Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedInCheck us out on PinterestOur BlogOur Blog RSS Feed
I still will get urgent messages from coworkers with multiple follow-ups during my OOO period. Then an angry call or email when I return that the response time was too long. When I check with Jane about the status she says she was never contacted about the issue. I always push back “Why didn’t you contact Jane?” but I think a lot of people in my organization like to shift blame when they are behind on their deadlines. If it was really so urgent, why did you wait a week just to get an answer from me?
.
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By clicking any link on this page, you are giving your consent for us to use cookies. Read more. Header Menu of the Robert Half Website Locations Time Header Menu of the Robert Half Website Locations Time Breadcrumb of the Robert Half Website The Robert Half Blog How to Craft an Effective Out-of-Office Message By Robert Half on February 2, 2021 at 11:45am
HomepageCo.DesignTechWork LifeNewsImpactPodcastsVideoRecommenderInnovation FestivalSubscribeHelp Center
An award-winning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through Fast Company's distinctive lens
Terms and ConditionsFind JobsCAD Design / DraftingPrivacyEngineering Staffing AgenciesSoftware engineering recruitersContact UsRenewable Energy RecruitersIT staffing agenciesSubmit Resume
Acknowledging the customer support messages with well-designed auto responders helps them to know what will be your next step for the request they have raised. They become sure that you as a business are looking into the issue and they will get the resolution soon.
It all boils down to honestly assessing your situation, deciding what degree of contact is appropriate, and then stating your intention clearly and succinctly.
For those of you arguing that entrepreneurs and salespeople must always be available, I present to you Exhibit A. While this is specific to Yesware (and you should check out their other OOO examples), it's easy enough to tweak to fit your industry.
I only set my out of office if I’m going to be gone for more than one full day. Like, right now I don’t bother if I’m going to be out for one day, because in general the people who email me either know I’m out for a day or are unfazed by waiting 24 hours for a response. The last time I went out of office for a week, I came back to about 65 emails, 9 of which would have actually required my attention when I weeded through them. If I got a higher email volume, I’d do for a single day though.
Thank you for your email, I’m currently out of the office and celebrating the holidays until [insert date]. For immediate assistance, please contact [insert name] at [insert email] and one of Santa’s helpers will assist you!
Hi Steve, thanks for your article. My issue is same as Pam Lamkin, above. In order to use your phone you must turn off “Driving” mode, and then any messages that come in will not get the auto reply as long as you are on your phone, and until you reinstate the driving mode. Any thoughts?
With all that in mind, here are some templates for effective automatic responses to those inside and outside your company: 5 Cybersecurity Professionals Your IT Team Needs How deep is your IT security bench strength? Check out this lineup of five types of cybersecurity professionals to confirm you have all the bases covered... Trying to figure out how to hire remote workers? Read Robert Half’s tips on finding and hiring remote staff when you can’t meet in person. Is writing a cover letter a thing of the past for job seekers? Far from it. Discover how you can convince hiring managers to call you for an interview. Business Ethics Corporate Responsibility Security & Data Privacy Fraud Alert Government Notice Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Co-sign. HATE THAT. We use Outlook and there’s a banner across the top that says AUTOMATIC REPLIES ARE BEING SENT. Just click the button to stop them!
We run world class online team building events that remote teams love. Rated 5 Stars.
Something like, “I will not have access to email while I am out and will get back to you when I return. If your issue is urgent, please resend your email after X date,” would be… more polite, I guess.
Try this out with your colleagues or share it with colleagues/clients headed off on a vacation to send them off in style: