that has just the right amount of humor and personality. 

Use these tips to create your next OOO message that successfully protects your time and sets your boundaries so you can enjoy your vacation without the guilt.

Survey methodology

Between April 8, 2024, and April 9, 2024, TopResume conducted an online survey with 1,000 U.S. professionals between the ages of 18 and 55. Participants were asked, “How do you feel about the use of informal language (e.g., abbreviations, slang, emojis, no punctuation) in professional communication?” Responses were then filtered by generation:

  • Generation Z: Prefer formal language (35%); It depends, comfortable with either (65%); Prefer informal language (0%)
  • Millennial: Prefer formal language (39%); It depends, comfortable with either (58%); Prefer informal language (3%)
  • Generation X Prefer formal language (42%); It depends, comfortable with either (53%); Prefer informal language (5%)
  • Baby Boomers Prefer formal language (39%); It depends, comfortable with either (55%); Prefer informal language (6%)

For more information about this survey or to arrange an interview with TopResume career expert and spokesperson, Amanda Augustine, please contact Lisa Hagendorf of Centerpiece PR at press@topresume.com.

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