Hilarious & Clever Out-of-Office Messages for Work

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Make your colleagues LOL with these vacation and holiday messages

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 6, 2024 Fact Checked

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OOO Email Examples

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Clever Messages

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For Vacation

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For Holidays

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How to Be Funny & Professional

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What to Include in OOO Messages

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Setting Up Automatic Emails

Going on vacation, taking a holiday break, or working from home and going to be out of the office? We’re here to help you let your coworkers know you’re unavailable. Take a look at the lists below for the funniest and wittiest out-of-office (OOO) messages that’ll make your colleagues laugh without being too unprofessional. Plus, we’ve even thrown in tips on how to craft the best message if you want to write your own.

The Funniest Out-of-Office Messages

I’ll call you back once I’ve defrosted.
Vacation mode activated 😎
Busy upgrading my out-of-office tan.
If found, contact someone other than me.
I’m OOO. In case of an emergency, please hesitate before you call.

Section 1 of 7:

Funny Out-of-Office Email Message Examples

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Hi,
I’m currently out of the office. If you need immediate assistance, contact someone who isn’t me (preferably someone who knows what they’re doing).
Best,
Timothy
2
Hello!
I’m on vacation until June 21st. If you need to reach me, all you have to do is:
1. Travel to Florida.
2. Take a drive to Disney World.
3. Shake hands with Mickey Mouse.
4. Turn back around and go home because I’m busy!
In all seriousness, if you do need to contact me before June 21st, please reach out to Cindy.
Until we meet again,
Roger

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3
To whom it may concern,
I am currently in a very important business meeting with Mr. Relaxation and Mrs. Novel. Our meeting and following conference will conclude on Monday morning. Until then, please forward any messages and urgent requests to Barbara at the front desk.
Thank you,
Emilia
4
I’m on vacation pretending to be a secret agent. Please leave a message, and I’ll respond as soon as I return from my top-secret mission.
5
Hello!
I’m currently out of the office. Right now, I’m probably soaking up the sun on a secluded beach in Hawaii, drinking a piña colada. I’ll return to the office once my tan is perfect (or on February 16th, whichever comes first).
Best,
Katelyn
6
Hey!
So, I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that I’m out of the office. The bad news is that I’m out of the office until Wednesday.
If you can’t wait for a response, contact Ally at 555-555-555.
7
Thank you so much for your email. I love it already! It’s wrapped up like a sweet little present. I’m just going to place it under the tree for safekeeping until after the holidays. Is that alright with you? Perfect! In that case, I look forward to chatting on January 1st.
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Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m out of the office with the flu. I’ll be back at my desk once I’m feeling better. In the meantime, please forward all assignments to Heather.
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Hi, if you’re reading this, then it’s true. I’m on vacation, and you’re not. I know it’s hard to digest, but I’ll be back in the office Monday. Don’t be jealous. You’re doing a great job :)
10
I’m on annual leave until September 13th. I will allow each sender one email over this period. If you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete them. Choose wisely.^{[1]
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Section 2 of 7:

Clever Out-of-Office Messages

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Stick with a witty one-liner to describe your OOO status. Don’t have a lot to say? Well, opt for a clever one-liner that explains you're out of the office without saying too much. Here are some funny and witty examples that can be used as is or expanded on:
- If found, contact someone other than me.
- The bad news is that I’m OOO. The good news is that I’m OOO.
- This is [your name]’s personal robot. For a more personal response, please contact [your immediate office contact].
- I’m OOO. In case of an emergency, please hesitate before you call.
- I am currently out of the office and can be reached by waiting until I get back.
- I’m currently on a break to find myself. Good news: I’m in the last place I looked!
- I’m currently out of the office. My email is being renovated.
- OOO. If your message is urgent, try telepathy.
- I’m on break to re-evaluate my life choices.
- I’m not really here…
- Caught the office bug and am now quarantined at home 😷
- [insert funny meme about being OOO]
- This inbox is full. Please wait 3 business days and try again.
- I’m unavailable. If it’s an emergency, dial 911.
- I’d prefer not to be reached at this time, please, and thank you.
- 🔙 0️⃣2️⃣.2️⃣2️⃣

Section 3 of 7:

Out-of-Office Messages for Vacation

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Allude to your vacation destination in your message. Let your colleagues know you’re in vacation mode with a clever and silly message describing where you’re living it up! Make a comment about the weather, activities you’ll be enjoying, and so forth. Check out these examples:
- I’ll call you back once I’ve defrosted.
- I’ll get back to you once I’ve returned to civilization.
- If you need me, I’ll be in my homeland of Florida.
- If you need me, prepare to climb the tallest mountain in the world.
- Currently chilling on a beach somewhere.
- Can you guess where I am? 🗽
- Vacation mode activated 😎
- My brain is on vacation and will return once my mental batteries are recharged.
- Currently channeling my inner beach bum.
- Can’t talk work. On vacation.
- Gone fishing.
- Busy upgrading my out-of-office tan.
- It’s the weekend, and I’m currently somewhere without WiFi.

Section 4 of 7:

Out-of-Office Messages for Holidays

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Make a joke about the holiday season to say you’re away. Joke around about what holiday you’re celebrating away from your desk in your OOO message. These examples are sure to make your colleagues smile (if not belly laugh!):
- Thankful for 4-day weekends.
- I’m busy watching Christmas movies. Chat with ya later!
- It’s Christmas…why are you emailing me?
- Currently recharging my batteries.
- I’m on a top-secret mission to the North Pole. Retry contact on December 27th.
- I’ll get back to you after my 100th snack break.
- Currently stuffing my face with turkey 🦃
- If I don’t return December 27th, the elves found me.

Section 5 of 7:

How to Be Funny & Professional

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Keep your message family-friendly and lighthearted. If you know your coworkers and boss have the same humor as you, go for a goofy or silly OOO message! Just make sure your message stays PG and is relatively lighthearted. This will help you remain professional while also being funny.
- Use emojis or emoticons (especially in Slack statuses) to amplify your joke and show that your message is supposed to make people smile.
- Avoid making fun of your job or colleagues in your message. Remember, an OOO message is a fun way to say, “I’m absent,” not to make a jab at anyone.
- You know your work atmosphere best, so only use a funny out-of-office message if you feel it’s appropriate.^{[2]
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Section 6 of 7:

What should you put in your out-of-office message?

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Explain why and how long you’re away in your out-of-office message. The best OOO messages are short and to the point. They include a brief explanation of why you’re away, how long you’ll be gone, and who or how they can contact you in the meantime.^{[3]
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- Here’s an example of an OOO email message:
  - Hello,
    I’m currently out of the office until Monday—I’m defrosting in the Bahamas! Please contact Jeremy with any pressing issues.
    Best,
    Amy
- Make sure you have a colleague’s consent before putting them in your message if they’ll be taking care of any urgent business in your absence.
- You can also use this technique for Slack status updates. Make your status a clever remark, and schedule the status to go away when you return.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} For example, your status might just say, Defrosting in the Bahamas 🏖️.

Section 7 of 7:

How to Set Up Automatic Email Message

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Setting up an automatic email response message for when you’re out of the office is a piece of cake! Simply follow these instructions, and you’ll be good to go:^{[5]
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- Open your email and go to settings or preferences.
- Click on the section labeled “Vacation Responder,” “Automatic Replies,” or something similar.
- Enable the out-of-office feature, setting a date and time to start and end the automatic response.
- Compose your out-of-office message.
- Click “Save Changes.”
- How does automatic reply work? The message you compose and save will automatically be sent to anyone who emails you directly during the time you set.