150 Out of Office Messages for Teams, Slack & Email

Out of the office messages go beyond informing colleagues about your absence; they’re about setting expectations and avoiding delays while you’re away. Whether you’re heading on vacation, on a business trip, or just taking a day off, the right message won’t leave your teammates guessing and will redirect them to the correct resources. So if you’re sticking to usual replies like ‘I’ll be OOO till Monday,’ it’s time for an upgrade. 

To help you get it right every single time, we have listed 150 out of office messages tailored to different situations. Let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

What Are Some Great Tips for Writing Out of Office Messages?

• Be Direct: State that you’ll be out of the office and include exact dates to avoid confusion.
• Set Response Expectations: Let people know when they can expect a reply to ensure clear communication. 
• Redirect Tasks the Right Way: Mention a teammate or shared channel where everyone can reach out for urgent requirements. 
• Match the Tone: Choose between formal and informal tones based on the occasion. 
• Keep it Short: Don’t overshare, keep the messages brief and easy to scan.

150 Out of Office Messages for the Workplace

Whether you’re stepping out for a few hours or taking an extended leave, these messages help you communicate clearly across teams, tools, and situations.

1. Out of Office Messages for Outlook

These Outlook-friendly out of office email messages are ideal for automatic replies to internal teams, clients, and external stakeholders.

1. Thank you for your message. I’m out of the office until [date] and will respond when I return.
2. I’m currently away from the office with limited access to email. I’ll follow up after [date].
3. I’m out of the office and will respond as soon as I’m back on [date].
4. I’m unavailable right now and will reply once I return to work on [date].
5. Thanks for reaching out. I’m out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, contact [name].
6. I’m away and will get back to you after [date]. Thanks for your patience.
7. I’m out of the office with no scheduled email access. I’ll respond when I’m back.
8. I’m currently unavailable and will review your message upon returning on [date].
9. Thanks for your email. I’m out of the office and will respond after [date].
10. I’m away from the office and will follow up once I’m back.

2. Out of Office Messages for Microsoft Teams

Use these Teams-optimized messages to quickly update your status and let coworkers know when you’ll be back online.

11. I’m out of the office today and will reply when I’m back.
12. Away from work until [date] – I’ll catch up once I return.
13. I’m offline today and will respond during my next working hours.
14. Out of office 🚪 Back on [date].
15. I’m unavailable right now and will reply once I’m back online.
16. Taking time off today. I’ll get back to messages tomorrow.
17. Out of office today with limited access to Teams.
18. Away for the day – responses will be delayed.
19. I’m out today. For urgent matters, please contact [name].
20. Offline today and will respond when I’m back.

3. Slack Out of Office Status Messages

Short, clear, and casual, these Slack unavailability messages work perfectly as status updates or automated replies.

21. Out of office 🚫 Back on [date].
22. Away from Slack today – responding tomorrow.
23. Taking the day off. Messages will be answered later.
24. OOO today with limited Slack access.
25. Away today – please expect delayed replies.
26. Out today. For urgent help, contact [name].
27. Away from work – back soon!
28. Out of office today 🌴 Back tomorrow.
29. Away until [date] – replies may be slow.
30. Offline today. I’ll catch up when I’m back.

4. Creative Status Alerts

Want to sound human, not robotic? These creative message examples add personality while still keeping teammates informed.

31. Plot twist: I’m out of the office. Check back on [Date]. Till then, reach out to [Name] for urgent tasks. 
32. Giving my inbox a break as I’m off on an adventure. Will be back on [Date].
33. I’m away, attending to my side quests. Till then, reach out to [Name/Shared channel].
34. This is to inform you that I’m away doing absolutely nothing productive. Will follow up on [Date].
35. My inbox is closed for maintenance. Service resumes on [Date]. 
36. The person you’re trying to reach is currently out of office. Please try again after [Date]. 
37. I’m away chasing peace and fun. Back to emails on [Date]. 
38. I’m currently pretending that emails don’t exist. Replies resume on [Date]. 
39. Lost somewhere. Please hold off or reach out to [Name] until I find my way back.
40. I left the building on [Date] and will return on [Date]. Try reaching out to [Name/Email].
41. My inbox is on mute while I’m away. Will unmute on [Date]. 
42. I’m intentionally unavailable until [Date]. Contact [Name] for any queries. 
43. I’m away, living my best OOO life. Back on (Date).
44. Closed my inbox for a rejuvenating break. Replies start on [Date]. 
45. That’s not me! My auto replies are doing the talking. Find me back on [Date]. 
46. I pressed “out of office” and walked away. Replies resume on (Date).
47. Your emails are safe. I’m just not here to read them. Will check them on [Date]. 
48. I temporarily logged out of work mode. Will be back online on [Date]. 

