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Free Out of Office Email Templates

Out of office message templates for vacations, parental leave, conferences, and sick days. Copy into Gmail or Outlook. Fill in the placeholders, copy, and send.

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Subject

Out of Office — Back [Return Date]

Hi, Thanks for your email. I'm currently out of the office on vacation and will be back on [Return Date]. I'll have limited access to email during this time and will respond to your message when I return. For anything urgent, please contact [Delegate Name] at [Delegate Email]. Best, [Your Name]

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should an out of office message include?

Three things: when you'll be back, that you won't be checking email regularly, and who to contact for urgent matters. Everything else is optional.

How do I set up an out of office reply in Gmail?

Click the gear icon, select "See all settings," scroll to the bottom of the General tab, and find "Vacation responder." Turn it on, set your dates, enter your message, and click Save Changes.

How do I set up an out of office reply in Outlook?

Click the gear icon, go to View all Outlook settings, then Mail, then Automatic replies. Turn on automatic replies, set your date range, paste your message, and click Save.

Should I set an out of office for a single sick day?

Only if you won't be checking email at all. For a single day, a brief auto-reply saying you're out and will reply tomorrow is fine. For longer absences, include a delegate contact.

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