5. Formal Out of Office Messages

Formal status updates set clear expectations and ensure smooth communication, especially when dealing with managers, leadership, or external stakeholders. 

49. Thank you for your email. I’m currently unavailable and will be able to respond after [Date].
50. Thank you for your message. I’m away from work and will respond at the earliest after [Date].
51. I’m currently out of the office. For urgent matters, please contact [Name/Team].
52. Thank you for reaching out. I’ll be out of the office until [Date] and will respond after I return.
53. I’m unavailable today and will attend to your message once I’m back in the office.
54. I’m currently out of the office. Please expect a response after [Date].
55. Thank you for contacting me. I’m unavailable at the moment and will respond in due course.
56. I’ll be out of the office until [Date]. For immediate assistance, please reach out to [Name].
57. I’m on leave until [Date] and will not be able to respond immediately. Thank you for your understanding.
58. Thank you for reaching out. I’m currently on leave. You can reach out to [Team Channel] for urgent requirements. 
59. Thank you for the message. I’m out of the office from [Start Date] to [Return Date] and will address your query upon my return.
60. I’ll be out of the office from [Start Date] to [Return Date]. For immediate assistance, please reach out to [Name].

6. Out of Office Messages for After Work Hours

These messages help set healthy boundaries by letting others know you’re offline outside of standard working hours.

61. Thank you for your message. I’m currently outside working hours and will respond during the next business day.
62. Thank you for reaching out. You caught me after office hours. Please reach out between [Mention Duration]
63. Hello! I just logged out. Kindly reach out to me between [Mention Duration].:
64. Hi! You’ve contacted me after my working hours. I’ll respond to your query during our business hours. 
65. Hello! My working hours are from [Mention Duration]. Kindly reach out accordingly for an immediate response. 
66. I’m currently outside office hours and will respond once I’m back online. 
67. I have logged out for the day. Please reach out to me between [Mention Duration]. 
68. I’m unavailable at the moment and will respond to your query on the next business day.
69. I have signed off for the day. I’ll follow up during regular working hours. 
70. I’ve wrapped up for the day and will get back to you tomorrow. 
71. I’m unavailable at the moment and will follow up during business hours. 
72. I’m offline for the evening and will respond during working hours tomorrow. 

7. Out of Office Messages when Working From Home

Working remotely but still available? Use these messages to clarify availability and preferred communication channels.

73. I’m working from home today and will be available online. Kindly reach out here. 
74. I’ll be working remotely today. Please message me here. 
75. Working from home today. Available for calls and messages between [Mention Duration]. 
76. Working from home with limited availability between [Mention Duration].
77. I’m remote today and will be available for quick check-ins during working hours. 
78. I’m working from home today and will be available on [Team Channel] until [Time].
79. Working from home today. Available for discussions over calls or text, thank you. 
80. Working remotely today, responses may be slightly delayed. 
81. WFH today, will be active online. Thanks for understanding. 
82. I’m not in the office today, but reachable online during working hours.
83. I’ll be working online from [Start Date] to [Return Date] and will be available on [Team Channel] during working hours. 
84. Working online today. Will be available on Teams throughout the day. 

9. Out of Office Messages for Company Events Attendance

Perfect for conferences, training sessions, workshops, and business travel, these status alerts explain limited availability without confusion.

85. Attending a training today, responses may be delayed. 
86. Currently attending a company event, will respond when available. 
87. I’m currently out of the office for a company event and won’t be able to check my inbox until [Date/Time]. Kindly reach out to [Name]
88. Attending an internal training, availability may be limited.
89. Currently on a business trip with limited availability. Reach out to [Name] for urgent requirements. 
90. In a conference today, available intermittently. 
91. Attending an off-site meeting today, will follow up at the earliest opportunity tomorrow. 
92. Hi! I’ll be travelling for a business trip and will be in the office on [Date]. Contact [Name] for any queries. 
93. At an official seminar today. Will follow up tomorrow. Thank You!
94. Away at a company event, may not respond immediately.
95. Attending a personality development event, will respond between sessions. 
96. Away for a business workshop today, responses may be slower than usual.

10. Out of Office Messages for Extended Leaves

When you extend your leave, it’s very important to share updates, and these extended absence alerts help keep workflows smooth when your leave lasts longer than expected.

97. My out of office period has been extended until [Date]. Will get back to you after I return. 
98. I had to extend my leave until [Date]. Will respond to you when I’m back online.
99. I’m currently on extended leave until [Date] and will have limited access to messages. 
100. I’ll remain out of office and will be able to respond after [Date].
101. My leave has been extended, and I’ll resume responding to messages from [Date]
102. Please note that my leave has been extended until [Date]. Will respond once I’m back.
103. My out of office period has been extended. Please contact [Name] for a follow-up.
104. I’ll be extending my leave until [Date]. Kindly reach out post that. Thanks for understanding.
105. My return has been rescheduled to [Date]. For any assistance, reach out to my team members [Names]. 
106. I’ll remain unavailable for a few more days and will be able to respond after [Date]. 
107. My absence has been extended, and I’ll be available after [Date]. 
108. Updating my out of office status: I won’t be available until [Date]. 

11. Out of Office Messages for Holidays and Vacations

Holidays and vacations are meant for people to step away from work and enjoy their time off without distractions. Here are a few messages to let everyone know about your absence. 

109. I have temporarily traded emails for sunsets. I’ll respond once I’m back on [Date]. 
110. Inbox paused. Vacation mode activated. Will respond after [Date].
111. I’m out of the office spreading holiday cheer. I’ll be back on [Date].
112. Currently busy with cookies, carols, and family time. Will be back on [Date]. 
113.  My inbox is taking a Halloween holiday break. I’ll return from the shadows on [Date].
114. I’m out of the office welcoming the New Year. Will see you next year on [Date]. 
115. Away for a festive break. Stepping away from emails until [Date]. 
116. This message confirms I’m officially off the grid. I’ll be back online on [Date]. 
117. Please note that this inbox is unattended while I’m away on vacation. I’ll respond after [Date].
118. I’ve escaped the office for a while. Will resume replying to everyone on [Date]. 
119. My inbox is closed for the holiday season. It’ll be back open on [Date]. 
120. Currently enjoying the festive season offline. Will be back online on [Date]. 

12. Out of Office Messages for Long-Term Absence

When you’re away longer than expected, it’s important to inform coworkers, redirect tasks, and ensure there’s no friction in the workflow. 

121. I’m currently on medical leave and will respond once I return on [Date]. 
122. I’m away on parental duties. Till then, reach out to my teammates [Names] for any assistance. 
123. I’ll be away for a year pursuing higher education and will graduate on [Date]. For any queries, please reach out to my team. 
124. I’m away on a long-term assignment. [Name] will take care of everything on my behalf until [Date]. 
125. I’m currently away for academic commitments and will return on [Date]. 
126. I’m out of the office due to a medical emergency. Contact [Name] for updates on my tasks. 
127. Currently in parent mode, away from emails. Please reach out to my team for assistance. 
128. I’m currently on a peaceful sabbatical. Please text [Name] for follow-ups until I return. 
129. I’m temporarily unavailable due to an internal transfer. Will resume work here on [Date]. 
130. I’ve been transferred to a new team for the next two months. See you all on [Date]. 

13. Parental Leave Out of Office Messages

This category includes inclusive messages for maternity, paternity, and parental leave that clearly set boundaries and return timelines.

131. Thank you for your message. I’m on parental leave until [date] and will respond after I return.
132. I’m currently on parental leave and will resume responding to emails on [date].
133. I’m on parental leave with no access to email. I’ll follow up once I’m back on [date].
134. I’m away on parental leave until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [name].
135. I’m out of the office on parental leave and will respond when I return to work.
136. I’m currently unavailable due to parental leave and will reply after [date].
137. I’m on parental leave and not monitoring messages during this time. I’ll get back to you once I return.
138. I’m away on parental leave until [date] and will respond once I’m back online.
139. I’m out of the office on parental leave. Responses will resume after [date].
140. I’m currently on parental leave and will follow up once I’m back at work.

14. Manager/Leadership OOO Messages

This category includes messages that managers and leadership teams can use to keep everyone aligned when they’re away. 

141. I will be away from [Start Date] to [End Date]. During this time, [Name] will handle approvals and escalations.
142. I’m stepping away from the office until [Date]. Till then, [Name] is your primary contact. 
143. I’ll be offline today for some leadership meetings. Please reach out to [Name] for immediate needs.
144. I’m away until [Date] and will review messages upon return. Please escalate issues to [Name/ Team]. 
145. I’ll be out of the office with limited access to my inbox. Please coordinate directly with [Name]. 
146. I’m currently away. Urgent decisions can move forward with [Name’s] approval. 
147. I’ll be unavailable for the next two days. Please contact [Name] for time-sensitive matters. 
148. Currently out of the office for an urgent business trip. My team is empowered to handle operations until [Date]. 
149. Leadership duties have me away from the office until [Date]. I’ll respond when I’m back on [Date]. 
150. I’ll be unavailable until [Return Date] and will reconnect with pending items afterward.

Bonus: Out of Office Message Template

Use this simple out of office message template to create a clear, professional automatic reply in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are out of office messages?

Out-of-office messages are automatic replies set up on channels like email, Teams, or Slack to let coworkers know you’re temporarily unavailable. An ideal message includes how long you’ll be away, who to contact instead (if required), and when they can expect a response. 

What is a good out of the office message for teams?

A good out of office message for teams is short, clear, and helpful. For example, I’m out of the office today and will respond when I’m back tomorrow. For urgent matters, please reach out to the team channel. 

What is a polite out of office message?

Here are a few polite out of office messages for teams –

• Thank you for your message. I’m currently out of the office and will respond once I return. I appreciate your patience.
• Thank you for reaching out. I’m out of the office until 15 March and will get back to you after I return.
• Thank you for your message. I’m ooo today and will respond as soon as I’m back. For urgent matters, please contact the team.

How to set an out of office message in Teams? 

You can set a custom message using the ‘out of office’ option in settings. You can turn on automatic replies, type a message, and select a time period to get started. For external users, you can explore the ‘send replies outside my organization’ option. This also gets synced as your out of office message in Outlook. 

How to set a Slack out of office message?

To set an out of the office message in Slack, click your profile picture, select ‘update your status,’ add your message, set the duration, and save. 

What are some out of office message examples?

Here are a few out of office email examples –

• Hi! I’m currently on leave and will be back on [Date].
• Currently attending a business trip. Please reach out to [Name] until I return. 
• I’ll be out of office today. I will respond tomorrow during my working hours. 

What are some funny out of office messages?

Here are a few funny and interesting out of office messages – 

• I’ll not be replying to your messages intentionally until [Date]. 
• Currently away from work and committed to ignoring emails until [Date].
• My auto replies will do the job until [Date]. 

What is a sample out of office message?

A sample message serves as a reference for team members to draft their own out of office automatic reply to keep everyone informed when they’re away. 

What is the best out of office message that works well for all situations?

A standard out of office message is clear, polite, and flexible enough for both internal and external communication. An example can be – ‘Thanks for reaching out. I’m out of the office at the moment and will get back to you after [Return Date]. For anything urgent, please reach out to [Name/Team].’

What to include in a vacation or holiday out of office message?

A holiday or vacation out-of-office message should clearly state that you’re away, your return date, and include alternate contact details for urgent matters. 

What are some great out of office message examples for paternity leave?

Here are a couple of messages you can use to set your status for paternity leave –

• I’m currently away on paternity leave, spending time with family. Will return on [Date]. 
• Away on paternity leave for a bit. I’ll catch up once I’m back on [Return Date].

What are some of the best absence alerts for maternity leave?

Here are a couple maternity leave out of office messages – 

• I’m currently on maternity leave, spending time with my newborn, and will be back on [Date].
• I’m on maternity leave and will follow up after [Return Date]. You can reach out to [Name] for follow-ups.